Truly Paradise

Guest: Eight Happy Gardeners from Ohio (Columbus OH )
Date of Stay: 02/26/11 Review Submitted: 03/24/11

We are a group of eight master gardeners who take an annual trip together. This year we chose Vista Del Mar and we couldn't have chosen a more beautiful luxurious home away from home. The villa is truly paradise, the scenery stunning and the people warm and friendly. As promised, Julio was waiting at the airport to deliver us and Mercy and Nelsida had drinks and snacks waiting for our arrival. We absolutely fell in love with the villa and the staff. They were so accommodating and quick to fill our every need. From full fabulous breakfasts on the patio to lobster dinners in the evening; to pina coladas, rum punch, margaritas and cerveza by the pool. The meals were delicious and the weather was sunny and warm. Gus was a wonderful tour agent. We went horseback riding on the beach (a must), waterfall sliding on the jeep safari, cable car riding to the top of Mount Isabella, to the rum factory and the Amber museum and a day trip to Santo Domingo. We also spent a day at Sosua Beach- a gorgeous expanse of aqua blue water with wonderful snorkeling. Nelsida and Indio even took us to downtown Puerto Plata to celebrate Carnival on Sunday afternoon and then out to dance the Maringue at the Rancho Tapico. What fun! We "adopted" Pablo, the sweet night guard and took him coffee in the morning and shared our dinner with him each night. You will find the Dominican people truly appreciate Americans and do everything to help us feel welcome in their country. There are not enough words to express how much we loved the week we spent with the staff. We all cried when we had to leave them. It felt like we were leaving family and will truly miss them. We hope to see them again in the future and to revisit the villa. If you are thinking about vacationing there, don't think twice! You won't regret it. Cindy was exceptionally nice and communicated everything perfectly, making for a perfect vacation. Thank you Cindy, Julio, Mercy, Nelsida and Pablo!

Owner response:Hi Bobbi, Thank you for taking the time to write about your vacation in paradise. I got choked up reading your comments because you touched on many of the things that made me fall in love with this colorful country and its gentle people almost 30 years ago... There are so many places to explore and always a smiling Dominican ready to help. It sounds like you had a very busy week visiting and touring not only the local area but all the way to Santo Domingo as well!. And you are so lucky that you had the chance to participate in Carnival—that is one thing I have not yet been able to experience. As always I am glad my hard working, dedicated staff ‘pampered as promised’—they work hard for me and have never disappointed... I owe them a mountain of gratitude. For me it is a win win situation- guests are happy by the lavish attention and my staff is happy to meet new people from all parts of the globe. Every vacation in Cofresi is an opportunity for adventure and always a chance to fully relax... especially for moms-- I had to say that. It has become my trademark line :-) I hope I can assist you in booking a return visit. Best Regards, Cindy

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Perfect place for a family vacation

Guest: Patrick O.
Date of Stay: 12/17/11 Review Submitted: 01/06/12

Our vacation was fabulous; all we could have hoped for. The villa is unbelievable -- I have been telling all my friends about it since our return home. It could easily accommodate three couples and, in fact, we're thinking of booking it sometime in the future to share with two other couples. I would say that the description of the villa online doesn't do justice to it. The upstairs has huge bedrooms, each of the three masters with balcony, including hammocks, chairs and tables (not to mention great ocean views). TVs in most rooms if that interests you. The staff was as good as advertised -- and then some. Mercy and Nelsida made great meals for us and kept the villa spotless. and I don't know what we would have done without Julio. Not only was he there for us whenever we needed, but he returned to the villa after hours when the electricity went out and the generator didn't kick on (I understand that that generator has now been replaced). I would highly recommend this rental to anyone with a large family who "needs space" from each other and to couples who want to share the villa but not be in the way of others. No property is perfect however. In my ideal world, I would also have liked to have some kind of exercise room (e.g., treadmill at least). I'm a runner and found the beach to be too slanted, too "busy" and with high tide to run there; the roads too are not condusive to any meaningful running. Just a thought since there clearly is plenty of room at the villa. Finally, the one complaint we do have relates to the noise from the nearby resort on Fri through Sun from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm. I don't know what could be done about it (and perhaps it had to do with the holiday season), but the noise and the music played over the loudspeakers made staying out on the porch impossible on those nights.

