Hi,

this hotel always gets really good reviews on trip advisor (and those are from really harsh Americans who are really hard to please) so am sure you you have a great time.

Sorry you didn't get your Jamaica holiday - I guess this one was a lot cheaper an they are giving you a partial refund?

Thanks for the positive feedback. The holiday was actually more expensive. We booked Jamaica early last year at an excellent price. They still haven't called me and I don't want to wait any longer. have had to take the kids out of school for a week but now I'm just so glad to have sorted it. Virgin could offer me 5* resort but don't care now just needed to sort this out. Thanks again
Rachael

My son & his wife visited this resort in Nov '04.They really enjoyed themselves.They found the food to be typical AI food but lots of variety.They did some diving and the jeep safari.Both came back with nice tans except for 1 day cloudy.I'm sure you'll have a good time

Hi all

Anyone stayed here before ?

I have been to Dominican many times but was forced into taking this hotel due to the trouble at riu bachatta. Not happy £30 each admin fee. so is anyone else going to the same place, im going on the 20th of may from Gatwick. Hope to hear from you all soon. Mike

We never actually stayed this hotel but we stayed at the sister hotel Conoa Coral by Hilton in La Romana. The hotel was really nice, no complaints at all. We did see brochures of the sister hotels and they looked lovely aswell. Check the Hilton website and you can see for your self.

http://www.coralbyhilton.com

Hi there, we came back from this hotel last Saturday. Absolutely fantastic! The staff work so hard. The hotel is very very clean and the entertainment is non stop but not in your face. The pool was fantastic and very warm. All the restaurants are now all inclusive.The Italian was our favourite, they do a wicked steak.There is also a mexican and crepery. We booked a couple of days in advance and had no trouble getting in to any of them. You can book as many as you want for the how ever many days in advance as you want. There is a mini fridge in your room, but beware only the Bottled beer and bottled soda is free so look carefully at your labels. We had excellent weather although the beach was a little windy in the afternoon. The beach itself was very pretty and spotlessly clean. Whilst we were they everybody spoke of how good the resort was. There are alot of reviews on http://www.tripadvisor.com . the hotel is rated number 2 in Puerto plata, so all the good reviews must tell you something. We met people who had stayed at the Riu before but preferred this hotel. Hope this helps and you have an excellent time. Are you travelling with kids? Ours enjoyed the kids club.
Rachael
P.S It's safe to walk along the beach, we never got pestered

Is this hotel next door to Iberostar Costa Dorado?

If so they have a cash machine on site which comes in handy!

I have booked for this hotel in August next year. Can anyone give me some info on this hotel please as to the food, surroundings, the island in general. I have also looked at the riu mambo hotels and wonder if this would be the better option. I would like to know early as i have only paid £100 deposit any info would be great

Donnad

We came back from this hotel 4 weeks ago. We thought it was fab. It was so clean, the staff were constantly cleaning up everywhere. The rooms were very big and again very clean. There have been some negative reports on the food, but we went to the speciality restaurants mostly and thought these were great. You can book for as many days in advance as you like and they are now all included in the price. The Italian was our favourite. The beach was very pretty, again always being raked. The pool was amazing and loads of space everywhere, always a spare lounger. They speak excellent English and the entertainment is non stop, but not in your face. Drinks are good and strong! Anything else you need to ask please do. Have you seen the comments on http://www.tripadvisor.com it is #2 on the ratings.
Rachael

Hiya Rachael

Its nice to get a feed back from someone who has just been. Did you experience any stomach upsets at all? I have read a few reviews and they mentioned this and I am not sure if its an isolated incident or this happens a lot.

You mentioned negative reports on food. I am travelling with 2 children and wondered if I took them to the Italian restaurants would there be anything on the menu for them to eat.

I f you could clear any of this up for me it would be great, because I am a born panicker and want everything to be perfect.
Donna

Hi Donna, we went with our 2 kids 10 & 6. At the mexican they have chicken & chips etc for the kids, at the Crepery they did an extra charge chocolate crepe for their dinner, with bread rolls! Our kids loved the Italian, they had pizzas, any sort of pastas you wanted ie plain, sauce, bolognaise, they would also cook you things that weren't on the menu. The first week my young son kept falling asleep at dinner, so they brought his main out with our starters, then made him up a bed with the chairs so he could go to sleep! He was better by the second. My son also, we thought, had a reaction to the malaria tablets (turned out to be chickenpox, the doctor took 5 days to diagnose it) the hotel was brilliant, supplying us with all sorts of weird concoctions for the spots from the kitchen. The kids loved the kids club (up until the spots) they could sign themselves in and out safely, they had a nintendo and did loads of activities with them. The staff were also happy to let them play pool in the bar when it got too hot.(it says over 18's but they were fine in the day)

Sorry ran out of room. When we were there, there were no reports of tummy problems from anyone we spoke to. The hotel is one of the few that have signed up for the international inspection of food etc. They have spot checks etc. I drank loads of pina coladas (which are supposed to be a laxative!) but never had any problems. Our room overlooked the pool 5217 and was lovely, loads of room and very clean. Be careful though, because the only free things in the fridge were the bottles of presidente beer and the bottles of coke/diet coke/sprite. The rest you are charged for on check out, quite a few people got hefty bills. Breakfast was everything the kids loved pancakes, doughnuts, and the omlettes were excellent, crepes for afternoon tea and snacks, ie pizza, burgers and hot dogs at lunchtime. We had a fantastic time (even with the chickenpox) and I'm sure you will too. The pool and minigolf is perfect for the kids.

Thank you so much for your info. It has really put my mind at rest. I have heard about the mini bar and am totally prepared for that one. One last thing, does the hotel provide pool towels as it will save me packing mine and saving on the baggage allowance (more room for shoes )

Yes there is a card system for pool towels, you get cards at the beginning and you can exchange them for towels, which you can change anytime, at the end of the holiday just ask for your card back and present it at check out. We still took one of our own, so when we put our towels down before breakfast we knew which were ours (as they all look the same) and then there's no arguements. Although everyone was pretty relaxed and loads of sunbeds.
Have a great time
Rachael

Thanks all for all the information above, we leave on the 20th from Gatwick to stay at this hotel. If anyone has any usefull information i would love to hear it. Is there anyone else traveling on this date ?. Mike

I look forward to your thoughts about the place when you get back Mike

This is my first time to the Dominican Republic, so any information would be greatfully appreicated. I am going on the 17th July, with my partner and 2 children, I will be staying at the Marien Coral, Costa Dorada. What is the resort like, and what excersions are their to do. My partner is a veggie, so would like to know if this hotel has a good choice of food for vegaterians, and how the food is in general, as we are all fussy eaters.

Thanks in advance

Mishie

If anyone would like to post a review, please do so HERE.

Thanks.

Pippy

Hi,
Can anyone give us more information about this hotel as we are about to stay there in the next fortnight ?
Such as
Is there an ATM machine on the complex or close by?

Is there a clothes iron and ironinig board in rooms or is it rental?