Playa Dorada

Any one have any info or experience with Hotel Villas Doradas Beach Resort at Playa Dorada. It's an RCI timeshare hotel we are planning to exchange for next Feb. How's the beach,staff, food etc? Can you visit or eat at other hotels in the complex. If so what's best? any info appreciated. we have 2 young teens with us so any good activites for them?

I have never stay ed at that resort, but have been to P plata 7 times so can tell you about food & Activities. There should be plenty to keep you and the teens busy as well as many non-included tours that you can take. You can calso take the bus to get to town(really cheap) and wander around on the Malecon, go shopping, and find restaurants. There are also restuarants outside your resort in the shopping mall (pub-good food & entertainment but I forget the name) and others attached to resorts that you can check out. There's plenty of places that you can find just by walking around. If you are a bit adventurous and want real DOminican food, try El Manguito, just a few blocks outside the resort complex on the main road. A bit of a walk, or very short cab ride. Food is very good and not expensive. Lots of locals there, cold beer, not fancy. Have a great vacation.

I've been to Playa Dorada twice (never to villas Doradas)and I'm sure you'll have a terrific time. As Doreen mentioned, there is a shopping centre in the middle of the complex with pizza hut, archies (burgers), and the restaurant Doreen was talking about...Hemmingways. I heard good things about it. The resort complex is definately oriented toward all-inclusive guests, but there are many restaurants in the hotels that are quite good. Juanitos mexican grill at Playa Naco Resort is quite nice, as is the Carribean Grill (also at playa Naco), if you like seafood. You'll probably find that the restaurants outside the complex are a little less expensive, but of course, a little less convenient to get to. Puerto Plata is only minutes by taxi, and i'm sure you'll have no trouble finding a nice place to eat. HOWEVER, by the time you get the kids ready, pay for a taxi into town, a taxi back, find a restaurant, etc....you get the point, it might be more pleasurable to simply take a leisurely stroll, find a restaurant you like inside the complex, and RELAX!! As for the playa dorada complex, you won't be disappointed. The beach is great, it's safe, beautiful, plenty of hotels with restaurants (14 hotels in total I think),cheap gifts, banks, and there's lots to do.....golf, casinos, water sports, and plenty of day tour options (the jeep safaris are awesome, and sosua is a great little town worth a visit). Most of the hotels have good kids programs, and from what I have seen you will enjoy the villas doradas!

Have Fun!

I HAVE BEEN to Villas Doradas! And absolutely loved it! Very clean and quiet.. staff was very friendly and kind, food excellent and there is a great Chinese, Mexican and Brazillian Grill restaurants right on the premises. Nice pool, lots of activities and a great beach area! I'm sure you will love it and your teenage daughters will have the time of their life!

Spent the week of Christmas at Hotel Villas Doradas on an RCI exchange; family of 4 with 18 y.o. daughter and 13 y.o. son. We had a terrific time. Staff was great and the mood is very relaxed. My daughter is very sociable and spent time with some of the other teens there. And there are dance clubs in the central complex. (My daughter was actually living in Santo Domingo at the time having fallen in love with the country on a term abroad her jr. year in high school. I have also returned to Sto. Dgo. for a 5 day trip during Carnaval which is celebration of Dominican independence. Had a great time all around) There is plenty to do at the resort but we also took two side trips: a horseback riding into the hills and a river rafting trip out of Jarabacoa. Both were good but for seeing the country the horse trip was better. You can book the trips right from the hotel. Also,read about some possibilities at www.hispaniola.com Dominicans are fun loving people and it is difficult not to enjoy. Also, take your dancing shoes!! The hotel is all inclusive and we thought the food was very good. Did not try any other restaurants. We are hoping to exchange to the DR again.