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Holiday-Truth Readers Averages Ratings For Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment
	Iberostar Costa Dorada
	Costa Dorada - Dominican Republic
	Caribbean
	Star Rating: 4 Star plus
	Telephone:
	Number Of Rooms:
	Number Of Floors:
	What The Brochures Say:
	First Choice
	Set on a wonderful beachfront location, this is a truly luxurious and first class 24 hour All Inclusive hotel. Relax in the gardens, enjoy the lagoon-style pool and its unique jacuzzi or be pampered in the hotel's own spa.

Holiday-Truth Readers Reports
pete,liz and chloe from grimsby travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with thomson on a family holiday. There were 2 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 10 2008
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: what can we say that has,nt already been said,it really does live up to the hype,we could not fault the place,food,staff everything spot on....just go and enjoy Click here for more information on this hotel, resort and region
Ray from Cumbria travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Thomas Cook on a family holiday. There were 3 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 10 2008
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Your holls start as soon as you arrive at the airport when you are greeted and shown to you coach a cold bottle of water is at hand which belive me you will need (so hot).Hotel rooms allocated on the coach and wrist bands fitted so as soon as you arrive at the hotel you are welcomed by the porters who take care of your cases and the reception staff offer you a welcome fruit cocktail.The rooms are very clean and come with tv,iron,mini bar (stocked daily).Food is great and lots to choose from,Main resturant food was different evey time we went in to eat,Staff can not do enough for you, Say hello to Joeseph never stopped smiling and great with the kids kept your drinks topped up and would do anything for you.Mexican lovely Brazilian Fantastic but you must be a meat eater as we all are.Entertainment at night was in our opinion fantastic we went as a Family with kids of 10 and 13 who loved every minute of the shows.With a different show every night the star friends were brilliant,Natural the assistant manager and his friends Micky Mouse, Superman Hotchilly Cheeky Monkey and Bossy Boots all worked hard and long hours to make sure you had a great time and even try to learn you how to dance. All in all would go back to this hotel no problem even in October we had 12 days of red hot weather and 30c at 8.00am ,2 days of rain and when it rained it came down big time but this did not make i differance to the holiday as it was still very hot. If i had one complaint it would have to be the weather at night still in the thirties and when your getting up to dance well let me say this you lose a lot of water. But is that a complaint.Dont have to get up at 5.30 in the morning for the usual sunbed race as there are loads of sunbeds to choose from even after lunch.Maybe one bit of advice get a bed with some cover just in case it does rain. If you go to this hotel you will not be dissapointed get to the beach if its too hot during the day and enjoy the happiness that comes from the staff and people of the Dom Republic.
MS LILY MARTIN from alexandria travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with thomas cook on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 09 2008
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: all inclusive at this hotel meant just that hotel was clean and fresh location right on the beach what more could you want also an enormous pool to cool down in quality ,quantity and choice of food could not have been better any kind of drink you want anytime including the obligatory holiday cocktail liked the kir royal myself minibar in room was restocked regularly hotel staff always on hand when anything was needed entertainment team (star friends) were incredible they never stopped working could go on about this place forever but dont take my word for it visit yourself would def revisit hopefully nxt yr
Tom and Shirl from Grimsby travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with First Choice on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 09 2008
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Just came back from Iberostar (22nd September) and had a fantastic holiday! Forget all the moaners and whingers if you can't enjoy it here then get a life, this place is outstanding, if you want 5 Star people then pay 10 grand and go to Sandals. Yes we had a few weddings and there was an occasional football shirt but the few kids were well behaved and well looked after, we also had 75 evacuees who came to us from Cuba but they enjoyed it despite some horrendous stories so to all the moaners please don't come back because those of us who will certainly don't want you! The food is the best in any all inclusive we've stayed at (and that's quite a few) from grilled fish to pizza's made in the open oven in the dining room there's something for everyone, we couldn't believe the choice it's so vast and all the Chef's are extremely proud of what they do, the only problem is the amount of weight you'll put on because the food is so good, trust me. The 3 al a carte restaurants are good but our particular favourite was the Brazilian, beautiful grilled meats served from long scewers straight to your plate, outstanding. Our room was large and spotless, the mini bar restocked every day with Beer, soft drinks and water, what more could you ask for? We spent most of our time on the beach occasionally going to the beach bar for a quick top up, have I mentioned the beach bar-b-ques? Superb grilled meats, fish, piella, I could go on, other people we met on the beach used to walk past the Iberostar drooling at the smell, you don't get that elsewhere! To sum it all up, go and enjoy, forget the odd screwball review, lets face it, how many on this site rave about the place, too many to count so dismiss the glums if you want a good holiday get here now! All our regards to Gill and Ian, Hazel and John, the Brummies from Cuba and our Geordie Guest House friends, pleased to meet you all, Tom and Shirl.
Linda Hammond from Birmingham travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Portland Holidays on a family holiday. There were 5 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 07 2008
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: 1st Visit to the Dom Rep, good flight with Thomsons, we were in Premium which I had got at a good price only downside was one of our suitcases being smashed by handlers UK end and having to buy another one in resort. Very short journey to the hotel during which we were given our allocated rooms. I had previously e mailed the hotel requesting a seaview and was pleased to be given 3 ground floor rooms in Block 5. Other than the fact that I found the room to be quite dark there were no complaints and the maid service was excellent. The hotel is set in lovely surroundings with some very nice features and even though it is a large resort you soon get the hang of where things are located. One thing to note is that if it rains and you are in the furthest block away from the restaurants and reception then you don't get wet because all the walkways are covered over and you could even get a lift from one of the staff in their buggies. There are 3 speciality restaurants and we thought the Brazilian was the best. There were several beach barbeques during our stay which made a change if you didn't want to eat at the buffet or snack bar. Good idea getting your own drinks and ice cream from the dispensers although wouldn't have touched the left out wafers as people were manhandling them and putting them back! We found all the staff to be very friendly and helpful and the 'star friends' do a brilliant job although the activities are not personally my cup of tea. We only saw 1 show but other members of our party were there every night and thoroughly enjoyed them all. Quite a few of the organised trips were taken and the favourites were Ocean World and the Monster Truck. We got a taxi from the lobby on 3 days and visited Puerto Plata, Sosua and Cabarete the latter 2 I thought were both OK. Must say that I was pleasantly surprised with how clean and well kept the areas we visited were. Overall we had a good holiday and the hotel was excellent but if we returned it would be a different time of year as it was just too busy and at times didn't feel like we were in the Caribbean at all.
