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This is not my first visit to Hacienda; I was here 10–12 years ago a couple of times. While I love Royal Beach in Punta Cana, I have to admit that there is nothing better than the beaches of Bayahibe (La Romana): beautiful white sand, minimal wind, warm and clear water. I know guests who have been coming to this resort for 10 years in a row. There are a lot of spots/activities for kids, but I'm not reviewing its.|Service|We arrived around 3:00 PM after a 7:00 AM flight. The first impression was not great due to construction near the entrance, but the reception staff, especially Jose, quickly changed that by finding us a comfortable room that matched our preferences. For the rest of our stay, service from the staff was consistently excellent.|Location & Lodgings|The resort is directly on the beach, about a one hour drive from PUJ. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and very well maintained. Peacocks, ducks, and geese roam freely, adding extra charm.|The older two and three story buildings have been fully renovated while keeping their original character (note: no elevators). Rooms are modern, clean, and comfortable, with very good beds and linens. The layout allows you to walk under cover to restaurants, pools, and the beach in case of bad weather.|Food & Bars|The main buffet is very good, with fresh, tasty food and a wide variety of dishes. The French à la carte restaurant was excellent and worth highlighting, while the other specialty restaurants were less impressive. Everything was very clean, and staff were attentive. There are plenty of bars with mostly local and some imported drinks; the cocktail quality is good and the bartenders are friendly.|Pools & Beach|There are several large pools, including one with a swim up bar, plus many sunbeds and shaded areas. Even in high season, the pool areas did not feel crowded.|The beach is the best part of this resort: pristine, very well maintained, with an enormous number of shaded spots. No seaweed, clean and clear water, fine white sand, and almost no rocks – perfect for swimming. The swimming area is large, with zones of different depths, and the beach feels secure and generally very clean, with no disturbance from vendors.|Entertainment|The entertainment team does a great job, especially on the beach. In the evening, there is music, dancing, and small shows or concerts in different areas of the resort, creating a lively but not overwhelming atmosphere.|Serious Drawback – Illness|Unfortunately, there is also a serious downside. Many guests, including my wife, several friends, and myself, experienced stomach problems with vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. In most cases it lasted 24–48 hours, but for elderly or medically fragile guests this could be a serious issue. |My personal suspicion is that the problem may be linked to the drinking water system. Iberostar has switched from bottled water to on site purified water stations where guests refill glass or reusable bottles. You must press and hold a button while filling the bottle, which means if one sick person uses the station, there is a risk of contaminating the button area and, indirectly, other guests’ bottles and hands. If you fill a bottle in the morning and take it to the beach, the water can smell off by the end of the day in the heat. Based on other online reviews, similar issues seem to be reported at multiple Iberostar properties in the Dominican Republic.|Conclusion: The resort, beach, and staff are excellent, and under normal circumstances I would gladly return. However, the recurring stomach illness issue is serious and, in my view, needs to be addressed at a systemic level before I could fully recommend this hotel, especially for older guests or those with health problems.