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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: |
Mar 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs L Cardwell |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
I stayed at this hotel with my husband, son (aged 9) and daughter (aged 6) from the 22nd Mar to 5th April and was not disappointed.
I'd read all the previous reviews and found they were very helpful and full of essential information. The hotel was magnificent, you could not fault anything at all, only the weather!!! We had 2 days of rain and probably 3 days of cloud although the sun did break through at times. Apart from that it was scorching.
The reception area is beautiful with the turtles and flamingoes. There are even peacocks wandering around the grounds. It is all open plan, but don't worry you can get to your room without getting wet if it rains.
My husband thought the rooms could do with a refurbishment but I thought they were fine. Whilst we were there we could see that some rooms were being painted and updated. The maids were fantastic and our fridge was always stocked well. I didn't see any bugs in the room but they were fumigated once a week.
The food in the restaurants is to die for. The main restaurant caters for everyone and the chefs cook some of the food in front of you. You can eat mussles, sushi, a huge range of meats, salads, fish, vegetables, wraps, etc etc the list is endless. We also went to the mexican and brazillian restaurants which were excellent as well.
All of the staff are friendly. The entertainment team 'star friends' work long hours to keep everyone entertained and they do an excellent job. If you've read previous reviews some have mentioned the lion king. This was my favourite, the stage setting and the costumes were fabulous. The children from the kids club joined in. I was disappointed my daughter couldn't join in as she would have loved it but it was on on our first night there. She joined in with the mini disco, fashion show, a play where she was dressed as a ballerina, and other childrens games all at 8pm. The kids club was fine but they do let them wander out to get a drink from the bar!! The other shows in the evening were ok, we didn't stop out too late to watch them all but we watched a couple.
We went on three trips. First we went on the outback safari. It was a brilliant day out and well worth the money. The guide 'George' was so funny my kids never stopped laughing all day. You go to a typical dominican house to see how people live then stop off at the local school which was very humbling. We took books, pencils, crayons, sweets etc for them for which they are very grateful. Other stops included a swim in a ravine, a fruit plantation, a boat trip on a river and boogie boarding which was all good fun. Next we went to Ocean World - this is a trip not to be missed. We swam with the dolphins - ladies please wear a costume as my bikini bottoms came down which was embarrasing!!!! My husband did the shark and stingray encounter as well. We also went snorkelling in what was like a giant fishtank made to look like a coral reef. You can also see sealions, tigers, birds etc and there are shows going on throughout the day. Lastly we went on a half day horse riding trip. This is not for the fainthearted!! We had never ridden before and had no idea what to expect. You get to see typical dominican life as you are riding. I didn't see much as I was hanging on for dear life. By the end of the morning we were galloping!!!. The kids really enjoyed it, they had guides with them and thought it was funny that I looked scared! My back was killing me but looking back I did enjoy the experience.
There were plenty of sunbeds so you do not need to get up at the crack of dawn. Even if they have all been taken around the pool (which they are not always) there are plenty on the way to the beach and on the beach. The hotel provides the towels as well. My husband went diving and had a brilliant time. I had a massage on the beach which was really relaxing.
Everyone we spoke to could not fault the place, my only problem was my hair straighteners. I knew they wouldn't work so I took gas straighteners which did nothing for me. I'd resigned myself to having bad hair styles at night but discovered you can hire straightners for £15 for 2 weeks, these were well worth it!!! Just look for the leaflet near the travel reps desk.
If you are going you will not be disappointed. I would definitely recommend this hotel and hope you have a great time!
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Jan 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomson |
| Submitted
By: |
rani |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
I stayed at the iberostar, with my husband and 2 children aged 4 year and 22 months, we stayed for 7 nights from 21 - 29th Jan 2008.
What can i say, the holiday and hotel was absolutely amazing. We all stayed well, food was great, entertainment was good, there was pure shunshine and we did not see one drop of rain apart from the day we were leaving.
Staff was friendly and adore children and were always very helpful.
Room was excellent, very clean, we had a beach/sea view a quiet room as requested.
Hotel had a lot of security so we always felt safe.
Overall had a great time, definately recommend this place and the kids loved it.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Dec 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Miss T Wheeler |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
What can I say this hotel is out of this world. When you first approache it you feel like you are walking in to a palace to be greeted by a glass of fruit punch and then the turtles. This hotel is the best I have stayed in.
The staff from cleaners to management are so helpful and friendly, they always try and do everything for you. The grounds are looked after and you always see gardeners tidying up. Even though it was fairly busy at Xmas the pool was always empty and there are loads of sunbeds so no need to put your towels on them.