Muir from Dunfermline travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Thomas Cook on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 06 2008
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: No way is this 5 star 3 at the most maybe. We arrived on Jun 20th after an hour delay at Manchester because a stewardess had hurt her leg and had to be taken off. We were kept waiting for an hour with no air-conditioning and no water while her bag was off-loaded. Very nice landing with panoramic views. Check in on the coach nice and easy although the hotel representative expected us to fill the form in while standing on the coach steps with hand luggage etc. We had requested a quiet room with non-pool view blocks 7 or 8. We were given block 7 but with a pool view as a result this was noisy from 7am to 7pm and we could not sit out on the balcony. We decided it would be quieter at night and so stayed put. The pool was meant to shut at 7pm but muppets were still in there at 7.45pm with no intention of going. Imagine if someone came into your work at closing time and stayed for 45 mins would you like it – thought not. These people have a job to do and want to get home like the rest of us. Buffet restaurant was adequate but nothing special – think school dinners and you are almost there. This hotel is jack of all trades and master of none. It claims it is 5 star Caribbean Elegance but in reality is a Wedding Factory. I am sorry but stag and hen parties staggering about, flashing bunny ears and customized t-shirts with Darren & Kirsty Dom Rep 2008 is not 5 stars by any stretch of the imagination. Kirsty’s Mum and Darren’s PA on the back of group t-shirts we had the misfortune to witness it all. 3+ weddings a day they took over the only bar and tried to monopolise the restaurants at night. The so –called dress code was flouted and grown men were in the speciality restaurants with Man Utd Tops etc. Classy or what. We went down to The Plaza a few times to Hemmingways for a drink or meal. Not cheap about the same price as home but nice for a change. We walked in the day but got a taxi at night for 5 dollars. Trips we went horse riding which was really good and the monster truck which was good but a bit of a rip-off. You could spend all your money if you bought wooden carvings, coffee, baseball cap, t-shirt, rum, cigars and gave tips. The trip is not cheap anyway. The entertainment at night is rubbish – this lot wouldn’t even make end of the pier. There is nowhere else to go as there is only one bar at night so you are captive. If you have a late booking at the speciality restaurants there are no seats left. People sit on the cushions in the lobby bar with wet clothes so watch out in the evening. That is you have survived the dive-bombing and general nonsense in the pool in the afternoon. The buffet restaurant was akin to the aid lorry arriving in Darfur – you would think folk had never seen food before and had their plates piled high. I was glad to get home and would advise you to go somewhere else the best you can afford unless you want to be subjected to Rita, Sue & Bob Too for 2 weeks!
darren barton from hastings travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with mytravel on a family holiday. There were 2 adults and 3 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 11 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: We stayed in the hotel for two glorious weeks and found the facilities superb! the Restaurant food was great with a constant supply of drinks and ice cream for the kids during the day. pepe giseppe in the restaurant was always on hand to clean up when our 3 year old threw his food around as he was when our friend Gary also threw his on the floor! only trouble is Gary is 40! Serge in the bar made an excellent cocktail with a lemon twist!!! you should try it! We found the health centre excellent with plenty of extras on offer from the attentive staff. The grounds of the hotel are stunning and the rooms very spacious! We went on several trips while we were there and found most to be very well organised however the Dolphin trip was a little expensive. one trip we found a disaster was the buggy experience! The cars were less than roadworthy and kept breaking down. We were stranded at a beach for several hours while replacement vehicles were found and then on the way back two more vehicles broke down in the middle of a sugar can plantation! the sun was beating down and we had no refreshments and to make it worse our friend kev has a wooden leg and could not make it back unaided. We had to make a makeshift stretcher out of sugar cane and tshirts and literally carry him home to the Hotel!! We look back now and laugh at the experience but at the time Kev was hopping mad!!
Emma Sutton from Bolton travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Eclipse Direct on a family holiday. There were 4 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 11 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: We have just returned back from the Hotel for the 3rd time. As always the Hotel is excellent. The Hotel is clean and spotless and if you drop anything the maid is behind you cleaning it up within minutes. The rooms are cleaned daily and the fridge is replienished with water and pop daily. The grounds on the Hotel are still breathtaking and the Garden staff are always very busy cleaning it up, picking up leaves and taking down cocunuts etc. The 2 beach staff Tomas and Co are great. They make the time and effort to come over to you and assist you in anyway if you need it.They do get very hot and work long hours so a drink is appreciated! The Hotel food. Well what can i say. It cannot be faulted in anyway. They have such a large selection of everything for everyone to eat.You have such a large choice of different meats on the cavery everynight and the menu is different each night. The Hotel staff are still great and cannot do enough for you. Especially Cesarin and Jorge in the restaurant, Santo the Public Relations manager and not forgetting Gabrielle manager of reservations at the Hotel. The entertainment at the Hotel was still great. The entertainment team work so hard and deserve a great deal of credit. The shows at night were still breathtaking and the daytime entertainment you can take it or leave it. They only ask you once and if you refuse they do not ask you again! This Hotel is definately recommended and we will be returning back to the hotel again at the same time next year!!.
Stevie from North travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Airtours on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 09 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: An outstanding hotel well worth the visit. Only grumble was the hotel diving school staff who nagged us to book a trip with them the whole time we were there.
Ron/Morag Haram from Glenrothes,Fife. travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Thomas Cook on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 09 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Let me add my tuppence worth to the excellent comments made about this hotel.My wife and myself stayed two weeks there and cannot find any faults about the place at all.Rooms are spacious and cleaned to a high standard daily.The buildings and grounds faultless.The location was perfect,as a twenty minute walk along the beach took you into the Plaza shopping area of Costa Dorada.The hotel shops are a little pricey,but thats to be expected.The staff were really friendly,always speaking/joking with you.Generoso and Henry in the main restaruant were superb.The entertainment staff(Star Friends)really put in long hours,with the various activities during the day,and putting on the various shows at night.Excellent.Especially the Lion King.The Dominicans are a friendly people,and although there is a lot of poverty,they still smile and give the enevitable 'OLA'.Would we visit again.....YOU BET!.
medhurst from hastings travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with mytravel on a friends holiday. There were 2 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Ted and Caroline We took our family to the Iberostar in August for our friends wedding. We found the staff to be very friendly and cooperative, the food in each restaurant was lovely and we was surprised to find that we could even drink champayne as part of the all inclusive package!! We did however find the entertainment poor and found that most of the guests seemed to find our friend Gary great entertainment! due to the fact that he is a travelling dwarf in a roadshow asnd is a constant exhibitionist!!! All in all a fantastic holiday
kev and michelle from hastings travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with thomas cook on a family holiday. There were more than 6 adults and more than 6 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: we were in a group of 8 adults and 9 children and found the hotel to be very good. the staff were excellent and our holiday rep was always very helpfull, we got married whilst we were out there and the wedding planner really made it a special day for us, the all inclusive package was well worth it as there was a steady supply of food and drink and ice creams for the kids, the only sour point was in our party we had my friend darren who is severly disabled and sometimes people seemed to stare and point at him, not so much the hotel staff but the other holiday makers. this was particularly upsetting for him when we tried to take him on the bannana boat. but that aside we really would recommend this hotel and will be going back again.
Gill from Lincs travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with First Choice on a family holiday. There were 1 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Where do i start? This hotel was by far the best i have ever stayed in. The food was fantastic, Lobster, Beef, Lamb, Pork, Turkey, curries, roasts, fish, pasta's etc etc and this is just the buffet!(and all cooked in front of you). The room was lovely, maid came every day and was kept immaculate, always left her at least $2. We flew from East Midlands with First Choice and upgraded...it was worth every penny...the flight, service, seats, attendants....lived up to there name! The hotel workers never stopped. Location was just about right.....on the beach and a 10 minute walk to the shopping mall.....but i found it too hot to walk so ordered a taxi from reception and always booked a return so they just came and picked us up again. Entertainment was great, something different every night and in the day we had beach parties, paella etc.Hotel spa was fab...had a massage, manicure, pedicure...all very reasonable. The gym was fantastic with hot and cold jacussi's and steam rooms in both the ladies and gents changing areas. Pink Flamingoes, Peacocks, Turtles all in the grounds.....this hotel has it all. I have just changed my booking for 2008 from the Gran Ventana back to Iberostar Costa Dorada....says it all really!
paul & gaynor from swansea travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with thomas cook on a family holiday. There were 5 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 07 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: FANTASTIC best holiday ever. the food was out of this world, the buffet restaurant was great so much to choose from, 3 al a carte restaurants but we didnt try these as men had to wear long trousers and our youngest son didnt have any with him. good idea to tip the waiter as he gets your same table and your drinks for you. $1 they are very greatful for that.The hotel rooms are very clean, mini bar restocked daily if you leave a little tip for the cleaner. The star friends entertainment team are fantastic, scooby doo, spiderman, superman, victor, francesco, cuculolo and not to forget little cassandra if you get involved once in a game they remember your name I was known as Paul uk. watch out for the lion king show, and agua? you might even see michael jackson. If you are travelling with thomas cook, your rep will be Emma shes fantastic, she will do her very best to help you, she never failed us.
