Best AI in Playa Dorada? Comparable to Iberostar (Costa Dorada), POP?

[J D Sauser]

I am looking for the best AI hotel around Puerto Plata for an extended stay of my parents and a personal maid (my Dad is 87).
I have looked at Iberostar and Marien Gran Oasis next to it at Costa Dorada. I have staid myself at Iberostar and found the food to be way above average. Today I have been shown the Marien Gran Oasis and found it to appear in a category slightly below.
Still, I would like to consider one or two options inside Playa Dorada, since they will stay of 6 to 8 weeks and may want to go for a stroll outside of the immediate hotel premises, without being at once or inadvertently submerged into the "deep" Dominican Republic, unsupervised.
I don't really know the hotels in Playa Dorada. So, my question is, are any of the AI-operations there comparable in quality to the Iberostar?

Thanks! ... J-D.

[Abuela]

Occidental just sold the Gran Flamenco to Barcelo and it would be ideal, good facility and easy walk over to the Playa Dorado plaza. Also Allegro Playa Dorado is good but a bit noisy as it it presently under renovation
Abuela

[holacanada]

Belive me this is my carribeean resort of dreams. Former Coral Marien !

Yeah !!!

Holacanada in POP in 18 hours..!!!

[FireGuy]

Within Playa Dorada I would suggest Gran Ventana.

Also both Iberostar Costa Dorada and Grand Oasis Marien would be good choices but neither are in Playa Dorada.

Gregg

[planner]

I second Fireguys recommendation. The ONLY hotel close to comparison with Iberostar would be Gran Ventana!

[BushBaby]

Just as a reminder J.D., have you spoken to the Riu Hotels out at Maimon yet? Their reputation is generally good & the wheelchair facilities are supposed to be excellent! I KNOW this is the other side of town to you & the journey is a bit longer .......... but if "'The Price Is Right ............ Common down".

Certainly in Playa Dorada the reputation of Gran Ventana is way above the others (Except of course the 'Colonial' executive at US $400 plus per night!!) Flamenco is good but I think wheelchair access to a couple of the restaurants is a lot more difficult & there are areas where two or three steps need to be overcome to reach the bar/reception areas (I don't recall seeing ramps to these areas from the inside!). ~ Grahame.

[J D Sauser]

Thanks so far to all.
Grahame, no, I have concentrated on the East side so far, but I will go and check them (Riu) out to.
I looked into Colonial... 'come on, it's not 400 it's only about 350 and they promised a discount for a long stay . Food is extra thou. Naw, definitely not what we are looking for, we need simple (AI), but in the highest quality possible.

I will check out Gran Ventana, Monday. Thanks for that recommendation.

BTW: Gran Oasis Marien is under some expansion and renovation works. I found that some sectors (pool area) were in dear need of such works. Still, it makes a very good impression but I still think Iberostar has it beaten.

... J-D.

[dmihajlovic]

ive stayed at barcelo, gran ventana and gran oasis and grand oasis was the best by far, gran ventana was really crowded even for someone liek me who is 18 and really does not usually care if a hotel is crowded, but the pool is tiny there and the food and drinks stop at 2, which for me was way too early. barcelo was a nice hotel too but Grand oasis was way better. i liked that it wasnt in playa dorada because it took forever to get out of there into the actual streets of the dominican, and everything was more expensive (cabs etc) becasue its all in the playa dorada area. Grand oasis is on costa dorada which is liek 5 min drive from playa dorada and i found the beach to be nicer there and the hotel was the cleanest and the food was the best. and available 24 hours. anyways im sure you wont regret staying there.

[tflea]

As an aside, hotels in Playa Dorada, for the most part, have been given until July of 2008 to upgrade their facilities or lose a very attractive tax incentive from the government. Those who don't comply with the deadline are supposedly not eligible for the incentive, so one would hope the whole area will receive a long-needed facelift. Now that could also hinge on whether one political party currently in power, stays in power, since that administration is the one offering the incentives.

[Charlielyn]

Blue Bay is wheel chair accessable and the food is better than the Iberostar. Also a very serene spa like atmosphere. Great for an older couple. I suggest renting a villa there or at least a first floor room with a patio to sit on.