Now back from my holiday so thought i would give a report.
First the flight going out for the Brits my flight was from Bristol you have to then go to Manchester to take on fuel to take you across to pound but we was there for about 1 ½ hours + the 9 hr flight so this made it a long flight across and the entertainment on board didn’t work on most seats so this was even worse for the crossing.
No problems getting through the airport THERE is a 10$ PP entry fee going in and a 20$ exit fee but if you booked or fly with First Choice you DON’T pay the exit fee like the other airline would have to.
Got to the hotel Occidental Allegro Playa Dorada just a few minutes getting through reception to the room that was Ok in block 5 221 not the best view but no one for sitting outside on the balcony, it was of the golf course but lots of trees to look at.
The room was big with a good size bathroom with shower and bath; the air con worked fine keeping the temp set to 24Deg.
There are 4 main restaurants and a snack bar by the pool in the middle of the hotel.
There is a buffet restaurant this is the main one that has a theme night every night for the main meal and lots of other dishes to choose from the hot press, always found something that i liked overall good.
The other 3 restaurants was a Italian, Mexican and a grill bar restaurant that was mainly meat, i tried the Italian and meat restaurants both was good with the meat one better, you have to book these up before hand if you go for a week you can go 3 times and 6 times for the 2 week stay.
There are 4 Bar’s 1 by the middle pool/snack bar open 10 till 6 one in the beach pool a beach bar that is not on the beach (local government own the beach so not allowed on the beach) and the main bar is in side just of the beach pool /lobby this is open from 10 till late 01:00 most nights if there is not a disco in the disco beach bar just a min stroll down the beach 3 times a week this is still part of the AL.
There is some sort of entertainment every night didn’t see it every night but was good from all accounts (your own taste).
If you like to sample the local spirits that’s ok again that in the AL but if you like the branded names you have to pay for them i think it was about 130-150 pesos, a lot of the Canadians brought with them there thermal mugs ½ pints up to pint and ½ mugs so you could consider this idea as you will get a plastic glass till night time when the pool is closed you can have a glass then.
The bar staff was great have a good laugh with them if you (Girl) ask for a sex on the beach drink they all start laughing and start speaking Spanish so i can guess what they are saying??!!
The beach is fine with plenty of loungers there you will get the traders selling their bit’s like t-shirts paintings carvings and massage or hair braiding but they don’t bother you, there is also the tour guides that have the best deals so they say didn’t go on any so can tell on that front.
The beach if you like to is a good walk in both directions to the right take you away from the other hotels and is very quiet to the left is along the main hotels and the boat ride jet ski banana boat.
By this hotel the water gets a bit choppy later in the day when the wind get’s up by 12:00 and i does every day i was there (2 weeks) it’s quite windy but if you walk up the beach to the right it’s a lot calmer in sheltered water and it’s warmer to.
The plaza is only a few min walk outside the hotel to the right but still in the safety of the complex here you have shops money exchange, cash points a few bars that show all the British Football Hemmingway’s and Philp’s Bar a bit small for some.
There is a golf course only a few minutes’ walk away for a round of golf it’s 75$ round (18)+25$clubs+15$caddies compulsory, it’s cheaper after 15:00.
There is a casino in the hotel drinks are free if you are playing and there is a casino down the road could be inside another hotel, there is a disco there to.
Is side the shopping plaza there is a disco called coco bongo this is where most went by all accounts it was v good and there is another one called the Road way this sells meals to.
Internet in the hotel is not cheap 3$ 15 min 5$ 30 min 8$ 60 min some hotels it’s free or you can take your laptop and use the free wifi in the Hemmingway’s bar or the golf course bar this as a laptop on the bar that you can use but you would have to buy a drink i would think but its free to use and they do meals there to.
All together it was a good hotel did meet a another 2 British girls from Plymouth that stayed in the Paradise Beach and only stayed there 1 night before moving to this hotel because they said it was a disgrace there words and talking with a lot of people on the beach from most hotels it was a mixed felling about every hotel some liked there hotel and others didn’t even in this hotel a Canadian couple asked to be moved from there room block 2 to a better room so they moved them to block 6 these seem to be the newer rooms blocks 5 6, so everybody has their own thought and tastes.
Hope this helps if you need any more info just ask.
Gerry
Plymouth
England

After reading most of the reviews I was a little worried about what I'd find when we arrived. When we arrived, earlier then check in time, everythng was ready to go. Our rooms were ready and our luggage was delivered to our room. The people there were very friendly and helpful. Most of them spoke and understood English so it was easy to communicate. The pools and beach were very clean, there are vendors but if you just say no they leave you alone. The food there is plenty, but not much variety. I would reccomend the Italian resteraunt!! There is plenty to do at the resort and off. The other nice part to this resort is that it's in a community of other resorts. You can leave your hotel and walk to the others, the plaza, golf course, and see what is around without worring. You do have to remember that you are going to a country that is very poor. If you are looking a luxerious hotel this is not for you. If you want a fun vacation, good food, and great people then this is the place for you.

Food was average - the rooms very very dated - beds too small for 2 peopel - 3/4 size (just a little larger than a twin). Loud music played to 1:30 am and we were staying on the "quiet end" of the resort.

I had read so many bad reviews about this place that I was nervous to go and I swore that I would write a review, good or bad when I got home. I don't know where these people stayed or what they expected, but this was amazing. The check in was quick, our room was in the 6th building, with a balcony facing the pool. The room was beautiful. The service was amazing. The food had a major variety and was really good. The pools were clean and nice. The beach was awesome. The vendors are great, just say no thanks. They are expensive, look, but don't buy, unless it is really unique. Freddy with transit is ther everyday. There is a lot to do. The nightly entertainment is great and funny. Take insulated drink cup. There is a market down the road which is kinda pricy too. There is a market 30 mins down the beach, it's nice, but they really pressure you. Be prepared to barter. offer less then half. We went into town for the day. There was a guy in a yellow shirt (some had blue) that will walk you around and take you to shops and give you a wlaking toure ant keep the locals at bay and keep you "safe" and we gave him $15.00. He walked us around for 3 hours. Cheaper in town. DO NOT give money to the locals, as they will follow you and HOUND you like crazy, I mean nasty. We got a cab back for $15.00.

Everyone seemed on here to be so negative and seemed to expect somethin more. This is a third world country that you are goint to, it's not the Hilton, they try. You are going for sand, sun and drinks, remember that and don't sweat the small stuff.

My only complaint is that when you have a lte flight you have to check out by 1 or pay $10 per hour. They give you a room to shower in later in the day, but there were no towels and it was not really clean, as others had been thre. They should let you keep you room. Aside from that, it was awesome.