Claire from Scotland travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Thomson on a family holiday. There were 6 adults and 3 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 06 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: The hotel was amazing. Would definetly go back again and recommend it to anyone who is planning to visit Dominican and also to anyone who is planning to get married over there. The beach is private to people from your hotel and you don't get harassed by people selling things all day as you lie there soaking up the sun, there are people selling excursions but if you say no thank you they normally don't bother you again. The food was good and the buffet had a good selection at night, even the fussier eaters in the party managed to find something they liked. The hotel staff were lovely. Superman is the most memorable and is actually in some of my wedding photos. The rooms were cleaned every day (and I mean spotless when they left)and the maids were lovely always singing away whilst they worked. Weddings at the Iberostar Our rep Vicky from Thomson was really nice and planned all of our wedding and organised everything leaving us a stress free day. She was fantastic and our pictures in the grounds were stunning we had pictures taken at the beach which was lovely but at 2pm in the afternoon and 110 degrees there wasn't much make up left on my face! All in all an amazing holiday. Can't wait to get back over there.
steve from berkshire travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with thomas cook on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 04 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: We have just got back from this hotel I loved the hotel. Holiday was great. Staff fantastic loved every second apart from the weather. 3 days of rain some days sunny some cloudy 2 days of thunder. We went with Thomas Cook our rep at the time was very good very helpful and made you feel very welcome. My partner was not all that keen on the hotel because there was not a lot to do. We think the hotel is suited to older couples.
emma and gareth john from maesteg travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with first choice on a family holiday. There were more than 6 adults and 4 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 03 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: The hotel was out of this world could not fault one single thing if we tried, staff were falling over themselves to help you and were always smiling and very polite they were so nice. everything was so pretty and well kept it was fant5astic and go on all day.we got married at this hotel and spent three weeks there but in honesty it was not long enough, normally after 10 days i need to come home but not here. the wedding co ordinaters are fantastic they make everything so special, santo in particular was brilliant what a gentleman.i wont so no more other than i cant wait to go back there and if you haven't then try it it's fantastic
Alan & Trace from Burnley travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Mytravel on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 03 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: We chose this hotel based on recommendations and generally excellent reviews on various holiday websites. The hotel itself is spotlessly clean, well designed, with landscaped gardens, impressive decor and a great layout and situated right in front of the beach. Our room was quite large with a minbar, TV, nice bathroom, air-conditioning and a balcony though any view was obscured by large trees so we didn't really use it much. Good idea to request a pool or sea view when you book! Towels and sheets were changed daily and the minibar restocked every 2 days as necessary. We only saw one bug in the room during the whole fortnight (which sadly encountered a swift but humane death by flip-flop) I don't think we saw one mossie during the 2 weeks either! The beach varied in quality but was kept nice in front of the various hotels on the complex and there were always plenty of sunbeds available. Even when the limited number of beach canopies had been nabbed by all the invisible people that leave their towels on the beds from dawn til dusk there were plenty of palm trees to shade under. The beach-bar was also handy for drinks and was open from 10am to around 6pm. The pool area was huge and well kept and there were regular pool games, dance sessions etc. and refreshments were always on hand from the poolside bar and restaurant. Again there were plenty of sunbeds available any time of the day though some folk insisted on bagging 'their spot' with a strategically placed toeel or upturned paperback book regardless. The food was excellent.As my wife is quite picky with her food we ate in the main buffet resaturant most of the time for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The choice, quality and presentation of the food was outstanding and the service was always prompt, courteous and efficient. A couple of mornings there was a champagne and smoked salmon option for breakfast which was a nice touch. There are 3 speciality restaurants (Tropical, Mexican and Brazilian) which are a-la carte and waitress service which you need to book a day or 2 in advance. We tried the Brazilian which was ok but overall we were more than happy to stick to the Buffet restaurant I felt the evening entertainmnet was a little disappointing. The 'Star Friends' do work hard and put a lot of effort in to the shows but although they try to vary it each night it does get a little 'samey' and the main shows only lasts from around 9.30 to 10.30. There is a resident live band who then play for another hour or so but their repetoire is mainly Spanish music. Unless that's your thing it does get a bit repetitive and we found ourselves in bed before 11.30pm most nights if we weren't up for yet another drink! I appreciate Spanish is the first language in the Dominican but as 80% of the hotel guests seemed to be Canadian, North American or Englsih speaking Europeans I felt they could have tried to vary the live music on offer each evening. We only did one trip which was the monster truck safari which was great fun - at £40 each for the day including all drinks and lunch it was just about value for money. The main disappointment was something beyond anyones control -the weather! Whilst it was always very warm and sometimes very hot we only had 3 full days of sun the whole fortnight. For 2 days we had no sun, just copius amounts of rain, and the other days were mixed with just an hour or 2 of sun then cloud and rain of varying degree. This is when we found ourselves getting a bit bored as all the organized activities are geared around good weather and there wasn't much to do when it rained except read, eat, drink or make your own entertainment! The staff were mainly friendly but we got the impression they paid more attention to families and groups rather than couples. Be aware that check-out can be a bit of a pollava so make sure you leave plenty of time! We were leaving lunchtime on Saturday so we paid our extras bill the night before. About half an hour before our pick up time we went to hand in our room card and safe deposit key. We then had to wait while they checked their computer again! When it was confirmed we hadn't incurred any further unpaid extras (as we told them) they wrote out a ticket which you need to show to get on the coach but which they retain until it arrives! We then had to queue up again to collect the ticket, have our all-inclusive wristband cut off and wait while they checked their computer yet again! Overall despite the weather and some minor niggles we did enjoy the holiday and would return if we found a good deal, though we may try the Iberostar at Punta Cana next time as apparantly the weather is less rainy on the South side of the island!
