Gorgeous Condo on the Beach Punta Cana in Dominican Republic

Relaxation at the beach

Dennis C. ()
Review submitted: October 19, 2011   Date of arrival: October 8, 2011

The condo we rented was nicely decorated and clean. It was in a complex that was right on the beach - perfect. Guards would keep watch over the complex and beach area. This was good as there were vendors that would try and sell you merchandise the minute you step off your area. That was our only main concern. We did have a little trouble as we speak no Spanish, and it was off season so the restaurants were sometimes difficult as no one spoke English, but good. Grocery marts were conveniently nearby to buy basic needs. Especially the wonderful bakery! The best restaurant we tried was the local one with something "Daisy." I would stick to the local restaurants and bars for food versus the touristy expensive restaurants - it was more fun and better food. We did go to one mall - Plaza Real - more Americanized probably but people let you shop in peace and still find some good finds. We did like one small shack on the beach run by a nice local woman - she also let you look around without hounding you. So if you're looking for a beautiful beach, warm water and weather and a well kept condo/pool complex - this would be a good choice.

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Helpful votes: 1 / 1

Stanza Mare Condo - As Great as it Looks

Bill and Jean (Virginia, USA)
Review submitted: April 12, 2011   Date of arrival: February 1, 2011

We stayed in Mr. Santiago's condo from Feb 1 through March 31, 2011. We have stayed at the Stanza Mare (SM) since 2009 and rented 2 other units and have been in many more over the years. I can honestly say that this condo is one of the nicest and well appointed that we have been in or seen.

Some thoughts on the unit:
The remodeling of the kitchen and baths is superior - our friends from prior years were greatly impressed with the beautiful tile and woodwork. There are 2 air conditioners (which in the 1 bedroom condos is rare at SM) and that is a huge plus when needed. There is a dehumidifier which was a very welcome asset. The kitchen is well-stocked and the appliances are very nice, including a gas stove with oven that you can actually regulate (which is also not a given in the units we have rented before). The bed was very comfortable. The TV is large and has a great picture. The rocking chairs on the patio are great and the pool is literally steps away.

Now to the property and neighborhood:
The private beach is beautiful and given that there are only a little over 100 units, it is never crowded in front of the SM. The mgmt built several palapas last year and I understand there will be more installed this year which is nice for those who want shade.

There is a wonderful Thai restaurant (Balicana's) and 2 beach restaurants/bars (Bamboo and Soles) within a 4-5 minute walk. Glady's Posado is very close and has great Dominican food at a price that is very, very reasonable (but not much English there). Also, the Stanza Mare has Toscano's restaurant right at the pool. They have good food and will deliver it to your room if asked.

There are 2 mercados (grocery stores) within a very short walk. For large shopping, there are now 2 Super Mercados which are cheaper for sure, but require taking the local bus (40 pesos one way) or a cab - Pola which is in the San Juan Plaza and Nacional which is near the airport and much further away.

We have NEVER felt unsafe walking around the neighborhood nor have we heard of anyone that has, so walking around to shop or eat is common for folks at the Stanza Mare and the other complexes right next door. Of course, a cab or moto concho (scooter) is never hard to find.

You can't go wrong with the condo and the property is beautiful and maintained very well. We would highly recommend this unit to any of our family or friends. Enjoy!

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, pet-friendly, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 7 / 7

Stanza Mare Condo

larry m. (Manitoba, Canada)
Review submitted: March 22, 2010   Date of arrival: February 17, 2010

The condo was as the owner described it. Kitchen has lots of pots, pans, and dishes. The condo was very clean and nicely decorated. Had all the cooking utensils that a person would need. We saw other condos in the complex and this one is by far the nicest one. The grounds are very well maintained, nice big pool, and just steps from the beach. We walked for miles up the beach in both directions and the beach in front of the condo was the nicest. Grocery store just 5 minutes away and a fresh friut & vegtable market 10 minute walk. Check out Balicana restaurant(asian) very good food, go early or make reservations. You can walk to it in a couple of minutes. We rented the condo for a month, my wife and I used it for 2 weeks and my parents used it for the other 2 weeks. They absolutely loved the condo and how close everything is. The owner was very helpful and he quickly replied to any questions we had. We would definetly rent this condo again and recommend it to family and friends.

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 7 / 7