Iberostar Costa Dorada

Occupying a huge area abutting a lovely beach just outside of Puerto Plata, the Iberostar Costa Dorada is similar to most of its neighbors. It offers large pools, a picturesque stretch of sand, and plenty of activities to keep guests -- most of whom are families and couples -- busy until late at night. However, food gets consistently good reviews (which is not always the case at other all-inclusives in the area), and the architectural style makes it particularly attractive. Colonial-style buildings featuring open, arched hallways and charming wrought-iron accents in walls blend seamlessly with structures topped with palapa roofs. Surrounding them, towering palm trees sway in the ocean breeze, while manicured lawns and spacious pool decks are inviting spots for guests to unwind on a lounger.

This is a family-friendly resort and activities abound -- dance classes, Spanish lessons, archery, bingo, and a popular kids' club as well. Nightly stage shows keep visitors entertained around the bars, while daytime activities take place at the main pool, including water aerobics, games, and competitions.

Iberostar Costa Dorada is located in a resort-filled beachfront area directly southeast of Puerto Plata. There isn’t much to do within walking distance of the property beyond lounging at the beach, but Puerto Plata is home to restaurants, bars, shops and a couple of historic attractions worth checking out. The colonial center -- located just a 10-minute drive from the resort -- is rather charming, as is the 16^th-century San Felipe Fortress, which towers over one of the tips of the Puerto Playa Bay. Most guests never venture off-site, and those who do, do it on a trip organized by the resort’s tour desk. The hotel is a 20-minute drive from Gregorio Luperón International Airport.

The Iberostar Costa Dorada resort offers direct access to a huge beach with soft golden sand dotted by trees and loungers. The beach itself is beautiful, but the water is less thrilling -- brownish-green with only slight visibility (not ideal for snorkeling). There is some seaweed in the water, but any that is washed to shore gets diligently raked up by the staff. A dive shop offers day trips and both motorized and non-motorized water sports, all for an extra charge.

The hotel’s 516 rooms were all renovated in the mid 2010s and are clean and rather cute, but slightly basic in terms of decor. Pale-green walls, beige floor tiles, and all-white wooden furniture with woven natural fiber accents lend spaces a subtle tropical feel -- but the combination of wicker, pine wood, and blue upholstery is a tad plain, making for a somewhat dated, mismatched look.

Measuring 24 square meters (258 square feet) entry-level Double Garden and Double Lake View rooms -- as well as Superior units -- are a tad compact; all other units start at 35 square meters (376 square feet). All rooms feature either a king bed or two double beds topped with duvets and at least two pillows, plus a small sitting area with a chair or two. Big glass doors open to balconies furnished with basic patio furniture, and offer pool, lake, or sea views.

Standard amenities include air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and coffeemakers. Ceiling fans, safes, and irons and ironing boards are also provided in all rooms, while robes, slippers, and free minibar items (replenished daily) are available in Superior units and Junior Suites only. Double Sea View and Superior rooms, as well as Iberostar Costa Dorada Junior Suites offer free spa access. Bathrooms are modern and clean, with walk-in showers outfitted with rainfall showerheads, rectangular sinks over spacious vanities, and big mirrors with wooden frames. Basic toiletries in small containers along with hairdryers are also available in all room types.

A few yards from the beach, the pool is massive. It winds into various pockets, through a Grecian column -- housing a whirlpool -- and around a central garden. It's a single body of water, but it actually feels like three to four separate pools. There are also two smaller wading pools for babies and toddlers.

A full entertainment program is offered daily in and around the pool, along with multiple sports activities and competitions. The hotel also hosts a series of nightly entertainment shows -- all on par with most other all-inclusives. For children 4 to 17 years old, the resort offers three separate kids’ clubs, all with age-appropriate activities, including sports, arts and crafts, and games. In addition, there is a playground that kids can use when accompanied by an adult.

The spa offers massages, manicures and pedicures, and full hair-salon services. It also has a hydrotherapy area, along with saunas. The gym is equipped with a handful of cardio and weight-training machines, and there are tennis courts with nighttime lighting, mini-golf, a full-sized basketball court, billiards and ping-pong tables, a volleyball court, and a miniature soccer field.

For corporate events and weddings, the hotel offers indoor and outdoor space, including four rooms which combined can host up to 300 guests. Audiovisual equipment can be rented for a fee, and wedding packages for different budgets can be booked with the events team.

As an all-inclusive resort, Iberostar Costa Dorada food and drinks are available 24/7 at no extra charge. The package covers all buffet meals, as well as one dinner per week at each of the three a la carte eateries available on-site. Drinks covered include soft drinks, coffee, tea, sodas, beer, and cocktails, but not frozen drinks. Drinks available free of charge with the all-inclusive package include some recognizable brands. Food gets consistently good reviews, but some guests have reported a lack of variety at the buffet, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. The a la carte restaurants are only open for dinner, and reservations are required.

El Mercado is the hotel’s main buffet restaurant, located off the lobby. It serves up international cuisine for all three main meals and offers themed nights from time to time. La Hacienda offers Mexican cuisine for dinner. Guests are requested to choose one of three shifts upon making a reservation. Tasty Mediterranean cuisine is available at Mare Nostrum, which is also only open for dinner. Sakura serves up Japanese cuisine in two dinner shifts.

Additionally, the resort features three bars, including a lounge in the lobby, a pool bar, and a snack bar serving up fried fish, pizzas, nachos, salads, hot dogs, and burgers.