caroline davis from shrewsbury travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with first choice on a family holiday. There were 4 adults and 3 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 02 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Visited Iberostar Costa Dorada 5-19 February 07. Second visit and already booked to go again in August. So much more relaxing than Iberostar Dominicana (in our opinion) Wonderfully relaxing and we all had a fantastic time. Our party consisted of my husband and I (40's), my parents-in-law (70's), my children and a friend (12, 15 and 16 years old). We all enjoyed ourselves albeit in different ways. We could relax from 8 am down by the beach (much nicer now they have enlarged it. Seaweed minimal. Wind does get up in the afternoon so consequently sea becomes rouger although we went in morning and afternoons. Lovely. Extremely hot around the swimming pool but that's where the kids lived so they could see everything the Star Friends were up to. Star Friends made their holiday, they loved them all. They also thoroughly enjoyed the shows and the disco. Not our scene, we preferred to sit quietly enjoying a drink or two! Weather was mixed. Rained in the evenings a few times, cloudly for a couple of days and on our last day it poured with rain the whole day. Even so people still in the pool Still came back with a good tan though. During our second week noticed an increase in young groups of Americans/Canadians so the buffet restaurant began to have the 'school canteen' feel to it but the food was still as wonderful as ever. The hotel team seemed to put on extras when the weather cloudy, ie lobster/paella by beach bar, cakes and coffee, coconut/pineapples with drinks to name a few. Had a few cockroaches in the room but our block had a 'fumigation'letter pushed under door to say between 10 and 12 the next morning they would be fumigating. NOt sure if they actually did anything, couldn' t tell. We asked for (and got) ground floor adjoinging rooms with pool view and had fruit and rum as returning guests which always makes you feel special. Again a truly memorable holiday and can't wait til August now. Caroline
michala from torquay travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with tompson on a family holiday. There were 2 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 01 2007
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: the holiday is ace nothing better than this great caribbean resort
Emma Scholes from Bolton travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with First Choice on a family holiday. There were 4 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 11 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Just arrived back from a 2 week holiday in this excellent hotel. This is the 2nd time we have been. Once again the hotel was excellent. The rooms are cleaned daily and the maids work so hard. The staff in all areas of the hotel are very polite and greet you and keep smiling all day and will do anything for you. Nothing is to hard for them. The food in all restaurants are great and you have a wide selection to choose from. The buffet style restaurant is excellent. We ate in this restaurant most nights. The waiters are great especially 2 of the staff Carlos and Cesarin who deserve a great big thankyou for looking after us for the 2 weeks and for ensuring the table was set and we could eat in their area for the 2 weeks. The garden staff also deserve a big thank you as they are on duty every day cleaning up the gardens, putting up christmas lights, feeding the animals and ensuring the grounds are safe and clean. The beach staff constantly work hard getting beds for you, cleaning up the beach, ensuring there is no rubbish lying around. All our party can do is praise this wonderful hotel for the wonderful jobs all staff do. We will all be returning at the same time next year. By the way the beach is much better now they have extended it and put down some soft sand and added palm trees! Well done keep up the good work and we will see you all in a year!!!
jason from bolton travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with direct holidays on a family holiday. There were 2 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 10 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Just returned from our holiday wat can we say but fab. Hotel top class clenliness 5star food excellent choice in main resturant, our favourite was the Brazilian. No matter what time you went for a sun bed there was always loads even on the beach were we spent all our time snorkleing round the coral reefs on the beach edge. As drinks go you can get anything even champagne, also branded drinks but you have to ask. If you tip the bar staff they will come and serve you at your table and remember your drinks order. Will we go back yes!!!!!!
Sue from Blackpool travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with First Choice on a friends holiday. There were 4 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: This was our second visit to this hotel and once again we had a great holiday. Our flights were much better than last year when Thomas Cook delayed us for over 11 hours and then took us to the south of the Island which meant a 5 hour coach journey to the resort! This year we flew with First Choice 100% better in every way. We travelled with our 2 sons (10 and 14) and had 2 interconnecting rooms as we had requested. Our friends were just a few rooms away from ours. Lovely and clean with a basket of fruit and small bottle of rum in each room! The food is great - we are quite fussy eaters and prefer the main buffet restuarant, although we did eat in the speciality reataurants a couple of times too - these are also very good! The hotel grounds are beautifully kept and there is no shortage of sun beds any time of day. The beach is great in the afternoon as there is a lovely breeze but still very hot. The star friends are great fun and work very long hours and are always smiling. Especially Scooby! We love this Hotel and would go back again any time.
Karl,Angie,Robyn Gooch from Hartlepool travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with First Choice on a family holiday. There were 2 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: We have just returned home today from our stay at the Iberostar,and we are not happy....our holiday is over! This was our second stay at the hotel. We stayed there last year and two weeks is just not long enough. The Iberostar is the best hotel that we have ever had the pleasure of staying in,I cannot find any fault with this hotel at all. Our holiday was a family holiday with myself and my wife and our nine year old daughter,we stayed for two weeks on the all inclusive basis. This hotel is spotless from the grounds,which are always being preened by the groundsmen, to the rooms which the maids clean and replace the towels and refil the minibar on a daily basis. This has to be the cleanest hotel on record. The restaurants, both a la carte and buffet, are always expertly presented with some fantastic carvings of fruit to make up a sculpture. And now for the best bit. Food and drink. The food served here is out of this world, all cooked directly in front of you in El Mercado(buffet). The choice is unbelievable. Hot or cold there is plenty to choose from and all prepared expertly. Meats,fish,rice dishes,various potato sides,pizzas,burgers,salads,cold meats,cheeses,soups,vegetables,pasta dishes with different choices of sauces,casseroles,tortillas,tacos,kebabs,the list is endless. For breakfast you also have an enormous choice. Bacon,eggs,mash,tomatoes,fried bread,toast(with every topping imaginable), beans,sausages,croissants,waffles,pancakes,cereals,pastries,etc. There is always a selection of freshly prepared fruit...mangos,melons,kiwi,pineapple,etc. The dessert section every meal time is awesome and must be tried. The drinks,presidente beer,cocktails,long drinks,champagne,wines,spirits (including Baileys which my wife took full advantage of!,151gasoline (brugal rum 151proof 75.5 alcohol) treat this stuff with respect. All soft drinks,slushes(mix well with 151or vodka). The swimming pool is wonderful with a jacuzzi in the center,this is always being cleaned by the staff, removing any insects leaves etc which fall into the pool. The pool is open from 7am to 7 pm and we always got a lounger and we are in no way early risers, anbody trying to reserve loungers before 9am has their stuff removed anyhow. Get your free scuba lesson in the pool as well. My daughter is only 9 and she had a go,the divers are really friendly and are there to assist you. Also, dont pack any towels as you each get a towel card which entitles you to a fresh towel any time you want to take to the beach,use the pool,take out on trips. Hand in the card get a towel get the card back when you hand in the towel, change it twenty times a day if you wish,not a problem. The beach is also nice. There is weed in the water which didn't bother us and the hotel staff are always cleaning up any which is washed up on the beach. Plenty of loungers available down there as well. There are kayaks and wind surfing available. The hotel is only 15-20 mins tavel from the airport which has to be the fastest I have ever been in. Once you touch down you are in your room within an hour. Baggage and immigration is a breeze and check in is now done on the way to the hotel. Flight time is about 8 hours. We flew with First Choice. I can highly recommend them. All seats have plenty of leg room (we didnt pay the extra for star class and I am 6"2 and I had loads of room ). Each seat has a tv/games console with plenty of choice of movies/tv/games. We did upgrade the bairn's screen to give her more games,movies etc which costs £5 per screen. The food on the plane was surprisingly decent as well. The staff at the hotel are by a long way the best I have ever met. From the maids to the bar staff,the management to the grounds staff, everybody is so pleasant and friendly we felt like royalty. Nothing was a problem to these people who always looked after us with a big smile. Take a few one dollar bills, the odd one here and there to your favourites will go a long way. You will want for nothing,you will order one drink and they will bring you two or three if it's busy. Say thank you and you will also have drinks brought to you without asking if you are getting down,now thats service. Our favourites were Domingo in the restaurant and Ricardo in the bar,really nice guys. They love having their picture taken with you,just ask. Entertainment. Star friends and the dancers are excellent, the star friends are the life and soul of this complex,really funny guys and girls. They work all day and they also appear in the shows on the night time. They always speak to you with a big smile on their faces, really happy people and excellent with the children. Be in the bar early for the Lion King show,this should not be missed. Check out the showboard everyday outside El Mercado(buffet)for the show on the evening. For our excursions we used Isaira Tours (located just outside of the hotel across the road to the right of the Iberostar in the Plaza el Doral, 2minute walk). You can book any trip you want before you get there or check up on any trip you want by checking out their web site and ask any questions you need to choose your trips. We printed off the price list and took it with us before we went and it was bang on.They have full insurance in with the price. The reps at the hotel will try to put you off anybody else's trips because they get the commission. We saved £80 on the three trips we took by booking with these people (bearing in mind our party was 2 adults and 1 nine year old). We did the camel back safari,the catamaran,the outback safari, the camel back being the best. Driving your own jeep in a convoy around the mountain,throuh villages,up riverbeds,through the cane fields. This was an unforgettable day,highly recommended. We even received a courtesy call in our hotel room from the president of the tour company to ask us how our trips went after each one. We were very impressed with the level of service from this company and we will definitely be using them again when we return. I cannot fault this hotel at all and we all had a brilliant time. If you are reading this and going out there don't worry about anything,you have booked the best hotel on the island.
