Frequently Asked Questions (Lifestyle Holiday Resort)
- Updated 01/27/2020
1 ) What is the guideline on tipping ?
- There is no set guideline, we tip all staff across the board.
We typically tip $3-$5 per bedroom for the house
keeper, $1-$2 for each drink item / snack delivered by wait
staff or bartenders. We typically tip $5.00 per
person for each dinner and $3 per person for breakfast and
lunch service. This is a guideline on what we
tip while on property only. We are asked the question
on tipping quite often as people want to tip for the
exceptional service they have received. The resort
staff is always grateful for all tips.
2 ) You advertise the lowest all inclusive rate for all Kosher Rentals how can I verify the
legitimacy of this claim ?
- You can always call the resort @ (809) 970-7777 to verify ANY of our information. You will save $20.00
per adult per night on the current Kosher all inclusive rate. You will also save and additional $15.00
per adult per night in all villas, $7.00 per adult per
night in the Presidential Suites and $5.00 per adult
per night in all other accommodations as we are paying your resort fee for all
travel to Lifestyle for
all 2021 reservations.
3 ) I am a bit confused as to how this all works.. can you explain the pricing in detail.
- 1st you choose an accommodation type IE: Crown Villa. The price of the Crown Villa is $190.00 per
night or $1,195.00 per week. This is for the villa only and it is not a per person price it is a villa only price
Lets say you have a family of 5 which consists of 2 adults and 3 children ages 12, 7 and 2. You would
pay the resort the all inclusive per adult per night along with children 3-11 @
1/2 the adult rate
and the child under 3 is free.
4 ) I have been told that there is a Mandatory Resort Fee for all reservations starting January 2019 ?
- That is a fact.. the resort has a MANDATORY RESORT FEE for all reservation which is currently $15.00
per adult per night in the villas, $7.00 for the Presidential
Suites and $5.00 per adult per night in all
other accommodations. We however have paid the resort to waive this fee for all our guest for
ALL TRAVEL to Lifestyle during the 2021 calendar year. You
must complete your travel by 12/31/2021
This will save you huge money over all other renters in the resort.
5 ) If I stay in a Crown Villa is the pool really private ?
- Yes the pool is a private pool exclusively for you.
This only means that no one else can use your pool
and does not mean that your swimming area cannot be viewed
from another villa / neighbor or street.
6 ) How will I know which Crown Villa I will receive ?
- You would not as the resort only assigns villa #'s usually 1-2 days prior to travel. We always request
the best villa available for all our guests.
7 ) Are the Crown Villas air conditioned ?
- The typical Crown Villa is not centrally air conditioned.. the bedroom areas are air conditioned but the
main living areas of the villas are not. There are some villas which are completely air conditioned but
there are not many.
8 ) Do the villas have ceiling fans ?
- Most all villas have ceiling fans in the main areas as well as the bedrooms.
9 ) Can I request a Non-Smoking Villa ?
- There are no Non-Smoking villas in the resort as they all allow smoking. I am a Non-Smoker and I have
never experience a villa which smells of smoke.
10) What is Chairman's Circle Elite and are you that type of owner ?
- Chairman's Circle Elite is the highest level of ownership that the resort offers. You will
have access to the VIP areas, VIP World, VIP Beach, ETC... You will be staying as my guest and
receive Excellent Service and VIP Benefits from this resort.
You will get invited to the VIP Parties on the resort as well. There is no higher access for guests
than the access that you will receive by renting from us.
11) Will I receive the same access in this resort as you the owner ?
- No, You don't receive owner benefits which differ by contract and the type of owner. You will receive
the highest level of Guest VIP that the resort offers automatically with all rentals. You can upgrade any
rental to the "Gold Band" which will give you owners level guest access in the resort - this will give you
the following additional VIP areas: Serenity Beach, Harmony Beach and Lifestyle Beach.
There are members who will promise you a "Gold Band", but understand that most can not offer a
"Gold Band" unless they are present in the resort. Please remember that your rental already has the
highest guest level VIP included at no charge for your stay. You have the most benefits given as a
guest of a Chairman Circle Member. You choose what works best for you "BLUE" or "GOLD".
12) What airports should I fly into / How long is the ride to the resort ?
- You will only want to fly into Puerto Plata (POP) Puerto Plata is about 1/2 Hour from the resort. You must
submit your airport pick-up form 14 days in advance in order to receive free transportation.
- We never recommend that you book your flights 1st, we always suggest you wait until you have your
resort confirmation number in hand before you book any airfare.
13) I saw before where you offered pick-up from Santiago (STI) is that still available ?
