“Great trip. We will be back!”

I will admit I was reluctant having only been to Mexico previously, but the increase price for Mexico had us looking for other options. I had always heard mixed reviews about DR. But I must say, we had a fantastic trip. The Iberostar Waves Costa Doroda is now one of my favourite holidays. Mostly, t… more

I will admit I was reluctant having only been to Mexico previously, but the increase price for Mexico had us looking for other options. I had always heard mixed reviews about DR. But I must say, we had a fantastic trip. The Iberostar Waves Costa Doroda is now one of my favourite holidays. Mostly, the staff is amazing. They are always in a great mood and you often see them singing and dancing. Even the guys cleaning the beach! The DM vibe is much more relaxed than Mexico where you often feel pushed through. Whether in the buffet or ala carte, you often see the chefs coming out and talking to people and to ask how the meal was. They love to hear the feedback. Also something I found amazing was how conscious the resort is about the ecosystem. They don’t provide any disposable cups, straws or bottled water. They have glass containers in the room and various refill stations throughout the resort. Needless to say, the resort was always clean and refreshing. The food was good for the price and drinks were much better than Mexico. The only negative I have with DR vs Mexico is that the weather can be unpredictable. We had periods of rain almost everyday but on the plus side, this is why the DR is so lush and beautiful. No doubt we will be back!

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“Honest Review – Disappointing Experience, Especially for Families”

We recently stayed at this resort and, unfortunately, it was a letdown. While we try to be easygoing travelers, especially with kids, this experience left us disappointed. Pros: Some staff were friendly and tried to be accommodating. Kids' Club: While underwhelming (no water slides, main centre cl… more

We recently stayed at this resort and, unfortunately, it was a letdown. While we try to be easygoing travelers, especially with kids, this experience left us disappointed. Pros: Some staff were friendly and tried to be accommodating. Kids' Club: While underwhelming (no water slides, main centre closed for repairs), the staff made an effort with our children (ages 4 & 5). Beach Access: Good for kids to play in the sand near the water (although you’ll be asked constantly if you want your hair braided by sellers on the beach). Cons: (I hate that this list is so long) Pool: Completely unacceptable—dirty, unmaintained, and full of debris. After swimming, our kids had dirt on their bodies like they had been in a lake. No vacuuming or skimming was done; my husband had to skim the pool himself on more than one occasion (while staff members looked on). Often saw employees standing around and at times were openly ignored when trying to communicate with a staff member. At night, the pool reeked of chemicals, yet no cleaning was visible. Broken concrete in areas—I even cut my toes. Cleanliness & Maintenance: Grounds were pretty but not well-maintained—cups, cigarette butts, and food left around. Felt uncomfortable walking around the pool in bare feet. Staff indifference was glaring—many seemed uninterested in serving guests. On more than one occasion, groups of people without wristbands would show up and be served ahead of guests who had been waiting in queue at the pool bar. Food & Illness: Nothing memorable or worth a second try. Two adults in our group got severely ill after breakfast; two others mildly sick. Our 4-year-old became ill a day after returning home. We've traveled extensively and never experienced anything like this. Dining & Rooms: A la carte reservations were hard to book; we were offered a 9 PM seating with two young kids. As a family of four, we were given one king bed. An extra bed was brought but arrived stained, without sheets or pillows—we had to call for everything. Upselling: Assigned a concierge but constantly pushed to join their prestige program despite declining. All in all, I now understand why the negative reviews exist—they are valid. The most disappointing part? Swimming in the pool, my favorite part of an all-inclusive, gave me the “ick.” Bird poop, leaves, and garbage floating around made it unenjoyable. I do not recommend this resort, especially for families.

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“Pool and beach cleanup needed”

This property is in dire need of some maintenance or upgrades. The grounds are kept very nice but the pool has a lot of damage and was very dirty when we were there. I don’t know if their filtering system was working as there was so much bird poop, garbage and debris in it all the time. Garbage als… more

This property is in dire need of some maintenance or upgrades. The grounds are kept very nice but the pool has a lot of damage and was very dirty when we were there. I don’t know if their filtering system was working as there was so much bird poop, garbage and debris in it all the time. Garbage also washes up on the beach right out front and isn’t picked up enough. If you walk down away from this resort the beach area is much nicer. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The food was decent and rooms were kept clean. They need to address the issues with the pool and beach area for a more pleasant stay.

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