Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Beautiful resort, exceptional staff and service

The rooms were bright and beautiful....bathrooms could be a bit better...the grounds were so well taken care of and the service.....I will never forget how well I was treated! The daily food kept my belly singing and the staff were all so happy and courteous..always looking for ways to brighten our day no matter how big or how small! I cried the day I left.....it was very hard leaving such a paradise. I wish though we could have swam in the pool after hours ..it was so looking forward to wading  [... read more]in the pool in the moonlight.... it was my first time in the Dominican. ...and it will definitely will not be my last...it can't wait to come back to Iberostar Puerto Plata! Oh and a very special thank you to Barbie, chocolate, chocolaka pepsi cola, Romero, Boss and many many others..you went above and beyond to make our vacation so memorable! Thank you again!

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Great Resort with Great Staff

The hotel is beautiful but in need of some updates/renovations. The layout of the resort was fantastic! Loved that there were quiet pools and not just the main pool. Beach was gorgeous. I can't say enough about the staff - they were all so helpful and nice. The temperature of the food at the buffets weren't great so we stay with the made-to-order food, which was always easy to find at different spots around the resort.

Iberostar Selection Bavaro Suites: 3rd Time's a Charm!

Our 3rd time visiting this beautiful resort in Punta Cana and it just keeps getting better! From the moment of check in, we were treated like royalty. The staff are so friendly, accommodating and genuinely care about the guests with no expectations of a tip in return for this service. The resort remains immaculately clean and so well cared for. The food continues to be outstanding providing variety and high quality food clearly labelled and replenished. What I found remarkable was the auditing o [... read more]f the presentation that took place at each meal. Management observing the presentation of the food, the labelling and ensuring the staff were cognizant of what was required to make it even better. We requested the same room due to location in advance of arriving and they did everything possible to accommodate. We were welcomed with a bottle of rum and fruit platter upon arrival. I celebrated my birthday while there and at teh end of the night, I returned to find a chilled bottle of champagne with fruit platter and a birthday card. So impressive and truly made me feel special. I always provide balanced feedback in my reviews so here are the cons I came across during this visit: 1. The rooms have excellent air conditioning but should have temperature control vs. high/medium/low. We were freezing in the room but if we turned it off, it was too hot 2. On my previous visits, the entertainment staff were extremely sociable and visible. Each morning, they would walk the beach, stopping to say hello to all guests and set the stage for the day's/evening's activities. During this visit, we noticed less entertainment staff working, they were not very visible during the day. They truly make the experience while you're there so would like to see them increase their visibility and sociability during the day to ensure a better stay. Overall, I have travelled to many other places over the years and always draw my comparison to this resort. Simply outstanding resort! I will be returning to the Iberostar Bavaro in Punta Cana for a 4th time.

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: One of my bad experiences

One of my bad experiences in my life. Room was terrible; customer service was bad - A/C was not working, mini bar was not working even bed was broken (I took few pictures - please contact me) further more lots of mosquito and one thing I must add they serve same food every day. I do not recommend anyone one to go there

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Pick Laguna Azul for a Great time!

If you wanna go to have fun, drink lots and enjoy the beach I would recommend this hotel. They have many activities to offer, fantastic drink menus and the beach is pristine. As a partial vegetarian, I look for a variety of salads and dishes without meat and to my surprise there was delishish salads! When it came to housekeeping, my room was kept neat and clean, and if I needed fresh towels, I got them. It also helps to bring little gifts (from the dollar store) for the house keepers to show you [... read more]r appreciation, and OMG the coffee in the lobby bar is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! My favourite coffee drink is the cortado. Anyways, a few minor hiccups like the public bathrooms were smelly,dirty and without TP and the hotel uses little plastic spoons in the coffee to stir a HOT beverage, yet all in all i enjoyed my stay at Laguna Azul!

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: EXCELLENT!!!