- The resort no longer offers pick-up from Santiago, however we at Your Vacation Dreams have a
special arrangement with the resort and we now offer you free transportation
should you be staying 6+ nights
Should your reservation be under 6 nights then there is a $125.00 charge
for your round trip or one way pick-up.
The normal charge is about $250 +/- round trip but it is now FREE with
your 6+ night reservation. The ride
is about 1 and 1/2 hours to the resort. You will have resort transportation at the airport waiting for you.
- We never recommend that you book your flights 1st, we always suggest you wait until you have your
resort confirmation number before you book airfare. (Max pick-up qty is 6
adults/children with one van from Santiago)
- Please note all airport transportation must be arranged at least 14 days in advance of your arrival date to guarantee
your pick-up. Should you not have your forms in by that date
you may need to arrange your own transportation
14) I am flying into Santo Domingo (SDQ) how will I get to the resort and how long is the ride ?
- Santo Domingo is about 3 1/2+ hours from the resort via taxi service. We have never flown into
the Santo Domingo airport, but we have had guests who did and used the following service
to get to the resort http://www.dominicanairporttransfers.com
- We never recommend that you book your flights 1st, we always suggest you wait until you have your
resort confirmation number in hand before you book any airfare.
15) Are there any other Fees ?
- There are no hidden fees or taxes paid to Lifestyle Kosher
Vacations, LLC or paid to the resort.
16) Can I get a Villa on the beach
- We can request a Villa on the beach for you. We are
Chairman Circle members and as such our
member requests take priority. We can not guarantee you a Villa on the beach as the resort will
not guarantee one to us. The beach front villas are in short supply.
17) How long does the reservation process take ?
- We usually have a confirmation number for your stay within
3-5 business days. We will forward this
information to you along with an airport transportation pick-up request document.
18) Will I get a golf cart for travel throughout the resort ?
- We can GUARANTEE you a golf cart for the duration of your stay. There is a small fee associated
with this plan. Fees are $10.00 per day or $50.00 week, any days over 7 are @ $7.00 per day.
**GUARANTEE** - Should you not receive a golf cart you will receive a complete refund and $25.00
bonus refund. Golf carts are currently for Villas Only. The golf cart is highly recommended as the
resort is quite large and having the golf is very convenient for your villa rental. The resort always makes
the final decision with golf cart availability and we can ensure you that our guests take a priority with
golf cart distribution. Each golf carts typically seats 4,
there are some larger ones that seat 6 but those
are only used for larger villas when available.
The resort charges a $100.00
REFUNDABLE security deposit
per golf cart. This fee must be paid
in CASH prior to the golf cart being received. Please be prepared
for this as the resort ONLY TAKES CASH
for this deposit.
19) If I book the Villa and I only have 2 people traveling will I have to share my Villa ?
- NO the Villa is yours and yours only, only you and your traveling guests will be in the Villa.
20) Is the $1195.00 per week fee per person ?
- NO that fee is per Villa. Your price is the same if you have 1 or 6 people staying in the Villa.
The only extra that you pay is the current all-inclusive fee for the # of people in your party per day.
21) How do I arrange for airport pick-up upon my arrival into the resort ?
- You don't, airport pick-up is a service that is provided for you when you book your dream
vacation conditional that you fly into Puerto Plata or Santiago. (Max pick-up is 6 in one van from Santiago)
22) What are the fees for airport transportation ?
- Airport pick-up from Santiago is FREE with 6+ night
reservation (Max Occupancy for any Santiago Pick-Up is 6 adults/
children and all in one van). Reservations of 6 or less
nights have a $125.00 charge for round trip or one way pick-up.
- Airport pick-up from Puerto Plata is FREE
- Optional Helicopter service from Puerto Plata is offered at a fee $$$
- Please note all airport transportation must be arranged at least 14 days in advance of your arrival date to guarantee
your FREE or paid pick-up. Should you not have your forms in by that date you may need to arrange
for transportation.
- WE ALSO DO NOT determine the time of your departure and we have NO SAY
as to when you depart. We are not able
to change your departure time which is set by the resort. It is not
atypical to arrive to the airport 3+ hour before your
flight departure.
23) I have read where some members are including the limousine and the helicopter will I have that ?
- There are some members who will try and include the limousine or the helicopter for transportation
to entice a sale, but you will find yourself setup for disappointment when you arrive to the airport and
the "Guaranteed" limo or helicopter is not there for you. The resort has a very limited number of limo's
and only one helicopter so when an owner tells you that you are going to get this have them put it in
writing and ask how much money you will receive back when you don't get your transportation ?
The cost to rent the limousine is about $350.00 each way and the helicopter is about $300.00
to $500.00 each way (depending on the number of people).
