Hi Bok,
Greetings from Atlantic Canada.
-Hotel Sosua Bay (4* - 4+*)
New Starz AI Resort right on Playa Sosua; get excellent reviews but it is built up so if stairs are an issue for parents and children it may not be ideal. If Non-AI is preferred the sister hotel on the same property, Victorian House, is a non-AI Boutique Hotel. Transfers to and priviliges at Azzurro Club Cabarete or Azzurro Club Estrella in Cabarete included.
www.strazresorts.com
-Hotel Azzuro Club Cabarete (3.5* - 4*)
Fairly new Starz AI Resort on the west end of Cabarete Beach (with it's sister next door, the newly renovated Azzurro Club Estrella) is marketed to a younger crowd to pick up on the cabarete party atmosphere theme. Transfers to and priviliges at Sosua Bay Hotel included.
www.starzresorts.com
-Hotel Villa Taina (3* - 3.5*)
Non-AI (breakfast included) beside Azzurro in Cabarete. Perhaps the best (and one of the most expensive) non-AIs on the North Coast. Ideal location, modern fascilities and friendly staff.
www.villataina.com
-Hotel Coral Marien (4.5*)
Ralatively new AI in Costa Dorada with all the bells and whistles. Nothing bad to say here except avoid the pain in the a$$ Vacation Club Sales People.
www.coralbyhilton.com/Marien/index.htm
Hotel Fun Tropicale Beach Resort and Hotel Villa Doradas Beach Resort and Hotel Dorada Club Resort (all 3* - 3.5*)
I am not a big fan of Playa Dorada as I don't like the shut-in feeling it gives me. Having said that Fun Royale in particular has a loyal base of return guests who rave about the resort. It would be my choice of these ones in Playa Dorada.
www.funroyale-tropicale.com www.hotetur.com/Hotetur/detallehote...ltos=1&CantidadNiños=0&NombreHotel=RDVDORADAS www.hotetur.com/Hotetur/detallehote...dultos=1&CantidadNiños=0&NombreHotel=RDDORADO
However, IMHO, the best resorts on the North Coast are the Iberostar Costa Dorada
www.iberostar.com/iberostar/hotel.asp?idi=en&hot=30&carp=CostaDorada in Costa Dorada (beside the Coral Marien) and any of the Riu resorts
www.riu.com (Riu Mambo, Riu Merengue and Riu Bachata (4* - 4.5*)) in Maimon, 9 km. west of Puerto Plata.
Have fun.
Gregg