About my fifth time staying there Room are clean and still modern, food is better than most or all resorts - but still resort food, Cleaning staff is excellent.... i tip 4 dollar a day to my cleaning lady and she is wonderful ... bring clothes your dont use anymore to give to staff Entertainment is good,, super friendly... they brighten your day...may be my favorite part of the resort... Pretty good show in the evening Lots of Dominicans on weekend...busy but I like that... They come Friday at about 4pm and leave Sunday afternoon... to me they liven up the resort. Sunday to Friday noon things are slower but i like that also. I know Dominican well and this is my go to place

The rooms were nice, and staff were excellent. Friendly and helpful. The food was okay but seemed largely local cuisine. This didn’t bother me too much though, as thats not the main reason for travel. My only complaint would be the massive amount of locals that come on weekends and their behavior, which is surprisingly allowed. Nothing is peaceful-they listen to music on the beach at a loud level and subject everyone else to that, which is not nice when you’re trying to relax and read a book. They also let their kids go crazy, it is quite unpleasant.

We recently spent 10 days at this resort, and while there were some highlights, the overall experience did not meet our expectations. To start with the positives, the food was consistently good in both quality and variety. There was always plenty to choose from, and we especially enjoyed the fresh papaya and pineapple daily—both were excellent. Unfortunately, mangoes were not yet in season. The resort offers three à la carte restaurants, all of which had great menu options. During our stay, we were able to book 9 evenings of à la carte dining, which was impressive and added nicely to the experience. The rooms, particularly in the adults-only section, were another highlight. This area consists of two buildings with access to a more private, quieter environment. We hadn’t originally booked this upgrade, but chose to purchase it upon arrival—and we are very glad we did. It made a noticeable difference, as this section was significantly more peaceful compared to the rest of the resort. However, this brings me to one of the major downsides. From the moment we arrived, we were constantly approached by staff trying to upsell various upgrades and services. This level of persistent selling was something we had never experienced before at a resort and found quite irritating. Another key issue was the overall atmosphere, particularly on weekends. The resort primarily caters to local Dominican guests, and during weekends, we found ourselves in the minority. While we respect that everyone wants to enjoy their vacation, the short-term nature of these stays seemed to result in a much louder, more party-focused environment. At times, it was so disruptive that we did not feel comfortable using our balcony, and even the private pool area became overcrowded and very noisy. This made it difficult to relax, which is ultimately what we were looking for. The resort layout and amenities were also lacking. The lobby is quite small and becomes very crowded during peak check-in and check-out times. Unlike many other resorts, there is no proper lobby bar. In fact, the only main bar is located by the pool, and all drinks are served in paper cups. There is no dedicated space to sit comfortably, enjoy a drink in proper glassware, or socialize in a relaxed setting—something we have always appreciated in other destinations, particularly in Cuba. Evening entertainment was underwhelming. Over the course of 10 days, we only attended three shows, as they were mediocre at best. Outside of that, there was little to no evening activity, so most nights we found ourselves returning to our room shortly after dinner. The beach experience was also disappointing due to constant and at times aggressive vendors. There was ongoing pressure to purchase braids, pedicures, and various trinkets, which made it difficult to fully relax. Additionally, the Air Transat representative was on vacation for five days during our stay, with coverage provided by phone only, leaving guests without support during that time. Overall, while the resort has some positive aspects—notably the food and the adults-only section—we would not recommend it based on our experience. We truly missed the level of comfort, atmosphere, and hospitality we’ve experienced in Cuba, which in our view offers a much more refined, relaxing, and enjoyable resort experience.

Rooms were spacious and clean. Food was ok, noone got sick. Easy to book à la carte restaurants. Staff were very friendly. Only downside is it would be nice to have indoor bars especially when raining. Shows were kinda lame. A resort more for an older crowd but we had a fun time.

It's a small hotel. This hotel was for older people and with Families. The food was bland compared to what I am used too with reference to Punta Cana and Mayan Riviera. The drinks are minimal in choices. I guess you can get better drinks if you upgrade.But I was not prepared for that. Entertainment was mediocre and there was not much happening after dinner. Overall I would not go back here.

This resort is a nice quaint resort on the smaller size, which I like. The beach is huge and beautiful. I really liked all of the restaurants. A lot of different options. Loved the grouper that was offered almost every night at the buffet. The drinks were amazing!!!! Def not watered down like others have said. Just like at any other resort, there are people reserving loungers at the beach and pool for sometimes more than 6 hours. That can be rather annoying. We were in one of the adult buildings which was great because it had it's own pool and bar, plus it was a very quiet area all the time. The room was nice and always had hot water. The rooms were cleaned daily and the fridge stocked daily as well. The people trying to sell stuff on the beach weren't rude at all. You say no thank you and they move on. Very respectful. I'm not a big fan of the "VIP" staff trying to get you to upgrade but I get it. It's their job. A couple no thank you's and it's all good. Overall, I would def come back.

The Hotel Emotions by Hodelpa Puerto Plata has well manicured grounds. All the staff were very friendly and helpful. There was always a large selection of food choices at the buffet. The food at the buffet and Al a cart restaurants were delicious and well presented. The rooms were clean and comfortable. Overall the resort was amazing. The only feedback with regards to improvements is that the app to book the al a cart restaurants needs to be improved as it was difficult to book or the site was down

Overall this was a very nice resort with very friendly staff. We had great weather and enjoyed relaxing by the pool or the beach. Booking for the 3 restaurants is a challenge as the wifi is very weak so made it difficult but the on-site buffet was a good alternative with lots of variety. Hotel rooms are very basic but are clean.

Loved the size of the resort! Everything was in close proximity. Close to the beach, pool and restaurants. Loved the restraunt sizes. Room could have been better, bathroom door didn't close all the way as well as the shower door, poor lighting in the bathrooms and the sink wouldn't drain. Friendly staff, and great service.

This hotel was great. The food was excellent and there was always enough for everyone and even my picky eaters found stuff to eat. The room was okay. When we checked in initially the room was not cleaned properly. I called reception and less than 5 minutes later 4 people came into the room to clean up. The AC worked perfectly. The rooms were also cleaned everyday. The pools were great. The pool and beach bar served nice drinks all day. The coffee shop also had coffee, hot chocolates and pastries all day. The beach was stunning and very clean( they actually sweep off the seaweed every morning). The three restaurants were great and I liked the Dominican one(Oregano) was our favourite and we visited twice during our stay. I liked dressing up to go to the restaurants. ALl the staff we met were friendly and looked like they loved their jobs. We took a day trip downtown to see the sites and it cost 40$ in total. Our guide, Angel was great. They will try to sell you the Elite collections and I would advice you just get the meeting over with. They will stop bothering you afterwards. We did get coupons for massages and photoshoots and gifts for the kids from attending. You just have to be firm with what you want. In all it was a good vacation and resort. We will surely be going back!

