Cottage a Isla Contoy

"Second time at Catalonia to celebrate a birthday and anniversary, following a honeymoon at Royal La Romana in the Dominican Republic. We booked through Expedia and then arranged a room and service upgrade directly with the resort, praising Catalonia as their top hotel chain for guest treatment. Their swim-up room was spacious, spotless, and private, complete with a bidet (much appreciated by Italians). The property’s 5th Avenue offers appealing architecture, mini markets, and most of the restaurants. Two pools plus a children’s pool each have a pool bar, and there are also two beach bars. The spa, especially the couples’ massage, provides a clean, relaxing setting with a pool view worth the trip alone. The beach is the highlight: fine, white sand, abundant loungers, and palm trees for natural shade—no early-morning rush for seats required. Long shoreline walks are a real treat. Gran Caribe stands out for both variety and quality, and special thanks go to Pedro for his avocado toast. BLoved and the romantic dinner felt slightly underwhelming compared to Royal La Romana. Aromes serves excellent espresso. Upgrading to Privileged status was worthwhile for the room, an exclusive beach area, private bar, and priority buffet section. While southern Europeans might find the weather and sea temperatures a bit cool, it remains a highly enjoyable experience overall."