My husband myself and two daughters, ages 7 and 5 stayed here for a week from May 22 to the 29th. The weather was undountbly amazing during this week. We were not sure what to expect as some said it would be extremely hot and some said differently. But we loved every minute of it. The pool did keep us refreshingly cool to say the least. That amazing pool side that had great activities that ran every day and had us all amused and laughing through it being a funny show or games or just the chance  [... read more]to learn how to do the salsa pool side. Peke and Gorki made sure you were involved everyday and making sure you were having a fantastic time. Especially when it came to the night time as well. The shows and live entertainment rocked the house!! Which followed by the most amazing bartending, From Colon at the front house Owen at the pool side and Yuceil, they had talent and customer service that truly went over and beyond!! They made you feel like a part of there family and had known you for ever and would do whatever they could to make you feel happy!! For the food service..well I am not sure if our family could even say enough! The food was amazingly delicious!! From the fresh fruit to all the fresh veggies and the outstanding grilling!! I cant say I have tried grilled turkey like that ever before. YUMMY And again from the most outstanding customer service from Roberto, Yinny, Carlos the most talented Jadinen who grilled my husband the best tuna, salmon with always a smile and an honest interest of how our day was!! I also cant say enough about Roberto who made my omelette every morning!! LOVE is all I have to say. THANK YOU ALL!! Suly is yet another great lady who spent some crucial time making our girls have just an fantastic time at this resort. They could not wait for disco every night !! We would hands down recommend this resort to you!! The rooms my not be up to full standards and my need some upgrades. The rest of the resort and the people are truly the BEST part of your trip. I wish or we could say more...but we as a family LOVED every minute of it and will go back!! I must not forget to mention, that my daughter turned 7 while down there and the staff and resort truly went over and beyond to make her feel very special. From a surprise plate in our room to signing to her twice and a surprise cake!! It truly was a very special day. Thank you all from our family to you all!!!

Iberostar Selection Rose Hall Suites: Iberostar Suites is the spot!

Rooms are nice an modern. Amazing and friendly staff. Food is Top notch! Can't get enough of it. 24 hr room service to boot :) The staff get you what you need, when you need it. The grounds are always immaculate, and the staff treat you like friends and family. Tipping is not required, but come on the average jamaican makes $20-30 USD. The beach boys in the evening are cool, talk to them nicely and theyll be nice back, don't be afraid of them. They have cool things.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Nice resort.

We stayed in room 1101 and were pleased with the room. Everything was close by. Pool was just down the stairs, the beach was to the left once you were on the ground level. The main lobby was clean and well managed with a lobby bar and another bar were the entertainment was held was opened at night so there were no long waits. The pool bar was amazing. There was a swim up and walk up on the opposite side. The food was excellent in my opinion. The a la carte options were enjoyable. Japanese was pr [... read more]epared in front of us, the Mexican was very good, we had beef skewers instead of tacos and we were extremely happy with out choice. The Brazilian was also well done. We had the skewered choice there as well. The pool side buffet was perfect with snacks for all palettes ie burgers, pizza and fries and much more. There were 2 days were paella was prepared on the beach which I did enjoy. There was a beach barbecue that I missed. Entertainment and activities at the pool were very entertaining to watch, I didn't volunteer or participate but I enjoyed watching. The bikini competition was fun to watch, bingo daily, sports like competitions etc. At night there were some hard working, very physically fit staff who performed shows and had audience participation including children. The same performed the evening entertainment. Very hard working young men and women. Service staff worked tirelessly on the gardens and trees, the pool, the water gardens, the bars and the buffets. The housekeeping was immaculate. It really was an incredible experience to stay at this resort. I have nothing negative to say. The price is moderate and you get everything you pay for and more. We enjoyed our vacation immensely, would we go back? Unsure, I like hopping around but would not hesitate booking with Iberostar resorts.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Good, but not a 5 star

Not a 5 star. Room outdated. Flies everywhere at the buffet makes it hard to eat. Flies IN the food. BUT- The most beautiful resort grounds and beach I've ever seen. Pool is amazing, especially if you have kids.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Close to Heaven

I visited the Iberostar Ensenachos about 8 years ago when it was a Royal Hideaway hotel - back then it wsa absolutely spectacular and easily the most luxurious hotel I had stayed in in Cuba. It's now shwoing wear and tear, and the quality of the food has dipped. That said, the grounds remain spectacular. The beach is secluded - from both noise and waves - and the resort is absolutely huge. There are two beaches - one is beautiful (Manego) and the other is nothing short of spectacular (Ensenachos [... read more]). It's about a 20 minute walk (30 if you're really slow or are travelling with kids) from the lobby to the Ensenachos beach, but well worth it, There are snack bars dotted all around the resort so if you head out there and want to stay all day, you can. You can also ask reception to send a go-cart (or try to flag one down) but I found that takes a long time and not really worth the wait. The drinks were all wonderful - from the Bailey's spiked coffee to the mojitos - and the service was quick and very friendly. We stayed in the adults-only Spa section where I am told the rooms are nicer. They certainly were very spacious, the bed was the most comfortable one I've slept on in Cuba (notorious for terrible mattresses) and the bathroom was huge and well-equipped. I would recommend that you pay the 25 CUC per person for dinner at the Colonial as that was the best meal we had (a very nice lobster thermidor and great flan), mangoes were in season when we visited so we pretty much ate some all day - they tasted so much better than any mangoes I've ever had in Canada. Fish and shrimp, as well as paella were always fresh and delicious. I usually stay away from beef in Cuba as it's not the best. I usually like to try different resorts when I visit Cuba, but this one had it all (except for a party scene, but you don't come to Cayo Santa Maria to party!). I would definitely come back.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: OMG You gotta stay here!