I recently stayed at this hotel and overall I’d rate it a 2/5. Pros The hotel is very clean. Staff are constantly picking up garbage and maintaining the green spaces which really stands out. They even spray the walkways early in the morning so there aren’t many ants around. Cleanliness here is honestly one of the best I’ve seen. The beach is also beautiful and definitely one of the highlights of the stay. However, there are quite a few downsides. Cons A big issue is the constant pressure from salespeople pushing “elite” upgrades. It feels excessive. Made you want to avoid the main pool and beach so you dint have to deal woth them. I personally upgraded my room and it was a complete waste of money it didn’t add any real value or anything extra to my trip. For an “all-inclusive” resort there are a lot of extra charges. Only 3 out of the 6 restaurants are included as à la carte. The others cost extra and even within those restaurants many menu items are what you get at least once in your buffet. It’s not like other resorts where all restaurants are included and only premium items cost extra... here, it feels like almost everything is an upcharge. The food is mediocre overall. It’s not terrible and there’s always something you can eat but it’s nothing special. In my opinion the buffet was actually better than the à la carte restaurants. The pools are very crowded and you need to be careful with your towels. If you lose one you’re charged but we were never given towel cards to begin with which was frustrating when our towels were taken. Also people will take towels off chairs even if you’re using them which isn’t the hotel’s fault but still adds to the blah experience. Booking a tee time for golf is nearly impossible. It doesn’t seem like the hotel promotes it or puts much effort into helping guests access it. There is a small mall nearby which is nice for picking up souvenirs. The hotel itself feels older and refurbished, and honestly it seems like it may need another update soon. That said the staff are clearly doing their best with what they have. If you are gojng to take anything out of this review it is this!  ****If you’re booking excursions... be cautious. The one I chose was heavily embellished compared to what was actually delivered. I’d recommend talking to other guests who have already gone on them before booking.**** Overall breakdown: 1 point for cleanliness 1 point for the beach 1 point because the food is not terrible and gives everyone a option to eat. But between the extra costs(being my biggest pet peeve of this place), lack of value in upgrades, communication barriers-very basic English and the overall experience....it feels overpriced for what you get.

Liked the resort is smaller. Food was adequate, rooms could have been cleaner, like they need a good deep clean. Elevators not working so when carrying luggage it was a bit problematic. Overall a nice resort.

Liked the resort is smaller. Food was adequate, rooms could have been cleaner, like they need a good deep clean. Elevators not working so when carrying luggage it was a bit problematic. Overall a nice resort.

Liked the resort is smaller. Food was adequate, rooms could have been cleaner, like they need a good deep clean. Elevators not working so when carrying luggage it was a bit problematic. Overall a nice resort.

Would not return to this resort. 9/10 of our group became sick… nausea, vomiting, diarrhea . Probably Food related…. Still recovering after returning home. This was our 3rd time to this resort…very crowded this visit… . Staff were all very pleasant .

Lovely grounds that were well kept. Staff was amazing. Buffet very good. Restaurants good but very difficult to book with group of ten. Rooms were nice except bathroom had a constant sewage smell. It was nauseating. The worst was 8 of 10 people were sick with vomiting and diarrhea. Beach was lovely but vendors were very annoying and constant.

Unfortunatley our stay at Emotions was a bit different this year. I got food poisoning and dioreha. The cleanliness of the hotel wasnt as impressive luckily i brought lysol wipes and cleaned the room myself :( overal i wont be supporting or recomending Emotions in the future.

Excellent staff, nice grounds. Nice beach.Adult pool had kids daily.Pool bar very small and no stools. Room. Fridge needed replaced. Safe needed a technician to fix it. Bathroom overall below average. No lip on shower door. No hand towels. To get hot water you needed to turn on all taps for about 5 to 10 minutes and then slightly warm.Room doors very heavy and extremely loud when being shut. Huge banging noises all day long .Afternoon and nightly entertainment was unbearably loud. Majority of guests were seniors and families with small kids. Forget about an afternoon nap or early sleep. Lastly the beach vendors were annoying constantly . Would never gi back to this resort.

This resort is absolutely awesome. Rooms were very clean and done everyday. Food was beyond amazing and the staff were so wonderful. Absolutely loved and definitely will be our January trip next year. Only thing we didn't like were the very pushy people trying to sell you time shares. Beyond it's annoying and would follow you to the beach. We had to be rude after many attempts to get rid of them

This review is long due to some discrepancies and wanting to give an honest review. Check-in & Room: Arrived before 3pm check-in on a Sunday. They did not have our reservation (Tripcentral were advised and responded it had been confirmed). Gave us bracelets to grab a meal and returned at 3. They had the only room left in the hotel ready, not our top floor preference but 2nd floor, Superior with king bed. (We did not book upgraded rooms) The room looked great (swim-up rooms below) but a few things weren’t working.. which were taken care of promptly by the Housekeeping Supervisor - fridge was replaced, 2 patio chairs were brought, hair dryer replaced. Shower hose was broken (could not shower), so after no replacement on day 1, we waited at reception until maintenance brought a new one - had to assist maintenance on using a washer and that was fixed. All was smooth from then on. Shower stall has a small lip that overflows onto the floor (needs caulking under glass too) - we heard another room in a different building had the same issue. Bed was comfy - pillows too firm for us (hubby used a towel). Not many storage drawers in the room, and bathroom vanity is just sufficient for 2 people’s personal travel bags. Bath amenities were in pumps & more than enough for our 2 weeks use. TV has minimal English channels (WB & sometimes HBO). Balcony is large - nothing to dry suits on except chairs. The morning we left, there’d been rain overnight and the toilet was gurgling so we’re not sure if there was going to be plumbing issues - the ceiling in bathroom was dripping on our backs at the sink. Room 16210. Meals: buffet is good with daily Dinner themes. On weekends, lots of domestic bookings and with it are crowds and mostly Dominican style breakfasts. Weekday breakfasts include bacon, smoked salmon/capers/cream cheese. All days include omelette station, pancakes, banana or papaya smoothie station. Lots of cereal, oatmeal, hot cocoa, fresh fruit. About 14 hot plates with variety of choices for all 3 meals. Small Lobster in paella or seafood stew one night/week. Beach restaurant: same menu daily: burgers, hotdogs, nachos & cheese, fried chicken pieces, small salad bar, fruits, buns, dessert. Coffee/tea service are in mini cups. A La carte: 2 per 7 night stay - book with bar code 3-4 days ahead, or at customer service 2 days ahead. Lolita’s Mexican was our fav & the only time we had avocados (recommend corn soup, shrimp tacos) - Amici Italian was very good. We didn’t get to Dominican resto. Wait staff everywhere were friendly and helpful. Some very professional. Entertainment & activities: gym looked great. Lots of daily activities.. more than we typically see at a resort - schedule wasn’t posted on a board.. changing to electronic bar code at reception - we obtained a schedule from customer service. We enjoyed mini golf, archery, cornhole games. They also have tennis, batting cage, various competitions like darts. Oh yes, pool foam party every week was fun to watch - and nice to see a safety barrier for young kiddies. Very active team organize water exercises, sports, bingo. Pools do not have a lifeguard so please watch your little ones as their pool is between 2 other pools. Beach: amazing deep, white sand beach - very well maintained. Lifeguards are at the beach and police patrol regularly on ATV. In 2 weeks we had 2 red flag days from high winds/surf and they made sure no one was swimming. The water has a strong current pull so little ones need to be supervised. Generally it’s a gradual walk into the water, but there can be holes with tides changing. Bars: 24 hr is by the pools and do not use glass (kudos as it’s next to pools). At the beach bar, buy a fresh coconut $4, or whole pineapple. Bartenders are great and keep the lines moving well. Cafe: we loved the cappuccinos and Frappuccinos - small desserts avail too. There’s a price list, but it’s included for all-inclusive guests. Only item we’d be charged for are $5 fresh fruit popsicles. Milwaukee sports bar - we didn’t bother, except for popcorn, but theres snacks and billiards, TVs. Nightly entertainment - we were in the room or sitting by ocean at night, so have no opinions on it. Beach party one night. Overall, it seems some rooms maintenance or an upgrade will be coming in future. We were very pleased to get everything fixed in the room easily, and preventing a room change, because who wants to spend precious vacay time doing that! We loved our stay and would return.