Recommended for:

A Dream Come True

Guest: Michelle C.
Date of Stay: 10/26/11 Review Submitted: 12/05/11

I could not have asked for a better vacation! Though my trip to Playa Cofresi was short, it was filled with relaxation, amazing food, and good times. We landed in Puerto Plata and we were greeted at the airport by Julio. He drove us back to the villa through the middle of town which allowed us to take in the local culture. We arrived at the villa to a warm welcome from Nelsida and Mercy as well as magnificent aromas of food cooking. The Villa itself is magnificent. It is spacious and meticulously clean. I can’t even explain how breathtaking the views are! Waking up in the morning with the sun rising while you relax in one the many rocking chairs was unbelievable. The sun setting over the mountains is a site in itself. You will NEVER have to lift at finger at the villa. Nelsida and Mercy always seemed to appear with a pina colada in hand right when you really wanted one! Their homemade food was amazing; we especially couldn’t get enough of Mercy’s chicken salad. For dinner, we dined at the local restaurants were the food was just as delicious! Most of our time was spent relaxing, reading, and napping by the pool. We did venture down to the local beach one day which was amazing with its crystal clear water, soft sand beaches, and the palm trees swaying in the breeze. We also spent a day on a catamaran where we went snorkeling in two different locations. If you plan on doing excursions, do the catamaran, it is well worth it! The only word to describe Playa Cofresi is PARADISE. I have never been so relaxed and stress free on a vacation as I was at the villa. The staff is absolutely amazing, the scenery will take your breath away, and you will never have to worry about a thing. We are already talking about going back next year and I can’t wait!

Recommended for:

Paradise!!!

Guest: devin m.
Date of Stay: 10/26/11 Review Submitted: 11/15/11

What an amazing vacation! I came back from the Dominican Republic feeling relaxed, recharged and just fabulous! The house was absolutely AMAZING! The spacious rooms, cool breeze, awesome pool, fantastic views and wonderful caretakers. Julio, Nelcita and Macia were more than accommodating. They prepared delicious food and drink (pina coladas) all week. Everyday they thoroughly cleaned our rooms and bathrooms and took care of everything! You don’t have to think about wanting a pina colada because Macia is probably en route to your raft with a freshly made one! For dinner, we went out and dined at some amazing, local restaurants. If you enjoy rum, you will enjoy your trip to the Dominican Republic. I had at least one rum punch and Cuba Libre every night and they were great! Due to work, I had not been able to take a vacation in a year and a half. This was my first time out of the country and it was a memorable vacation. It was so nice to relax all day in the sun by the pool. One of the days we venture out on a catamaran tour of the coast where we sailed to a few different areas to snorkel in the coral reefs. It was a breathtaking and fun excursion. The villa is located a short walk to the beach which was fantastic. The water was warm and clear and palm trees are always great to see. One of my favorite things about villa is the sunrise in the morning. The sun comes up above the trees in the morning as you sit on the patio reading a book and sipping fresh coffee made by one of the caretakers. It was just great! The worst part of the vacation was leaving paradise! It was an absolutely fantastic trip from start to finish. The best.

Recommended for:

Amazing!! Highly Recommend!!

Guest: Jordann (New York, NY, USA)
Date of Stay: 10/26/11 Review Submitted: 11/10/11

In October, I had the absolute pleasure of spending 5 glorious days at Playa Cofresi. I had seen pictures and imagined how wonderful it would be to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life…but my expectations were far exceeded from the moment I arrived. Julio picked us up from the airport right on time and drove us straight to the house, quickly and safely. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to see a little bit of the culture and town around the house on the ride to and from the airport. Once arriving at the house, we were greeted by the other staff that were already there. Our rooms were meticulously cleaned and our luggage brought upstairs for us right away. I soon realized how much delicious food I would be eating that week from the first few bites of our “snack” that we were served. Homemade chicken salad, zucchini pancakes, chips and salsa…every bite better than the first. From that point on our days consisted of sleeping, eating, sunbathing, swimming and drinking several pina coladas in the afternoon! The weather was warm and sunny every day, and even when I needed a break from the sun the rocking chairs on the patio or shaded poolside spots were the perfect retreat. In addition to enjoying the gorgeous home and pool, we ventured out to the beach one day and took a catamaran tour. These were perfect excursions and I highly recommend doing them! From swimming in the crystal blue water to snorkeling with fish, we had the best time. In addition to the incredible landscape, perfect weather and fantastic food…I was so pleased by how safe and comfortable I felt in the home during my entire stay. The staff were some of the nicest people I have ever met, and this was easily communicated even with a language barrier. Being in a different country can at times be stressful, but I never had one ounce of stress during my entire trip…which is something I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say on any other vacation!! What a wonderful home, beautiful country and perfect getaway...I highly recommend to all!!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Simply Paradise! Cant wait to go back!

