Iberostar Domincana Reviews

This is my second year staying at the Iberostar Dominicana and once again we had a wonderful holiday. Wonderful welcome. Easy and quick check-in. Envelopes ready for everyone when we arrived. When we mentioned this was our second visit, she said if we didn't like our room location, just ask and we could change rooms. Straightaway, we were moved to a room where we preferred last year. From then on, we had special treats for being a returning guest. Location is wonderful. The best beach I have ever seen - miles of white sandy beach and clear turquoise waters. You can even do snorkelling without paying to go on a boat trip. Food is lovely - a bit of a Mexican theme in some restaurants. Lots to drink and eat. Star Friends - the entertainments team - fantastic. I don't know where they get their energy from and keep that lovely smile on their face from morning to night 7 days a week and the waiters/waitresses/bar staff/maids too.

Peacocks and their babies roaming around, pink flamingos, chickens, hens. You don't know where they are going to be from one day to the next. Very good for children.

Will definitely be going again.

And shop around for excursions - prices differ greatly. You can buy them from the hotel themselves and the watersports hut - not just your holiday rep immediately the next morning!

We went to the Dom Rep as a birthday treat instead if the usual Canary Island winter break. Pound for pound it actually wroked out cheaper than a similarily rated hotel, plus it's all inclusive, plus there's nothing else to spend money on. But thats just a bonus, the real dfference s that the domncan people are genuinly pleased to se you and go out of their way to make your holiday al that it can be.

The hotel is stunning, the gardens are immaculate as are the rooms, restaurants and bars The staff are atentive and friendly (and also very responive to a dollar bill tip - bring plenty of single dollars).We did ave a couple of problems with the room, the safe didn't work but these were dealt with very quickly.
The food is very good, the buffets are varied and you can usually find plenty of things to suit your own tastes. The speciallity retauants were ok, make sure you get the 8 pm sitting as the late sitting is a bit picked over.

The rooms are very good, cleaned every day and the mimi bar restocked every 2 days or sooner if your nice to the chamber maid. We were originally allocated a twin room but wanted a queen size room and it was no problem getting moved in a couple of days as soon as one came available.
The beach, fine white powdery sand, like a billion eggtimers opened and scattered on the shore, perfect, absolutely perfect. We walked for an our in both directions and never got to the end. here's plenty to do too, water sports, paraglding and a realy good, PADI certified dive school.

Entertainment, the team will keep you occupied all day if you want to or leave you to veg out by the enormous pool if thats what you want They do really good dance lessons by the beach as well, essential if you want to make the most of the latin dancing every night.Be warned if you don't try hard enough Jordan, alias the black banana (don't ask), will soon tell you. They also do a great each party once a week.
Evening entertainment is OK sometimes it's great sometimes it's just average but there is also a quieter venue at the punta cana bar which is lovely if you fancy a quieter, more intimate evening.
There is also a disco which starts at eleven, more for the younger ones but we weren't the olny older ones trying to strut our stuff There's also an american style rock cafe/bar.

Cuba Libre's - nectar from ther gods, partake often and in large quantities.

Bad points, this is the bit mst people want to here,
The French and the Germans have a habit of stealing each others towels which are supplied at the begining of the stay. Sometimes others, as we were, can become inocent victims of this childish behaviour.
Sunbed reservation, I know that old hardy annual, it happens with no attempt to curtail it, so take your towels down before breakfast and mark your spot with a T shift or something.
The shop is expensive so make sure you have all you essentials, sun cream, toiletries etc all with you.
The airport WILL charge for excess baggage so be warned.
Other than that, not much really.

All in all probably one of the best holiday destinations I've ever experienced. Go there, you won't be disappointed.

Had a lovely holiday however 6 out of 7 of our party had regular tummy upsets and I had food posioning. Think this came from the main two restaurants as there was no airconditioning and food was left out for some time. Also hygiene habits of some holiday makers left a little to be desired i.e. not using the cloth to hold the bread
Handling cheese etc.

The beach grill bar became an a la carte fish restaurant at night and you had to book your place (you are now only allowed 2 bookings per week unlike what the brochure quotes) Lots of people had tummy bugs and the 'fish/ a la carte' restaurant cancelled its bookings one evening and changed its menu and 200 people were invited to eat there and to say how they felt the next day! Staff were saying there was a gastroenterotis bug only affecting children (!!!).

There was no air conditioning in main hotel areas i.e. main bar, main function room, hotel lobby. Heat and humidity were immense.

Beach - lovely and breezy, well worth taking up the free hours snorkelling every day. Beach bar stayed open till 11pm - wonderful to sit down on the front with the breeze and a drink and watch the electric storms at night.

Maids who cleaned the rooms did a fantastic job.

Rep - kept reminding everyone to give her a good review on a far too regular basis. Otherwise did a great job.

We paid the upgrade for seats for the flight and it was well worth the extra leg room, free drinks, better quality food however I really think it should be restricted to adults and children over a set age. It was very difficult with crying babies on the way home - I don't just mean for 20 mins or so but what felt for the majority of the flight. Not meant to sound horrid but we had paid for an upgrade for better comfort and most people appeared disgruntled at the continuous noise.

In fact I am not sure about babies and heat and humidity of the Dom Rep. Not sure its fair on the baby.

There were notices up in the beach grill restaurant about the code of dress but these were ignored with people walking round in trunks and bikinis etc. Other restaurants upheld the code.

Can't comment on the trips and darent travel with the tummy bug.

Lots and lots of people smoking in the restaurants (not a la carte ones).

Anyone going to this hotel will not be dissapointed. On arrival you are greeted with smiles and cocktails. Rooms are spacious and well kept, mini bar restocked daily, and the maids leave the towels in shapes of animals decorated with flowers.
Food, is very good a vast selection for everyone and when you get tired of buffet food just try the speciality restaurants, especially the Oriental.
The pools are warm and large the punta cana is shallower so is best for the young ones but it's also like a bath so great to lie in. They are cleaned every morning.
The beach is cleaned every morning and has pure white sand with clear blue warm waters, can get a bit weedy at times.
Entertainment is on the whole good with proffesional shows and the animation team, who are quite funny. Look out for Danny he is fab, and so full of energy. Entertainment goes on throughout the day, if you want it. you must go to the beach party at night, great!
This was a fantastic holiday and we will be returning.

This was our first time in the Carribean and my wife and myself were looking for a relaxing holiday where we can chill out with good food and drinks and a good level of service. We did a little research on various web sites and decided on the IHD. We could not have found better, the place is absolutely fantastic with everything there that we required.
The food was wide ranging and of good quality with a choise of four specielity restaurants which were superb. The hotel is spotless and the service is exceptional. If you are looking for a good quality hotel with a good level of service along with a huge, clean pool and a lovely beach you cannot go wrong with the IHD. we were ther in October / November 2006 and the weather was glorious with a few thundery showers that occurred mainly overnight. If you are into Scuba like me, there is a PADI dive centre right on the beach which organise very good reef and wall dives in the clear carribean sea.

Fantastic holiday and we may be tempted to break a family rule not to return to the same place twice, it was that good.