My travel partner and I travel 2 x a year to All Inclusives primarily to Dominican Republic and I tell you folks, this has been one of the best. The price was reasonable, the resort itself was amazing. It is on the smaller size so everything was just a short walk. We did not go VIP or Elite. We stayed for 9 days. Our room and our maid was great, lots of towels, hot water, soaps, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and had the perfect view of activities from the 3rd floor. Staff on the beautiful plush grounds, in the restaurants, front desk and entertainment areas and bars were so helpful and personable. The buffet food and a la cartes food was delicious. The entertainment was moderate but always fun ! The beach was clean and beautiful, lots of chairs as did the pools. I never heard any murmurs of complaints, only positive remarks. I hated to leave.

Had a great stay at this resort. I have stayed there before. Entertainment, cleaning and front desk were all amazing. The ocean was closed for two days due to heavy currents but the beach was clean and remained open. I would definitely stay there again. Brian

I was disappointed by this resort. The drinks seemed to be watered down. There were only two bars for the resort, the bar by the pool and one down at the beach restaurant. No beach or poolside waiter service. If you were not part of the elite group, then your beach was a good walk away. We were in a swim up suite. Most expensive rooms, but nothing in the room to sit on other than a bed. No table and chair. There was a frosted window right at the toilet. The A/C broke down while we were there. The torrential downpour caused the pool to flood into the room. We had trouble getting our towels replaced. They would pick them up but not replace them. The A la cartes, were underwhelming. Very disappointing. I would not return to, or recommend this resort.

We had the swim out room which was quite nice. Nothing fancy but it was clean and cozy. Most of the time when we used the swim out pool it was just us in there. We could see the beach from our room. Some of the staff were very nice and some seemed bothered to serve you. Lots of pressure to go to the “90 minute” (it ran longer than that) sales pitch to become a member of the Elite Collection. The guy kept bugging us so we finally decided to go so that he would leave us alone for the rest of the trip. We wasted 2 hours listening to the deal and at the end, the deal closer was with us for all of 5 minutes, at most and he had the nerve to tell us we wasted his time. We didn’t even want to be there (and made that clear to the person who signed us up) and we wasted far more time than he did. Straight up rude. The beach is nice and sandy no rocks or seaweed. My only complaint would be the people who try to sell you things (beach towels, souvenirs, braids, pedicures…) they’re very pushy and annoying when you’re just trying to relax, and no one wants to tell you the price of anything until after the service is complete either. The worst part about them is that they have permits to be there and the resort allows them to sell to their guests. As for the resort, most of it was great, with the exception of the arcade, casino and night club. They were all completely empty. Milwaukee bar smells funny, otherwise it was a decent atmosphere to play pool and cards when it rained. Personally I enjoyed the food. I was able to find items that I enjoyed at the buffet, the beach bar and each of the restaurants. There was a pop up sales table by the buffet one night. Again, so pushy with the sales. I wanted 2 bracelets that were very basic (1 string with beads on each of them) and a ring. He said 7500 pesos. 170 CAD. I later found the identical ring in the shop at the resort for $35 and similar bracelets 3 for $5. Personally I would not go back to this resort, there is better out there.

We had a great vacation at Emotion by hodelpa in Puerto Plata. It is a small relaxing resort and the staff is great. We did have problems with our fridge (didn’t work) in our room and leaking sink which was never resolved even if we brought it up to reception. A repair man came over but even though he said he would be back, he never did. We really appreciated the live band and a la carte restaurants and espacially the mexican. We went twice.

Absolutely loved this resort! The food was so incredible! The rooms were clean and overall so happy with our stay there! The only thing I wish they had more shaded area with umbrellas or gazebos! Got really hot in the sun! The tables near the outdoor bar should have umbrellas or freestanding umbrellas! Especially when it rained. But overall absolutely loved it.

We had a ground room in the Adult only area was very nice, beds were comfortable and the bathroom was nice and big. This was my second visit to Emotions I found this year was catered to children events and very few adult things to do in the evening. The food was good in the main dining area and lots to choose from. We went to the Italian restaurant which was good although felt rushed.

Stayed at Emotions in Puerto Plata and I was very disappointed with the room I was staying in. The TV didn’t have much English channels, the few that it had didn’t work properly. Wasn’t able to use the Iron to iron my clothes just kept leaking. The worst of all was waking up in the morning with my room flooded with water after rain falls. The bathroom is always wet with water dripping from the floor above me also whenever you take a shower the way how the bathroom is water running all over the floor because their was no shower door. To say the least I was very disappointed. I was eventually moved to another room where the door frame was coming off and the door could not lock. My son had to come and push the frame back in its space for me to be able to shut the door to go to sleep. The next day I left came back door couldn’t open, we had to call for help which came pretty quickly, which I appreciated the battery was dead in the door fob. Let’s just say I was happy to leave the resort. In the plus side I must say the staff were very friendly especially in the restaurants annd buffet.. The cleaners also were very nice just didn’t speak much English but that was fine. The worst part of my vacation was the rooms. The beach was great, the pool not very clean at times. Would I go back to Emotions? NO WAY, the rooms I stayed in were nightmares. Needs upgrade Thank you

My daughter and I had an amazing time at this resort. Resort is well maintained, had lots of events happening in the week we went and a beautiful beach. I lost my wallet once, phone twice and it made it back, that goes to show how safe this place and staff are. I would recommend this property to anyone.

Clean adults only areas, although, accessible, close washroom facilities poolside would've been nice. You could see the staff paid very close attention to cleanliness all around the resort,..Food was good, serving staff reasonably attentive,dining areas kept clean. Room was well kept and the room attendant very cordial and she paid attention to detail in her cleaning tasks! VERY COMFORTABLE BED!!! Justino made our stay a pleasure too!!