Guest: Donte W.
Date of Stay: 07/18/11 Review Submitted: 09/14/11

Dear Cindy, Villa Vista Del Mar is extremely beautiful. From the moment we were picked up from the airport Julio made us feel comfortable, safe,and right at home. Upon arriving at the villa Nelsida had cooked us snacks and had lunch waiting for us, which couldn't have been any better. There was only 4members in my party, so there was more then enough space in the villa to accommodate more people. The villa was beautifully decorated and had the best views i have ever witnessed. The location is safe, I did notice everyone in the area knows each other which made me feel even more safe. I took a walk around during the day and I had no problem sleeping at night. When I woke in the morning I awoke to the smell of a fresh breakfast being cooked , which brings me to the note that Nelsida is an excellent cook I enjoyed every one of her meals and I wish I could have brought her back to the states. She was very caring , and friendly. Neither she or Pablo speaks much English however this did not stop us from communicating with them , ( I speak pretty basic Spanish) She would wash our clothes. Make our bed the service was absolutely impeccable much better than any 4 or 5 star hotel I have ever stayed. When we arrived because we arrived in the late afternoon the following day Gabino came over and presented the tours to us and we enjoyed every tour we chose, when we were not on a tour we spend majority of our time swimming in the pool, enjoying the beautiful views of the ocean, mt. Isabella, and the landscape. Theres something to do for everyone, Ocean World is a 5-10 minute talk and I was pretty impressed with the dinner show I wanted to go but did not have enough time. I speak for everyone in my party when I say Villa Vista Del Mar has been the best vacation we have been on , we are all grateful to have had the opportunity and we highly anticipate on returning to the villa. The only thing I would change is the length of our stay. We stayed a day or two less then a full week and wish we would have stayed longer. Thank you Cindy I plan on returning I really enjoyed myself.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Dominican was a blast!

Guest: mike m.
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/09/11

Wow- Trip was all it could have been. You have a beautiful home and what can I say about your staff- they are awesome. It was a fantastic week all around

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with teenagers.

A piece of heaven found at Villa Vista Del Mar!

Guest: Bob and Diane (New Jersey USA)
Date of Stay: 06/03/11 Review Submitted: 06/18/11

After a long hard year of work,college, and Chemo, our family was ready to escape from the routine of daily living to paradise. We knew we had arrived in paradise from the minute we stepped off the plane! Everyone in the airport was kind and gracious, willing to help an American family traveling with their blind patriarch. Julio met us outside of customs as promised, loaded our luggage and wisked us away to Cofresi. Our anticipation was growing as typical Americans we wondered were the pictures on the website and reviews too good to be true? We pulled up to the villa and first sight of the compound made all those fears dissolve immediately. We were met by the beautiful Mercy and Nelsida with our first pitcher (of many) of frozen pina coladas and we knew from that second on we truly were in Heaven. We could not believe our eyes. The villa was even more beautiful than the pictures and all the reviews were spot on! Once we all chose our suites, changed into our swim suits, threw our watches, blackberrys and laptops in the safe, we met at the pool which was crystal clear and had so many seating and lounging options which made a five star resort pool area look inferior. My favorite spot on the pool patio was the huge couch I referred to as the throne. Mercy and Nelsida served us our first 'snack' as they like to call it and we all agreed our new favorite was Mercy's chicken salad. Every day Mercy would prepare five star meals all prepared from authentic DR recipes and fresh local ingredients. We looked forward every morning to the fresh mango, papaya, pineapple, banana, cantaloupe and watermelon fruit platers. Mercy knew our food preferences and she decided the daily menu. It was very liberating not to have to make any decisions this week. We always looked forward to mealtime, the house smelled delicious. Nelsida kept the villa spotless, laudry fresh, fresh towels always available and in conjunction with Mercy made the most delicious frozen concontions that we are thirsting for as we write this. Our libations of choice were pina coladas, rum punch and frozen mojitos. Julio is a great General Manager. He keeps the house in tip top shape, made several runs to the market, granted several special requests and answered a million questions. While in Cofresi we celebrated 2 special birthdays and invited Julio, Mercy and Nelsida's families to come over for a BBQ and had a great time. It was a delightful evening. See part 2 of our review

