Booked in the fall of 2022 for 7 guests being a family of 3 and a family of 4. Excited for a tropical getaway with good friends. Young adults ranged 18 - 20 in age. Initially nervous reading multiple reviews that appeared mixed and varied. Booked via RCI membership and added the all-inclusive option for all 7 guests. Travel took place end of June into early July of 2023. LVHC ownership vs RCI amenities did stand out, but overall extremely pleased. After reading many reviews initially had concern for our resort location where we would be staying for our Crown Villa, but upon arrival, all the concerns were removed as our Crown Villa location was perfect, as was the villa itself for the 7 guests. Transportation “to” the location is initially provided, but for only 6 guests. You are required to make arrangements for guests greater than 6. We were aware of this in advance and addressed it. Suggest doing this in advance to avoid day off hassles. Arrival driver was courteous and safe, as such, we tipped our driver quite well. Check in process was efficient and extremely friendly. Of note, observing the week, Saturdays and Sundays appeared to be very heavy with check-in / check-out groups….Saturdays in particular. If you can, arrive off weekend and the efficient service will only improve. Here is our first shout out on a week of amazing service from the entire staff at the resort. Our concierge was Ileana Suero, she was fun, professional, helpful, attentive, and just a joy to speak and work with. In our Saturday to Saturday stay, there was only 1 day I didn’t briefly chat with her (Thursday) and she made it known I missed a day. When I say attentive, well she addressed our needs literally immediately, including an extra full bed (villa came with 3 queens), extra bed was required for our 7th guest. We worked with her to manage all of our planned evening dinner reservations, AND for scheduling what became our spoiled enjoyment, our daily fresh cooked breakfast in our villa every morning adjusting the menu as our tastes changed, or on the one day we chose not to have breakfast (Thursday). Let’s touch on the breakfast service, shout out time again, Ecelia was there for us every morning. Popping in early to start the coffee and manage table settings, then returning at our scheduled time to begin preparing and cooking breakfast. Our families came to enjoy this part of the day the most I would say. We sat around the large table together and shared the previous day or the upcoming plans, while enjoying either a US based menu, or a local based menu, but each day whether eggs, bacon, or other, the freshly prepared plantains covered in cooked onions was always a staple. Along with fresh pineapple and orange juice. We thanked both Ileana and Ecelia in the same manner as our driver. The villa was clean upon arrival, spacious for the 7 of us and providing both private quarters and common areas. Perhaps a bit dated, but still ambiance that we appreciated. The private villa pool was just as if not better than the pictures we saw online and we used it daily. Often with early morning dips before breakfast and late night dips after dinner. Our location was fortunate, as we were in a good space for convenient walking distance to many locations. Here is the first difference, based upon observations, I would say at best the resort was at 20-25% occupancy. LHVC guests get a golf cart for use while on their vacation. Not other guests. We saw many idle carts our entire stay, even offering to pay and reserve 1 or 2 (with plenty of availability), this was not an available option. Disappointing, but we managed. We just dialed 0, and would request shuttles in the evening and used them to/from dinner or the beach locations that were open to us. It worked out well for our needs and was not really any noticeable inconvenience, but again, it is possible the reduced capacity gave us improved service. Of note, paying for the WIFI will be a complete waste. Highly suggest you do not do it. WIFI is available at the beach locations, but actually, it was nice to toss the phones into the safe and be “off the grid” for a week. Ok, that was the adults, the young adults couldn’t get to the beach locations fast enough and connect and we lost “face contact” with them while at the VIP beach area or Cofresi beach area. VIP area we found we enjoyed better than Cofresi. The bar service at VIP was impeccable and fast with multiple check-ups. They remembered our orders after just the first visit and welcomed us back our our subsequent returns. Again, across the resort, I don’t recall a single scenario of poor service during our stay. We generally did a 9 AM breakfast, changed and by 10:30 or 11:00 hitting the beach area. Beach is common, and has its share of selling, but the lounge areas are private. Let’s chat on meals. The buffet area we hit for a late lunch and 1 early breakfast (Thursday) was Casablanca. Food was excellent and a great selection at the buffet. The restaurants we hit during our stay were: Mexican (names escapes me), Moonlight, (seasonal food), Moontaz (Thai), Rodizio (Brazilian), Indochine (Asian), Blue Lagoon (Sea), and El Pilon (Dominican). We briefly hit Bellini (Italian ), but not