While researching hotel for our first trip to DR, the Victoria came up with some of the best reviews. It had some good attributes: smallish, a golf course for hubby, near enough to the beach, and a pretty decent price. Since we were going for three weeks, I was a bit concerned about boredom, but there was no need. Victoria turned out to be a very good choice for relaxation, and a great base for exploring areas outside the hotel and the Playa Dorada complex. There is no pressure to stay inside the complex that I saw and there were many excursions to choose from and ones you could go on by yourself.
My husband and I had never gone all inclusive; we usually rent efficiency units, and I cook, which is fine, but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the relaxing and peaceful ambience of the Victoria. It was nice not to have to cook for a change. My 76 year old step dad was also joining us for this trip and he absolutely loved the Victoria for relaxing and the whole complex for walking exercise.
After quite a few flight 'adventures' resulting in getting to DR three days late, our stay started off with one final incident at the hotel. We had the standard Superior room booked which was a nice second floor flat with a lovely balcony. Just after unpacking everything, the door card lock stopped working. After trying and not getting it to work, they upgraded us to the Junior suite for the inconvenience of repacking and moving. This turned out to our advantage and we were happy for the extra space.
The rooms are well cared for and clean. I loved the clean, pastel colours throughout the hotel. The king bed was very comfortable and I never had any backaches which can be an issue for me on some hotel beds. They also had a good choice of pillow thicknesses: flatter ones for me. The walk-in closet was spacious enough for both of us. I used all the shelves and hangers while hubby lived out of his suitcase on the rack. The safe, also in the closet, was large enough for my netbook, and it was good to be able to have everything out of sight with the closet door closed. I would suggest bringing a few hangers since theirs can't be removed. It's handy to have hangers to dry bathing suits or other washables outside.
I tend to use all the cupboards and drawers and really 'move in' to a room. The night tables and drawers were handy for books; I loved the writing desk with all the little drawers and cubby holes for post cards, maps, my small portable radio, receipts etc.
The TV unit had drawers and shelves as well, where we put hats, and games. The TV was older but worked well. There are quite a few channels, many spanish, a french one, chinese, quite a few main US channels, enough for watching at night. We caught many of our favourite shows.
Our large sliding doors open to a small patio with two chairs and a small table overlooking the pond inlet and the golf course. It would have been nice to have a screen door since I like to leave the doors open when we're in the room, but there didn't seem to be any bugs coming at all, only one stray cat that came to visit. We dried our bathing trunks outside in the day. The drapes have room darkening liners.
The rooms don't have clocks or radios, so bring a travel alarm clock. I never rely on wake up calls...lol. It's nice to have a radio if you enjoy local music.
The kitchen area had a small fridge stocked with some sodas, and a jug of water, with space left for little snacks we purchased for evenings. Of course only bottled water must be used for tooth brushing and drinking. The tap water looks and smells fine, but is not reliably sanitary. It's fine for showing and some clothes washing.
If you stay three weeks like us, you end up needing some things washed. I didn't use their laundry service since it seemed a bit pricey. I brought a bit of laundry soap to wash underwear and t shirts. Of course they don't want you hanging laundry on balconies and such, so it doesn't end up looking like a tenament building which is understandable.
Being located in the middle of the golf course was great for isolating the hotel from other hotel noise, and some of the stronger winds that would develop on the beach later in the afternoon.
The hotel grounds were amazingly well kept and beautiful. Early in the morning, I saw them cleaning the very high ceilings with long brooms. There are bouganvilla, banana palms, and many other flowering plants everywhere. There are also soothing large bowl fountains. The quiet pool is a great place to read your book while listening to the waterfalls. There are many pleasant places to sit around the lobby and buffet restaurant, also upstairs on the second floor lounge area. There is also a pool room there.
The pond that surrounds the hotel is home to waterlilies and many beautiful water birds like purple gallinules, moorhens and a blue heron. If you like birdwatching, bring a bird book for the Dominican or the West Indies, and binoculars...there are many birds all around the golf course as well.
The food at the hotel is fine...not gourmet, but pretty good. There is enough choice and they are on a two week menu rotation. I'm vegetarian and was able to eat fairly healthfully. My favourite was Dominican night. We did try the Jardin restaurant upstairs where I enjoyed the seabass with passionfruit sauce, and the lunch place on the beach for their fish. Mozzarella's pizza by the pool in the evening was a lovely treat.
All the staff were very helpful and kind. It does help if you know some Spanish, not all house keeping staff are fluent in english. And yes, tipping will give you a more pleasant experience.
Internet is expensive to me at $6 an hour and the signal varies depending on your room. I would sit by our door for the best reception or in the lobby. You can go to the golf club house restaurant and use their wireless for free. I would get a nice cappucino from their machine and sit at the bar for a couple of hours online.
My husband golfed a few times and said it was one of the best courses he ever played. The course was very well groomed and many of the caddies were very good. My husband recommends Sandy.
The Victoria designated beach was nice for sunbathing and swimming, most of the beaches were cleaned each day. My favourite area was in front of Gran Ventana where you could snorkel and see different fish near a rock bed. The water was a mild temperature and the ocean bed was sandy with only a few rocky areas, so easy to walk and swim. We brought crocks which worked well for walking most areas.
We booked our tours through James in the plaza at the back beside the pharmacy. His prices and choice of trips were good. The money exchange in his office had very good rates as well. We did the Monster Truck safari into the rural areas, I went horseback riding into the beautiful Dominican jungle, and took a trip to Paradise Island for amazing snorkelling in the most beautiful water I've ever seen.
Playa Dorada plaza has many souvenir and convenience stores, a few restaurants, a small cinema, many tour operators, and banks.
It's very easy to go to downtown Puerto Plata in the little vans called guaguas for 40 pesos return, or take a taxi.
Over all, a great place that we hope to return to next year.
If you wish to read my Puerto Plata trip journal click here http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147290-i64-k4281273-My_POP_Playa_Dorada_Journal_Our_Travel_Adventure_continued-Puerto_Plata_Dominican_Republic.html
If you'd like to see our photos, they are here: http://community.webshots.com/user/cocoa3c
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