The beach was nice apart from some locals trying to get you to get your hair braided and visit their market which was just up the beach (don’t go there). If you just say no they leave you alone.
The rooms are cleaned every day and towels left on the bed in the shape of swans or elephants and flower petals and chocolates left on the bed. The food - where shall I start? It was on tap all the time, the main buffet restaurant where breakfast was served was where we ate all the time. There is a la carte but the food was so nice in the buffet one we stayed and ate there; there was all kinds of food and lots for children which was my main concern. Plenty of seating as well.
The Xmas eve gala meal was okay if you liked seafood. The entertainment staff called star friends - I have never met such friendly and lively people before they start at 10.00 in the morning till 4.00 and then again in the evening for the shows and brilliant shows they do.
Even the drinks in the mini bar in the room are free which I was shocked at, and English channels which was a bonus.
Overall this holiday was fab and we are going back Dec’08 without a doubt. There is so much to say I would be here all night. Xmas is a great time to go, you even have Santa arrive on Xmas day in a helicopter on the beach and give kids their presents if the parents have brought any out for them and the hotel also give a little goodie bag to all the kids.
Have a great time if you go here.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Nov 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomson |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs J Cottage |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
If I could mark this hotel 12/10, I would. It certainly lives up to its five stars and more.
From the majestic reception with its turtle and flamingo pools to the private beach it is excellent. There is a lovely pool with a Jacuzzi in the middle, surrounded by beautifully kept gardens and, a rarity these days, plenty of sunbeds by the pool, in the gardens and on the beach which is very clean and watched over by a security guard.
There were three speciality restaurants, Brazilian, Mexican, and Tropical but we did not try these as the main restaurant offered a very varied cuisine from all countries. If you wished you could eat or drink somewhere on the complex at any time of day or night. The restaurant and bar staff were friendly, helpful, and always smiling!
Although we did not take part, there were many activities provided by the Star Friends all day long but the crème de la crème was the evening entertainment by the Star Singers, Star Dancers and the Star band. These shows equalled anything seen on the West End stage and all the performers were excellent.
Our room overlooking the pool was very spacious and each day brought an inventive sculpture of towels and flowers from our maid. Apart from the beach there is nowhere to go around the hotel but there are plenty of excursions on offer from tour operators but I did hear from other guests that the hotel offers the same excursions which are cheaper.
Our favourite excursion was a trip to Saona Island involving five modes of travel - coach, plane, river boat, speedboat, and catamaran. Costly, but a trip well worth doing. We also enjoyed the Monster Truck Safari, despite our truck breaking down after helping another one out of the river and the Jewels of the North trip was very interesting too.
Beware, on almost every trip you will be plied with the local rum, whether on a truck, at sea, or in the coach!
We partook in a trip to Ocean World but found it was overpriced and that the shows were sparse and repeated all through the day. The one redeeming feature was the sea lion show which was amazing. We took part in the Dolphin Encounter which was very endearing. At these encounters, photos are being taken all the time by a photographer but they are very expensive to buy - £5 for an amateurish 6 x 4 photo and it’s not even in a folder!
Another trip on offer is the half-day to Puerto Plata and the cable car (£22 each) but apart from the cable car, it was just a round of rum and jewel factories where you were encouraged to part with your money - similar to the 'blanket trips' in Spain which are free!
However, all said and done, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this hotel and wouldn't hesitate in recommending it to anyone.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Sep 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Direct Holidays |
| Submitted
By: |
joannahull |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
this was one of the best hotels we have stayed in since we have been to the dom rep.the food and drinks were to die for.there was so much choice even my fussy eater of a husband filled his plate up every meal time.we are looking to go back to this hotel again.we dont usualy like to but it was the best.the evening shows were like what you would pay to go and see in london.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Aug 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomas Cook |
| Submitted
By: |
Miss J Hudson |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
Me and my partner (Julie and Terry) had only been together for 8 months and this was our first holiday together aged in our 30's and we think we are just reaching our prime in life, lol not to old to do the merengue and soak in life. Well lets tell you our story from our eyes so here goes .... arrived at manchester the day before booked in a hotel Julie got the days wrong ended up in a box room, the next day flight was delayed, were'nt bothered as we had upgraded to first class snobby we know he he but its our first holiday. Arrived at hotel which was which we were greeted by a lovely alcohlic drink, and plenty of friendly looking faces, baggage we were made to feel at ease instansy, could of been the drink lol. Our baggage was taken to our rooms, no stress we can see why its 5 Star, exellant. The was'nt any fault on inspection of our room as we all know we are all keen to see our home for the next 2 weeks. So much fun and atmosphere within the complex in every department going from ie, the work staff, the bar staff, the entertainment crew, we had our favourites as we got to know then, Starting with the bar staff, always willing to have a laugh and have make you feel welcome without no falseness, Elvis was out first person we meet as we tortured him asking him for La Quinta (the bill) as we thought it was funny as it was all inclusive hotel and it was one of the few words we knew in there language which always got us a funny look and reaction. From then on in we made friends with all the bar staff our favourites been elvis, Juan (beach bar) Hilario, who made it memorable been at the bar what more can i say but exellant bar staff, definelaty recommend Kris Royale drink.
