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Holiday Reviews > Caribbean > Dominican Republic > Puerto Plata > Puerto Plata Hotels > Iberostar Costa Dorada Hotel > Read Reviews
Iberostar Costa Dorada Hotel ReviewsPage 1 2 3
| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Oct 2006 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomas Cook |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs J McDonough |
| Overall
Rating: |
8/10 |
| Comments: |
We had read many reviews about going to the Dominican Republic, most of them good reviews. However, we had booked to stay at the Riu Meringue Hotel and decided to change to the Iberostar Costa Dorada following reports of sickness.
We were not looking forward to the holiday but on arrival at the hotel, the lovely welcome was just the start of a really good holiday. The staff were really helpful and were always courteous and gave you a smile as you walked past and said hello.
The staff who looked after the activities worked tirelessly to keep everybody amused. The evening entertainment was not to our taste but you had to give them credit and appreciate the work they had put in to put on a different show each night.
The tours were really fun. We chose to go on the monster truck which was a really good day out. Again, the staff there were really pleasant and helped make the day so good. We called into a village in the middle of nowhere. Expecting them to be on the smelly side, the public toilets were spotlessly clean and the home we visited was also spotless.
We also went river rafting which was a bit scary but well worth it. There are lots of rafts which go out one after the other but you generally all stay together. If a raft goes over, they are all there to help you back into the raft. The guides were great and really funny. You could purchase a DVD of the day which everyone watched as they ate their meal at the end of the day. It was a long day but gave us great memories. Last but no means least, the tour rep at our hotel was really helpful. She was very informative and was easily contactable.
Overall, the hotel, the people of the Dominican Republic and the country itself were great. It was not recommended to go outside the complexes which we only did a couple of times and were fine, but we would definitely go back again. If you do go, we hope you have a great time!
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Oct 2006 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomas Cook |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs C C Shaw |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
We went to Iberostar (from New Zealand) to surprise my wee brother who got married at the resort.
There were 11 of us in the wedding party. We really had a great holiday. From the moment we arrived we felt like royalty as the staff are all very efficient and couldn't be friendlier.
The resort it's self was amazing. Plenty of entertainment all day everyday and if it's a relaxing quiet time you're looking for instead of being around the pool, you have the choice of sun beds in the gardens or on the beach which was beautiful.
Plenty room for everyone so it never felt too busy.
We were well impressed with the food. There was always plenty of choice and it varied from day to day. We especially enjoyed the Mexican restaurant and the tropical as well.
My Dad and 11 year old cousin really liked the choice of desserts and the free ice-cream all day!
Evening shows were always very energetic but we chose to sit in the main lobby and enjoy a few Coco Locos instead.
The rooms were always kept immaculate and fridges well stocked.
The wedding it's self was lovely. It was just unlucky it was during a tropical storm! It was well organised the only thing I think they could do to improve the day, is to have a room or serve finger food or something as we (And others who got married on different days) found there was a long time hanging around in the bar until evening for the meal!
But it was all very romantic...the wedding photos on the beach are lovely.
We went on a couple of trips. Mega trucks discovery trip is great and also puerto Plata trip up the mountain. Both were very humbling and it was great to see some of the Dominican ways of life.
All in all it was a great holiday and I think great value.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Sep 2006 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomson |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr J Macdonald |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
I know I know, everyone says the same about this hotel, that its great/fantastic. Well all I’ve got to say is that it’s all true, it was the best holiday I’ve ever had!
Read all the reviews they're all true! I read that some people have complained about the beaches. Well the beaches are lovely and natural, with palm trees hanging over the golden sands. They are picture postcard perfect!
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Jul 2006 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr Jonathan Quinn |
| Overall
Rating: |
9/10 |
| Comments: |
My family and I visited the Iberostar Costa Dorada for the second time last year. Overall the holiday was brilliant.
Special mention (and a popular one among the fellow reviews) must be awarded to the staff which have a massive positive effect on the holiday as a whole. Their approachable and friendly nature is such that I have not seen on any other holiday before and since.
Due to the relative isolation of the resort and lack of economic development outside of the resort I wouldn't recommend the holiday to those who feel the need to explore or soak up local culture (unfortunately) still a unique and lasting impression has been made by the resort that is hard to top.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Jun 2006 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Miss K L Preston |
| Overall
Rating: |
9/10 |
| Comments: |
As per all the other reviews I've read about this resort, it is fantastic!
