Frommer's Review
This is the largest of three nearly adjacent hotels that are each administered by the VH chain. Of the three, this has the most whimsical and least formal décor; a discreetly glamorous place that doesn't take itself too seriously. It occupies 100 landscaped hectares (247 acres) of ocean front that's divided into three distinctly defined clusters. The quietest and calmest of the three is the Beata Wing, which is just a bit removed but easily accessible, on foot, to the more animated Catalina and Saona clusters. You'll find a higher percentage of children here than at many other of Playa Dorada's resorts, thanks to a Kid's Klub, a glorified day-care center with its own mini-disco for adolescents and lots of good-natured attendants. The resort is composed of a series of three-story buildings, softened with landscaping, that are each trimmed with latticework and vaguely-Victorian-inspired fretwork; each unit has mahogany furniture, ceiling fans, a balcony or patio, and, in many cases, views of the sea. Bedrooms are compact but efficiently designed. Bathrooms are a bit small but have up-to-date plumbing with tub/shower combos. The gardens and lawns surrounding the site are dotted with gazebos, flowering shrubs, and tropical plants and palms.
The all-inclusive plan limits a guest to 1 hour per day for each of the following: snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing, horseback riding, kayaks, and scuba diving. It limits dining at the exclusive Octopus (an octagonally-shaped "gourmet" dining room with the most elaborate cuisine) to guests who reserve in advance. Some kind of live entertainment is presented here almost every night.
Facilities:5 restaurants; 7 bars; 3 outdoor pools; tennis court; health club; sauna; watersports equipment; horseback riding; children's center; salon; room service; massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning; 1 room for those w/limited mobility
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
