Allegro Playa Dorada By Occidental

By All-Caribbean User from Calgary, AB • We'd Go Back - Good Hotel

Overall Rating: 8   Location [6] • Room [8] • Service [8] • Value [10]

Overall we had a nice stay at the Playa Dorada. I went with my 12 year old daughter. We had minor problems. There were quite a few French and German people, so she had a hard time meeting kids.

Our first room (first night) was in Bldg. 1. It had a beautiful ocean view and balcony, however, the smell of Lysol (or some very strong cleaner) was very prevalent and the dust (mold) in the... [more] air conditioner was horrible. I requested another room and was told to come back tomorrow. I went the next day to talk to the Air Transat staff (Freddy and Carole) and stood in line for over an hour to be told to come back in a couple hours and they would try and get us another room. I went up to pack our stuff up and the ceiling in the bathroom had partially collapsed and there was water coming into the toilet and floor. I immediately went to the front desk and explained this whole situation again and was promtply given a key to Building 6 (Rm 6111). We had a great room (overlooking golf course). Good water pressure in shower. The people who were in the room beside us (the first Bldg. 1) did not have any problems with smells, so don't know if it was just this room. I would request Bldg. 6 or 5 if you have a choice.

The "hot tub" did not work the whole time we were there (Jan. 4 to 11). I found the pools cold, prefer the ocean. However, we had rain 3 out of the days we were there, so the beach was pretty dirty. Watch out for sand flies!!! They're wicked after a storm!!

The food was very good to excellent. I had lots of roasted chicken (excellent), salads, breads and buns, lots of variety, great deserts.

Hotel staff (chamber maids)were very friendly. We left presents with them that they appreciated, along with a dollar every second day or so.

Beach - Vendor ladies wanting to braid hair - She wanted to do my daughter's hair (just the pony tail, not whole head) for $40 US. I got her down to $25 so you can barter with them!! Watch out for the monkey man selling stuffed monkeys. You can hear him coming, "I Got the Monkey, Monkey See, Monkey Do - too funny! Lots of vendors - just tell them no thanks and they generally leave you alone.

We went on the Outback Safari booked through the Hotel. It was our best trip!! It included a trip to Cabaret beach. Excellent waves for body surfing or boogie boarding.

The Catamaran trip for the day was a disappointment as it had stormed the night before and the waters were VERY rough. We lost about 1/2 our passengers when we got to the snorkeling place (Sousa beach) as they were sick and had to take a sea-taxi and then a cab back to our hotel. Lunch wasn't good (cold cuts of some sort, potato salad which I didn't chance and the cole slaw was pretty bad). Couldn't see any fish because of merky water. Have done this before in Cuba and it was excellent. Just a bad luck day of weather.

I drank Presidente beer mostly at the hotel, had a couple rums. They're very free with the booze. Good for those who like to really party it up.

There's a shopping plaza down the road about a 5 minute walk. You can also take a horse and carriage ride. I didn't participate in this as the horses looked like they were half starved and old and didn't agree with it.

Went parasailing but you take off from the the boat instead of the shore. They took us way out in the ocean. Would of preferred to stay closer to shore to see scenery.

We would go back to this hotel. [less]
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By lilbambina77 from Kentucky • What a trip!

Overall Rating: 8   Location [8] • Room [6] • Service [8] • Value [8]

We took our first trip to the Domincan Republic this August and we loved it! The room was simple but comfortable and pretty clean. There are some general mainenance that's could use some attention, like water leaks. It would hurt to assign more staff to keeping the beach cleaner. But obove all I was very satisfied with the staff. Everyone was very friendly by the time we came home I felt like ... [more]I had made many new friends! Be sure to stop by the Gift Shop and talk to Sam!
Try to make your dinner reservations and book your tours as soon as you can due to availability. I would have to advise to anyone who plans on booking tours, becareful and make sure you get as much information as you can so you don't repeat certain activities. They can be pushy, but don't give in. Tell them exactly what you want to do and make no exceptions. Know that you have the right to shop around. There are tourist centers everywhere. You can even check down at the Plaza. We went to Damajagua, the waterfalls, and Paradise Island. Both are highly recomended! This a beautiful place with beautiful people! [less]
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By carmen from Miami, FL • Puerto Plata Experience

Overall Rating: 4   Location [10] • Room [6] • Service [4] • Value [6]

	Very nice Area Great location
	BAD service

I was not happy with the way I was treated and the service in the hotel...let say the good first, the food is great daily variety, the people very friendly, but I had reserve a suite, when I got in the room was not ready, they had me wait till 6pm to give me a room. When I got to the room I said this is a standard room is not what I paid for, well they claim is all they had and there was nothing t... [more]hey can do, I said ok then I want a credit on the difference I paid because is not what I want and what I paid for. The lady said nothing they can do, only to wait to the next day to see if there was any Suites available.
Well we got stuck with that room , not happy already, the next day I went 3-4 times thru the day to question, they gave me stories until finally the 3rd day I was giving my Suite, but nothing to compensate, no credits, no nothing but a apology..very bad customer service.
Then the room service came to clean the room 2 days in a row and all they did was do the bed and trash, left me no towels until 5pm because I called for them, no soaps..NOTHING..in general not happy..I did like the restaurants, pool area, beach area and location in general. rooms need a little work but the suite are very highly recommended. [less]
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