The staff work really hard and are always happy, even though they seem to be working from the moment you wake to the moment you retire to your room! The night shows are particularly entertaining. Some people have commented on them not being of high standard, but come on, lighten up, they are entertainment at their best, the staff have worked long and hard to put on the shows and you can tell. My partner commented that The Lion King show was better than that he'd seen at Disney World Florida earlier in the year! Yes they may be cheesy but that's the fun of them!
The food is fantastic, always lots of variety and the specialty restaurants are worth pre-booking. There is a wide range of drinks available too, even premium brands, although you'll have to ask for them! Champagne is also free flowing, an added bonus! Watch out for the cocktails, just when you think they aren't strong and have necked a few they suddenly hit you!
The only thing that I can fault is the amount of bird droppings in the pool, I only ventured in on a couple of occasions as it did put me off. I think they could maybe do to have someone cleaning it more often throughout the day. Other than that the pool is a decent size and you could always find a sun lounger.
The rooms are very clean, however for a 5 star maybe they could be a bit more 'fancy', I found them a bit basic, but I guess that's just the snobby side of me! The mini-bar was a good idea but I thought there could be a better selection of drinks in there.
Overall (bar my couple of niggles which really aren't something to take into consideration when choosing this resort) I found the Iberostar to be all that it says it is and would recommend it to anyone who is debating which resort to choose. I'm glad that I listened to all the reviews as they are all very much correct!
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Apr 2006 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomas Cook |
| Submitted
By: |
Not Specified |
| Overall
Rating: |
8/10 |
| Comments: |
We returned from our second visit to this resort in May 2006. We loved everything about the hotel and would have highly recommended it. However, on our last night money disappeared from our hotel safe.
Staff at the hotel implied that it was not possible, that we must have misplaced the money; we were made to feel like we were lying. We also received phone calls from a Spanish man asking for Peter throughout the duration of our holiday. On the day the money went missing a showerhead had been left on the bath by the maids.
When we were on our way out that evening a maintenance man knocked at the door, said he had come to fix the shower, then left saying he would come back later. We thought this was a little strange as we had not reported the shower as being damaged. Maybe this was a coincidence.
We informed the Thomas Cook rep, she was not overly helpful! She said it was too late to phone the police as we were leaving in a couple of hours. In all honesty she was not very sympathetic and did not seem surprised.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Nov 2005 |
| Tour
Operator: |
MyTravel |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs J C Bonnett |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
Staying at Iberostar at Christmas was the best holiday our family have ever had!! The hotel was immaculate, with the people there to make it extra special for all of us. The staff were so friendly, food was superb, resort was idyllic - what more can I say!! I would recommend this holiday to all ages. I felt we were treated like royalty - nothing was too much for the Dominican people. We went out and met the locals on an organised trip - an eye opener I must say! Even though there is a great deal of poverty out of resort, the people were so accommodating. I would definitely return to the resort, once I have saved enough money.
A holiday of a lifetime and one definitely to remember!
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Nov 2005 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs S Gaunt |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
We travelled to this top class hotel from 28th November till 19th December, this was our 4th visit to this magnificent hotel. We travelled with a few family members, there were 6 of us in total. Myself & my husband spent 3 weeks here the others left after 2 weeks.
What can i say about this resort...It's the best place I have ever been to in my life. The people make the holiday so special, they constantly have smiles on there faces & it does rub off on you...
Check in was so simple with First Choice, it was all done on the coach journey from the Airport. We were given our room key's & information pack, so as soon as we arrived at the hotel it was just a case of doing whatever you wanted!
In our case, we all headed to the bar for a 'Coco Loco', this is a drink we had all be dreaming about all year round. It's a tropical cocktail, it's a milky coconut drink with rum...they are yummy.
Prior to the departure I emailed the hotel to request room's near each other & on the ground floor over looking the pool/gardens & we got all 3 requests. They don't guarantee the requests, however they always try there best.
We were greeted with a bottle of Brugal Rum, fruit & a 'Thank you for choosing us again' letter in our room. We were also invited to a cocktail evening arranged by management of the hotel to thank each individual for choosing the hotel again. There were more than 100 people at the special arranged evening, which proves how good the hotel is!
The food is gorgeous, I found myself eating at times when I weren't really hungry... There's so much choice that you can choose from, it made me laugh so much when i heard people complaining. For a country like the Dom Rep, you may expect a basic range of food but this hotel has so much to offer.