Mr Corbett from Aberdeen, Scotland travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Airtours/My Travel on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 07 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: We had the great holiday in the Iberostar Costa Dorada. We flew from Glasgow on the 19th July for 2 weeks. On booking our holiday we paid that little extra for the Premier Gold package through Airtours. It was perfect, smooth check-in at the designated check in desk. There were about 3 groups in front but it took no time at all. The My Travel plane took off on time and the flight was really good both there and back bar some turbulence which can’t be helped. We had loads of leg room and a little entertainment monitor each. The entertainment was a choice of films (Inside Man, Chronicles of Narnia), programmes (Friends, Little Britain etc). The food and service was up to scratch too. We arrived in Puerto Plata Airport and walked to the immigration area. I bought our visas from the Dominican Republic Embassy before we left which saved a bit of queuing. You still have to fill out the blue immigration form though. Once you pass that area you reach the baggage reclaim where you collect your bags off the conveyer belt. There were no other security checks after that as I have seen in Cancun airport Mexico. Fallow the walk way round to the exit door and find the rep from the company who you flew with and give your name and hotel. They will then give you your bus number. The heat will hit you like a steam train :o) Do not let anyone take your bag i.e. porters as they require a tip. The (Air conditioned) buses are not far away, directly in front of the exit of the airport. The buses will not go without you so take your time your on holiday. Our transfer from the airport took about 15-20 mins. We were given our all inclusive wrist bands, room key card and resort info pack. We had the My Travel Rep who wasn’t the most helpful rep in the world. To be perfectly honest she must be the worst rep I have ever come across and I have been so some pretty dire places including Ayia Napa and Tenerife on lad’s holidays. If you want to be a rep at least enjoy it and the customers you are trying to please. Enough of the rambling! We arrived at the resort and the lobby (reception) was beautiful with a pool in the middle with terrapins. We were greeted with an ice cold fruit slush drink which went down a treat after the long journey. The porters ask for your room number which they label your cases with. You then leave your luggage at reception where they deliver it to your room in about half an hour to an hour. We were given a quick tour by a member of staff. The grounds were stunning with a number of ponds with fish and fountains (Ideal for photos). Then you came to the pool, it is huge. We eventually reached our room which was in block 7 on the second floor over looking the pool. We couldn’t of picked a better one. The room had a queen size bed which was massive, a TV which had Sky, mini fridge full of (Presidente Beer, Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite and Coke), the bathroom had a bath, shower, hairdryer and a large area around the sink for toiletries. For those who want to get stuck in to the free drink in the room the bottle opener is on the wall in the bathroom, for what reason I don’t know. We also had a large balcony with 2 chairs and a table. The food is very nice. There are loads to choose from for everybody. Breakfast: Eggs (Omelette, scrambled, fried and boiled), Bacon, Sausages, Beans, Bread, Toast, Waffles, Pancakes, donuts, lots of freshly cut fruit ( Mango, Pineapple, Water Melon, Orange Melon…) selection of fresh fruit drinks and the list goes on…… Lunch: Chicken, Pork, Fish, Pasta, 2 different soups, Burgers, Hot dogs, Fries, Pizza, Salads, breads and selection of desserts. Dinner: Much the same as lunch but with more choice of stews, curries, fish. There are also the Al Carte restaurants (Tropical, Mexican and Brazilian). They were alright for a change but I much preferred the main buffet for larger choice. There is a night club on the resort too called Route 66. We had many a top night in there drinking shots of Kamikaze, Sexy sexys and Sambuca. Say hi to the DJ nicknamed by us as Fatman Scoop (LEGEND). You have to get one of the burgers from the Mexican afterwards as they make the best food ever or maybe it was after all the drink Trips: We took the Outback Safari tour which was very good just to see the scenery and way of life in the Dominican. Supposedly some of the film Jurassic Park was filmed on the island and no wonder when you see its beauty. The day finishes off boogie boarding at a beach in Carbarete which was awesome. We also went white water rafting. This, I thought was a waste of time. The journey there and back was the total of 6 hours for a pretty badly organised rafting trip. This trip is not for the faint hearted as one of the girls we went with found out who fell in at the first bunch of rapids. Once you are on the boat you are stuck in it until the end as you flow through a huge gorge in the middle of no where. I wouldn’t waste your time on your well deserved holiday. We also went on the Rep organised Mind Benders Tour of three bars. You get a meal and 2 drinks at each bar. I didn’t think it was worth the money but well worth it to get out of the complex and see some really nice bars. Word of warning the 2 free drinks at each bar only includes beer, rum and coke or rum and lemonade. Over all our group of 6 had a wonderful holiday and would definitely recommend this hotel to everyone. Phew finished! :o)
Winkworth from Banbury travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with First Choice on a family holiday. There were 2 adults and 3 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 06 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: This hotel is absolutely wonderful, and has everything you want for a fantastic holiday. The hotel itself is set in tropical gardens, which are cleaned every day, with fountains dotted about. As you enter the reception there is a terrapin pool, and an area with flamingoes in. The food was fantastic with plenty of variety every night. There is also the mexican, which we found extremely good, and the brazilian, which we thought was nice but not as good as mexican. The entertainment through the day around the pool and at the beach was great, everything you could think of for adults and children alike, we have three children and we rarely saw them because they were always joining in with some activity of some sort. "The Star Friends" entertainment team were always friendly and happy. The rooms were cleaned every day to a very high standard with towels being made into animal shapes by the maids and also flowers left in bathroom and chocolates a couple of times during the stay aswell. Overall this was a fantastic holiday with everything you could wish for, the staff throughout the hotel cannot do enough for you, they are all so very cheerful and friendly. You will not be disappointed if you have already booked or thinking of booking this hotel for your holiday. We will definately be returning again. Can't wait!