We are returning fans of the Iberostar Costa Dorada. Cannot say enough about how well you are treated. From the front desk, cooking, cleaning, grounds keepers, bartenders, meal servers... THEY ARE ALL THE BEST! The entertainers are amazingly wonderful. Wow, these guys and girls make sure you have an enjoyable and memorable trip. Chocolate, Chocolaka, Pepsi Cola, Blackie...(cannot remember everyones names:() There was always something to do. Great for all ages, the activities had something for ev [... read more]eryone. The pool was clean, thank you cleaning staff!! Food was AMAZING!! So much variety hard to choose & always available. Very clean & always well kept. Food 24/7, the late night snack is a full on buffet. Pool buffet is huge, gotta try the guac! Loved the local musicians every night, lots of room to dance. The Star Band is spot on. The beach is beautiful, the trees are welcoming in the hot sun. Hats off to the beach groomers that keep the beach a wonderful sight. The beach party was a blast. The orchid garden is wonderfully beautiful and great for pictures. They grow their own mint and aloe vera for use on the resort! Live flamingos & peacocks roaming around. Very cool, got a chance to see the babies this year. Will be returning with a larger group next year. Thank you Julian, my private guide for chocolate and honey :)) Check out the Del Oro organic chocolate factory, finest you will every indulge in. See you soon!!!

Iberostar Waves Dominicana: Staff went above and beyond for us!

This was a beautiful resort, the grounds were gorgeous. Well maintained rooms with a balcony. The staff were exceptional. Every wish was their pleasure to provide for us. We travelled as a group of 5 woman. We felt safe, the staff took exceptional care of us. The food was excellent. Lobster and grilled lamb at lunches. Breakfasts were everything you could wish for. Dinners awesome as well. The nightly shows were fun. The staff were always happy and dancing and ready to make you laugh. We were ev [... read more]en lucky in the casino!! I highly recommend this resort. Jose and Maria were lots of fun....and Chocolate...what can I say....excellent dancer. Thanks everyone. We will see you again...soon. Kathy from Canada.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Met Expectations

This was my first trip to Cuba and I have no major complaints. Here are my thoughts: Food: I was warned about the food but really didn't think it was all that bad. The resort did an excellent job of ensuring there was something for everyone depending on your tastes and preferences. The food is not fancy by any means, but you can get by. If you are looking for a culinary experience, than I would suggest not traveling to Cuba. However, if you can live for 7 days on simple, fresh cooked meals than [... read more] you will do just fine! My highlights were breakfast; fresh cooked omelet and smoothie. As well, the coffee was to die for. I even asked for an iced coffee one morning it was one of the best I’ve ever had. I also really enjoyed the BBQ each afternoon by the pool. They served up hamburgers, hot dogs and fresh mangos. It was delish. Make sure you go easy on them though if you are a condiment person as sometimes they don’t have everything ie: Ketchup. One suggestion I have for the resort would be to add a Cuban a la cart. It would be nice to try some of the local fare and I’m sure it would be far superior to the resort trying to make other ethnic foods. Hotel: I was immediately impressed by the landscaping of the hotel, lush green gardens. The pools were very clean and not overly chlorinated. I was in the adult only section which I really enjoyed. Nothing was too far away and I enjoyed the walks. The hotel was clean but they could do a bit better job in ensuring the table clothes and chairs in the dining room where a bit cleaner as there was a number of stains on them. The rooms exceed my expectations – clean and airy. The bathroom was large and looked like it had been recently renovated. Staff: The staff was awesome and very friendly. They tried really hard to make our stay enjoyable which they succeeded at - the tips helped I'm sure. I did have one bad experience in the spa with my massage therapist who didn’t perform the best massage and then wanted me to pay him under the table so he could pocket the money. Beach/property: The beach was absolutely my highlight of the resort and my stay. It was so untouched and I loved the walk through the mangroves to get there. I especially loved that no other resort had access to it. The water was crystal blue, very warm and you could walk out quite always while seeing the bottom. I would go back to the Iberostar for the beach but would look at other resorts too just to change it up and experience something different.

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Great vacation!

Fidel at the front bar made our morning cappuccino just perfect! All the staff were very welcoming. I wish I was still there! I ate fresh donuts every morning, delicious pineapple and papaya. The water in the ocean was so warm! I loved the live music every night. This was my first time and it was my husband's third time at this resort. I recommend this resort. We had a great vacation!

