Being an addict to Tripadvisor reviews sometimes isn't a good thing, and considering the mixed reviews for this resort that I saw in the weeks and months leading up to our trip, I had some serious worries. It was our first time at an all-inclusive resort, so we had no expectations outside of what we saw on Tripadvisor.

Now, a week after returning home, I can report in glowing terms that the Viva Wyndham Playa Dorada came through in a big way to make this one of the best holidays we've ever had. Our two boys, ages 12 and 10, even say it was better than our trip to Disney World two years ago.

From what I'm told (again, we had nothing to compare it to), this resort is not high end, but not low-end, either. We had no issues with the food selections (others have), nor the service. Rooms were kept extremely clean, checked twice a day with fresh towels never a problem.

I highly recommend you join the Wyndham By Request program before you go; it definitely gets you a higher standard of service, and it's free. Join it on the Wyndham website.

I found the whole facility clean and tidy, and it was never a problem getting beach chairs.

Would we go back? In a minute.

Me and 3 other girls booked the holiday through Thomson. I had previously been to Dominican Rep. and stayed in the Gran Ventana which is excellent.

I will only write about the hotel as the country is beautiful and my holiday was the best ever because it is what you make it.

CHECK IN

First impression bright orange and blue buildings. We were greated with a cool non alcoholic cocktail and the porter took our bags. Check in was easy no queues (I think because we were the only English checking in there) We got two rooms, mine was nice, big and clean but my other friends room was tiny. And looked onto a bush. They complained and their room was switched to a bigger one the next day with no problem.

FOOD

Ok this was what made me not come back to the hotel ever. I am not a fussy eater but the food in the buffet was disgusting. It not only looked disgusting but it was not nice to eat. There was no varitey either. I was used to Gran ventana where they had a large selection of all types of food but in Viva they had what they called themed nights like Mexican, Dominican, International which was really disappointing. Also the drinks on offer were terrible no alcohol in the buffet resturant, fruit juice was fake syrup juice and coke watered down. The food looked like it had been out all day. Staff were also not very friendly and we often had to ask for knifes and forks. They also couldn't speak any english, even the chef who cooks you food in front of you was clueless. They all walk around the resturant like they hate their jobs.

You can book one of the two a la carte resturants per week. One is chinese and the other is the Ibiza resturant on the beach. I must say that both are the complete opposite of the buffet. They are really really nice resturants and the food is excellent. If we didn't have these a la carte I would have stayed hungry. It was beautiful eating dinner on the beach and the waiters all speak english.

Lunch in day time is served all the time in the Ibiza resturant on the beach but be warned this is only Burgers and Chips and hot dogs. I got sick of eating burgers everyday for lunch. And the midnight snacks is just the left over food from the daytime. The buffet resturant stinks at night because they leave all the plates out on the table. One pizza slice felt like a brick. It was foul.

DRINKS

Cocktails were good and cant really complain about that. I did have about 10-15 cocktails a day and it never really effected me. I think the drinks are watered down. In the end I was just drinking straight rum and ice.

ROOMS

Clean, big, Iron, Sat TV, really nice, air con. Maids cleaned them everyday.

ENTERTAINMENT

The beach entertainment was really good but it all depends on what you like. If you just want to chill out on the beach then it may be a bit noisy. They play music and games constantly through out the day. Which is fun, the staff speak english and they are really friendly. They are flirts but it was all just fun. They have watersports facilities which were really good. Note there is a short walk to the beach only 5 minutes but the hotel doesn't step onto the beach.

SHOWS

The animation team worked really long hours and they really put their all into the shows. The shows started with kids show and then they used to put on big performances like Moulan Rouge , Street dance shows. We just used to go along to watch them for a joke before we went out to the clubs. Most of the dancers were very gay but it was really funny.

KODAK BOX

They have there own photograpers there that are scattered around the hotel and beach. They constantly snap you and we organised a photo shoot. The pictures actually came out quite nice.

POOL

Never went in the swimming pool once. It is really small and full of kids. The jucuzzi was cold. I much prefar the sea anyway.

SECURITY

Ok I understand you have to protect the hotel but Viva security were too much. they used to hide in bushes with guns. I have friends over there so they used to meet us at the lobby before we went out. They were often told to leave and on one occasion were kicked out of the complex by police. The reception staff and security are very rude and considering I paid my money for the hotel, i should be allowed visiters at the lobby.

THE PEOPLE

I think this is the ony hotel in the complex which lets in the locals. They give them a day pass. They were no problem to us. I think we were the only english people in the hotel, there were loads and loads of Canadians. I think because it was spring break.

OVERALL

The hotel was ok to stay in the only thing which let the hotel down is it's food. Don't stay here and think you will have full bellies and love the food. The food is a real let down. Expecially if you are all inclusive thats the one thing you look forward to. The other let down is the staff, they only speak english when they choose to. They are rude and very un helpful. The rooms were decent and the beach activites were great.

It all depends on what you look for in a hotel. I had a fantastic holiday because we spent more time outside the hotel then in. We only was really there to eat and sleep. We occupied ourselves with excursions, trips out of the complex and clubs and bars.

I would never ever stay in this hotel again. But this has no reflection on the PLaya Dorada complex. The complex hold about 12 hotels and is the best area to stay in Puerto Plata. They have a shopping mall, discos, bars (Coco Bongo & Roadway) This is were us girls spent out evenings.

I have booked again for August staying in Playa Dorada but staying well clear of Viva Wyndham. This time I am staying in Gran Ventana were they have customer service skills and make you feel welcome.

Before booking at this hotel we read many reviews and quite honestly the people that write bad reviews for this hotel need to stay home. Sure if you have had a bad experience you will write a crappy review, but let me tell you I have travelled to many places in this world and there are lot more uglier places to stay at than this hotel. We left Toronto March 12 for two weeks, there were seven of us, three adults and four teens and let me me you we all had the time of our lives. The food is great especially the Beach restaurant, the cook even went out of his way to make pasta for me. No one got ill. The bar staff is great (Mr. P) and there is brand name alcohol,,Johhy walker red, Tanqueray Gin, among others. Brugal is by far the best rum I have had. The animation staff is superb, the font desk staff is great and other than a little problem with the room, the cleaning and maintenace staff looked after the problem immedialtely. I am sure that if you read some of the Horror reviews they are completely unfounded. I guess it takes a certain personality to write a bad review. My wife and kids have been to Puerto Plata reveral times before and other than Gran Ventana this is the the best place they have been to and we will definlety be back, My daughter is planning a graduation celbration in July 2008 and want to come back to the Wyndam!

We had a mix up at the resort that I orginally booked, so my travel company moved me to this resort. I was expecting a nice resort given the Wyndham name, but...well, that's not what we got. The resort was in need of cleaning up...pretty much everywhere. The rooms were horrible and very bare. There was mold EVERYWHERE! Our sliding door to our tiny balcony wouldn't lock. I wouldn't have wanted to sit out there anyhow, as we had a lovely view of what appeared to be staff quarters with lots of laundry hanging on balconies and trash everywhere. There was a foul odor as well.
The pool was very small and the hot tub was packed with smokers and younger people drinking heavily. Both the pool and the hot tub needed cleaning.
My husband and I stayed at this hotel a total of about 1 hour and then went to the front desk and complained. Without hesitation, they transferred us (via our own cost for the cab) to another Wyndham resort, the Tangerine in Caberet. I did appreciate that it was an easy transfer! The Tangerine was ok...not the best, but after the Playa Dorada...ANYTHING would have been better!