Moving on The entertainment crew and what can i say apart from they were'nt in your face but really knew how to got the best out of you when you were ready to join in the activites and generally making you feel you have been at the hotel for ages, superman, Scobby, CoCo, Cassandra really making our holiday by always putting a smile on our face from morning till night cant fault them, still think superman is gay lol, if do meet him ask him if he remembers Mr Lesbian man as he called me this as i like pink, we found out his real name is Richard so call him that if you go, he does;nt like it but we thought it was funny and he took it well.At this point i would like say we found all the dominican people have a great attitude towards life and a great sense of humour, which they never once made you feel that anything was to much to ask for bending over backwards to help. The restaurant staff and other hotel staff were also very good in there on rights on how they ran and made you feel in there ow rights, Santo was our main one who always made us smile and was always happy to see you.
The complex itself from entrance right to the beach was faultless in every department it was beautiful, had character and most of all a lovely ambience. The pool was clean, large and the jaquzzi in the middle made it and looked wicked lite up on a night. I would also like to say i have done a lot of travelling and one thing i did notice there is hardly any irritating pests ie, flys, ants, cochroaches which only adds to the pleasure and our memories of visiting the dominican.
We did 2 excursions which we choose 1 each the dolphin swin was an experience of a lifetime to swin with them amazing well worth the money and the memories. the other excusion was paradise island which was the one that started the day at the crack of dawn from been on a 20 seater plane and visiting a beautiful castle, and no we are not to old to experience a castle, as it was a good start to the day,to been on a beautiful canal boat, where the rum starting flowing which is f.o.c of course then getting on a speed boat James Bond style which was no way could you not enjoy this as it was absolutely one of them Yeee Haaaaaaaaaa's in life to been in the middle of the sea drinking more rum stood on a sandbank holding star fish and giving you chance to befriend the people who are on the trip, which i thought was just the start for me as all 3 blokes includung myself were sparky's, nightmare for the women ha ha.then its on to the beach for a bbq lunch and more rum and a real chance to experience the full understanding of the caribbean.
Back at the hotel we bought engagement rings from Harrison's Jewellers (The finest caribbean jewellers as patrick swayze shops there) asked my future wife to marry me under a fountain near reception and went down on on knee (obviously 2 much rum and Kris Royale lol) only kidding. We loved the holiday that much we are going we are going back in August this year to to get married in the hotel with our close family and friends and any one that knows us this speaks for itself as it will be our 2nd holiday together and its going to be such a hard place to be beaten on our future holiday expericnes in fact were going for 3 weeks and cant wait.
Bad Points
On reading other reviews those who have moaned and complained get a life as you are obviously blind and dont know how to enjoy life as everything ticks the boxes for us as a couple and has give us so many excellant memories. If you have the pleasure of visiting this place i personally think you'll have no regrets, pure pleasure.
By the way we did make it home in one piece for those of you who know us
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Jul 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr I Lowe |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
There is so much to say about this holiday and especially about the hotel it’s hard to know where to start. Well this was our first all-inclusive holiday to the Dominican Republic so as you can imagine we was extremely excited. We left Birmingham on the 3rd July and although we booked with First Choice our operator was Airtours and the flight was with Thomson fly. A little confusing but didn’t cause us any problems.
The hotel through Airtours is a prestige holiday so you had pre bookable seats making sure they were together and use of the VIP lounge so we could relax and drink as much as you wanted before the flight and enjoy snacks and news papers which were free.
Once on the plane I must say I was quite impressed. I'm 6ft 4" tall and the standard legroom was 33" which was more than plenty. The seats were leather a 7" tv in the head rest in front. You could watch tv, films and plenty of games which kept you occupied. With 2 meals on the plane the 9 hours flight went really quick.