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Overall Good

Went to this resort from May 15 to May 22. This was our second time. First time was in 2012 and my rating back then would've been a 5 star. This time is a 4 star mainly because of the food and we are not picky eaters. This time it was 15 of us and 5 got sick. Arrival- We got to the resort around noon with a bus full of people. The rooms were not ready until 3:30pm which was not too bad since we all went to eat lunch first. The drive to the resort went by fast. The guide was telling us about Cub [... read more]an history and it was nice to see Cuban life. Rooms- We had a corner room which was spacious with a walking closet and 2 double beds. We put the beds together and had our children sleep with us. We loved the large glass shower. It was so easy to wash the children and the water had great pressure. They did shut off the water due to maintenance for a few hours one day. That was hard because we just got to the room and we couldn't bathe our kids. The water guy came to refill the fridge in the afternoons. He would knock once and come in so be prepared in case you are not decent. Or you could put the sign not to be disturbed on the door if you don't need anything. The room was clean and the maid did a wonderful job every day. Food- This was our problem area. Our family didn't get sick but our friends did. Two of them was after the Japanese a la carte and because of that we canceled our reservation. The other 3 were from the food at the buffet. The workers definitely need training in hygiene and food preparation. The food is recycled and spoils fast due to the heat. My husband smelled spoiled rice and chicken a few times. He always tasted and smelled the food first before giving it to our kids. We stuck to fresh grilled chicken, fish, pizza and pasta. Make sure you ask the cook to keep it on the grill for a while even if he keeps trying to hand it over to you. Many times they under cook it so you have to watch out for yourself. There was also a lack of quality and diversity compared to 2012. No grilled calamari, no assorted deserts (they had the same cake with different colours on top) and other items that I can't specifically remember. The pizza was also better in 2012. . However, the ice cream was really good. Beach- Enseanchos beach is amazing! Megano beach was hit by a storm and has a shorter shore, broken palapas and some little rocks in the water. A few of our friends cut their feet there. Entertainment - Kids show every night at 8pm and adults show at 9:30pm. The Michael Jackson show on Monday was awesome! They have a disco on the beach at the snack bar every night from 10pm. We went once and loved it! Service - Really good. The people are wonderful and always serve you with a genuine smile on their faces. We tipped every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner (2 pesos). We also brought a full suitcase of gifts (new and gently used clothing, toys, toiletries, kids shoes). We packed them in different bags and hand them out to Cuban workers. They really appreciated them. We do this every time we travel to Cuba. They also prepare special events if you tell them ahead of time at the restaurant (birthday, anniversary etc.). Overall- a 4 star hotel for Cuban standards and we traveled to Cuba more than 10 times. I would return to this resort mainly for the beach, beautiful vegetation and waterpark which the kids loved! Hopefully, the food quality and diversity will improve again.

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Excellent resort!

We stayed May 13 to May 20 and loved it. It is a 4star, no more or less. The beach is great, even though we had to wake up @ 6AM to reserve chairs. We went 2 times to Playa Pilar which is one of best beaches in Cuba. Food was good, with plenty of choices, we enjoyed the variety of fruits.The coffee was not exactly on our taste so we switched to espresso.Our room, located in the main building, was always clean thanks to Sonia. A pleasant experience. Thank you Iberostar Daiquiri personnel. We will [... read more] come back next year for sure.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Nice resort but housekeeping not good.

Spent 5 days at Laguna Azul, May 18-23. The resort is lovely, and the staff were amazing. Food was much better than we expected, but salt was next to impossible to find. We stayed away from the main buffet for breakfast and lunch, preferring to eat at the beachside restaurant. The selection was not as large, but the food and service was better, and the local close to the beach was perfect. Our a la carte dinners at the Cuban restaurant and the Romantic restaurant were very good. Service in all r [... read more]estaurants and the lobby area was excellent. The only downside to this resort was housekeeping. Our sheets were not changed during our stay and smelled bad! We only received a full set of fresh towels once, only to lose them the next morning and never have hand towels again. Tipping did nothing to make this better, so don't waste your money.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: unfortunately

Beautiful layout and marvelous beach. Deteriorating services and are not maintaining towels or rooms appropriately. Can be the best resort with loving care. Staff trying their best. Best balcony set up.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Iberostar Ensenachos

Iberosrar Ensenachos - has beautiful beaches, very friendly helpful and engaging staff. The food is good clean real food with plenty of variety to choose from, with fresh fish cooked to order both on the beach and at the buffet and lots of fresh fruit and veggies. The grounds of the resort are lush with vegetation and plenty of birds to watch

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Great Value for the Money Spent!!!

The grounds were nice, the staff was amazing, the room was fabulous and the beach is to die for !!!! Even though it is a family resort the "adults only" area is very secluded and no children were present. The food was good and there was ample selection to choose from to suit every palate !!!!