Pros

  • An all-inclusive property with reasonable rates including food and drink
  • Two nice sandy beaches (one with waves and one without)
  • Three pools, two children's pools, and three small, scenic, oceanfront pools
  • Convenient location a two-minute walk from restaurants and shops in downtown Sosua
  • Scuba diving excursions available and water sports rentals on-site
  • Beachfront massages available in cabanas
  • Five restaurants (buffet and a la carte), numerous bars, and a dance club on-site
  • Pleasant rooms include flat-screen TVs and balconies or patios
  • Daily entertainment poolside and nightly activities
See More Pros

Cons

  • Gets overcrowded on weekends and peak season (long buffet lines)
  • Property is showing some wear and tear
  • Food is just average
  • Fee for Wi-Fi, and connection can be spotty
  • Small fee to rent umbrellas on the beach
  • Basic rooms lack mini-fridges and coffeemakers
  • No fitness center or spa
See More Cons

Bottom Line

The 299-room Casa Marina Reef is a mid-range, all-inclusive hotel that while far from luxurious, offers excellent value for the price. Highlights include two nice sandy beaches, appealing oceanfront pools, a huge central pool, free sports rentals, and all-inclusive food and drinks. Rooms are basic and pleasant with tile floors, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, and small balconies. It’s also one of the few resorts that’s within walking distance of a real Dominican town, giving guests a chance to escape from the all-inclusive bubble. Beachfront massages are available in cabanas and there's an on-site dance club and daily entertainment. On the downside, the restaurants are often overcrowded, most of the food is mediocre, and the rooms are basic with no free Wi-Fi. 

See More Bottom Line

Oyster Hotel Review

Casa Marina Beach Resort

Scene

Mid-range, all-inclusive hotel with lovely oceanfront location, but beware of the crowds

One of the older resorts in the Dominican Republic, mid-range Casa Marina Reef is beginning to show some wear and tear. It technically used to be divided into two resorts -- Casa Marina Reef and Casa Marina Beach -- but now the two are one and the same. The property is less relaxing and luxurious than many resorts in the region, yet it has an especially friendly and casual vibe. A rocky cliff area between the two beaches offers hammocks, lounge chairs, and a series of small pools, which makes for a cozy tropical setting.

One of the biggest cons here is overcrowding during peak season and weekends. The pools can get crammed, and it's often hard to find a table in the restaurants (a staff member instructed us to share a table with other guests). When the hotel is crowded, expect to be herded through a crowded buffet line and then make awkward conversations at a shared table. The bulk of the clientele at Casa Marina Reef are budget travelers looking for some beach, booze, and fun -- which the resort delivers. Expect to see families, couples, lone retirees, and college student on spring break.

See More Scene

Location

Walking distance from downtown El Batey, Sosua and near the airport

Located down a side street in the El Batey neighborhood of Sosua, Casa Marina Reef is one of the rare all-inclusives where guests can actually walk into town and check out local shops, restaurants, and nightlife. After a two-minute stroll guests can find an ice cream shop, dance clubs, authentic Dominican restaurants, and tourist shops. Sosua can be a bit seedy at night, but we felt generally safe during our visit. Casa Marina Reef is one of the most convenient resorts to reach from the Puerto Plata airport (just 10-15 minutes by taxi).

  • Two-minute stroll to downtown El Batey, Sosua
  • 13-minute taxi to Puerto Plata Airport
  • 30-minute taxi to Puerto Plata town
  • 45-minute taxi to Ocean World Aquarium
See More Location

Rooms

Modest rooms with private balconies and few amenities

Each room at Casa Marina Reef comes with two double beds or one king bed. They’re sparsely decorated with white walls, white bedspreads, and white tile floors. The chairs, throw pillows, and coverlets offer bright pops of color in shades of orange or lime green, depending on what side of the hotel you’re on. As far as amenities, each comes with a flat-screen TV, balcony or patio, and not much else. Wi-Fi is an added fee. Bathrooms are simple with plenty of counter space, but some of the tile grout looks grungy, and hairdryers and sets of toiletries shouldn't be expected. 

See More Rooms

Features

Plentiful pools, beach volleyball, massage services, and water sports

Casa Marina Reef has a solid range of amenities. The most popular attractions are the pools, which come in various shapes and sizes: a huge main pool, three hot tub-sized oceanfront pools, two average-sized pools, and two shallow children's pools. Other highlights include a nightclub, business center, beachside massage cabanas, gift shop, a theater offering regular evening entertainment, and on-site photographers, which will take snapshots of guests with a resident monkey or on the beach. Activities-wise, the resort offers beach volleyball, bocce ball, table tennis, kayaks, floats, snorkels, and more -- all free of charge. Do expect to pay a fee for Wi-Fi. 

See More Features

All-Inclusive / Food

Five restaurants and plentiful bars with all-inclusive food and drink

The resort has a total of five restaurants: two buffets and three reservation-only, a la carte venues specializing in Mexican, Italian, and seafood. The cuisine overall is average. Guests should be sure to reserve their spot in the a la carte restaurants first thing in the morning to guarantee a table. At least half a dozen bars serve all-inclusive drinks and cocktails throughout the resort. The alcohol is all bottom shelf, but, in a familiar all-inclusive trap, guests have the option to pay extra for better brands.

