We stayed at the Dominicana in mid-July. When we booked our two rooms, we opted for the Star Prestige Junior Suite category, and I emailed a few weeks ahead of time to request connecting rooms, which they were able to honor!
The service we received was impeccable, and we felt well taken care of and valued by every team member we interacted with, from the hotel employees to the tour operator representatives, to the vendors on the beach. Literally, every single person seemed competent if not absolutely exemplary at the job they were doing!
We didn't arrive here with grand expectations about the food, but we were definitely satisfied— and then some. There were some average plates at the buffets, but the a la carte restaurants we *did* get to try (La Cana and Maria Bonita) were super delicious, and the pastries served throughout the resort are kind of amazing!
Yes, depending on the weather, sargassum can be an issue on Bavaro Beach, but Iberostar does a great job keeping the beach at this 4-hotel complex clear. The grounds and landscaping at the resort are impeccable— everything's lush, clean, and beautiful! The flamingos, ducks, and fish in the ponds are delightful.
While we didn't use the spa privileges available with us for Star Prestige, we loved the other benefits— the private beach area with Bali beds, the Star Prestige bar (they're quick and serve Stella Artois and top-shelf liquor), priority golf cart transportation,...We stayed at the Dominicana in mid-July. When we booked our two rooms, we opted for the Star Prestige Junior Suite category, and I emailed a few weeks ahead of time to request connecting rooms, which they were able to honor!
The service we received was impeccable, and we felt well taken care of and valued by every team member we interacted with, from the hotel employees to the tour operator representatives, to the vendors on the beach. Literally, every single person seemed competent if not absolutely exemplary at the job they were doing!
We didn't arrive here with grand expectations about the food, but we were definitely satisfied— and then some. There were some average plates at the buffets, but the a la carte restaurants we *did* get to try (La Cana and Maria Bonita) were super delicious, and the pastries served throughout the resort are kind of amazing!
Yes, depending on the weather, sargassum can be an issue on Bavaro Beach, but Iberostar does a great job keeping the beach at this 4-hotel complex clear. The grounds and landscaping at the resort are impeccable— everything's lush, clean, and beautiful! The flamingos, ducks, and fish in the ponds are delightful.
While we didn't use the spa privileges available with us for Star Prestige, we loved the other benefits— the private beach area with Bali beds, the Star Prestige bar (they're quick and serve Stella Artois and top-shelf liquor), priority golf cart transportation, daily bottle of wine PER ROOM and the welcome fruit and wine were all super appreciated! To us, worth it!
I contemplated giving this 4 instead of 5 stars because the rooms are outdated, which was more evident to us as we had two connecting suites that were inconsistently maintained. They're definitely due for a refresh and renovation, especially since these are billed as upgraded accommodations. The clock/phone in one of our rooms kept going on and off, beeping when it did. Maintenance came by and jiggled some wires, but that fixed it only temporarily. Sitting on a certain spot on the bed affected it somehow, so we didn't bother calling back— we just learned to avoid sitting on the edge of the bed. In the kids' room, the bathroom fixtures were older, one light wouldn't go on, and the shower curtain was about an inch too short for the tub, resulting in a very wet floor whenever one of the kids took a shower.
That said, the impeccable service we received and the overall experience compels me to give this resort a 5-star rating. We did see a number of villas being renovated (totally gutted!) so it seems that updates are underway throughout the resort, and nothing we experienced with the rooms were dealbreakers for a return visit.
We had a wonderful time, and the staff here is awesome!More
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