I loved my stay at Emotions. Loved the food! A lot of selection! The rooms were very nice, no hot water but not horrible! Difficult to book an a la cartes unless you bribe with $$$. Everything was close together and easy to walk to. First time I would say I would return to a resort! The cleaning lady did not lock sliding door twice to our ground floor room which was not great!

Grounds are very well maintained. Housekeeping did a god job daily. Food becomes repetitive in the bufffet. There are lots of activities for the young, rock climbing, mini golf, batting cage, arcade and more.

The resort was good, grounds clean, beach nice just too much people trying to sell you stuff everyday! Food was ok for the most part. The Lunch and dinner buffet was pretty ok, they only had chicken on Sundays which kinda sucks. Breakfast was underwhelming like they had the same breakfast items every single day no change at all . They only had coke and 7up as soda options

The hotel was well maintained, clean and grounds were beautiful. Everything is close in proximity so that was very nice as well. It’s a smaller resort but has everything you need! We had a great family vacation! The Lolita Mexican A La Carte is a MUST! Justino was an amazing at all the a la carte dinners we had (we had 5!) and all the bartenders at the tiki tiki bar were awesome. There was a lack of entertainment by the pool but we were there in off season and there weren’t many guests at the hotel.

First off the resort is beautiful and clean. The food in the alacarte restaurants are good. My favourite was the Mexican restaurant. The buffet is barely acceptable. There is very little shade by the pools and even on the beach. There are no palapas. Be warned that if you are at the resort on the weekend, hundreds of locals stay at the hotel. They gather in large numbers and are very loud. They overrun the pool and bar area. This made it unbearable for me. The hotel seems to cater to the locals at the expense of everyone else.

The resort was nice and clean. The elevator in our building never worked the entire time we were there. The front desk staff was not a friendly group to deal with or even showed concern when problems were brought to there attention. I have stayed at three star resorts that were nicer. I do not think I would return to this resort again.

We stayed at this resort for 1 week. Upon arrival our room in the adult building was ready. The regular room for the other 2 girls was not ready and they had to wait. Once it was ready they checked into the room and found that the safe was broken, toilet didn't flush and the sink was cracked and leaking. They complained to sunwing and finally were given another room on the 1st floor and were happy with the change. The staff at this resort were very friendly. Resort was very clean. Our room in the adult section was spotless, never had any issues with our room. Were only at the beach one day as the water was not the greatest. Hung out at the main pool everyday and the only complaint about this was that there were never enough lounge chairs, you had to get their by 8 am to get a lounge chair. The buffet was always good, a great variety and service was good. Booked a steak and lobster dinner at the beach was very good. Tried to book at the Italian restaurant and reservations are not taken so you had to get there by 5:45 in order to get in. Food was very good, as the 4 of us did not know about the wine or drinks we ended up having to pay for a bottle of wine so that we could have wine with our dinner which was very disappointing so needless to say we did not go to the Mexican or Dominican restaurants. For the entertainment there really wasn't much at night to do just sit around the tiki bar and make your own fun. The resort needs more entertainment at night for all and not just a disco for the young crowd.

We traveled as two couples, had a seamless check-in, very comfortable rooms, excellent all around experience from start to finish. Good food, drinks, service, entertainment, beach area, not to mention amazing gated Playa Dorada resort community. Would definitely return.

This resort is picturesque. Not a huge resort, but definitely all the amenities required. Staff are extremely courteous and genuine. Food was excellent, top notch. We cannot wait to rebook at this resort. Simply the best. Thank you to Andre, Juan Pablo, Tiffany, Paul and all of the Elite Club team. We could not have asked for better hosts.

Best part of Emotions is the beach (in my opinion). Standard rooms at Emotions are nice, only complaint is that there is a loud echo throughout the buildings that carries the noise of everyone and every door closing. Staff there are very friendly and the food is good. All in all a nice place to visit. They also have an alternative for the late night crowd who aren't fans of the disco... a North American style bar with pool table and table soccer :)

Just got back from a week at Emotions and it definitely exceeded our expectations. The staff was amazing, especially Kimberley who works in the towel exchange. The rooms were nicely renovated and clean. The beach was cleaned daily, the water was clear and we ended up spending most of our time there. Even the people selling stuff on the beach take no for an answer and do not try to force you into making a purchase. The evening entertainment was lacking however, this could be because of the easter holiday. Food at the buffet was good and always hot. We tried the Italian restaurant (portion quite small) but tasted great and the Mexican restaurant was so amazing we went more than once. Resort is only 20 minutes from the airport and has a mall within shopping distance. Wifi was great even at the beach. We did find the pool today be too busy for a good part of our stay but that is because locals are allowed onsite and seemed to overtake the area on Good Friday. This did not affect our vacation since we spent our time by the ocean.

Hi I just returned from a 1 week vacation at Emotions resort in Playa Dorada, and had a very nice time. The resort itself is quite pristine,the beach is exquisite, and I felt very safe walking from end to end which is about 3 kilometers. The room was very nice, the bed amazing and the towel situation was good. The people who work for this hotel are extremely polite, friendly and helpful. Kudos to Jose Martinez in the main buffet and Erica who greets you at the entrance both made my visits enjoyable, kudos also to Karen on the front desk, Lucia in the adults only bar, and last but not least Maria at the beach bar. The downfall for me was the food mediocre at best . In summation good value for money 3.5 star facility

Resort was super clean amd well kept. Loved the layout of this resort. Expected more from the food so was a little disappointed about that. Service depended on who you got. But good value. Entertainers fun and friendly. Would consider going back with hopes that food and service become the 4.5 star resort is rated

Disappointing experience - Air Canada Vacations, Trip Central and Emotions by Hodelpa all failed to meet my expectations. Resort has potential but needs much improvement. It is in disrepair - chipped tiles, missing washroom signs, non functioning showerheads, warm air-conditioning are just a few examples. Staff range from mediocre to incompetent. Pleasant to your face but don't follow through - said they would send someone to fix the AC but no one ever showed. Said they never got our request for adjoining rooms but gave us one room with adjoining door - with guests coming and going daily it's hard to imagine they couldn't fulfil our request during our stay. They simply didn't care to correct it. Neither Air Canada Vacations nor trip Central cared. All three excelled at pointing the finger to someone else. Food is passable at best. In one week I can recall only a handful of good food - grouper fish filet, fried plantains, calamari and eggs made to order. The on-site coffee shop is nice. But quality of beverages vary with the people making it. Had guacamole for one meal only all week and ran out halfway through dinner. No attempt to replenish. Don't bother with a la carte restaurant bookings. It's a farce. They only allow booking for next 24 hours and for our family with young children they only offered 9 pm reservations. But the time share salesman got us 7:30 reservations on the same evenings they told us there was.nothing earlier than 9!! And when we went we could see the restaurant was half empty at 7:30. It's a wonder anyone would buy an upgrade to come back here when their service and processes are so poor. Much better options elsewhere in Dominican Republic.

I liked that it wasn't a big resort, 1 buffet restaurant and 3 a-la-carts. The beach was beautiful, the food was good and the staff very nice!! We were in the adults only building and we had our own pool with jacuzzi and bar!!