Dave+Karen from Banbury travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Firstchoice on a family holiday. There were 2 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 06 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: What a fantastic holiday the hotel was exceptional everybody was friendly and helpful, the gounds of the hotel were spotless. The food in the buffet restaurants was excellent with plenty of choice and different menus each night.Branded drinks are available so ask when ordering otherwise you will be served local brands, upset stomach from over indulgence ask at the bar for a bomba this is a local cocktail including grenadine,salt,lime,and soda this seemed to do the trick. The swimming pool was very warm we have never spent so much time in a swimming pool which was cleaned most days, the beach is fantastic and very clean too there was some seaweed but nothing to speak of. We have 2 children and we rarely saw them there was always something for them to do during the day the staff did activities all day which they both took part in and enjoyed very much.There was something diffrent most afternoons for adults aswell we had a barbecue on the beach, cocktails, coffee & cakes. Due to the amount of ornamental fountains and ponds which are very pretty do harbour a lot of mozzis so take plenty of repellent and a plug in for your room. There is nothing bad at all to say about this hotel because it was just like paradise and far better than anywhere else we have been and we would definately come back gain in the future.
adam from rhondda travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with thomas cook on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 06 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: What can I say apart from fantastic. As a young couple I was fairly anxious about level of entertainment for us before we went but I needn’t have worried as the entertainment staff are excellent with plenty going on all day. The food was always cooked thoroughly and frequently although got a touch repetitive in the end (especially the American style breakfast) but this was a very minor gripe. The theme restaurants were also superb with the Mexican and Brazilian being the most popular. Hotel was always spotless and well maintained (we had our room door painted 3 times whilst we where there) In summary don’t hesitate to book this hotel it is widely regarded as the best in the Dominican.
green from Wigan travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Direct Holidays on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 05 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Food was best we've ever had. You get chance to eat at the 3 a la carte restaurants twice each but the food in the buffet restaurant was so nice we only had 4 al a carte meals. Breakfast brilliant with the freshly cooked omelettes and the fruit smoothies. Hotel very clean - you could always see someone mopping, polishing, brushing, etc. All staff from cleaners, waiters, entertainment, reception were exceptionally friendly. Rooms kept very clean and mini fridge stocked up more than every other day. Entertainment was good - we're not really ones for joining in the rifle shooting etc but the Star Friends would ask you to join in and then respect your "no". Star Friends also provide the entertainment at night and then lead the dancing late into the evening. We had a couple of trips out - the Outback Safari and Paradise Island. Both well worthwhile. I would definitely visit this hotel again - definitely the best one I've ever stayed in. No sunbed race in the morning. You could always get a sunbed whether it was round the pool, on the terrace or on the beach. Sometimes the pool was too hot so you'd just pick up your towel and find a sunbed somewhere else. Good selection of books available in the hut where the sunbed cushions are housed. I genuinely can't think of anything bad to say about this hotel.
TARLING from NUNEATON travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with DIRECT HOLIDAYS on a family holiday. There were 2 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 05 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Fantastic holiday and the best hotel we've ever stayed in. FOOD. Excellent buffet restaurant, something for everyone, food always piping hot and good variety. (no stomach problems) There are also three a la carte restaurants which have to be booked, we didn't go in these as we found to main restaurant was so good. By the pool is an out door bar/restaurant which opens at 10am for drinks, late breakfast and lunch, at night this is the tropical restaurant. Again the food is excellent as are the drinks, lovely rum and slush cocktails. The grounds of the hotel are really well kept, lovely gardens, flamingos, peacocks and terrapins in the lobby. We had read some reviews about seaweed on the beach, and yes there was some as the hotel is on the Atlantic coast but this is constantly being cleaned up, the beach is really clean and raked every day we loved it and spent most days there. The sea was lovely and warm and to the left side of the beach there is a coral reef with lots of tropical fish which was great for snorkelling, quite rocky in places though so a good idea to take some beach shoes. We went snorkelling with the hotel based scuba team to sosua, fantasic experience the marine life was amazing, my husband went back a couple of days later and did a scuba dive with them which was the hightlight of his holiday, would definately recommend having a go. Also did the jeep safari, the only day we ventured out of the hotel, this is a real eye opener to see how the locals live. Very poor country, the villages have no running water electric etc and the people live in wooden shacks, which does make you feel a bit humble when you're staying in 5* luxury but they very much welcome tourism and encourage you to buy souvenirs to support the locals. The hotel staff are all really friendly and hard working, tips are very much appreciated as they work incredibly long hours for low pay, the odd couple of dollars is very much welcomed. The evening entertainment was all done by the hotels entertainment team Star Friends, different show every night and we really enjoyed it all, the Lion King was the highlight and the Kids Club children were all involved in this dressed up as different animals. Baby Simba held up at the start was even a real baby dressed in a lion outfit and was amazing. The whole hotel was kept spotlessly clean, the rooms were spacious and cleaned daily, the mini bar was well stocked with beer and soft drinks, the bed was the biggest I've ever seen, 6ft wide (apparently to cater for the americans) air conditioning great and definately needed as the temperature didn't fall below 30 degrees even at night. Hairdryer in the bathroom OK, looked a bit like a hoover nozzle but did the job, don't bother to take your own as the voltage is really low so it barely works, we took rechargeable batteries but there wasn't enough power to charge them back up so ended buying more. Overall we had a fantastic time and would recommend this resort to everbody, families, couples and weddings this hotel has it all, if your considering this hotel for your holiday then go you will definately love it.
keith & michelle from wirral travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with thomas cook on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 02 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Hotel is great. The beach is a bit narrow and sea is rough but didn't bother us. Entertainment staff are ace, they don't force anyone to join in. I enjoyed the vollyball, shooting and archery. Entertainment was surprisingly very good every night is different better than we expected it to be. Not much to do at night outside of the hotel, there is a casino a couple of hotels away and a small shopping centre most shops sell the same stuff. Try the rum with coke or lemonade it blows your head off and it's dirt cheap to buy a botttle to take home. Go on the Jungle tour (small offroad truck) takes you through the hills to see how they live + horse ride and to secluded beach its a long day but worth it, its the best trip. Paradise island is good for the snorkling, but I burst my ear drum unfortunately. Oceanworld is good, do the dolphin and sealion encounter its a little scary but really good. People are really nice and genuine, most speak several languages fluently. Overall really good holiday. this hotel looked a lot better than any others (5 star is more 4 star and a 4 star is more like 3 star in Dominican so worth paying extra)
Jason from London travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Airtours on a family holiday. There were 2 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 02 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Well - I cannot recommend the hotel highly enough. Travel: We upgraded to Premiair Gold, and I would definitely recommend it. Extra legroom, ice cream with the movies etc etc Transfer: very smooth indeed, room keys given on the bus, short transfer time Hotel: it is beautiful, clean, spacious (even though I understand it operates at near 100% capacity all the time!), with lush tropical grounds. Being tropical however, means that it does have to rain, and it did on several days, often early morning. This had one major drawback: The floors throughout the hotel, inside and out, without exception gain the attributes of an ice rink. They have a doctor on-site at all times - and I bet that he deals with people who have slipped over all the time! Be very careful. Food: We were informed that the food has just been awarded as the best out of all Mytravel hotels, and it doesn't disappoint. Having buffet-type meals for two weeks does become a little jaded though (not much getting round it). There are 3 a la carte restaurants also, and they provide variety and are also high quality. Some nice additional touches: popcorn in the afternoon, and various other treats spontaneously appear (Paella on the beach at lunchtime - which was a highlight). Drink: The bar staff are absolutely fantastic, with superb service, always smiling (not always the case when it is all-inclusive) and love their jobs. Cocktails are great, and my kids loved their non-alcoholic ones before dinner each evening. Kids Club: Wow - we have 2 children (6 and 4), and they had a whale of a time. They did shooting, archery, mini-golf and much more, and came home with more medals than we know what to do with (as did every other child who went). The staff are great. But the highlight was the fact that the kids get the opportunity to get involved in the evening shows. This really is an amazing experience for them, on the first night my daughter was whisked away, put into a custom made (yes they had tailors altering costumes backstage for the kids!) catsuit and performing in front of 1000 people in the famed performance of Lion King (see the other reviews for details on this!). Other nights included talent shows, fashion shows etc - my daughter was hooked! Pool: Beautiful, vast and always being kept clean. Beach: Lovely, lots of seaweed yes, constantly cleaned by staff. However, if you walk 200 yards to the right of the hotel into an area not owned by the hotel, the detritus of the sea is washed up onto the beach and it really is pretty disgusting - so don't go right! Staff: Incredible, from waiters to cleaners to the entertainment team - they love their jobs, they are happy, attentive and make you feel special. Guests: The hotel attracts a broad mix of nationalities: US, Canadian, UK, German and French in the main - probably (when we were there) in that order of size. There are enough sun loungers to go round, and although the hotel policy is that loungers cannot be reserved, they don't police it at all well, and the best positions (ones with umbrellas) are taken by 8am and nothing is done to remove unattended towels - it's a fact of life and the only way to deal with it seemed to be to get up early unfortunately. In summary - I can confirm that other peoples reviews were pretty damn spot on, and the hotel is a fantastic place to go, brilliant value for money and we will certainly go back.