24) Is there Internet service available in the Villa / Resort
- Most all Villas have Internet access - there is a fee associated with this service. Internet access
is available at no charge at VIP World, VIP Tower, VIP Beach, NV Beach and most all VIP areas. There
are free computers for your use at Villa Reception as well.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU
DON'T PURCHASE
THE INTERNET SERVICE OFFERED AS THE SERVICE IS SUPER SLOW AND
UNRELIABLE.
25) How close is the Beach from the resort ?
- The entire resort is located on Cofresi beach as such you will be within walking distance to the
beach from any villa.
26) Is there any refund policy ?
- There is no refund for no-shows or early departures, however if you can not make your dates
and you notify us 60 days in advance we will do our best to reschedule your trip for you, we
do charge $100.00 for trip date changes. If we can not provide you with the dates you request
(non holiday) then I will issue you a refund of 50% of your total trip. We also offer trip protection as
an option.
27) Can I get a 4, 5 or 6 bedroom villa Guaranteed ?
- Yes as a Chairman Circle Member we can guarantee 4, 5 & 6 bedroom villas.
we re-negotiated our ownership with the resort and we are currently one of the very few
members
who can make this guarantee. You may call the resort to verify any of our information. Should
your size villa booked not be available for any reason the resort will provide you with qty (2)
3 Bedroom villas.
28) Are there any laundry facilities within the Villa ?
- No there are not any located within your villa, however the resort does offer laundry service and
there are laundry facilities located within the resort.
29) Does the Villa have a Safe for my valuables ?
- Yes each villa has a safe that you can rent from the VIP Check-In desk. Cost is $20.00 per week.
30) I have a small pet that I usually travel with, are pets welcome ?
- Sorry there are no animals allowed, except for those assisting people with special needs.
31) Can I have alcoholic beverages other than
beer delivered to my villa / accommodation ?
- YES, That is now a benefit that you have. All Reservations have a special menu to order from and
alcohol will be available for pick-up and you can take it to
your accommodation. This is at NO
ADDITIONAL CHARGE.
This is NOT an unlimited supply and the resort
will let you know what is available
for your reservation.
32) Does the resort offer child care ?
- Yes the resort does offer child care and this can be arranged at any time while at the resort.
33) Do I need to bring any type of Power Adapter to the resort when I travel there ?
- The resort uses the same power receptacles found in the U.S.
34) Do I need to exchange any U.S. Dollars for Dominican Pesos ?
- No, The resort as well as all vendors that we have found take American Currency.
35) Does the resort accept Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, Amex) for Payments for all-inclusive ?
- Yes, The resort accepts all major credit cards for all-inclusive as well as other activities.
36) Does the resort supply Hair Dryers and Irons for all rental accommodations ?
- Yes, Every room type does have a Hair Dryer and Iron.
37) What is the cost to visit Ocean World
Park (Located right next door) ?
- All our guests in all units will receive FREE Ocean World Tickets valued at $69.00 Each. Your ticket
is good for 1 visit to Ocean World on any day you choose. Just Visit VIP Customer Service for your
FREE Ticket (located at the basement level of the VIP Tower). You may be given other options
available to you for free or a great discounted rate. Ocean World requires a 48 Hour advance notice.
The
resort may substitute Ocean World Tickets with another day pass
which will have similar value. This is done
at the discretion of the resort and we have absolutely no control
as to which benefit will be available for your
stay. It's also VERY IMPORTANT to note that should you be
given tickets to Ocean World and you don't visit
the park you WILL be charged for the tickets. Please don't
waste this benefit by not using your tickets as
your tickets are part of a daily allocation and your tickets are
reserved in your name and can only be used by
your traveling party. Again you WILL BE CHARGED for any
unused tickets by the resort.
38) My contract has a different All-Inclusive Rate then what you are currently advertising, do I pay
the new rate or my contract rate ?
- You will always pay your contract rate, as an example lets say
you booked a stay in November 2017
and were visiting the resort in December 2018 and when you booked the all-inclusive rate was
$130.00pp/pd and the resort raised the rate sometime in 2018 to $150.00pp/pd you still would pay the
$130.00pp/pd since you were booked under the old rate. We suggest that you always be aware of
what your contract rate is (last line of your contract) and always make sure that you pay that rate
upon check-in.
39) I have read where the resort has a
new Hookah bar called the Spot - Can I use that ?
- You do have access to "The Spot" which is located directly inside VIP World. This is exclusive to
any guests with VIP access.
40) What is the Check-In and Check-Out time for the Villas and Suites ?
- The Check-In time is 3:00pm and the Check-Out Time is 11:00am. Remember that your unit may not
always be available at the above check-in time, so sit back-relax and have a drink while the resort
prepares your room for you.
41) Do you have any restrictions on check-in or check-out days and / or length of stay ?