Amazing holidays. This resort was amazing. It was clean, all the staff were so friendly, they all knew my kids so felt safe to have my child play around. They have a kids club my son made friends and had a great time. All the restaurants were great. Delicious food. Nothing to complain about. I would recommend it and def going back!. Oh and the beach was also beautiful

I want to start off by saying that the workers at this hotel are outstanding. Through my whole week all workers except one at the customer service desk were outstanding. I was a little disappointed by the beach as there is lots of seaweed. Once you get in there is a big area clear of seaweed to swim in so it made it okay. Big disappointment was that we did not have hot water to take showers for the whole week. Also the pressure was really like. A shower that should take 5 to 10 minutes took me 40 minutes. This was the biggest disappointment of all. Everyday I would ask when our water was going to get fixed and they would tell me that it would be done tomorrow. Tomorrow came and still no water. One day we had no water at all and our toilets wouldn't flush sinks wouldn't work showers wouldn't work. The ala carte restaurants we're okay. They are understaffed which made the service quite slow. They push you really hard to go to a breakfast lunch meeting so they can sell you some timeshare. This is definitely not a four-and-a-half star. Maybe a 3-star. I read all the positive reviews before I book this hotel and I'm now I'm figuring out why it has positive reviews. They give you a spa treatment and after that you need to sign the waiver that you will not say anything bad about the hotel.

EXCELLENT LAYOUT, KINDA LIKE A TOWN SQUARE WITH ALL THE SHOPS/ POOLS/ RESTAURANTS IN THE CENTER... VERY COOL. COFFEE SHOP WAS AMAZING, VISITED SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. WE HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF RAIN ON OUR SECOND DAY AND IT FLOODED OUT OUR ROOM AS WELL AS SOME OTHERS, BUT THE STAFF WORKED TIRELESSLY AND HAD IT CLEANED UP IN NO TIME. BY THE END OF THE DAY YOU'D NEVER KNOW. WE WOULD DEFINITELY GO BACK!

The beach, facilities, the location of the resort, the entertainment, the staff all were outstanding. The buffet and restaurants were most enjoyable. I would say that the overall value of the package was excellent.

I find this review hard to write as there were many good things to go with some of the bad. Overall, we had a great week here (Feb. 17-24 for $766 from Halifax) and would go back again if we weren’t put in building 15. To put things in perspective, I usually travel to Cuba and stay at 3 or 3.5 star hotels. Here are my thoughts about Playa Dorada Beach House: Food – Better than expected. While the selection may have been smaller, the quality more than made up for it. Pancakes, eggs and omelettes made to order at the grill or you could choose from the buffet. Beach grill was excellent for lunch and the buffet for supper always had something good – pork, chicken, beef, fish, vegetables, rice and a small salad bar. Jose in the buffet is an excellent server and so friendly and welcoming. Entertainment – The entertainment staff were excellent and tried to engage you in their activities (beach volleyball, nightly shows, etc) but were respectful if you chose not to participate. The nightly entertainment was good and not the same stuff that you see in Cuba all the time. Beach – Excellent, could always get a chair but not always under shade – but that was okay…I wanted sun. There were more beach vendors, approaching more often, than I was used to from being in Cuba. However, just a firm “no gracias” worked well. Staff – While some of the staff didn’t speak great English, it was understandable and they were very friendly whether you tipped or not. In particular, Mariano, who worked at the bar by the pool, was excellent. The drinks were great, not watered down. Room – Ahhh! Here lies the problem. When we arrived on Friday, the 17th at 7:30 pm ish we were put in building 15 – top floor. This room was terrible and no one should have ever been put in it. I was travelling with my two daughters and the room we were in only had one bed. Not to mention, the shower didn’t work - the lever that you pull up on the tap for the shower was seized solid. However, that did get fixed on Saturday afternoon. Another issue – the tub was filthy dirty, mold in it, etc. That did not get cleaned so we showered with flip flops on on Saturday. The final issue with the room – there were glass shards all through the carpet on the upstairs level, which did not get vacuumed up after repeated requests. We were moved on Sunday afternoon to Building 13 which was like Penthouse suite compared to where we were. I should also mention that we only had hot water once but I didn’t mind showering in cold to lukewarmish water. Many other people we talked to in that building also had similar problems. All in all, I don’t regret going there and I would consider going back again if I could be guaranteed not to be in building 15. This resort has a lot of potential.

We gave the best ratings to the resort according to 3+**** star hotel as it's positioned. The only thing we would recommend the management to do is to pay attention to cleaning in the places of general use. Floors, Walls, Ceiling, Chandeliers need to be cleaned at least once a month! We really loved everything in the resort for the price we payed! So we wouldn't expect too much from a 3+*** star resort with such an affordable price in Dominican republic. All the beaches are public so no matter how much you paid for your stay you can use any beach in Dominican Republic.

I had a great stay at the Beach House! Bed was sooo comfy, resort was very clean as were the rooms. Food in the buffet was tasty (I didn't eat in the other 2 restaurants). Staff was super friendly and helpful!! The grounds are very pretty but most of all I loved the size of the beach area, nothing but room sit play or lay around.

I am not one to complain about resorts I stay at. I have been to 2 Star Resorts in Cuba that are better kept than this one. This Resort is Rated as a 3 Star and is lucky to be a 1.5 Star. The Resort is in huge disrepair. There is basically minimal staff on hand. The first room assigned the bar fridge poured water out of its rusty interior when I opened the door. The air conditioner sounded like a lawnmower and did not cool the room. The second room the bed was like 2 boxsprings piled upon each other. the mirror fell off the wall when I touched it. The food was even WORSE!!!. There was no selection trays of shredded cabbage and lettuce. The meat looked horrible and what they called chicken DID NOT LOOK LIKE CHICKEN. ( I don't like to think I may be eating cat) . Open trays of mustard and mayo cover only with a piece of saran wrap which appeared to used over and over again. After the first morning I asked for Air Canada rep. to get me out of there please and switched to another Resort. Thank God he was able to. The Rep called it a 2 Star and I would not even give this resort that.

Black out couple times during the day. Dirty towels, rainwater goes in the room at the floor is the same level in the hallway. Our room was directly by the bacolny. Will never go back to this resort. Very old matress. Door key will sometime do not work

The hotel was great ,staff was super .The only problem was the weather ,rain and more rain .The food wasn't to bad ,never went hungry. Shopping was great downtown .The other reviews we read were scary ,don't know why .Carol was a great agent. Thanks Carol 😊

Resort is outdated. Beach is amazing and staff are fantastic. Food is always cold at buffet and beach bar. Ala cartes are available each night but you must book them each day. Our room leaked even when it wasn't raining.

