When I called RCI and expressed concerns about the reviews of this property, they asked if I read the reviews on TripAdvisor. Interestingly, the reviews here were negative, but RCI's own website reported very glowing reviews. I suspect they pick and choose which reviews to share with their members. I trusted them and kept my reservation for 7 nights at this "all-inclusive" resort.

The resort offers a smidge of a beach which is public and filled with locals who constantly asked us for money or hawked us to go on one of their boating trips. We tried twice to take a walk outside the resort -- both times we were followed by very aggressive locals asking for money or to buy their wares. We are not amateur travelers, and have visited lesser developed countries on numerous occasions.

The air conditioner in our unit did not work and no one ever came to check on it after we called the front desk. The electricity went out frequently. The TV cable or satellite reception was unstable, too.

The all-inclusive package was supposed to include choices at 4 different restaurants besides the open-air buffet. The restaurants were fully booked, and we were not able to get into them during our stay.

We own our own snorkeling equipment, but were told that snorkeling equipment was available free of charge to RCI members. When we got there, we learned that only the first hour was free, after that guests were charged by the hour.

We gave up 4 days/nights of the timeshare -- we left and went to Florida where we paid for the additional hotel stay, the additional airfare to change our flights, and a rental car. Two of the three nights we actually stayed at the Victorian House, we left our "all-inclusive" meal to dine at a restaurant with choices and air conditioning.

Never again!

We traveled with our two young children. Make sure you call credit cards and tell them your out of the country. Our credit cards did not work but only at the hotel. CC company said it was hotels fault.
BEWARE of the Lifestyle people!!! After we were checked in a we approached a man at the main lobby to ask about the orientation the was planned for RCI members. He flat out LIED and told us it was cancelled because of the amount of people that did not arrive so it was being moved to another hotel. After a forty minute drive to another resort we found out it was to sell us a timeshare. After about a hour long lecture we refused and had to ride back for another forty min. Wasted most of our day!
When we finally found our agent to book excursions he charged us an arm and a leg. (69.USD/pp) for a horrible ATV ride.ATV's were falling apart and you ride on the main road and in sugarcane fields, no stop at the beach or swimming as promised. We found a taxi service right across from the hotel who charged us half the price he was going to charge. 50USD for all to ride cable car, rum factory and amber muesum. However, Chico from the horseback riding was very nice up a mountain to a small waterfall to swim in. We didn't have to haggle or nothing and the trip was worth every cent and more. (@ 28. USD/pp)
We were in the Victorian House beautiful rooms. One with a king size bed and jacuzzi bath off of it but the jets still were not working. The other room had two beds and stand-up shower. The electric went off frequently once for most of the day. It took my husband telling them they needed a new breaker but by then everything was closed and they had to hard wire it. It was the only room they did not use the cards to run elec. The rooms did look like they have been recently redone with new paint and tiles. I advise all to USE the safe we had money missing from our pockets. When we had an internal review by hotel they story changed often and we were told if we tell anyone we would be kicked out because my husband became very loud and upset when he discovered it missing. Others had told us they were missing electronic devices and other things too!
The food was pleasant and edible but monotinous. There was only one open bar by the pool with watered down drinks. I figured out to ask for 1-2 extra shots in each. The other restaurants did require pants and shoes no shorts or sandals. We were packed for the Carribean, only shorts. Most places we have been require dressing up and accept dress shorts. They were working on the lower areas but the water/beach from 7 am-10pm doing a great job. The girl that was in charge of watching the children actually asked us for a drink while we stopped by with our children to check out the area.
I never took my kids back again.
On a positive note the animation team was fantastic with my children during the kid's disco and pool activities. They even helped celebrate my son's birthday by singing and giving him balloons on stage. He loved it! Also the scuba shop and employees were really nice. They actually overbooked our dive trip but compensated and gave my husband an extra dive. The guys were super!
I would not consider it a gold crown as RCI does but it was acceptable if you roll with the punches!