See More All-Inclusive / Food

Beach

Two nice beaches separated by a rocky reef

Casa Marina Reef has an excellent location with two beaches. Guests who like to body surf will enjoy the warm waves on the northernmost beach, while families with kids may prefer the calmer waters on the southern beach. Both beaches are soft and sandy, and the water -- though not crystal clear -- is a pretty shade of blue. Plenty of plastic lounge chairs are up for grabs, and beach umbrellas can be rented for a small fee. 

See More Beach

Things You Should Know About Casa Marina Beach Resort

Also Known As

  • Casa Marina Reef

Address

Calle Alejo Martinez, Sosua 57600, Dominican Republic

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

Casa Marina Beach Resort

Scene

Mid-range, all-inclusive hotel with lovely oceanfront location, but beware of the crowds

One of the older resorts in the Dominican Republic, mid-range Casa Marina Reef is beginning to show some wear and tear. It technically used to be divided into two resorts -- Casa Marina Reef and Casa Marina Beach -- but now the two are one and the same. The property is less relaxing and luxurious than many resorts in the region, yet it has an especially friendly and casual vibe. A rocky cliff area between the two beaches offers hammocks, lounge chairs, and a series of small pools, which makes for a cozy tropical setting.

One of the biggest cons here is overcrowding during peak season and weekends. The pools can get crammed, and it's often hard to find a table in the restaurants (a staff member instructed us to share a table with other guests). When the hotel is crowded, expect to be herded through a crowded buffet line and then make awkward conversations at a shared table. The bulk of the clientele at Casa Marina Reef are budget travelers looking for some beach, booze, and fun -- which the resort delivers. Expect to see families, couples, lone retirees, and college student on spring break.

See More Scene

Location

Walking distance from downtown El Batey, Sosua and near the airport

Located down a side street in the El Batey neighborhood of Sosua, Casa Marina Reef is one of the rare all-inclusives where guests can actually walk into town and check out local shops, restaurants, and nightlife. After a two-minute stroll guests can find an ice cream shop, dance clubs, authentic Dominican restaurants, and tourist shops. Sosua can be a bit seedy at night, but we felt generally safe during our visit. Casa Marina Reef is one of the most convenient resorts to reach from the Puerto Plata airport (just 10-15 minutes by taxi).

  • Two-minute stroll to downtown El Batey, Sosua
  • 13-minute taxi to Puerto Plata Airport
  • 30-minute taxi to Puerto Plata town
  • 45-minute taxi to Ocean World Aquarium
See More Location

Rooms

Modest rooms with private balconies and few amenities

Each room at Casa Marina Reef comes with two double beds or one king bed. They’re sparsely decorated with white walls, white bedspreads, and white tile floors. The chairs, throw pillows, and coverlets offer bright pops of color in shades of orange or lime green, depending on what side of the hotel you’re on. As far as amenities, each comes with a flat-screen TV, balcony or patio, and not much else. Wi-Fi is an added fee. Bathrooms are simple with plenty of counter space, but some of the tile grout looks grungy, and hairdryers and sets of toiletries shouldn't be expected. 

See More Rooms

Features

Plentiful pools, beach volleyball, massage services, and water sports

Casa Marina Reef has a solid range of amenities. The most popular attractions are the pools, which come in various shapes and sizes: a huge main pool, three hot tub-sized oceanfront pools, two average-sized pools, and two shallow children's pools. Other highlights include a nightclub, business center, beachside massage cabanas, gift shop, a theater offering regular evening entertainment, and on-site photographers, which will take snapshots of guests with a resident monkey or on the beach. Activities-wise, the resort offers beach volleyball, bocce ball, table tennis, kayaks, floats, snorkels, and more -- all free of charge. Do expect to pay a fee for Wi-Fi. 

See More Features

All-Inclusive / Food

Five restaurants and plentiful bars with all-inclusive food and drink

The resort has a total of five restaurants: two buffets and three reservation-only, a la carte venues specializing in Mexican, Italian, and seafood. The cuisine overall is average. Guests should be sure to reserve their spot in the a la carte restaurants first thing in the morning to guarantee a table. At least half a dozen bars serve all-inclusive drinks and cocktails throughout the resort. The alcohol is all bottom shelf, but, in a familiar all-inclusive trap, guests have the option to pay extra for better brands.

See More All-Inclusive / Food

Beach

Two nice beaches separated by a rocky reef

Casa Marina Reef has an excellent location with two beaches. Guests who like to body surf will enjoy the warm waves on the northernmost beach, while families with kids may prefer the calmer waters on the southern beach. Both beaches are soft and sandy, and the water -- though not crystal clear -- is a pretty shade of blue. Plenty of plastic lounge chairs are up for grabs, and beach umbrellas can be rented for a small fee. 

See More Beach

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Beach

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Pool

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.