We just spent a week at the Hyatt Hacienda del Mar in Dorado, Puerto Rico. We have been to the location five times before over the past 23 years and have always enjoyed it. Our first visit was in 1985 at the end of our honeymoon, then in 1989 with our then 2 year old, again in 1992 with our then 5 year old (leaving an infant at home) and then in 2001 with our 14, 9 & 6 year olds. My husband bought this week in a 2 bedroom timeshare at a school auction, overbidding significantly with memories of all those wonderful vacations past. Then we started to read the reviews...the adjacent Hyatt hotels on the property were closed, the river pool closed and we started to really worry. Were we off to some abandoned hotel site??? When we arrived we were very disappointed to see the 9 foot chain link fencing and the empty, abandoned river pool. Not only was it spooky but it was very sad, with all our memories! Since this was potentially our last big family vacation now that our kids are 20, 15, & 12 we swallowed hard and decided to make the best of it. So we went ahead and despite all the negatives we had a great week. First of all our two bedroom unit on the fifth floor was all recently renovated, new appliances, new sofa bed, very clean and with a beautiful view of the ocean (although also a view of the abandoned hotel). The one remaining pool that was open was nice and the beach was very pleasant. I did prefer the pool and the lagoon at the adjacent Dorado Beach Club (the former Hyatt Dorado Beach which is also closed) which guests at the Hacienda del mar are also allowed to use. While we were there the surf was very rough for 2-3 days due to a storm out at sea so the beach was closed for swimming. The waves however were amazing!!! The food at both locations was significantly limited, really only the beach bohios at each location. The burgers at the Dorado Beach club were fantastic although expensive $11. We bought groceries and beer as well as cases of water at the "Amigo" so we did have breakfast and snacks in our unit. During the week we ate dinner at the Hacienda del Sol (which was way overpriced and not very good), the Trattoria de Nanda (twice which was pretty good), Applebees and La Terraza, all in Dorado. The best thing about the resort is the golf courses. My husband and two sons played both the Plantation course and the famous Dorado East 6 of 7 days and again although expensive they had an awesome time! In the end it was a great vacation and we are considering buying into this timeshare resort since it has so many memories for us. One very important factor, you must rent a car since the cabs are way overpriced and you do have to drive to restaurants, to the grocery store, to the golf course (which is adjacent but the clubhouse is at least a mile away) not to mention to the airport. Overall we had a great vacatiion despite some pretty significant obstacles.

Before going, we read some negative reviews here and were a little worried. We own at Hyatt (Lake Tahoe, 2 weeks, and Hyatt Naples, 1 week) so this was an exchange. We found the property and the staff terrific. The beach is beautiful and the pools great. Good restaurants within 15 minute drive (and the resort will shuttle you if you have no car). The adjacent hotel IS closed (supposed to re-open in 2010) but we did not find this to be a problem. In fact, it did make beach chairs and tables more available. We will return.

Be aware that if you are visiting the hotel, it is not what it used to be. There are no restaurants on site, only one pool remains. The kids pool with the water slide and the river pool are closed! I did not know this when I booked through Travelocity. However, the existing pool and grounds were still nice and the beach is beautiful. A bit rough for small children but fun for the older kids. All the staff were accommodating. So much is changing with the hotel and the attached property that it is tough to know what will happen with it in the near future.
I highly recommend that if you do go, take a catamaran cruise out of Fajardo - it was awesome for adults and kids of all ages!

our 5th visit to the Hyatt. We got there just before the river pool closed at the end of January. the barricades were being erected as the Cerromar was just sold. Nobody is sure who wiil operate the new hotel. There is only one pool now. the gift shop/store is closed as well. The property to the left of the Hyatt has also been sold. Not much property left. No more bicycles as they don't own the property adjacent any longer and insurance is an issue. The casino and shuttle are also gone. Only the small outdoor grill is left. The rooms are not kept up very well. mold in the bathrooms and around sliding doors. We thought of purchasing a timeshare but now it is out of the question. Hyatt staff don't know the future of the resort. It was beautiful when it was whole. Major construction will begin soon through 2011 per the staff. we will miss it.