Villa Serena was perfect getaway. We just wanted to chill. A bit off season and mostly had the place to ourselves...our own villa by the sea. We loved everything about Villa Serena except the mosquitoes at night. We don't like air conditioning, especially when we can have the tropical breezes. Leaving our balcony doors open at night meant mosquito invasion. Would recommend a net for your bed. Restaurant food was good. Beautiful, well-kept grounds! Dined at La Tainos restaurant...definitely a thumbs up. Not too impressed with Playa Rincon... trash, but nearby Playita beach was a true oasis. Snorkeling not that great around the area.

We had a wonderful stay at the Villa. We travelled with our 2 children (ages 6 and 10), and my in-laws (in their 70's). The grounds were lovely, and quiet. The pool was great- and the staff was wonderful. The beach at the hotel was very small- so for a very reasonable price we beach hoped by boat to some of the nicer ones in the area. We were looking for something more local than one of the "all inclusive". We had fun going to the town and trying our spanish at the local restaurants. The hotel restaurant was nice as well. Not a great place if you have a gang of kids (as it was quiet)- but they loves the pool- and no one was ever in it!

I've never written a hotel review before, but this place was so great I'd recommend it to everyone. Most rooms have their own balcony and view of the ocean and well-kept grounds. There is a large, double-deck common area that looks sort of like a Caribbean-Colonial house, where you can take coffee or meals, read on rocking chairs, etc. There is water access from the hotel, but it's not a swimming beach - all the best beaches in and around Las Galeras are accessible to the public, not via private hotel property. So you can take a boat to Rincon (the prettiest large beach), or walk to the beach in town, or bike (the hotel stay includes use of bikes and snorkeling gear) to Playita, a small beach nearby with a shack for lunches and very few visitors.

Spend the first two weeks of January 2009 at Villa Serena, and we absolutely loved it!
The garden, rooms, restaurant, pool area etc. are all very well kept, and the staff are truly amazing!