Aug 14, 2005
08-14-2005 9:00 am
Aug 14, 2005
color=#0000ff> Iberostar Message BoardWe have just returned from IB Costa Dorada after 2 weeks of heaven. We were there from July 26th-Aug 9th
Check in was so easy our keys were given to us on the bus, once we arrived just had to make sure our room numbers were on our cases and they arrived at the room 10 minutes after us. Just enough time for us to enjoy the welcome drink.
Hotel buildings and grounds are spotless, lots of water features and beautiful plants, as well as the flamingos, turtles and peacocks. Rooms were cleaned daily and were comfortable at times the air conditioning was too good and I was cold, you can regulate it though.
We had a 14 and 16 year old with us, we never saw them, they were off with friends and the entertainment team. It can be hard keeping this age group happy but apart from when they came in to get showered ready for their evening meal we never saw them for longer than 5 minutes for them to 'report in'.
We did insist on occasions they spent a little more time with us and we ate in the Mexican and Brazilian, both these were excellent. The main restraunt had good variety of food, good quality and delicious but the specialists just made it feel a little more like eating out. Breakfast was plentiful and you could be as healthy or unhealthy as you like or both!!. We usually got lunch by the pool, which had a good choice though we usually stuck to salad, and late night snacks in the mexican are excellent and the staff in their are great, nice to relax eat a burger and have a chat before retiring for the night.
If you have younger children from what we saw Mama Maria kept them very busy and on some nights they even put on shows for the adults, all good fun and the children had such a great time.
Franklin and the entertainments team do an excellent job, and are so multi talented. Most evenings a show of professional quality was put on and we would sit through it from start to finish amazed at their talents. The hotel band are excellent and there are 4 amazing singers to accompany them. What we liked most was that the staff really enjoyed what they were doing and Franklin seemed so proud of them. We have been to several all inclusive hotels and this is the best entertainment package by far.
During the day you can take or leave the games etc put on, you are invited to take part if you decline you are not pestered but left to do your 'sleeping competition' on the sun bed. Our children could not speak highly enough of the entertainers and were great fans of the DJ in the disco.
There was a real family feel to the hotel and on some evenings members of staff had their families in the hotel to watch a show, this I feel is probably part of the reason why the staff are so happy.
We did go off the complex, we found if you went on the beach and walked to the right and upto the shopping plaza we were pretty well left alone. Not that many shops but it gets you out of the hotel for an hour or so. If however, you go left and near the huts at the end of the beach, more or less as soon as you walk past the sign that tells you you are leaving the hotel area, you are pestered. I do not like to be constantly hassled and in fact I probably didnt make as many purchases as I would normally due to the fact that I just wanted to get away. They are not aggressive just very persistent.
We did take a taxi and went up the mountain in the cable car, again as soon as we left the hotel gates the taxi stopped and we were approached by a man who wanted to be our guide for the day, we stuck to our guns and stayed with the plan we had and he adventually respected this. The journey to the cable car was an experience, the traffic is unbelievable and heaven knows what their laws are. Again at the cable car we were offered a guide for the day but declined. Once at the top the views are amazing and the gardens are a pleasure to walk round, there is a small amount of souvenir shops and once again once your are in you have a battle to get out.
We booked with the rep, the Monster Trucks and and Paradise Island trips, these trips can be booked cheaper at the beach, but we do know of a couple of people who booked witht he beach vendors and had problems with bus not turning up for them or wrong days booked. We felt we had more comeback if there was a problem with the Rep.
Monster Trucks were great fun, a full day, driving through breathtaking scenery and rivers, visiting small villages and a school (we did take gifts of pencils, sweets and toiletries, these are greatly appreciated though it can be a little upsetting to see children so desperate to get the little you have). If you do take this trip make sure you keep a little of your gifts for later in the trip as the children towards the end of the journey often get nothing. Lunch is taken by a river where you can take a swim, you end the day at their gift shop, which is very reasonable and the prices were cheaper than that we had seen elsewhere, and they say they give a proportion of sales to the local school (so hope they do). Drink is plentiful throughout the day, coke, sprite, water, beer and of course rum. Good value for money and great fun.
Paradise Island, the 2 hour journey to get to the boat is a very bumpy and quite tiring, though once you hit the beach to get the speed boats over it is worth the journey beautiful white sand and crystal clear water, and once you arrive at paradise island it is even better, my family said it was the best snorkelling they had done, I cannot snorkel but the fish were still in abundance just swimming around where I could wade. The journey back on the speedboats was play time, we were thrown all over the place, great fun. Again lunch was provided though the drinks were not as good as monster trucks.
Whether you choose to stay on the beach, by the pool or venture out you will not be disappointed. We had an excellent holiday and cannot think of one complaint, every one from the reception staff to the gardeners made you most welcome and would do anything to help. Take the 10 seconds out of your day to say Hola to everyone you pass and see the smiles you get back.
We will go back though not next year, I plan to find another little gem for then.
Paraiso Del Mar Paraiso Beach Paraiso Lindo Paraiso Maya Quetzal Tucan Cozumel
Costa Dorada Bavaro Dominicana Hacienda Dominicus Varadero Bella Costa Tainos Daiquiri Punta Cana
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