Reviewers Rating: 
Great
I stayed in my first trip alone to DR in Gran Ventana in Playa Dorada from 7-13 December 99. I decided to go to this resort although it's not very known in Spain, but all the information that I've founded from it was good. Puerto Plata Airport is very efficient... I think they should put a signal with the indications of where buy the tourist card and so on, because Spanish tourists always seem to be lost... No problem if you know you have to do. Gran Ventana is about 20 minutes from the airport. I was the only person from my bus that went down there... The check in was really efficient... All the guys from the rececption desk can speak very well English and German, which is normal if you think that most of the tourist there are from Germany and England.
ROOM: Before travelling there, I emailed the hotel to ask for a room in Catalina building (Cathy and Amy from Canada had recommended me that building, thanks girls) and also, i wanted the room in the second floor. Ok, no problem with that. I had a room in the second floor and in Catalina building, from my balcony i could see all the area of the swimming pool. The room had two beds, direct Telephone, AC (always very cold for me, i don't understand how dominicans can stand so cold air...and they love it). The tv with international channels didn't go very well in the week i stayed there, i usully watched a musical station (playing merengue), so i didn't ask the staff for reparation. There were bottled water, and a cube for ice, that you could get outside the room. The bath is nice, sometimes there were problems with hot water (specially at night, about 5-7 in the morning, I know it isn't a very normal time to get a shower ...). No hairdresser, but they gave shampoo, gel, and things like that. For me the best thing of the room was the answering machine of the telephone, ... It was very nice having friends in DR to receive their messages when i arrived to the room... (i haven't stayed in other hotel with that facility).
FOOD: I must say that the food is nothing from the other world... You can have omelettes at breakfast, or waffles (made at the moment...). The rest of meals are the same more or less everyday... You won't die of hunger, of course... There are some a la carte restaurants. You have to make the reservation by telephone, but it is difficult to get one... I also had lunch at the beach restaurants, where you can find pizzas, hamburguers and so on... Not bad, and just in the beach.
BARS: Many bars in the resort, with very good cocktails with rum or other liquors... I loved not to have to sign each time I had anything (a bad costume that the luxurious resorts of Bavaro have...). By the pool there were always a table with coffe and infusions to take during all day...
SWIMMING POOL: Big enough to swim. The worst thing is that taking a chair was a very hard job, because people seem to leave their towels at night to reserve their seats...
BEACH: I have to say that Playa Dorada beach is not Bavaro... But the beach is good. The sand is brown and yes, at the beach there are lots of chairs, no problem. Also no problem with vendors, they don't disturbe you very much...
ANIMATION: Good animation staff... Really friendly when you know them. They do many plays during the day, and a show at night. I found that a problem was to know what is taking place each time... I couldn't see anywhere the programation of the day...
In conclusion, nice resort, one of the best of Playa Dorada complex (really nice beautiful and near from everywhere). One of the most remarkable things of the resort are the people who work in it. All of them, from the reception guys, to the bar and restaurant waiters, animation staff and maids where really helpful and smily people (you will always find a smile in Gran Ventana...). About Plaza Dorada complex, i have to say that is very easy to move around... All the discos are near, and it's safe to walk at night alone.. I really enjoyed Crazy Moon and Andromeda... There are also some discos in Puerto Plata, like LA BARRICA, you have to take a taxi to get there, but it's a good experience. Plaza Dorada shopping mall is good, there are lots of services.. Including some internet places (some free if you buy them a trip..but it's possible to pay for ½ hour, about 45 pesos...)...There is also a cinema (in English, with subtitles in Spanish)... I found that it's cheaper to buy trips at the plaza shops than in the hotels (try it, the difference is big)... I made a Safari trip with Dominican Tours.. A very intensive day...Don't forget to take sweet for the children you will find in your trip... Also i went to the Water falls (i'm not sure where there are), really sport experience, climbing the seven water falls...and really exciting going down... I went one day to Sosua by bus (i think we paid 10 pesos per person)... We ate lobster at the beach, 180 pesos per person, but it was delicious... Sosua is the place of the vendors, but there is no problem telling them a firm NO... There are lots of bars and restaurants and the beach...very nice. If you feel sure, I recommend you taking the bus to everywhere from Playa Dorada Complex entrance.... You can take a bus to Puerto Plata for only 3 pesos.... It will leave you in the centre of the city (in the mail office) , and then you can walk to el Fuerte de San Felipe, or to el mercado.. there is always someone that will guide you for some pesos.... So, being in the same trip to three places in DR (Playa Dorada, Bavaro and Juan Dolio), i have to say that Playa Dorada is a nice place to meet new people, where you can stay at your resort with all tourists, but where it is also possible to visit real DR, where dominicans live... which is a good option...
(I've post also reviews from Melia Bavaro and Decameron Club&Casino where i stayed in the same trip, and from Fiesta Bavaro where i was in December 98). Email me if you need any info, ok?
Maca
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