A 3 star resort, you get what you pay for, there is plenty to eat, drink, the rooms were clean and the A/C worked fine, mt 3rd trip this winter and all were on a par, Jamaca, Cuba and now Playa doada Beach House

The resort has all the basic services, swimming pool, animation team, bars. It is an okay place to spend a vacation. The food could be improved and so are the rooms. Some services like power and hot water were often disconnected due to logistic reasons. Overall it has been a good experience

When we first arrived, the place looked a little shady, but once we got inside there,it was fantastic. The rooms were big and very clean, the food was very good, but alot of the same everyday. The entertainment staff was young, and not much of shows every night. The bartenders were fun and happy, but the bar closed at 1 am everynight. The beaches were clean, and beautiful,but the vendors got a little annoying after a while, but they are just trying to make a living. The resort was very clean, and the housekeepers were amazing. The BBQ on the beach,had good food everyday,but it closed at 6pm. If you ventured own the beach, you will find a small market to hale with the vendors. Over all,had a great week, met so many nice people, got anamazingtan. if you can, grab a local bus or cab and go to sosua Beach about 30 minutes away, best beach around,worth the trip. And building 19 is close to everything and is renovated. I would deffinately go back and recommend to everyone. 3+ for sure

After taking care of loved ones here and now gone we felt we deserved a break but this is not what we were counting on. On arrival they put our luggage in an open area where anyone could have access to them so this was quite uncomfortable. We had to watch them for 5 hours while waiting to obtain a room. Knowing that a large group was coming in at 11am it would have made sense for someone from Sunwing to be there and they were not. The customer service staff at Playa Dorada Beach House did not and could not answer any questions. I would love to speak with the owner Faranda because there were several things that did not go well. We did not have A/C and asked them to fix it often and did not have hot water at all and did not have power 50% of the time and did not have useable toilets in any of the main areas as they were plugged, many times did not have towels unless begging for them. We gave a generous tip on the first day and the room was not cleaned. They had 3 cleaning ladies for our building of 11 rooms and these people were there 12 hours doing next to nothing. Here in Canada one person would have done the job and it would have been done well in 8 hours. Many people I know have been to the Dominican and loved it. This was my first experience to the Dominican Republic and we had a disappointing break.

Where do I start. First day dirty rooms, no warm water, electricity, A/C and we paid for a Superior Room and after 3 days they moved us to a better room, but the same problem as above and we had to stay in this for two weeks. Food was always cold. Never had a hot coffee. Ran out of wine. Sewer smell in room. Leaky bathroom sink. Internet didn't work 80% of the time and would have to go to the Resort Lobby in order to connect. Clothes is still stinking due to A/C not working and getting so damp. Tried to leave but Air Transit employee informed us there were no seats on any plane. We complained almost everyday and all they said was "we are working on it" I will never travel to there again. They seem to be saying it is only a 3 star Resort and I think it is an excuse they are using to get away with the state of their resort. The workers try their best to keep you happy but the resort has a long way to go before they get this a 3 Star. I will never book through Trip Central again. Oh yes, I also had to pay for my suitcase when I left Dominican..thanks Air Transat...that's what I call all inclusive. The amount of money we had to pay for this trip I am sure we could have gotten a 4 star Hotal that wasn't in HELL.

The hotel was overbooked, we had to stay at another hotel the first night along with other couples who was supposed to stay as well. The rooms were very poor, dirty, and smelled moldy. The Wi-Fi promised was only in the lobby, as they promised we would have it in our rooms. We had hydro blackouts all week at this resort, and the management wasn't able to fix the problem, no air conditioning all week. The food was very good, and the drinks. I will go back to Puerto Plata, but will stay at the Blue Bay next time.

Food was disgusting so we ate off resort most of the time. They kept turning our air conditioning off. Room was not cleaned until as late as after 7pm. Sheets never changed. Bed cover dirty/stained. Furniture broken. Fridge mouldy and bottled water not replaced. There was a fire/generator I believe. No power all night. Public washroom disgusting. No hot water most of the time. Staff saying they had not been paid in over 2 months. Renovating and putting people in rooms with just a bed. Beautiful beach but should not be open until they complete reno and open all the facilities listed available.

The hotel needs significant improvement , renovations are underway and poorly executed.Service and meals at speciality restuarants were amateur at best. E.g. kept running out of wine, in fact wine was in short supply in the 2 bars. The staff were very nice but they lacked training. In case you think I am some whining tourist, myself and my husband have travelled extensively and have up until last August volunteered in 4 third world countries for up to a year at a time the most disgusting thing was the blocked, overflowing faecal matter in all ladies toilets in all the general areas.

The resort is nice,clean,safe,family oriented. The staff are all very friendly,security is excellent.Upon arriving,I happened onto an altercation occurring at the bar in the resort.The security handled it best I've seen anywhere with Noone getting upset but the two directly involved. For the single man a 5 min walk to the disco at the beautiful mall or a horse and buggy ride to the nearby "Field of dreams" will be very memorable.It is gated and guarded by a very friendly,hospitable gentleman with a 12 gauge in one hand.The resort is small and very beautiful. Trust me,you'll be having happy dreams about it!

We had a great time here.the room we had was a suite next to the beach and was amazing. The TV downstairs of the room didn't work and the water in shower was lukewarm all week but that wasn't really a big deal.we found the food pretty good but the same most of the week.The Pizza at beach bar amazing!! Staff had my kids up playing and swimming they were great.I liked this resort for the kids and really have no complaints.

Room was not ready when we arrived for about 2 hours after arriving. Was no electricity to the room till late in the evening even after going to front desk shortly after getting the room A/C never shut off the whole trip Leak from the ceiling from room above in the bathroom. Food was cold and not very good at all no variety either Staff barely spoke a word of English did not even understand "bathroom" or "knife" when asked for them. Got many many bug bites from the bed once removed bed spread was a bit better Laundry was not done in time when rooms cleaned had to wait for towels and ask for htem if you saw the maids or never would have gotten them. Only 1 key and it was a old style key and door did not lock properly could bump door open when locked not very safe. When checked out said would put luggage away while waiting for bus to airport and when time came to leave was still laying out in the lobby and no one was watching it. Found if you did not tip staff right away they just seemed to ignore you.. Once gave tips boy service was great. Ran out of certain things alot throughout the week eg: Diet coke, wine, tea.

The hotel was very nice. Don't forget that it is a 3 star so don't expect a 5 star. The food was tasty and enough of a selection to find something you like. The blender drinks were yummy. The hotel was clean and right on the beach. I felt it was good value for my money.

Not what I expected or invisioned the resort would be. There were bees in the washroom of my hotel room coming from the hole in the ceiling. Everyday I would dispose of at least 6 bees. The toilet did not flush very well. The food was not great - not much variety - monotonous and plain. The nightly entertainment was ok. The only saving grace of the resort is the excellent staff - friendly and very helpful. Most likely will not return there or recommend it to my family and friends. Overall rating, 4 out 10.

The staff was very friendly which made it even better. Was quiet since off season and I enjoyed that the most. The animation team always made sure that everyone as having fun by joining in on games or inviting the guest to participate.

