Hotetur Dorado Club Hotel

didnt really like it, the intertainemnt staff wasnt very good, they hardley had activities apart from areobics, and beach vollyball it was ok considering it was my 2nd time in the DR, the food wasnt all that good, same stuff every day, it all tastes blahhhh the maids came every day to make the beds and stuff, but there was still alot of ants, they even had to get and exterminator twice in 2 weeks, but for the money i guess it was ok

This resort is well above average to start with the reviews i had read on this website after i had booked the holiday led me to be really anxious about what awaited for me at the Hotetur Dorado Club resort in Puerto Plata,but it was fantastic. The food was not boring and bland but tasty and delicious. you could have an omelette cooked to your satisfaction for breakfast or alternativeley bacon and egg or continental, for lunch you can take a walk to the beach and get a fried chicken and chips or acarribean style burger and chips cooked freshly for you. The dinner was a buffet style with an assortment of different foods from lagne to roast chicken and gravy and theres a great midnight to 7 snack bar. Also the drinks flow freely and the fruit punch and pina colada are excellent. The staff are friendly and happy to serve you what more could you ask for. the entertainment staff were good for the kids and are not pushy if you don't want to join in there's a free scuba lesson in the pool and fun and games fom swim aerobics to water volleyball with prizes to be won. The pools at the Dorado club resort were beautiful a medium size for the adults and a small one with a waterfall feature for the kids, and both are kept clean and are lovely and warm and the whole resort is kept spotlessly clean and tidy. the room we stayed in had air conditioning which was a little noisy but not awful and a HUGE bed that could sleep at least three people, so you are absolutely spoilt in comfort the shower bath and toilet are kept fresh and clean as the maid comes in every day if you want her to also upon our arrival there was pretty red flowers on the clean white towels, so that was also a great touch yo a nice room, theres also a tv in your room the sony channel is great to get dressed by with will and grace or dawsons creek on- quality! The beach was less than a 5 minute walk away and led to a private expanse of white sandy beach completely uncrowded, palm trees and gorgeous blue ocean - paradise basically. If there is one thing you must do is go on excursions they are well worth the money, but book it through your hotel rep. We did the excursion to ocean park where we swam with dolphins for about an hour and a bit more for $145 US which is amazing for a once in a lifetime experience, we also did the shark encounter for $35 where you stroke sharks, feed stingrays and then snorkel with each separately a scary but exhilerating experience. We also went on a catamarang (excuse the spelling), which was simply a great sunbathing party , we had a waterfight with the other catamarang , the music was great food and drink were incuded and the staff were funny entertaing and superb on freestyle 1. My bofriend and i loved it the snorkelling aroud the reef was fantastic and beautiful and the fish were truly spectacular. for this trip though take high factor sunblock and a t-shirt to go snorkelling in, trust me its worth it and it was also great value for money it was $72 for a full day. Lastly we took a trip to the town of Purto Plata and Sosua beach. We went to the amber museum, the rum bottling plant (free samples-yum), a cathedral and some shops and drove a round the area which was informative and fun. At sosua beach its like a bay which is gorgeous we went on a glass bottom boat and saw jellyfish up close and personal and the drinks and lunch at a great restraunt were included for $36. For shopping closer to the hotel there is the plaza which is ok for gifts but a bit expensive there is also a good bar called Hemmingways there which is good for english football and food if you fancy a change of scene and some kareoke, but a a bit expensive. Overall our holiday in the Dominican Republic in the Hotetur Dorado Club was fantastic , we loved every minute of it and didn't want to leave as we only stayed a week but we will definately be revisiting this carribean paradise.

We stayed at the Dorado club from 20th July until 4th August. On the plus side: 1. Rooms are cleaned really well on a daily basis and the Hotel and grouds are very well maintained. 2. The majority of staff were very pleasant and helpful. 3. There were plenty of sun beds and shaded areas around the adequately sized swimming pool. 4. Hotel is very close to the beach and the resort centre, where there are plenty of shops and banks etc. 5. Good quantities of food and drink. Negatives: 1. Decor is tired and some of the rooms are dark and dingy. If you're not happy with your room ask to be moved, the staff are very accommodating. 2. Food is repetitive and can sometimes be a little bland. 3. Drinks are mediocre in quality and served in plastic cups! 4. Entertainment is very limited and of a low standard. 5. Shops on hotel grounds are over priced, especially as there are much cheaper shops outside you front door. 6. The "a la carte" restaurant, Magua, has a very limited menu. All in all this was an enjoyable holiday for us. There was always something to eat and the drinks became and acquired taste. For 2 weeks we paid £670 each all inclusive, which was and still is a bargain. I would recommend that trips are booked with one of the many tour companies inside the shopping area as they are much cheaper and are basically the same thing as those offered by the reps. This said I would return to the DR but not to the Dorado club. For those who like a wide choice of cuisine this place is not recommended. However, if like us you like a bargain and aren't fussy about the food then it my be worth checking out. Jamie and Vicki, Wales