The only thing to this stage that I was a bit disappointed with was that we was not told about the $10 visa entrance fee to the DR and $20 to come home. It is only £15 pounds each but it would have nice to be told. Also we were advised to take DR pesos which is there currency but only the shops at the hotels took Pesos every thing else is $. All the taxis, tipping, excursions and motorised water sports including diving on the island all take $usd. You can use pesos but you lose out converting pesos to $usd so my advise is to take majority $usd.
When we arrived at the airport the DR people will try and help you with your bag to the coaches. Guess what they want tipping its only about 30ft and they want $2. Not a lot but over the entire holiday it will mount up when every body asks for tips. We didn't mind in the hotel as it made your holiday, but watch out for the beggars as well.
On a cheerful note when we arrived at the hotel it was a very welcoming site. The entrance is all open and greeted with a fountain full of turtles and friendly staff. We were given a welcome drink and didn’t have to wait long before we had our key cards to our rooms. The bellboy took your bags while you took a steady stroll to your room. The reception area was great, a pool with flamingos and bull frogs and there was even a peacock with 4 chicks walking around the foyer. What a great start.
We went to our room and the bellboy came 5 min’s later. The rooms are quite spacious with a king size bed, TV with satellite TV 24 channels and films every evening and night. You have a well stocked mini bar, sofa, table and chairs in the room and a fantastic view of the complex from your balcony. On the bed was a swan made with towels and flowers. We could not fault the room at all. There is plenty of wardrobe space with hangers and a safe which is key coded. We were extremely happy with everything.
We then went for a stroll down to the beach and around the complex. It is very immaculate and well looked after. There were so many activities during the day. Archery, Shooting, Aerobics, Water Aerobics, yoga, Water Polo, Beach Volley Ball, Bingo, Spanish Lessons, Scuba Lessons in the pool, Darts, Pool and Tennis as well a a great health spa which was all free except the massage, hair and nails, which you had to pay for but the prices was not that bad. I haven’t mentioned the rest as there is so much to do it will take a while to write but we both need a holiday to recover.
The night entertainment was just incredible with a different show every night for the 2 weeks. The best shows was the Lion King, Viva Las Vegas, Black Laser Show and the West end night. The entertainers that work in the day are the same as the evening. I think they work from 7am -11pm for 12 days on with only 3 off and we complain at what we do. They work so hard and make it really special. They will have you in stitches all day and night dressing up in costumes and wigs, superman, Spiderman, Scooby doo were great.
After the entertainment they have bands and DR dancing till about 12 and if you want to carry on they have their own nightclub called route 66 open till 2am. It is fully air conditioned and sound proofed so you will never here it from out side.
The food in the resort is excellent, they have 3 speciality restaurant's which you have to book and can use once a week. However the main buffet restaurant caters for every body. Mexican, Spanish, Italian, English, Chinese and Dominican Republic food till it comes out of your ears. The soup is lovely the cheese counter is great and a 25 ft sweet counter. The waiters and chefs are great and cant do enough for you if you want something then just ask but it has everything however different dishes are alternated every day so you never get the same dishes every night. It a wonder how they do it but you cant fault the food at all. If you are hungry in the night or when you come out of the club then the Mexican restaurants open till 6am offering burgers hot dogs and steak with salad and bread etc. Much to say we never went hungry.
There are security guards all over the complex so it is very safe and quiet. They don’t allow parties in rooms and even stop the holidaymakers who have left the club shouting or screaming, if there is any trouble then they will sort it out for you pretty quickly. They even stop every body using the pool after 7 at night so they can treat it. So all in all it was a very restful and peaceful holiday.
If you wanted to phone the UK from your room then you can buy a phone card from your rep if you don’t want to take your own phone, which can be quite expensive to use. Just type in the following number 9, 1 809 200 8213 followed by your pin number then 0044 and your code without the 0 then the number. It even tells you how much is left every time you use it. The cost is $15 which is £7.50ish. This will give you 18 mins, however there is a 30 pesos connection charge, which you pay at reception.
If you want try your hand at scuba diving then they offer free taster lessons in the pool twice a day. If you enjoy the experience then they have a PADI diving school on site which is not free. However, for $399 (£200ish) you can get your divers licence and certification to dive any where in the world. You cannot afford to miss this opportunity if you are interested in this pass time. They are really friendly and very helpful. You can do single dives and do part of the full certification which you can take with you and finish the rest elsewhere.
The marine life is fantastic so if you can afford it I recommend it to any one.