The resort is nice, well organized, one bar closer to pool, one on the beach. Clean rooms, and all area. They took towels in the morning and bring clean one afternoon, it was a little bit inconvenience, specially on the beginning. Variety food for each meal, more in the resort. On a beach restaurant, less variety but still were some options. Great entertainment every nights. A lots of activity during the day, like dance lesson in a resort and on the beach, basic Spanish class, activities for children, sports, fun activities on a beach. Well organized trip around the Puerto Plata. Very bad agent from Air Canada, he arranged to meet with us few times , but he did not come. He appeared only to pick us from airport.

Has been sold to new owner no longer Celuisma. Rooms horrible, moved 3 times. First room was dirty and musty. Second room no lock, no fridge, bathroom taps leaked and no phone. Food worse than Cuba by far. My opinion shared by most guests. Staff made it tolerable. Loved the cleaning staff.

Rooms were very clean and well kept, my only complaint was the lack of hot water ! Wasn't impressed with the food , and the a la carte restaurant was the same meals for Italian, Mexican, and Caribbean, and they never had enough food even though we were the first reservation.. But we made due. Beach was very nice, the locals are very nice, we did one excursion of going out on the dune buggies!, was a blast... Booking with William was great, he is such a friendly helping man and gives you a good deal.

The grounds and beach here are terrific. I've heard a lot of so-so reviews and in my opinion this place is a 3 star and don't expect more than that! You want a 3.5 star then pay a bit more for it. However, we didn't starve, had a nice room to sleep in, though a lack of hot water, drinks were plentiful (don't drink the white wine) and the people working here were nice. 7 days of great beach and sunshine for $700, can't beat that.

This place should not be open.. I went there in Jan for my birthday; arrived at the reception and witnessed the manager fighting with a customer for asking if he could upgrade his room(first warning sign).. Checked in and had to carry my own luggages to my room which was in building #12 fifth floor with no elevators!! Went to have dinner and omg was I shocked by the lack of variety and very limited option to pick from. I had some fried rice which was under cooked and blend; with chicken which had bright red blood in it.. Needless to say we changed resorts the next day!! Paid more but omg Gran Vantena was worth the extra $$ we paid.. Word of advise; stay clear of this resort!!!

This was my first trip to Dominican Republic. It was not a great first impression. Resort is in need of major repair and service. Rooms were old, no fridge, air conditioner was noisy and didn't work Taps leaked, more water came out of the taps than faucet, toilets did not flush properly, toilet was always plugging. Light fixture did not work consistently. No hot water for showers. Food was terrible and always cold. I have been to a 3 start resort in Cuba and the food was better there. There was a water cooler on each building but unless you ask you do not get water, and even when we asked, it took 24 hours before we had water. Service in the dining area was terrible. Also, only one four slice toaster for the entire resort. Beach was lettered and a lot of seaweed. The bartenders at the beach bar were fantastic, very friendly and would walk out onto the beach to serve you.

The hotel is beautiful. I found the staff to be exceptionally friendly. Got plenty of towels for showers. Basically you get what you paid for. The food didnt cause stomach aches so thats a plus!!!!! However the buffet needs more variety.

Beach Resort by Farranda was absolutely terrible... The hotel itself was very dated, staff was rude, not helpful at all...You bring your own bags to your room regardless as to what room or block you are in. The food is awful.... If you can guess what is you will be fortunate if it doesn't grow legs and walk away... All the meat sat in blood.... Do yourself a favour... Spend more money and avoid this place, I have no idea how they stay open... After 1 night I was beyond grateful to get out and switch hotels. The few elderly people I spoke with were also not happy and no guests I spoke to ever have any intention on returning. Terrible bar, very poor entertainment, no pool bar.... The list goes on... So look elsewhere because giving this a one was actually generous-

Old, tired building.says recently renovated- which only means they threw on some paint. No fridge in room, had to ask for towels after 5 days and they were very well worn & had holes in. No water pressure in shower or toilet. No hot water. The building sucks!! Beach was good. Food terrible. People were getting sick.

100% misleading advertising on-line about this hotel & some examples are: it states 4 restaurants, there is one buffet place to eat called Yatch Club (not sure if they meant Yacht), 3 days in a row broccoli, carrots, spaghetti. One nite they had a bbq outdoors, the burger I chose was infested with ants .. yes ants - the chef's reply? He shrugged his shoulders as to say oh well. In the Yatch dining room birds took a dinner roll right out of the basket that ppl wud eat out of, took a couple of nibbles & went on his way leaving the rest of the roll for ppl like me. His brother or sister bird decided he needed a sugar fix so promptly went to a sugar bowl & took a packet of sugar. As for water in the bar fridge (forget ginger ale or cola) one day I had left a bottle from the day before, when I got to my room I had not one bottle....none. I asked repeatedly to fix the phone as when I wud call to the main desk to have water delivered I could hear them they couldn't hear me..was never fixed even tho they said they made a note of it to fix it. The phone repeatedly made noises all nite so I unplugged it to get a restful nites sleep. I ventured into the Juanto's Mexican Restaurant one evening for a change with some friends from Ontario I had made, we all sat down anxious to have something different only to be told it was the VIP restaurant & if we wanted to est we wud have to pay, thank goodness we hadn't ordered..the place had 2 other parties awaiting to eat, one of which a group of 6 more friends I had made, I told them not to eat there as they would have to pay, they left along with us. As for KOKOMOS GRILL or the Italian Restaurant ... non existent. The jaccuzi was another problem, if the water was 65 degrees that wud be saying a lot. Mini Market stated their hours fro 9 a.m. to 11 pm. if you were lucky you found them open on their own hours as in 1/.2 an hour here or 15 minutes.there 7 definately never anyone around after 5 pm. I became deathly ill Dec 21 (no not from touching their water), I couldn't get a thing fro the store cuz they were closed. Ended up having to get a friend walk to the plaza next door (5 min walk) for me as I was bed ridden with some parasite. GYMNASIUM? no such thing, looked like in the midst of remodelling (just not recently, appeared to be ongoing but ran out of money & it wasn't a priority). Laundry Service..supposedly price lists & bags in the room .. no one I knew had these. The tv's in the room came out of the ark (yes..they dd) old, small with no remote control even. I am into day 10 of still being deathly ill, on meds from the mall I had to walk to in a foreign country (travelling solo) plus meds from my family doc here due to the fact the.so called Mini Mart store was always closed. One couple I met from Ontario actually had a beautiful fruit platter waiting them in their room .. nice jesture but should be for everyone on their arrival. Bar fridge was very old, rusty inside as well. Bed sheets were the same ones for at least 4 days..never changed because I made a mark on one to prove it. Cockroach in room .. another story in itself but those critters are to be expected. As for the peddlars on the beach? Sure they can be annoying but that is how they make their living & in just one word NO or shake your head NO they will not bother you. Furthermore, pretend you are sleeping works as well. Unfathomable to think this is rated a 3.5 star .. I have stayed in 5 star facilities which should be a 10 compared to Playa Dorado Beach Resort, Puerto Plato, DR. Would I ever go back? Definately not, the best part was the ocean & the sun..yes the beach area was okay & considerably clean all things considered. On Thurs Dec 24 I was supposed to attempt a day trip (non refundable) feeling the way I did it was either go & try to make the best of it or throw more money away, I asked for a wake up call @ 7 a.m. never received a call, luckily I had hardly slept all nite in fer this would happen, just as I got to the lobby the bus was pulling away but I yelled loud enough for him to wait. On my departure date I asked for a wake up call for 8:30 a.m. in fact saw the fellow at the counter write it down with my room number, I was calked at 6:30 ....yes SIX THIRTY, as long as the person on the front desk called me back we cud talk on the phone otherwise it didn't work, I told him to call me back at 8:30 as I had originally asked for, what time did he call me back? 9 a.m. This was my 3rd trip to the DR & my last very sadly to say.

