VIK Arena Blanca & Cayena Beach Club - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

4276 reviews

• 

  Nearly perfect week there

  I was there from the 7 until the 14 of june, i had one of the best time i had there in almost 20 years visiting the DR. First, my room didn't have any issues at all, air conditioner was workingt well, the building i was in was quiet, both the maids were nice and meticulous and not a second without hot water. I'm planning on going back in september and i will ask for the same room (3228), if available. All staff were great, all of them i encountered, the reception guys, the bartenders, especially Ricardo and Cristian at the Lobby's bar where i was every night until midnight, at the restaurant (el Mirador), all of them were nice too, same thing goes for the restaurant supervisors, i even told one that the food there was the best i had in the caribbeans (and it's true) and even though he was happy to hear it, he didn't seem surprised at all since he probably knows as much as i do how tasteful his food is. To conclude, if there is one thing the hotel should tale a closer look at would be to install rubber carpets in buildings because when it's raining or when the floors are wet, it's very slippery and dangerous, accidents can happen fast. As for the rest, don't change anything.

  Jun 15, 2025
• 

  Don’t believe the website

  CALL AHEAD! This place is under construction and IS NOT what the website says. One of the two pools is closed. It’ll be months. There is NO beach activities. Says water crafts and volleyball etc. None. It says all-inclusive but the “beach bar” closes at 6pm… yes. 6. And there are NO waiters going around the left over pool to take beverage orders. You have to get up or out of the water yourself and walk 200M to the bar. Then it’s watered down (can’t even taste the “drink” part) and in kid’s sized cup. Seriously, check ahead. There are 2 speciality restaurants, but one is open every other day… so not two choices. Look, they are trying, but you’d be better off going somewhere else if you want an “all-inclusive” experience where you can relax all day. You can’t there. They let anyone smoke anywhere, and some cultures still smoke A LOT, same with loud music. Teens with personal speakers blasting poolside. If you want a cool drink and someone to refill it (this isn’t your resort). What you save in money, you’ll spend in steps fetching your own service and wondering if the 5-item menu will change (if won’t). If you see my regular reviews, I almost always say positive things. But this was a real let down, and Apple Vacations lied to us when we asked about the resort, so watch out for that too. Do your homework. This was a $200 value with a $1500 price tag. :(… the pic? That’s the beach. Short and filthy… real bummer.

  Jun 15, 2025
• 

  Nice stay but beach not good.

  Rooms are nice and spacious. The food was good. We were let known after our reservation that one of the pools was under renovations. The available pool is very deep and hard for the small children. Beach was not good since the hotel Does not clean the seaweed.

  Jun 05, 2025
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  Always the same, always different and always a great stay

  We return to the Vik each year because the previous visit was enjoyable. The Vik is renovating building 5 and that will be good for those who need more upscale accommodations and don't want to pay for the Cayenne Club. We have always been lucky in both the rooms we got and that with a few exceptions everything worked. We have stayed and payed at more upscale locations up the beach and never felt the cost was worth it. The food id good and a variety available. The beach has suffered from storms and rising tide levels but is still not as crowded as many of the larger resorts up the beach. Losing about 15 palapas near the dive shop certainly has caused some problems but many people simply move to the grassy area in front of building five. The large pool is definitely in need of updates but I don't travel to the tropics to sit by a pool. Miles of beautiful beach stretch off in both directions from the Vik. Never attend the evening shows so can't comment there.. we head tot he beach after supper to watch the stars and occasional thunder storms off shore. Our trip was flawless and enjoyable, again, so you will likely find us drinking our coffees and meeting new friends down near the Pelicano Dive Shop next April.

  May 01, 2025
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  Please put ALOT of consideration into your decision to come here and pay your hard earned money!!!!!

  I'm here right now and had to take this time to write something. This is not a 4 star hotel, the pics of the hotel and amenities are a lie. It's old and decrepit. We've had to be moved, when we arrived we were given a room on the first floor without a locking balcony and they said "that's fine". Absolutely not, me and my children are in the room with no security in a foreign country. We were moved to the second floor, but there's no elevator, so had to carry up all luggage. Beautiful beach, though there are people CONSTANTLY harassing trying to sell stuff, like excursions, hair braids, jewelry, pictures with parrots (beware the holders are violent), Marijuana and alot of drugs! When you fan one off there's another behind. And if you don't oblige, they dirty talk you in Spanish! The good is low grade and there are CATS all over (some look sick), plus there are only 3 restaurants and 1 snack bar and 3 bars. The beach is absolutely beautiful, but get there early the loungers get reserved by 8 am! Also there are not alot of towels, they open at 8, so we line up for 8 and they don't get there until 8:30 or 9 and have an attitudewhen they do! Lots of crabs walking all over in the crevasse. I've tried to be nice to staff, though everyone here looks like there just here to work, no extras (including being friendly, especially the people that get you to play games, very mean snd seemingly annoyed). We played a game this morning reluctantly, based on how well we're asked and as we were playing, they started trying to embrace my 10 year old son on the mic, it was suppose to be a game. Just not friendly and we paid to be here. Honestly make sure you get a great deal ($$$ wise) to actually come to this resort, cause I feel ripped off BIG time!

  Apr 18, 2025