First the flight - well worthwhile paying extra for premium seats, especially with young children, even for adults, leg room and all the extras that come with it!!
On arrival to the airport,we had our visa cards with us so did not need to queue however I dont think there was a problem if you didnt have them. The porters were happy to take your bags to your coach but make sure you have a couple of $ to tip them.
The hotel staff met you with a nice cold drink as you check in and have your wristband put on. We noticed the flamingo's and terrapins, our daughter loved them. Bell boys take your luggage to your room and you are met by guest service to escort you to your room. We initially thought our room was quite a distance from all the ammenaties, but the next day all was revealed!!
Our block was 6000 and only 70strides from the beach and about 20 from the mini kids club.
We spent the first few days at the pool but became very hot. The beach is better with a sea breeze and a bit more bearable with plenty to do, sand castle building or maybe a wee bit more adventurous like kayak, wind surfing or snorkeling.
Hotel facilities which include a fantastic well equipped gym along with a sauna and jacuzzi, worth a visit!
Restaurants are brill. (Drinks filled up as and when they needed to be. Did not have to ask for this to be done at anytime and did not feel obliged to tip the waiters, only done so on our last day so show gratitude) Mexican, Brazilian, tropical and buffet style. All will satisfy your pallet.
After you have filled your tummy to the "gunnells", you can take a stroll round the hotel grounds which are spectacular with all sorts of wildlife and lovely foutains or you can opt for the cocktails and sit relaxing. The entertainment are ready, well entertain you, and they do try their very best to do just that! Whether or not getting involved is your kind of thing, you will still have an enjoyable time.
MAMA MARIA & JESSE from the kids mini club are absolutely fantastic!!! Although our daughter was not old enough for the kids club, they still made an effort and involved her in the mini club disco line up which she loved. Even throughout the day they were always calling her and coming over and saying hello.Even on her birthday they came into the restaurant with a band and members of the kids club and sang "happy birthday".She was thrilled as she was only 2.
The only downfall us girls can relate to,was, only 110 volts in hotel rooms, which means our HAIRDRYERs or STRAIGHTNERS dont work as good!!!! But then again, it gets so humid at night, you could have spent an hour doing your hair and straightening it, only for it to frizz as soon as you hit the outside air!! But reception staff will charge any electrical item ie mobile phones, camera's, etc for you if needed.
So all in all gr8 holiday, will be definately going back soon.

The hotel is only a short distance by "luxury" coach from the airport and since it is a top star rating we were first to be dropped off.

First impressions excellent. Large reception desk with welcoming staff. You have a short fruit drink whilst you wait to book in. Procedure was quick and painless.
During the booking in at reception it was on our details (boxed tick by travel agent) that we were celebrating an aniversary. We were on our 25th Wedding Aniversary so the reception manager took some details about the day and date and asked if he could arrange something for us. We agreed to the Mexican resturant (previous reviewers said this was thier favourite).
Yellow bands on and off you go to explorer. The only time I saw the bands in use was when the doormen for the disco stopped some kids from going in after eleven. But the doormen also stopped adults from going in who were bearfoot or wearing a vest top.

Between the reception and the bedroom blocks are lots of water features, the vast majority with fountains and some with wild life; Flamingos, terrapins and Koi carp. Although they are not really wild the brave fed the flamingos by hand and others watched in amazement. (Great for the photo album)

We were in bedroom block 1000 which is lefthand side first from the beach. All blocks are three storey and the doors to the bedrooms surround a gardened courtyard. Our bedroom was at the back and so the balcony did not get sun until later in the afternoon and then only dappled sun. This was great for us quiet no pool noise. One downside is that the next hotel (The Coral Beach) was about 30 metres away through thr shrubbery. The front rooms of the block face towards the large freeform pool or the gardens and Koi carp pond or the Tropical resturant/snack bar.

Different resturants and bars open at different times of the 24 hour day. So get to know them. The Mexican served chicken, hot dogs or burgers between midnight and 7am freshly cooked to your request. The special resturants try them out, try the starters even if you have not got a clue what it is, you will in enjoy it.
There are plenty of grounds staff keeping the place tidy and trimmed. Some of the guests on the otherhand would like to see it as a refuse tip, I'm sure they are practising to get on the TV show Worlds dirtiest house.

Staff are all friendly. Take some of the Spanish lessons and say afew words to them in Spanish. Like Mucho gusto man-yah-na. It shows the Star Friends you can speak Spanish like they speak English.

Star Friends are there to get you to mix in and enjoy your holiday, playing sports or dancing. The loudest is Cocolulu, with Wilson and Scooby comming next.

You will get irritated with the Latino music day and night and disco. The people I spoke to believe that the band know about 3 tunes and then repeat at a different speed or with louder bongo drums or the loud Saxophone player will change to a loud Clarinet.

