Hotel Barcelo Capella Beach Resort

Established in the heart of Juan Dolio's tourist area (middle scale), south of the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean coast, the Barcelo Capella is located 37 miles from the capital city of Santo Domingo (within 50 minutes). Las Americas international airport of Santo Domingo is located 22 miles away (half an hour).

Thanks to the quality of its facilities and its services and various leisure areas, the Barcelo Capella is one of the best hotels in the tourist area of Juan Dolio. However, Juan Dolio remains Juan Dolio: the Caribbean Sea does not, at this precise location of the Dominican Republic, the turquoise colour that you have heard about. It is a pity, because this is surely one of the few drawbacks of this hotel, however friendly.

Built in 1989 and renovated in 1998, the hotel offers standard comfort, without frills. The three-storey buildings hold dozens of rooms, scattered around the two large swimming pools, forming the nerve centres of the domain in a garden with many trees that create nice ambiance. Like the other hotels in the region, many Dominicans take over the places in the weekend. The music is quite loud, like all animation events, but it is possible to book a room in a building where the atmosphere is more peaceful (soft background music). An immense theatre is located to the left behind the reception and a disco bar, near the beach, is open in the evening. The verdant pathways are well maintained. Pleasant staff. On the edge of the adults' swimming pools, a water slide connects the two pools for children, amid lush vegetation.

All 500 rooms at the Barcelo Capella are quite large (approximately 430 ft²) and very comfortable. All well equipped, conforming to international standards, they have a marble bathroom with a bathtub and a hair dryer, individually controlled air conditioning, a telephone with international dialling, satellite TV and a safe. The only disadvantage are the neighbouring face-to-face balconies due to the "U"-shape of the building, not very pleasant. The suites, located in a three-storey building, with an elevator, have jacuzzis. Request a room on the waterfront: the hotel literally has its feet in the water.

In addition to a snack bar and two bars, the hotel has four restaurants. The main restaurant, where the buffet is called "El Batey de la Costa" and is divided into two large rooms and a smaller one that is dedicated to non-smokers. The ambiance may be a bit noisy if you dine at the same time as everyone else. The food there is international and the quality is mostly average. Serving buffet style, the El Pescador, located near the beach, offers international cuisine in a more intimate atmosphere. The tables are arranged under a large straw hut outdoors. Nearby, the grill restaurant, Las Olas, serves grilled meats and fish a la carte and is adorned in local colours. Only the gourmet restaurant Chez Fontaine is accessible with a reservation and for an extra charge ($ 25). As its name suggests, it offers French specialities in a romantic setting, under softened lights.

To get to the beach, you have to leave the hotel, cross a road and then take a concrete bridge that crosses the village to get directly on the sand. It is very romantic but the hotel's private beach awaits your arrival with a bar and buffet service, its deckchairs huddled in the shade under big almond trees, which are very pleasant, its security service 24/24 hours (great!), its sailing club and its animators. On the other side of a small wall, the beach at Boca Chica awaits you. Sometimes quite busy during weekends, not at all shadowed, it is invaded by vendors of all kinds and women plaiting hair, its shallow water means a walk of some 165 feet before can swim. It is more for children rather than the experienced swimmers who can try a few motor boats waiting for tourists who are extremely adventurous (no navigation channel). Two small coral islands located before the coral reef await the more adventurous among tourists who can get there with flippers or by kayaking.