We stayed at this condo through RCI and loved our visit. The property is very close to everything that you might need. In addition to the great buffet, there are 4 very nice restaurants on the property (3 of which are included in the all-inclusive). There is pretty good snorkeling right infront of the resort. They have two pools with a bar located inside of one. It is in walking distance from the local beach, which is lined with a little market where you can get any touristy trinkets (jewelry, t-shirts, keychains, etc.). They also provide free entertainment every evening which is a mix of both dancing and comedy. We would gladly stay here again!

We wanted a cheap last minute get away so went onto Teletext and found 10 days all inclusive at the Sosua Bay Hotel for only £549 which is a bargain so I booked upimmediately. After I looked at Trip Advisor and read all these terrible reviews I freaked out and called the travel agent back to change. I was unable to change but they said for $200us I could upgrade to the Victorian House Hotel which from its website looked gorgeous........clever camera work!

When we first arrived our first impressions were this place is an absolute DUMP and this was also confirmed to us by other guests (mainly Americans). As the week wore on I grew quite fond of the place, you have to remember this is a semi decent budget hotel and not a Sandals Resort in Barbados and you do get what you pay for.

Our room was nice and the view over the sea was stunning, we had a superior room so no jacuzzi but as we were informed by many that had them they are dirty and most don't work so don't waste money on a junior suite. The restaurants they claim there are 5 restaurants, for our first 3 days we only had the buffet which was quite like school dinners, bland and boring. You sat down for dinner and it was all over within 20minutes! The other restaurants then opened so first of all we tried the Mexican which in fairness was good but don't get over excited, the next night we tried the chinese again I had the same opinion. Then we tried the Italian, which menu in my opinion did not consitutute them calling it Italian, for instance for a starter they had smoked salmon and scrambbled eggs? The annoying things about these restaurants is that you have to book 24 hours in advance and also they state no t-shirts and flip flops and when your on a caribbean holiday these items make up most of your wardrobe.

Then we have the bars, there are ONLY 2. One is in the lobby and only serves tea and coffee, surely this is a coffee shop and not a bar? Then there is the pool bar, drinks here are only served in plastic cups so ou feel like your at a childrens party. The spirits here are horrible so if your a vodka or gin drinker bad luck and the wine ughhhhhhhh tastes like sherry!

The pool area is fine, but the beach again ughhh. Our first impression of this was a stray dog with udders having a pooh right on the sand yuck! The sea is also full of litter.

Now you may think me negative about it all, which my boyfriend did complain at me for, but as we said you get what you pay for and this is just my opinion some people we met there (English) loved it.

I would recommend getting a taxi and going to Cabarete Beach its stunning. It has kite surfing/wind surfing and a load of excellent bars and restaurants. Sosua is a bit of a dump, avoid Club 59 full of prostitutes and dirty old white men, good restaurants outside the resort is Baileys and La Roca and a good bar is Rubys. I would also definitely recommend going to Cabarete beach (Casanova Restaurant is awesome) at night it has sooooo much more going on and its a bit more classy than Sosua.

Pay for things in Peso you don't get ripped off as much as when you in us$. Also half the price of everything that locals try to sell you and also taxis, just walk away and they will come after you. It is obviously a very poor country which is sad but everyone wants money off you all the time, i.e you will accosted on the beach for hair braiding, jewellery, cigars, fruit all day long and then there are kids begging I could not help but give them money when I saw them rubbing there bellies. Tipping is expected for everyting so you just feel like a mobile bank at times.

We only went on one trip sadly which was ocean world which is FANTASTIC, a must go, you can swim with the dolphins here.

Anyway I hope this helps, its not a perfect hotel but its great if all you want is a cheap holiday. If you can though, l would recommend staying in Cabarete than sosua. One last thing be careful of pick pocketers we had no poblems but we heard its common there. Enjoy!