Leaving the hotel at night is not recommended however, the complex is so big with so much to do then there really is no need to. They say its quite safe to go out in the day but if you wanted to see the island then there are many trips that you will enable you to explore this great holiday destination.
Some of the trips that are available are Sousa, Puerto Plata city tour, Paradise Island, Freestyle Catamaran, Outback Safari, Monster Truck Safari, White water rafting. All payable in $usd from the rep. And the most popular are ocean world and horse back riding, both are excellent and both our favourites. If you are adventurous then I recommend swimming with the dolphins and definitely swimming with sharks and stingrays. What an amazing buzz. The horse riding is only $40-$45 for half a day and they really look after you. Even if you have never been horse riding before then you will be trotting cantering and even galloping on these American style horses. It was truly amazing and wish we had done the full day. You will not be disappointed they even have a cow boys that ride with you if you cant ride and sit on the horse with small children.
Well what else can we say, it is by far the best hotel on the island and the service from everybody was truly amazing. They have made our Holiday to the Dominican Republic so special and we loved every minute of it. Can’t wait to go again next year.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Jul 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Miss C Gough |
| Overall
Rating: |
9/10 |
| Comments: |
My boyfriend and I went to Iberostar Costa Dorada for 2 weeks and had an amazing time.
When we arrived our cases were taken by porters and we were impressed by the grand reception area with a fountain with turtles swimming in it and flamingos in another area by the main bar. We were given a short tour and our room block was indicated.
We were in block 5, facing the sea and had an amazing view of paradise, we were so impressed. The room was very clean and spacious and well furnished, with all amenities. Our cases were delivered to our room within 10 minutes and tips are well appreciated.
The hotel itself is spread out across the complex and the garden area is so well kept and beautiful, the staff work very hard to keep up the high standards. There are three al a carte restaurants, we only went to the Mexican and Brazilian.
We definitely recommend the Brazilian but the Mexican was a bit of a letdown, they did not even do fajitas! The food in the main buffet was great, with lots of choice and grilled steak, fish and chicken were always available, and the soups were gorgeous. One tip though, do not eat the sushi, I had a tummy bug for 1 day.
The drinks selection was great, there were lots of flavours of slushes which were very refreshing and the cocktail menu was fantastic, our favourites were mojitos, margaritas and kir royales. Even champagne was included. The local beer was very nice and refreshing to drink in the day time.
The pool area was very nice; it was kept clean all throughout the day and at night when the pool is lit up it is beautiful. My only complaint about the pool area is that if you want loungers with an umbrella you have to be up very early, well before 8:30am.
The beach disappointed us a little, there was lots of sea weed on the shore and it sometimes got very windy, that could have been due to time of year though. We were told by another couple that the beaches on the south of the island are breath-taking but the hotels do not compare to Iberostar Costa dorada.
The entertainment team were very enthusiastic and had us in stitches during the day; they spoke excellent English and became friends with everyone. At the night some of the shows were excellent, especially The Lion King, all the kids even took part and they had a real baby dressed up as simba. However, some of the dancing shows were a little repetitive.
We went on 2 excursions, our favourite was paradise island, it’s an early start and took quite a while to get there, but it is DEFINITELY worth it! You get taken to the island by speed boat and it is so beautiful, the sand is white, the sea is clear and the snorkelling was great. You even feed the tropical fish bread and banana as you snorkel round the coral.
It was very hot every day and it sometimes went cloudy in the afternoon, however you still get tanned. We both came home extremely brown :) It gets very hot in the evening.
This is a tip for the girls, DO NOT take your hair straighteners that are 240v because they do not work (these include the popular brand) I could not straighten my hair for 2 weeks and there is no electrical shops that sell hair straighteners, argh!
I hope my review has helped those that have either booked or are thinking about booking Iberostar Costa dorada, we loved it and would recommend it to young couples, even though it is a family hotel. It is great value for money and offers something for everyone.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
May 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs J Tennant |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
We stayed at Iberostar for 2 weeks in May 2007 and were delighted with the standard of the accommodation, and also the quality of the hotel. From the moment we arrived until we left we were pampered to say the least.
Our cases were taken from us at reception and transported to our room - that was the first ever that has happened! The staff were extremely friendly and welcoming and nothing was too much trouble.
The maids were excellent and the food was out of this world - talk about choice!
The themed restaurants were very good and particularly enjoyed the Tropical restaurant and the staff there were excellent - as were all the restaurants. The shows were breathtaking - particularly the Lion King!