At Lunch & Dinner we had the same waiter his name was 'Domingo' he always made sure there was a table ready for us & if there wasn't he would clear one up within seconds ready for us.
He was a little gem, he even called us in the food hall (which is separate to the dining area) to advise us where we were sitting & the wine & water was always sat there waiting for us. We tipped him frequently, he didn't expect this & really appreciated it.
The Star Friends are the one's that are out & about all day, involving people with beach & pool games, dancing at lunch time & just generally making you have a brilliant holiday. They also rehearse mid afternoon for the evening entertainment. These guy's work 16hrs a day & still have a smile on there face.
The entertainment is so enjoyable, they repeat the entertainment programme every 2 weeks, so with us being there for 3 weeks we got to see 2 weeks of the same show's. We didn't mind because they are well worth watching, the dancer's are brilliant & they also join in with the day time dancing with the guests.
We got very friendly with a few of the Star Friends, including Victor (who we remembered from years back)Tun Tun, Cuckurulo, Scooby Doo & Shaggy. They love the English, a few have been over to England to stay with guests from the hotel.
We spent most our day's on the Beach rather than round the pool. The pool area seams to get extremely busy, plus the heat is more noticeable around the pool. Many people slated the sea/beach area, they surely knew before going to the resort that they were going to the North Coast which is the Atlantic Ocean side & can be very choppy.
The seaweed can be very unattractive but didn't stop me & the rest of my party from getting in & having a swim.
The Spa was a place I enjoyed relaxing in. The health hut has a gym, massage & Beauty dept. Also Mens & Ladies separate Jacuzzi's. One hot & one cold, this is a nice place to wind down after a stressful day relaxing in the Dominican Republic!! They also have a steam room which hardly got used. The jacuzzi & Gym is included in the All-inclusive package.
We did many trips, we enjoy going out & having a laugh & also meeting locals. We shopped around for the best prices, we found that 'Mar Y Sol' at the Playa Dorada plaza was the best price for all the trips we wanted to do. We booked 6 trips in total, The best for me was the White water rafting this is an action packed day & is well worth the 3hr coach journey to the River.
The Quads & Buggy's are half day trips, please do not take new clothing & footwear on these 2 excursions. You will come back thick with mud, they take you up Mountain Isabella through villages & by sugar cane fields. You will spot very nice scenery on these trips & will have lots of fun...
A little tip for you, take glasses or even goggles with you, as you will get dry mud in your eyes.
Paradise Island is advertised as a pure relaxation day, the guys selling this tour will not advise you that it's a 4 hr trip to get to the coast & then a 20min trip to the island! This is a long day & when we got there it was rammed with people there were hardly any area left to sun bathe... I think they need to have a max of 20 people going on this trip as the island is extremely small.
I wouldn't be doing it again, don't get me wrong the island & sea surrounding it is crystal clear & beautiful but the travelling is too long. You only get to spend 2 hours on the island, as the sea starts rising over it at about 3pm.
We always go on a Catamaran trip to Sosua they are always a good day out, this time we tried a new catamaran called the 'Cat Manta' it was the same price & i rate it 10/10, you have a BBQ on board & stop at Sosua for over 3 hrs where you can snorkel & soak up the rays.
The drinks are included and were constantly topped up by the staff whom were very nice guy's. This catamaran leaves from Puerto Plata port. It's a very new boat, which first started running in April 05. We saw many Dolphins on this trip which was spectacular, I have swam with dolphins in Mexico. This experience was even better, just to see them swimming naturally.
The Jeep Safari trip is a must when going to the Dom Rep, you will see local villages & generally how people live in the Dominican Republic, schools, fruit plantations & get the option to climb 7 out of 21 waterfalls at Gri Gri Lagoon.
My partner & his family also went Go Karting which is just 10 mins down the road from the hotel. They have an offer on at the hotel - it's a set price for entrance into the park with the taxi fare included... they said you would be better getting a taxi yourself & paying in separately. It works out cheaper. They had a ball of a time, this place never seams to get busy, which is good as you never need to cue.
For the first time, we tried a local Dominican shop which was recommended by another English tourist. It's called 'Jose Luis', it's 5mins drive from the hotel & is in the centre of Puerto Plata. It cost about $10 max in a taxi return & you will get allsorts from here, varying from Alcohol, cigarettes & snacks. The Alcohol here is the cheapest I have found anywhere (even at Duty free!). Remember this is where the locals shop, so are not over the top prices.
