August 23, 2005
08-23-2005 7:08 am
August 23, 2005
color=#0000ff> Iberostar Message BoardBack a week from Iberostar Costar Dorada. First time long haul. Travelled with my 70 year old parents, my husband and 2 daughters (10 and 14). We had a fabulous time. Having read every review going had a pretty good idea what to expect and we all thought the place and people and beach were wonderful. We were in block 2, ground floor, overlooking pool. Lovely! Rooms immaculate. Air conditioning worked a treat. Perhaps the only thing we couldn't prepare ourselves for was the humidity. By 9 pm we were back in our rooms and cool!! The kids had a FAB time. Never saw them. They lived in the pool. Normally we are pool people but it was so hot and although the pool was gorgeous we just couldn't lie around it. Once we discovered the breeze by the sea thats where we stayed. The sea was so warm it was gorgeous. Breeze seemed to increase in the afternoon so if you want to snorkel best to do so in the morning. Beach is kept very clean. The weather was fantastic. Over the 2 weeks had 3 showers, 10 mins later the sun back out. During one "shower" we left our parents on beach while we went to lunch (its a hard life!). Food in buffet restaurant was what I would expect. Lots of choice. Very hot in there but those poor chefs I don't know how they worked. We didn't bother with the a la'carte restaurants. Our waiters were brilliant, very funny and very helpful. Keep your eye out for them downing the odd half a lager!
If you like red wine - oh dear! the house wine was Spanish and 11% and that was it. No choice. Pretty awful. But got used to it with evening meals. Cocktails were delicious. My husband is a vodka drinker - he found the vodka served very weak and was a bit disappointed but tried the rum and the white wine and everything else! The only place you can get some international brands was the main bar in the lobby (you need a shirt to get a drink there).
We did one trip to Ocean World and it was brilliant. We swam with the dolphins - wonderful. My parents just paid the admission fee (which includes a reasonable buffet lunch). They thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They could watch all the encounters. Well worth the money we felt. Bus picked up at 9.15 and we thought a return of 5.30 might be a bit too much but the day flew. No crowds, just wonderful.
While we were there I had to see the doctor for an ear infection - never had to do that on my hols before - very straightforward. Doctors surgery on site. English speaking. The following day I had a basket of fruit off the management. How kind. Also my husband had a birthday whilst there and when we got back from the beach a birthday cake was waiting. These sorts of things make you appreciate how organized the IBS is. No tummy trouble at all. Mozzies - yes they were there and some people were covered in bites but we only had a couple of bites the whole time. Did use roll on and sprayed the room before we went out in the evening.
Could go on and on. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. FABULOUS.
Saw about 8 weddings while there. Everyone looked lovely, but the poor guys in suits, felt sorry for them.
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