Andy and Karen from Bromley travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with First Choice on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 01 2006
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: The attitude and friendliness of all the staff was amazing. The range and quality of the food was excellent (no tummy bugs). We have cruised a number of times and this hotel would compare favourably with the level of service and quality of food on the better ships. The rooms were very clean and decently appointed. The tropical gardens within the grounds were immaculate and the bars and other facilities are fist class. The staff deserve more than a 5. There are lots of activities available should you wish to participate however there is no pressure to do so.
Scholes from Bolton travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with First Choice on a family holiday. There were 4 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 11 2005
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: We stayed at the Iberostar Costa Dorada for the 1st time and it was absolutely fantastic.The maids were in the rooms every day really cleaning the rooms. If you tip the cleaners they will also keep on replenishing your fridge. The staff were very polite and friendly. The staff will all greet you in the morning or evening by giving you a hola or buenos dias etc. The hotel itself was absolutely spotlessly clean. The restaurants were fantastic something for everyone and all food is prepared and cooked in front of you. All food was boiling hot and when you have finished you can keep going back as many times as you want. The waitresses and waiters were great. They are very enthusiastic and are waiting on you hand and foot. We were treated like royalty. Once you have sat down with your meal the staff are ready to offer you a drink, either tea, coffee, wine at tea time etc. All the entertainment staff are great. They try and get as many people up as the can and they work their socks off. The nightly shows are great and you can see that very hard work goes into them. Everything I can say about this hotel is it is fab. None of our party was ever ill and we were here for 2 weeks. It was great and all our party have booked to return to the hotel in November again next year. All the staff deserve a pat on the backs. They work so hard and are great.
Trish and John from Essex travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Airtours on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 11 2005
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Iberostar. On the coach to the hotel we were handed our room key, towel cards and welcome pack as rooms had already been issued before we had arrived. We requested a king size bed and sea view room at the travel agent and that is exactly what we received. You can hire a safe key at reception after the porter has taken your bags to your room, it costs around $30. The hotel was exquisite, well maintained and the staff were very accommodating. The Flamingos, Terrapins and Peacocks that greeted you at reception were a definite plus. The weather was lovely, when it is very hot I’d recommend you sunbathe on the beach as there is a slight breeze, but if you are a pool person then the best time to get a bed if you are not an early bird is just after lunch. The entertainment in the daytime was superb. My boyfriend particularly enjoyed the air rifle shooting and archery, which he actually won once. I cheered him on but spent most of my time sunbathing, so a polite no thank you to the Star Friends who came around trying to get you to participate was more than enough and they respected your wishes. We went on a few excursions on our stay. The best being the Funny Bikes that you can book at the hotel. The cable car is out of action three months of the year so we hired the same guide to take us up to the top of Mount Isabella De Torez, this cost us around $60 but we were sharing a bike. We went to Paradise Island with Isaira Tours – found 200 metres up the road. This was good but only worthwhile if you are into snorkeling as this island is only a sand bank. Ocean World was good but found it too long a day as parts were still under construction. We also hired a car for $45 outside the hotel to take us around Puerto Plata, which was definitely worth doing. All in all the entire hotel was lovely and the beach was cleaned daily as it accumulated a lot of seaweed being on the North Coast. The entertainment in the evenings was unmissable, including the in-house nightclub Route 66 where all the Star Friends and dancers ended up. The food was superb including the buffet restaurant, which we ate in most nights. Tipping was greatly appreciated and even though our Rep told us to tip at the end of the holiday we tipped almost everyday as the people and staff were just so friendly and were so appreciative. Definitely a couples and family resort so if you have already booked it you should have a great time and if you are thinking about it, you should go.
Hiles from Wakekfield travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Airtours Prestige on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 11 2005
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: We have just returned from the Dom Rep and the Iberostar Costa Dorada is a fantastic hotel. The staff are so friendly and smiling, genuinely so, and they cannot do enough for you. The entertainment was professional not the animators who look after the kids in the daytime, but really great singers and brilliant dancers. The audience participation was very good and no pressure is put on you to get involved if you don't want to. The food is excellent and so much choice. Three speciality restaurants and all superb. The hotel is very well maintained with cleaning and repairs and gardening going on all the time. The rooms are spacious, the pool is huge with no problem getting sun bed around the pool or on the beach. There is plenty to do, archery, darts, rifle shooting, volley ball, water sports, free diving lesson in the pool and all the usual stuff you expect from a 5 star hotel. There were lovely touches, like flowers decorating the towels in your room every day put there by the maids. This is the only time on holiday that we have not minded tipping, they are so poor that you don't mind giving the staff a little something because they are so obliging. We went to Ocean World which was disappointing as it is still under construction and after we swam with the dolphins there was not enough going on to keep you there all day. We were collected at 8.15 am and picked up at 4.30 pm, and really we were just killing time for 3 hours. If there is 1 complaint it is that the drinks have very little alcohol content, but if you have a rum type cocktail you have to ask for 151 rum which is kept under the counter, and this is normal strength rum like at home, but you have to ask. There was some rain, but it was early morning or early evening and did not interfere with our enjoyment. We would definitely go there again and would definitely recommend taking children. A very good time was had by all!
Donna & laura from essex travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with first choice on a 18-30s holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 10 2005
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: The hotel is fantastic, 5* for sure. rooms are realy big, mini bar stocked up every 2 days, maids are brilliant leave fresh towels daily in different shapes with flowers.
