Brian Hunt

Review of Now Larimar Punta cana & Secre...

Arrived June 30, 2018 at 1:27pm with a expected ch...

Arrived June 30, 2018 at 1:27pm with a expected check in at 3:00.
Packed swimsuits in carry on as I knew we would have some time before room was ready. Went to lunch and returned to use the hospitality room to change, (was insulted with a inappropriate comment and a pat to my belly about "looks like I enjoyed my lunch") was told room would be ready at 3:45. Between lunch and swimming front desk staff tried to talk me into scheduling a breakfast with them the following morning and I made it clear that I was here to relax and nothing else. I had another inappropriate comment about not being married and I let the comments go as I understand cultures are different. I have only been to approximately a dozen resorts including Secrets, Sandals and many others and realize there are positives and negatives any and every place you travel. The more you travel the more comparisons you have. I have never written a review of any of the places I have stayed and usually the positives outweigh the negatives. In this case I felt compelled to post a review for a trip that did not meet my expectations.
Returned to the front desk at 4:05 and room was still not ready and another attempt at talking me into the breakfast presentation.
I literally sat in the lobby looking for available rooms at nearby resorts while other people were arriving and being taken to their rooms.
Around 4:30 the front desk informed me that the delay was due to me requesting a king size bed and I let them know and showed them my paperwork that shows the room was to have two queen size beds and I had not requested a king at any time and was okay with the two queens.
I am the most easy going flexible person you could meet and sat quietly and never even raised my voice as I do not do that but this was very frustrating after having been up and traveling many hours.
Finally was taken to a room at 4:35pm, first room closest to lobby and it was nice but proved to be a long walk to anywhere on the property.
Fell asleep on the bed shortly thereafter without unpacking, was awoken twice by housekeeping and told them we were fine and did not need anything. (Did not think to put the do not disturb sign out). Woke up at 6am Sunday morning with the lights off, TV had been turned off and a few things moved around. Laughed that off as nothing was missing and we had not even unpacked. Wallets, passports were all laying out.
Went to the beach and extremely disappointed due to the seaweed, Secrets attempts to keep the beach clean with a tractor/rake but water is full of seaweed and the smell of rotting seaweed (sewer smell) comes and goes. Mother Nature has dealt Punta Cana a blow with the seaweed and shame on me for not researching it as it appears it has been an issue for some time. The wind shifted on Tuesday and was able to see some clear water and get in the ocean 1 day but the other days the water was murky and full of seaweed. Not Secrets fault on this one and they do the best job as I walked a mile in both directions on the beach and the seaweed and trash is far worse on each side beyond Now Larimar and adjoining resort. With the seaweed I would think Secrets would do a better job of keeping the resort and customer service in better shape. Nice pool although I question the chlorination as there are sections throughout the pools that have a black growth on the grout in multiple places. It can be removed with a finger nail so that tells me the guy walking around with a brush is not scrubbing hard enough and only doing the water line. Chlorine floating on top of the water in the evening and a couple people complaining of a itching rash from pool water. Vendors on beach that are not allowed in chair area approach you every time you walk out to the surf and up and down the beach. Another set of vendors are allowed in chair area and although they are trying to make a living it was discomforting having people pass through every few minutes. Watched one from the "Party Cave" pick up a guest drink from their table while they were away and drink it, fortunately he sat it down somewhere else.