We had a nosey around the Hilton next door. It's not as impressive as the IB*, it seams you have to pay for drinks after a certain time & also have to pay for seafood! If your paying all Inclusive, you should get all food included. I would not be impressed with this.
We had 2 birthdays whilst away, if you inform the management of the hotel they will send a cake & fruit to the room. Which is a very nice touch.. You can also pay for a big family cake for your evening meal which costs $15, you need to order this a few days before.
Within a week of being back from this spectacular hotel.. we had priced up again for this year! Guess what... we will be returning in November - there are 11 of us going & I can not wait. If I won the lottery, I would be returning back tomorrow.
Special Message - Lynn (lady who was there around the end of Nov/early Dec & had a broken arm), if you read this please email me back.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Aug 2005 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomas Cook |
| Submitted
By: |
Miss Rol O''leary |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
My holiday there was the best and the hotel and its staff were amazing. Id love to go back thanks for the great time iberostar :)
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Jul 2005 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Airtours |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs JM Mellon |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
A group of 10 of us spent 2 weeks at the Iberostar Costa Dorada last July.
We were slightly concerned at the fact that there was so many of us with regards to sitting together at meal times etc, but the hotel staff were more than happy to accommodate us.
Rooms were very clean and spacious, the grounds were beautifully kept and most importantly the food and international drinks were fantastic. Fab staff, fab company and overall a fab holiday!
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Jun 2005 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Airtours |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs S Grass-Smith |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
Located just next to Playa Dorada on the north coast of the Dominican Republic is this gem of a hotel. Definitely the best on the island. Not as loud and noisy as Playa Dorada, Costa Dorada is the posh part!!!! This was the best holiday I've ever had, the staff are so friendly and welcoming and the hotel itself is fab.
I would recommend this in an instant as there is always something to do. The beach is cleaned every day and the hotel is spotless. Beautiful surroundings and fantastic food. Hint: tip your waiter and bar staff on the first night and then again before you leave for preferential treatment. Take pesos as although the dollar is accepted you get pesos for change and the exchange rate is not as good.
Hope you have as good a holiday there as I did and I may see you there as I'm definitely returning!!!
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Jun 2005 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs V Wragg |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
What can I say about this hotel that hasn’t already been said - the food and drink are plentiful - as for the staff, they are so helpful and cheerful.
The cleanliness of the hotel is amazing, I have stayed in 5* hotels in this country which weren’t as clean as this one. The "Star Friends" really are stars, they work so hard every day to keep everyone entertained. As for the evening shows, we were lucky enough to be there when they did the Lion King - brilliant show for the children. I even had tears in my eyes at one point!!!
If you are thinking of booking at this hotel don’t hesitate as you wont be disappointed!!!!
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
May 2005 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomas Cook |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs C Hussey |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
This was an absolutely fabulous hotel. We stayed here with 6 friends. Everything about the hotel, accommodation, food, entertainment, staff including Star Friends (entertainment staff) warrants the highest praise.
They could not do enough to ensure your holiday experience was one you would never forget. The one thing we did find was if you tip your waiter, barman etc they made sure you were never wanting. Having the service of the Thomas Cooke reps who know the area very well you could be assured if you asked their advice you got the best available. (It was even an advantage to travel with Thomas Cooke because you got 10% discount when it came to shopping in the hotel jewellers.)
Finding things to do was not a problem because of the full and comprehensive activities within the hotel. We took a couple of trips - the monster trucks and the dolphin swim both I would highly recommend. Having rain for three days didn’t detract from the holiday because there was so much to do.
Overall this hotel met its 5* rating comfortably and I would most certainly recommend it to anyone, including families who were well catered for in the hotel. Children were included in some of the shows and the Lion King presentation would rival any West End production - very professional.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
May 2005 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs L Bloomfield |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
From the excellent service when booking our holiday to our return home we can only rate the service and the holiday 10/10.
We were flown out to Puerto Plata from London Gatwick by First Choice Airways, even though we hadn’t paid for extra leg room, the plane was plenty big enough and each seat had it’s own TV where you could listen to music, play games or watch the selection of videos. Ear sets were provided free of charge and a nice complimentary set for the flight home.
The cabin crew were excellent, as was the food, drinks and the service. What a good start to the holiday. Arriving in the DR we were met by the rep, our paperwork, room number and all-inclusive wristband put on straight away to avoid a delay at the hotel. Porters put the bags on the bus and away we went for the short trip to the hotel. Once we arrived the baggage boys took the bags off the bus, labelled them with your room number and within 5 minutes they were waiting in the room for you, in the meantime a lovely frozen slushy drink was given to you, it was so refreshing First impression of the surrounding areas, fantastic.