I would thoroughly recommend the outback safari trip as it shows how the real Dominicans live and is very humbling.
Would also recommend the trip to Ocean World and the sea lion and dolphin encounters -amazing!
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
May 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Miss A Smith |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
My boyfriend and I stayed at the Iberostar from the 29/04/07 - 13/05/07.
We really enjoyed our stay and would recommend it to all our friends.
The rooms are clean and they are always working on the hotel grounds.
The Mexican and Brazilian restaurants are brilliant, not sure about the Tropical as we did not try it.
The entertainment staff are great fun and made are stay even more enjoyable!
We recommend going on the Outback Safari trip.
We wouldn't think twice about going back to this resort.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Apr 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomas Cook |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs G MASON |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
Went there in 2005 2004 going back this year. I absolutely love the place it is faultless and the most relaxing holiday I have ever had.
Staff are wonderful they really look after you. Hotel is clean well maintained and overall the best hotel I have ever stayed in. Restaurants are wonderful.
We go end of april with friends who have never been before, I can not wait...
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Mar 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomson |
| Submitted
By: |
Hils |
| Overall
Rating: |
9/10 |
| Comments: |
We have just spent two weeks at the Iberostar Costa Dorada, from 12-26 March. I will list out the good and bad points.
Good points:
Fab hotel, staff so friendly and helpful. The hotel and grounds were spotlessly clean.
Good choice of food and there is something for everyone. Beach barbecues were very good, as was the beach restaurant. Both the Mexican and Brazilian a la carte restaurants were superb, don't know about the Tropical a la carte as we never tried it.
Entertainment team were fantastic, worked really hard and the shows in the evening were very good. Reception staff were very helpful. No problem with security in the room and when the safe jammed, we reported it and someone was at the room within five minutes to fix it. This is nothing to do with some reports about thefts, our problem was the batteries that worked the safe had run out.
Nice sandy beach which was swept clean every day. Plenty of sun beds but if you want sun beds underneath a thatch on the beach, you have to get down there early as they are in short supply although there is plenty of shade under the trees etc.
Bad points.
It is the Atlantic Ocean, not the Caribbean Sea and is quite rough and not clear, not really good for snorkeling. A lot of rain. I know weather can't be helped but the brochures state 5 cms of rain for the month of March, we had that nearly every day. It rained every day we were there from about 3.30 pm and some of the tropical storms were really heavy, 5 cms in one day.
There is a lot of rubbish washed up on the beach, especially after a bad storm, and we saw a couple of syringes amongst the debris. Although like I said, the beach is swept clean every day. It wasn't safe to go outside the hotel unless with a tour, either in daylight or at night, so you are restricted to the hotel.
All in all, we had a very good holiday and the weather didn't spoil it as we were down on the beach by 8 am so had a good six hours sunbathing, although quite often it was overcast if not raining.
If anyone is considering getting married at this time of year in the Dom Rep, please read the weather small print carefully as there was a wedding nearly every day while we were there and it was always held when there was no sun or it was raining, although the staff went out of their way to make sure they had a day to remember.
Personally, we wouldn't go back to the Dom Rep because of the poverty and not being able to go out on our own but if you want an excellent hotel and aren't bothered about going out and about, you will have a wonderful holiday. The positive side of the rain was as we were all inclusive, we just had a few more margaritas etc and saw the funny side.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Mar 2007 |
| Tour
Operator: |
holiday place ( coco tours ) |
| Submitted
By: |
stevie191268 |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
This hotel is top draw everything I read on watchdog about this hotel was spot on, we had a great time the staff could not do enough for you.
The people we met were all very nice and it was good not to hear people moaning about the hotel, every one was happy which is rare as you can’t please everyone but here was dif. Everyone was pleased to have booked to stay there.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Nov 2006 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomas Cook |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr M Drew |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
My wife and myself stayed at the Iberostar and from the moment we arrived until the time we left, everything was brilliant.
The food was excellent both in quality and choice.
The rooms were well furnished and maid service was every day.
The grounds are kept spotless the entertainment is good. The choice in drinks is excellent.
We only did the one trip that was the mega truck really excellent day out it and it makes you realize how lucky we are in the uk.
We have travelled quite a lot and without a doubt this was the best holiday we have ever had, all the staff are brilliant.
We liked the Iberostar so much we booked for Iberostar Bayahibe for next year but we will go back to Iberostar Costa Dorada.
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| 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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Iberostar Costa Dorada Hotel ReviewsPage 1 2 3
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