nice grounds yes nice grounds, pool and beach, bad stay home and go to sand banks, oh don't look under the bed LOL what can I say nice ground yes very nice ground, now I am having a flash back,so I am off to the park, its that under the bed thing. Enjoy sorry La cuenta

This resort is being renovated, so far everything is just so looking very good. Such a friendly staff and the most gorgeous beach. The sand is so fine and the beach so very clean. There is great entertainment every night. all the staff are implicated. I am thinking about returning again next year.

The beach and water were gorgeous, staff were very friendly and rooms were good. The food was overlooked most times but better to be safe than sorry. We were always greeted with a smile and every where we went we met strangers that quickly became friends.

The resort was a perfect size. It was convenient to get around easily. Staff was great. Buffet wasn't large but food was better than other resorts. Room was renovated and clean. Entertainment staff was very good

Very quiet ...renovations are going on in half the resort ...The rooms are nice that have been renovated. ..not much music and happens through the day except for the beach between 11am- 1pm ...The food is not good it's like being in Cuba ...close to the mall ....for the money you can go somewhere else. ..I wouldn't go back

If you planning your vacation, and have extra $200-300, please choose something different.This is very old resorts (half hotel under construction),rooms not modern, fridge rusted,condition not working or working a little bit.When I asked to change room, manager on duty told me-you got what you paid for,which is not true. Management considering everything is ok. I don't want to judge, but just think about it and then make your decision. Pictures,photos look nice, but in real life everything is different.Overall, we tried to make our vacation excited,focused on positive thinking,being outside, enjoyed ocean, beach, palms,beautiful weather,it gave us romantic mood. We couldn't change reality, but our attitude only.We waited so long for this vacation.To avoid disappointment,take a look careful what you paying for...

Nice place to stay in family or with friends. Clean and cosy, every body is polite and smily, Good animation staff young and very energetic that they share during the day and at night show, special congratulations for the show fire and water! The

Reception service was rude and unhelpful from the moment we walked off the bus. Balcony door didnt lock and on the joining room door there was no lock to keep the stranger beside us out. Musty moldy smell and stains on bedding. Many guests rooms broken into and floods on 1st fl rooms. Clean pool and towels. Bar service wonderful and friendly. Buffet service poor, spent alot of time searching for clean cups. Food had wide variety but very questionable. A le carte food was exactly same as buffet. There was no pizza at the beach or night snacks like stated on the resort brochure. Vendors bother every moment on the beach which was very annoying since they don't take no for an answer. Nolitour agent was uncompassionate and had few answers to our questions. We had to figure things out on our own or by asking other tourists. Internet pictures are NOT what the resort is actually like and renovated rooms have marbles floors but thats all thats upgraded. This is not a place id go again for an all inclusive vacation. Take caution when booking this report because management was horrible.

I love travelling to Dominican Republic, and have travelled to Playa Dorado 4 times. I have stayed at this resort before, and I became friends with many of the entertainment and bar staff, and it was for this reason that I returned for this trip. However this trip was a disaster. The staff that we had enjoyed speaking with were no longer working there, due to the fact that the hotel was not paying them in a timely manner. We stayed at the resort for two weeks, and throughout that time there was only one a la carte restaurant that was open, and the menu only slightly changed every night. The salad bar was constantly the same items, and everynight the food would come to the table cold. The bar was constantly running out of beer, juice and vodka. We complained to the manager about this and we were offered one night in the VIP dining room. This seemed like a compromise so we agreed. The night we went to the VIP dining, we walked in and the waiter looked at our bands and said "oh ya, I was told about you". He then proceeded to give us the worst service of my life. He didn't offer us soup, and when I asked about it he said they didn't have any. I responded by asking why the couple next to us was eating soup and he responded "that's not soup, it's a warm mushroom cream", talk about splitting hairs. The breakfast buffet was by far the worst. They didn't serve bacon, and when we asked about it they promised us that they would have it the next day, they didn't. every day they would tell us that they would have it tomorrow, yet they didn't. The one and only day that they did have bacon on the buffet was when there was a Spanish baseball team staying at the hotel, and they had a scheduled breakfast for 830, a tray of bacon was brought out a 835, and the baseball team, along with all the supervisory and management staff filled their plates. When we came to the buffet the kitchen brought us a plate with one piece of bacon and the bacon crumble from the pan. It was insulting. Everytime we made a complaint the manager completely ignored us. I suggest that this hotel be removed from sunwings website. Darren Smart

From the moment I arrived with the front desk trying to make me take a superior room instead of my suite that I booked - Always take 2 copies of you travel documents with you, they will take your hotel documents and then tell you that you booked a different category. When the see that you have an extra document the will back down and give you your proper room's(don't give them you 2nd copy) The buffet food for breakfast was terrible consisting of boiled potatoes, fried hotdogs, what I think was suppose to be scrambled eggs(never touched them) and a section were you can have your eggs cooked, mine was always runny even though I asked for fried. They are suppose to open at 7:00am but are never fully ready with the bread and stuff like the toaster, butter, fruits juices, try going around 8:30am they might be ready. Lunch same thing Dinner not much of a choice 2 items to choose from, I took the beefsteak and it came to me so shinny I could see my reflection in the meat (that's no JOKE). Needless to say I went out almost everyday to eat. Big waist of a al-inclusive. Folks I have been traveling to Puerto Plata for 20 years all with in this compound of Playa Dorada. I can tell you that this resort (CELIUSMA) is the worst I have ever stayed at in the Playa Dorada complex. A great hotel to Recommend to your Enemies.

This resort is extremely clean. The food selection was not as good as in 2010 when we spent 2 weeks there in January. One plus about going off season is that during the week we felt like we had the resort to ourselves but missed the fun of being there at peak season. My complaint is that on the week ends there are hundreds of local people. I know this is their country but they eat all the food, cut in line and some of them are down right rude.All in all we had a good time and it is the only resort that we have gone to more than once and plan on returning. We met a very nice Dominican girl who tends the gift shop and became friends with her and Jenny's Jewellery shopkeeper.

Nice , clean and friendly . Would go back in a heart beat . I love playa dorada . Love Dominican .good food , nice people, nice rooms, the playa dorada strip is such a nice place , I have been there 6 times. So many good times , staff is great.