- We have no restrictions on the check-in or check-out day. We suggest that you find the lowest price
on your airfare and then use those dates for your check-in / check-out dates. We offer length of stays
from 4 nights minimum to 1 year, so any length of time in-between is acceptable. You stay will be
pro-rated based upon the amount of time you choose. We find that flights are generally cheaper if you
travel mid week from Tuesday - Thursday.
42) Does the resort offer a crib and/or a high chare for my child ?
- Yes, the resort offers cribs and high chairs. We will make a note on your reservation and you may also
obtain either form VIP Guest Services.
43) I would like to know a phone number where I can reach the resort ?
- The main phone number to the resort is (809) 970-7777, there is also an alternate # on your contract.
44) What is the climate at the resort ?
- The annual average temp in the Dominican is 77 degrees. The temp can range from 75-90 during the
winter months and 80-95 during the summer months.
45) What is the process to book my vacation ?
- To book any vacation rental with us we simply need your Name, Address, City, State, Zip, Telephone #(s)
and the unit being booked. We will send you out a rental contract that will have all the necessary
information needed to complete your rental. Reservations are usually complete in 3-4 days.
46) Do you require payment in full to make my reservation ?
- We don't require full payment to make your reservation, you can choose our 50% payment option which
will guarantee your accommodations. Your final payment of 50% is due 30 days in advance of your
travel dates for all non-holiday reservations and 60 days in advance for all holiday travel dates.
47) Is the water safe to drink on the resort ?
- No, the water is not safe to drink on the resort or anywhere on the island. There are some guests who
will use bottled water (provided) to brush their teeth. All the ice and water at the bars are from a water
company and they are safe to drink.
48) Do you need a passport to travel to the Dominican Republic ?
- Yes a passport is required to visit the Dominican Republic. All guests regardless of age require a
passport -- this means everyone. Children including infants require a passport for travel.
49) How can I guarantee the quality or the view of the unit that I rent from you.
- Unfortunately you can't as the resort makes absolutely no guarantees to us. We have the highest level
membership the resort offers and we always do our best to ensure your satisfaction.
There is no way to
ensure any room placement and nor can any member make this
guarantee to you.
50) I have a membership with Lifestyle but can't get the accommodations I need, can I rent from you ?
- Unfortunately you can't - the resort policy is that we DO NOT rent to existing members and so if you have
rented from us and the resort finds out you are a member you will be stripped of ALL VIP benefits that we
have extended to you under our membership. You will receive absolutely NO COMPENSATION should
you be stripped of all benefits by the resort. We highly recommend that you use your own membership
with the resort to book any accommodations.
51) Are the any fee's to change or modify my reservation ?
- Yes, There is a $100.00 fee to change any reservation, add any feature, change the quantity of people
Traveling on your reservation, Etc.... Should you for instance change the dates and wish to add the
golf cart that is 2 changes and the fee would be $200.00. We always recommend that you ensure the
information given to us is accurate so you can avoid any change fee.
52) Do I have to attend a "Sales Pitch"
- You do not... you may be approached by a staff member asking you if you would like a "Tour" of the resort
and this is the "Sales Pitch" .. So if you have no desire for a "Sales Pitch" then simply tell them "NO"
53) Can you guarantee a Minyan ?
- We can never predict the mindset of the men on property or amount of men and as such we
can never guarantee
a Minyan on the property.
They ALWAYS try for a Minyan and whenever possible they do
their best to provide all guests with this service.
54) How far of a walk is it to the Kosher Restaurant "The
Blues" should I be staying in ?
- The Crown Villas
----- Depending on your villa you could be a 5 minute to a 30 minute
walk to the restaurant.
- The Tropical
----- Approximately a 5-7 minute walk to the restaurant.
- Cofresi Palm Standard -----
Approximately a 5-7 minute walk to the restaurant.
- Cofresi Beach Suites
----- Approximately a 7-10 minute walk to the restaurant.
- Cofresi Spa Suite
----- Approximately a 3-5 minute walk to the restaurant.
- The 1/2 Bedroom Suites ----- Approximately a 5-7
minute walk to the restaurant.
- The Presidential Suites -----
Approximately a 1-2 minute walk to the restaurant.
55) WHAT'S THE CATCH / WHY IS IT SO CHEAP ?
- There is no catch, no sales promotion, no time share presentation that you have to attend -
there is NO CATCH AT ALL ! We are owners and wish to extend to you a vacation to remember.
Why ? Because we know you will refer your friends and have an experience that most could not
have had otherwise. Remember that you can always call any one of us and know that you
are speaking directly to an owner.
Mark Austin @ (860) 982-3437 or David Charron @ (860) 982-3439.