for dinner. Service as Mexican was awesome and great way to start our week. Almost unanimously our favorite was Rodizio. The meat didn’t stop coming and multiple types fresh off of the spindle carved to your plate. We generally ate around 7 each night, but note 1 or 2 locations requires specific attire, gentlemen have some long pants along. Now, again, amenities will vary based upon ownership level, but make sure you also review the weekly programs and nightly entertainment guides provided at check in. Now, I mentioned Thursday a few times, we took an excursion that day off resort. We did the Mega Adrenaline Spash, which is (in order) buggy ride (you drive), zip lining, and then waterfalls. Where OLD clothes and plan to get wet on 2 of 3. You drive the buggies right through water holes and get drenched. Zip lines can be a bit anxious at the start for those with uneasiness with heights, but it isn’t that bad in the end and all 7 of us participated. Review and think twice about the waterfalls. Tight spaces, heights, jumping, sliding on rocks. This one is not for everyone, and that is after a 45 minutes hike to just get started. Plus, no chance to change clothes. What you wear, you wear there, on all three events, and back (wet). Book early upon or before arrival. This was one negative, we got played a bit here and after being promised “a deal” and returning to schedule, in the end we didn’t even get the LHVC 5% discount and paid full price on the brochure for all 7 of us. Just making the reservation to 1.5 hours (needlessly) with a “here’s the best I can do” response. By this time everyone was excited, we just paid and booked, but could have negotiated better or just walked away. During the event the cameramen were cool, but then came the very heavy upsell for the pictures on the bus ride back with limited payment options and must “pay now”. No ability to pay or review online. We eventually bought here too, but this entire process needs a digital upgrade for services and customer experience. Heck, they send you everything electronically anyway, so why not have the process electronic? It is a hit or miss too, we are missing some photos they showed us and received some from other groups……..and it is a person fee for the photos. At this point you are asking why 4 of 5? Well, lost 6+ hours of one day to the extremely heavy upsell and “tour” where I was being convinced to sell them all my RCI timeshare back to them and buy into LHVC. Tour was nice, but then they kept feeding the free flowing champagne and mixed drinks thinking you will sign on the bottom line. Trouble was, when they showed their global map, there wasn’t a place I couldn’t already go. Plus, their math never made sense. In the end my points availability and my annual maintenance was lower than the per visit fee I would incur moving over. Sorry, the potential limo or helicopter, or “golf cart” is not worth it. Plus, I’m going to have any contract reviewed altered to my liking, not theirs. Finally, any purchase of this type, I will choose to address at a U.S. based location where I “just feel” that I have stronger protections for my investment. This was a huge pressure upsell, but owning as long as I have, I have played the game many times and was able to “walk away” eventually. Final upsell, they hit you hard in many locations selling their spa services and massages. All three of our female members eventually took part, none of the guys did. They started the “deal” and upsell process on the first day at our first stop, and again on multiple beach visits. Spa was nice from what was shared, but not over the top. We actually didn’t take part in any major evening activities, choosing our own pool area, but we could “hear” the colosseum performances echoing each night. The main area next to it was under construction our entire visit. We did hit the Pickleball courts 2 - 3 times and enjoyed the competition, but do this later in the evening. Midafternoon one day kicked out tails in that heat. Speaking of other amenities, LOL, the casino is non-existent. No gaming machines (NONE), no gaming tables (no wheel, no blackjack, no craps, nothing). It was empty with no patrons and only a bar with 6+ tvs with some form of sports on. We had a couple of drinks just to watch others walk in, walk around looking for the gaming, ask, and realize there is none. If you wish to swim, stick to the pools, heavy seaweed near the Cofresi beach and heavy rocks near the VIP. The pools in the VIP area are “sitting pools”, but they bring you your beverages! Many other pools to choose from. Our friends said the beach and water were much nicer in the Punta Cana area than what they witnessed here, but still we went in and made the most of it. Even did the paddle boarding. It was still better than a day in the office and eventually you got past the seaweed and avoided the rocks. We would go back, yes, the service was amazing, the food great each night, and our villa with our morning breakfast made our trip complete. While the trip TO the resort was complimentary, the trip back is not, and again, more than 6 becomes an extra feel. Schedule in advance to lock in and pay for your arrangements. We tipped in both USD and DR pesos.