After a short stroll to the room we opened the door to a very quiet and smooth running air conditioning unit and a ceiling fan. The room was immaculate, mini bar in the room stocked up with beer, water, cola, diet cola, lemonade and tango and restocked every day or every other day. Towels were in the shape of a swan with beautiful flowers, I used to leave the maid a little gift each day, such as scrunchie bands for her hair or small samples of face cream, deodorant or a tiny soft toy and would often come back to the room to find little chocolates or my nightshirt folded in a fan. There is plenty of hot water, the shower is powerful and towels are changed often.
Lots of channels on the TV if you want to spend time in the room and a balcony with table, chairs and a pull out clothes dryer. There is not a coffee maker or kettle in the room, but hey the bar or restaurant is open 24 hours. The swimming pool is fabulous as are the spas, Jacuzzis, steam room and spa facilities where you can get any sort of beauty treatment or massages.
The beach is kept clean, a bit of seaweed, but the beach boys do a great job of keeping it swept up. Lots of water sports on offer, plenty of sunloungers on the beach and round the pool, never had a problem finding one whatever the time of day it was. Pool towels were collected from the beach hut and handed back at the end of the day, saves room in the suitcase for other things you might want to bring.
Beach bar, pool bar and restaurant, just too much food and drink on offer, food was kept hot, the chefs worked hard to keep the food coming all the time whilst at the same time kept you entertained with their smiles and their singing and dancing, and this was before you even got to the main restaurants or bars.
I can’t find the words that would express the standard of food on offer in the main restaurant, which is open for breakfast, lunch and the evening meal. Even the pickiest of eaters would find it hard not to find something they liked. From freshly made pancakes, waffles, omelettes, doughnuts of every description, continental food, English food, lobsters, fresh mangos, pineapples, watermelon, passion fruit, the list could go on and on and all buffet served with a great big smile from the chefs.
The waiters and waitresses work so hard for so little money. A tip for you would be holidaymakers, tip at the beginning and then a small amount throughout your stay and your waiter will bend over backwards to accommodate your every need. It only takes a few pounds to ensure that they go that extra mile for you. They will still be great without a tip. Our waiter ALIMENDY was absolutely fabulous. He has now named us his mama and papa from England. We have never eaten so much or drank so much wine or tea. He is an absolute treasure.
There are 3 other restaurants you can book into but we loved the food so much in the main one that we never got round to trying them, other people we spoke to said that they were lovely. The entertainment team the STAR FRIENDS were amazing. So much energy from 9 in the morning till 1pm in the disco.
Whilst there was so much going on you were not forced into doing anything you didn’t want to do. The evening shows they put on were out of this world, the LION KING which involved the children from the children’s club also was breathtaking, I have never seen so many animals running around the hotel dressed in such fantastic costumes, thank goodness we didn’t have to put up with bingo on a nighttimes.
Nice dancing, the show followed by a mixture of music and if you still had some energy left, there was always the air-conditioned disco for the over 16s until 2pm. The trips we went on were arranged by our fantastic First Choice rep by the name of LUIS MARTINEX. Boy he sure knows his stuff and is so helpful and friendly, but then he does come from the Dominican Republic. He is a true asset to the IBEROSTAR, always a wave, a smile and a chat.
We went on the Dolphin Encounter and Dolphin Swim and they were both terrific, my husband also did the shark encounter, but I declined that one, the Outback Safari was excellent, make sure you take some sweets, crayons and writing books for the school you visit on this trip.
You see so much of the culture and countryside with excellent guides. White water rafting according to my husband was great fun, there is just too much to do here which is why we are going to return in December to carry on where we left off. An excellent hotel, excellent staff, in fact everything is excellent and we cannot find one thing to complain about, if we did, we would be nit picking.
This hotel should be rated higher than a 5* without a doubt.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Mar 2005 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Direct Holidays |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr R Bell |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
Our third time here, and already booked to go back next year.
We can never find fault at this hotel, the staff are so friendly and the grounds are extremely well kept.
Food and drink are of excellent standard, and this all makes for a wonderful holiday. We are not easily pleased and have had plenty of poor holiday experiences, but never here!
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Iberostar Costa Dorada Hotel ReviewsPage 1 2 3
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