Donna from Essex travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with first choice on a singles holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 10 2005
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Hotel is fantastic, definitely a 5*. Entertainment team are brilliant they work so hard to make sure your holiday is at its best. They work 16 hrs a day for hardly nothing, but they are constantly on the go playing different games throughout the day. You must see the Lion King show its fantastic as well as all the other show's in the evening. The beach was ok alot of seaweed though. Weather was great around 30-33 only rained a few times and when it did was after 4pm which was good. Ocean world is a must, it was amazing we did the sea lion encounter which was very funny. Helicopter ride was great. We would definitely go back to this hotel as its the best one we have stayed in and the best holiday we have ever had.
Allen party from morecambe travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with first choice on a family holiday. There were more than 6 adults and 4 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 09 2005
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Just returned from a great holiday 32 of us for my son',s wedding. Everyone very helpful anything you needed was no trouble to the staff as the were always there to help you. Rooms very clean mini fridge stocked every day food in all the restaurants were excellent. Star friends were excellent always a smile on their faces. Cannot fault holiday and hotel at all 10 out of 10. Booked again for August 2006 can't wait to get there.
Joe from Scunthorpe travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Thomas Cook on a family holiday. There were 2 adults and 3 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2005
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: As we travelled from Scunthorpe the journey to the hotel took over 24 hours, so as soon as we arrived all we wanted to do was sleep! This was not a problem however. The Bell Boys were quick to take our luggage to our rooms and we greeted by friendly staff and cocktails. We went for a quick trip to the restaurant and then straight to bed. When I woke up it took a few moments to work out where I actually was - jetlag for you! However I'd had a great night sleep in a most comfortable and truly luxurious room. The minibar was well stocked, television was good and the air conditioning worked a treat. First thing we did in the morning was go to the Rep's talk. This was very informative with news of many trips available and we felt most welcome. The entertainment was fantastic. It was hosted in English for the first week and the staff were very talented. Contests during the day time were good fun also! Never got tired of the huge choice of food and the staff were really friendly. There was no problem with anything we ate, the benefits of going with a well recognised hotel. Food was served almost twenty-four hours a day. The main restaurant provides most daily meals while food can be found to the bar nearest the pool for most of the day. You can book into the other two restaurants for free. The one nearest the pool provided music from the staff, a great touch, who sang us a very nice song while we enjoyed our food. Drinks are available anytime of the day. The pool was very large and we spent most of the days here, or on the beach which was compartively very cool; well shaded with a gentle breeze and a fabulous sea and the beach bar served up drinks all day. There were many parties including two beach parties and one around the pool at night. These were by far the highlights of the holiday and not to be missed. Finally the trips available were good value and very fun too! The Ocean World trip was great; my mum and sister did the sea lion encounter: a half hour show followed by half an hour by the pool with these increadible animals. The dolphin swim however was more disappointing I was told by my relatives. We also went on the Domincan Discovery trip. This made the holiday and was a day I'll never forget. The one thing that did disappoint a little was the disco. Plenty of 80s hits which my mum and dad loved but I found really boring!
john from hornchurch essex travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with airtours on a friends holiday. There were 6 adults and more than 6 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2005
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Travelled with Mytravel and upgraded to premier gold and worth every penny as the long flight was very comfortable. Obtain visas before you go to save time in Dominican. Hotel was everything we expected and staff were excellent. Any problems were resolved quickly as they really do want you to have a great time Gabriel the manager was excellent. I could not find fault with the hotel or its staff all 7 kids in our party did not want to leave they loved the place so that speaks for itself. We visited Ocean world which was great and also went on the monster truck safari which was an eye opener as it takes you deep into the true Dominican countryside where the locals live. Take some sweets for the kids who really appreciate you coming. I played golf which is only 5 minutes away and cost £50 for clubs round caddy and golf cart which is very cheap course is great. The hotel has a great dive school and we all went snorkelling on the reef just a short boat ride away.
Susan Hart from Cleveleys travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Thomas Cook on a family holiday. There were 2 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2005
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: After a delay of almost 12 hours and a coach trip of 5 hours from the other side of the island thanks to Thomas Cook Airlines - the Hotel was a very welcome sight. Beautiful reception area and friendly welcoming staff - we were even handed a note from our relatives who had arrived a couple of days before. Our rooms were large and spotlessly clean. We had 2 rooms with an interconnecting door as we had requested. We did not have a seaview but did not mind as we were overloking the gardens which were beautifully maintained by a small army of gardeners every day. The pool area is huge and we had no trouble finding sun beds at any time. The main restuarant has an excellent choice of food to suit all tastes and although we are usually fussy eaters we had no problems at all. We did try the Mexican restuarant one night and this was excellent too! The Star Friends are great - always trying to get you to join in but leave you alone if you would rather relax, read etc. In the evening there are shows in the Theatre - some good, some just OK, the Lion King show is great! The star fiends like to get you up to dance with them before and after the show. There is a great Dive Centre in the hotel and we lost our eldest son (14) most days when he went off Scuba Diving - he even did his Advanced Open Water course. Our youngest son had an ear infection but there is an excellent Doctor based in the Hotel and he was sorted out very quickly - although he was not happy about the injection on his bottom!! This was a very relaxing holiday in beautiful surroundings and we will definitely return to this Hotel.
Julie and Colin from Edinburgh travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Thomas cook on a couples holiday. There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 07 2005
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: This is the second time we have been to an Iberostar hotel and we cannot fault the hotel for its cleanliness, excellent quality of food and very friendly and helpful staff. All restaurants there are of a high standard and our favourite was the Mexican. Downside to the hotel we thought was the entertainment at night which could be repetitive and boring on some occasions we went down to Playa Dorada to the casino which was free to get in and served free drinks to. Had to get taxi there and back which cost $14 in total but it was well worth it.
jack and tracie gardner from northumberland travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with thomas cook on a family holiday. There were 5 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 07 2005
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: What can we say this hotel is fantastic from arriving and getting checked in on the coach all we had to do was find our room, and the luggage followed minutes later. The reception area is beautiful with the terrapins and flamingos greeting you. We went here to get married and it was perfect, Paula our wedding coordinator was very professional and the day was perfect. The food is wonderful something for everyone. We ate in the Mexican tropical and the Brazilian twice the staff couldn’t do enough for you. The entertainment staff work so hard and the shows are second to none in fact all the staff from maids to bar staff never stop from waking up until late at night and always have a smile. Star friends keep you entertained throughout the day if you want to join in they did not pressure you a polite no thanks did the trick and we where left to sunbathe. If you are thinking of going here you must go and swim with the dolphins at ocean world, fantastic, the monster truck safari is also interesting. The swimming pool is huge and we saw the lad cleaning two or three times throughout the day great job we thought. My parents and brother commented that this was one off the best holidays they had been on and they’ve been on a few, we would certainly return to this hotel and we highly recommend it to friends and family.
karen from Aberdeen travelled to Iberostar Costa Dorada with Direct Holidays on a family holiday. There were 6 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 07 2005
rated the Iberostar Costa Dorada as follows: Cleanliness Location Staff Food Entertainment	said: Have just returned from 2 weeks at the Iberostar and it is the best holiday we have ever had. The hotel is very clean and the rooms are cleaned every day and the bar stocked up with water, beer, fanta, sprite, coke and diet coke. Plenty of sunbeds but you had to be up early if you wanted a bed by the pool. Meals excellent in the buffet and the A La Carte restaurants. We ate in the brazilian twice. Kids club excellent thanks t