The pool area fills very quickly with towels and personal items and afew people. Sorry no topless. It also gets hot. A number of people reported ear infections to the sexy female doctor.

The beach, great. Breezy especially in the afternoon. Get closer to the sea so that you get less sand blown at you. Take some bread with you stand knee deep in the water near the corel and hold the bread under the water. You will have fish eating out of your hand. Go snorkelling especially if you have not done it before. Take some more bread or a banana.
Word of caution the corel has spikey sea urchins on it so if you stand on it wear sandals and watch were you put your hands. I did not hear of anyone getting spiked but just something to watch.

Tryout the free kayaks, snorkelling gear, wind surfing and catamarans. You have to sign a damage agreement first but they dont seem to check your room number etc.

Some people complain about sales people on the beach.They are only allowed to tout near the waters edge and are watched by the hotel security who patrol the beach. For the two weeks we spent on the beach we were asked once by the touts to go to the shacks to the left side of the beach about 100 meters away.

hotel is very impressive, the grounds are lovely with lots of fountains and wildlife. loads of activities. watch out for the rather loud star friend who is a bit annoying as he shouts all the time. he's irritating but works his backside off to make sure people get involved.
room had a fabulous sea view. bathroom was o.k. but not what i'd call 5*...see the tiling around the bath!
air con was fine. fridge a godsend as we took our 1 year old son.
the staff were brilliant making us feel welcome and making a fuss of our son.
tipping wasn't an issue...do it at the end..tip the maid for flowers and towell displays!!100dps is about

This hotel is first class! You could not have asked for anything any better. The food in the hotel which is available 24 hours a day was excellent. There are 3 speciality restuarants which included Mexican, Brazilian and Tropical. The buffet restuarant offered a very wide choice of food and was great.

The whole hotel was kept imaculately clean, everything was spotless. There was always someone cleaning something.

The staff are very friendly and made you feel very welcome. The star friends are amazing they keep going all day and make sure there is plenty for you to be involved in. There was everything from water areobics, water volleyball, football to dance lessons, spanish lessons and olympic games! Which somehow I managed to end up getting involved in!!

Evening entertinment was also first class, shows involved performances such as the Lion King, Dominican Show and some great dancing everything was so much fun.

This was my first trip to the carribean and I loved it and would definately go back again.

The hotel was fantastic and was spotless with the staff continually cleaning and making sure everything was first class.
The food in the buffet was excellent and we almost didnt bother with the speciality restaurants, but were very glad we did as they were lovely, we especially liked the Brazilian which if you are a meat lover you could not fault, also they had a lovely cheese buffet.

The beach was a nice break away from the pool as there was a nice breeze which you did not get round the pool, but then a quick dip worked just as well. The pool area is lovely, we were a little concerned about getting a sun bed as have read a few reports that said there were problems, but we had no problems at all getting a bed, even when we were late getting down (by late I mean after about 10am).

We went on a couple of trips, white river water rafting, which was very good and worth the 2.5 hr drive to get there, you are in rafts of 6 people and the guides are really funny and make it so much fun. We also went to paradise island, they take you on a speed board out to this sand bank which was in the middle of the ocean and surrounded by clear blue water and a reed with some gorgeous tropical fish in, then they take you around the mango swamps. We also did the outback safari and went horse riding, both of which were excellent.

This was definately one of our best holidays and we would love to go back.

FLIGHT

Excellent Hotel in beautiful surroundings, all staff very friendly and nothing was too much trouble for them.Brazilian and Tropical restaurants were lovely with choice of meals for all types. Certainly would return to this hotel.
Went on two trips, recomend Paradise Island but keep away from the Damanja watrfalls, unless you are an expert climber.

this was our 2nd visit to the dom rep we stayed in the resort of Bavaro last time in the south of the island. The beaches in the north are a major let down no clear water or powder white sand here.
The hotel was very grand and plush, flamingos in a lake in reception and round the main bar in the evening was a nice touch. The room was big and very clean, we left $1 every day for the maids and we got left flowers and lots of extra booze in the mini bar.
food was brill no bad things to stay at all.
Would stay in an iberostar hotel again for sure but not this one as the beach lets it down

Iberostar Costa Dorada

This was our second visit after getting married here in 2003. We love it and went back for a week without the kids. Already booked to go in Mar 2005 and kids can't wait.

Couldn't find fault and we usually can! For the money you won't find a better hotel!!!! Okay some people say it's not up to scratch with some of the mexican 5 stars like the Moon Palace, but it costs about 30 - 50% less.

A truly memorable holiday destination.

All I can say is this hotel is brill if you get the chance to go make sure you do they are the friendliest people I have ever met. They all work so hard for so little money and yes they always have a big smile for everyone.

Hotel great staff great.

Food great.

Entertainment great.

As you have probably gathered I loved this hotel and hope I am fortunate to go back again.