I got back from dominican about 3 weeks ago! i thought it was amazing! the weather was perfect, as was the hotel. i read a few of these reviews before i went so was quite anxious as most of them are poor reviews. But i have to say that i thought it was great!! it was very very clean! are maid would come in once a day and tidy from top to bottom. and even arrange your towels into swans,love hearts and pretty shapes! the food was fine! i thought there was quite a wide selection. And even managed to lose weight!! even though i was always full at the end of a meal. the entertainment was floorless! the animation team work very very hard! and i got along with them all...juan,gilbert,elvis and there manager. all of the staff where very friendly! The bar staff where forever asking if everything was ok! the pool is great. not to big but big enough. And you always had the beach which was just a skip away. i would recomend this hotel! thanx. nicole. xx

We have just returned from a fantastic vacation in Puerto Plata! Originally, we had booked to stay at the Dorado Club. Upon arrival, the hotel staff was less than enthusiastic about our check in... Not even a smile. We got to our room, which would be really nice if the hotel would do some renovations. We had 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, and the room had 2 levels. There were cupboards missing in the kitchen, the bathrooms were dirty and the whole room reeked of mold. We went to the front desk and asked to change rooms, the bellboy was even less impressed with us at this point after taking our bags all the way to the first room....he laughed at the tip we gave him! So we went down the pool and decided to get some lunch as we were starving after our flight. The buffet was a joke, it was terrible. We're not fussy people but on vacation good food is a MUST. My boyfriend had a couple pieces of toast and that was it for the rest of the night. The next day we had our briefing with the sunquest rep and we asked to change hotels. For $180 per person Canadian we were moved to the Occidental Grand Flamenco and we had a WONDERFUL time!!! The hotel was nice, the staff were friendly and the weather was fantastic. We booked at the Dorado club because it was cheap and we wanted to get away and we've learned our lesson....pay the extra money and stay somewhere nice! This hotel claims to be a 3 star but I'd say it's a 2.

We have never ever stayed in such a place 1 night was too much ,disgusting ,we tried two rooms but the whole demeaner was terrible we could not eat the food it was cold the staff were not at all freindly we paid £1330 2 weeks. and it looks lovely on the internet but dont be fooled we saw rep had too pay £350 to move would rather hav e slept on beach others moved with us but i felt so rry for people who stayed

What a dissapointment. This hotel makes itself sound a lot more than it is. There are no free watersports available, this will anoy you as the other 13 hotels in the playa dorada offer boats canoes wind surfing and snorkling. There is only one restaurant (there is a grill which you are only aloud to go to once and is really not worth going to anyway) this buffet restaurant claims to have a different menu each night... they change the name from mixed buffet to dominican buffet to international buffet etc.. all the same food garnished differently. After 2 weeks I had to go to the over priced American style restaurant across the road. The booze isn't even great! The beer is not the exelent local Presedente but a cheap and terrible equivelent, the spirits taste like they have been home brewed and the mixers flat. The bar at night is the grill restaurant where you wake the sleeping chef and waiter if you want anything! The hotel is also not on the beach, you have to tresspass over a neighbouring hotel to get to the beach there are signs informing you of this. The reception staff/bar staff/ restaurant staff couldn't be bothered and you felt like you where putting them out asking them for anything. The shop in the hotel charged stupid prices £2.50 for an ice cream £3 for pringles. The rooms where clean and spacious and the entertainment team made an effort which really was the only plus. My advise don't book this hotel. In fact don't book in the playa dorada, it is built for Americans and is a rip off. Go to the south of the Island and enjoy the real Dominican Republic.

Having Just Arrived Back From The Dominican Republic To Say My Wife And I Thought The Hotel Was Awful,I Would Not Give It 1 Star Let Alone 3 As Advertised.The Food Was Terrible And The First Room We Were Given was No More Than a Shed With A Noisey Air Con. Unit That Could Keep The Whole Of The Hotel awake When Used.The Staff Were Friendly And The Area And weather Were Excellent.The Beach was Beautiful With Golden Sands And Palm Trees.

My wife and I just recently returned from a 2 week holiday at the Dorado Club (Jan 2-16/05) and are happy to say we had a wonderful time! The check in was very friendly and efficient.Our room was quite large and clean with the only drawback being that the low voltage lighting they use is not very bright. The fun team did a great job of entertaining us and always had us laughing during the nightly entertainment. The buffet in our first week was quite good with enough variety to please pretty much anyone, and in our second week it was even better, they even served fresh grilled lobster one night and followed that with bbq t-bone steaks and chicken the next night! Being that this was one of the less expensive packages offered we were a little skeptical of what to expect but were very pleasantly surprised at what a great value it is. That being said it is not without some minor hiccups (you are after all in a developing nation where things are a little different) so...if you are easily put off when things aren't perfect, spend the extra to go to a 5 star, if a fantastic value and friendly people are what you want do not hesitate at the Dorado Club! We'd definitely consider returning.

just got home 21/12/04 very dissapointed with the hotel it all needs modenisation ,the food was very basic ,the beer was aweful[not presidente as on bar menu] we had to buy beer from the plaza,we managed to get moved to a different hotel after a week of complaints we were lucky several others were not so lucky,we would only describe this hotel as2 star not3 star as stated ,the beach was fenced off by the hotel next door while we were there so we had to get a bus to the beach which ran every hour. we would not recommend staying there unless u are not expecting anything to good