Owner response:Hi Bob and Diane, Thank you for taking the time to post your comments. I am always happy when guests thoroughly enjoy themselves and let the staff take over... after all isn’t this what a vacation should be? I am very fortunate to have Julio, Mercey and Nelsida working for me… not only for myself, when I can escape and receive a pampered vacation but I am also grateful that they take over at the villa in my absence and make sure that the dozens and dozens of guests vacationing at the villa are always happy. I agree with you 100% about the delicious foods and drinks. I swear they seem to just know when it is the perfect time to come out with another pitcher of frozen tropical concoctions. I have yet to taste a meal or snack that I did not enjoy. I suppose everything tastes better when someone else is cooking but I also know that Mercy watches and studies the food channel to learn new recipes and also new ways of presenting the food. She does a great job and should be proud of her accomplishments. And the “sun lounge” or the “throne” as you call it. That spot has become the favorite spot on the terrace. At one time it was a simple plant ledge but I always looked at it and knew it could serve a better purpose… “nice comfortable sun lounge” kept calling my name. I especially like going out there late at night and gazing at the stars. So I am thrilled you had a wonderful time. I hope you can get part 2 of your review posted cause I’d love to read more about your vacation. Sometimes Home Away limits the responses to only one. But again thank you for taking the time to write. Best Regards, Cindy

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Your home away from home with a Spanish flair

Guest: Paco (Tacoma, WA USA)
Date of Stay: 05/14/11 Review Submitted: 05/31/11

Were we ever blessed to have selected Villa Vista Del Mar for our next stop in DR after a few days in Punta Cana. We survived the arduous trip, but enjoyed the challenge of the 8 hour drive, taking us to an incredible restaurant in Santo Domingo,Olivo. A must stop if you ever are in the mood for their pork prepared in their brick oven. We encountered all kinds of sights along our way including every type of weather condition. The highlight of the day, however, was meeting with Julio who got us situated and made us to feel quite at home. The following day and every day thereafter your staff treated us like royalty and made us feel as if we were members of their family. The personal attention was amazing as were the daily meals, most of which were DR favorites, prepared as if we were eating in their home. Not a thing could have been improved upon during our stay. Not that it is a problem of yours, but it was shame that the local public beach was not maintained as well as the Life Styles section. Too bad the locals don't take the pride in ownership that they should, for they live in a beautiful part of the world. Thanks for making our stay memorable and for providing the horse shoes so that we could complete our "international" competition.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, pet owners, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

WOW! Vacationing at it's best

Guest: Millicent (St. John's, NL Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/14/11 Review Submitted: 05/18/11

An unbelievable family reunion made possible by the wonderful staff and fantastic home at Vista Del Mar. The house is wonderful and very spacious....accomodating our 4 different families perfectly. We were greeted with a lunch for Kings upon arrival and our grocery package was all in order and menu arranged. It was so wonderful. Julio had to make more trips to the liquir store for us though....man, you drink way more than you think you are going too!!!!! The kids loved the pool and the many floats that were there for them to use. Julio was amazing and ready at a moments notice to help with our every odd request!!! Nelsida and Mercy were so attentive and helpful. They made sure that you fully enjoyed your vacation and did not have to lift a finger to help!!! Always a pina colada on their tray!!!! The house was very clean, and kept that way each day by the staff. Laundry was washed and folded and brought upstairs each day. A gentleman stopped by to help us plan our day excurisions and arranged for transportation for us. We had massages, pedicures and manicures at the house. We also took in a day at Ocean World, which is just a brisk walk away. The kids enjoyed that immensely, but were probably just as content staying at the house swimming in the pool!!!! An amazing story that we have to share...my husband and I left our backpack at the airport. As soon as we figured this out Julio and Gabino got on the phone to see if they could help us retrieve it. Very unlikely right....WRONG! It was handed in to the airport security with our laptop in tack. Amazing. Just amazing. There is not enough time or space to keep writing all the positives of this house and vacation paradise. All I can say is that for a very particular woman, with standards hard to reach.....this experience has supassed my expectations. Please, go there and have a vacation of a lifetime :) Cindy, you were a pleasure to deal with when preparing for our vacation and attentive to the details that we may have overlooked. The Hicks, Moulton, Meiklejohn and White Families.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.