My husband and I decided to go to dominican republic for 2 weeks we were there from June 7,2008 thru June 22,2008. It wasnt what i expected, if you like really nice/clean rooms and like very nice view this is not the place for you. Since me and my husband were already there we just made the best of it. The people were nice and friendly the food was OK! Overall would i go there again probably not. This resort was rated 4star in trip advisor but in reality the resort is not even a 2 1/2 star and i know that b/c it was told to me in the resort by a taxi driver..

I used trip advisor before booking my holiday and found it good for advice and some general points so decided to post myself.

My partner and I have just returned from 2 weeks at The Fun Tropicale/Fun Royale. If you have booked either it is the same complex the difference is merely the rooms. Ok the review.

9 hour flight was ok, first time flying long haul and i had no issues, couple of films to watch on the way out and 2 meals made the time pass reasonably quickly.

On arrival at the airport, you leave the plane and have to fill out a visa type form (remember to have a pen or 2 handy as we didn't) $10 per person to enter the country and by the time you have queued with the other 300 people on your flight, your luggage is already off the plane (they work extremely quickly) There are plenty of people at the Airport exit offering to carry your bags (for a tip, dunno how much as we didn't use them)

Playa Dorada is 20 mins from the Airport and the Fun Tropical is was the first drop off so a good start to the holiday. Again as you leave the coach you are given the chance to tip the driver and also the bell boys who take your bags to the room $1 per bag normally.

The hotel is small compared to the rest on the resort, it is a short stroll to the beach although the tractor runs regular from 8-5 and the plaza is a further few minutes walk. Around the resort all is perfectly safe and everyone off the complex was polite (given we spoke and smiled at most people)

The hotel has 3 pools and 3 restaurants, The main pool is lively and we didn't use as it is where the entertainment is and most of the families, great if this is what you want, but it wasn't for us. There is a kids pool which i only ever saw 1 family at as the main pool has so much going on most are there. The Adult pool is superb, next to the Buffet Restaurant we spent much of the first week here and had a great time.

All the staff are really friendly/welcoming/accommodating and work really work to make your holiday great. The entertainers work hard providing spanish /salsa lessons & shows/competitions etc

There are people on the complex called VIP's which are part of the vacation club which bascially are selling timeshares. Most people we knew avoided them but they are always round near the main dinning area. We spent half an hour talking to them, letting them try and sell us one, but told them we werent interested and couldnt afford it, they thanked us and gave us a bottle of rum for a our trouble, then waved and was polite each day. Were as the people that said no passing them every day had to spend ten mins every day saying no, so its well worth spending half an hour instead of being hounded everyday.

The restaurants are all good, we never had a bad meal, you have to book the Brazilian and Italian on morning of the day you want (or through the rep) The Brazilian was our favourite if you like meat, you get plenty. The Italian is a different affair and you should be correctly dressed for this (men - Pants no shorts) 3 courses and really nice. The Main Buffet restaurant has a different theme every day and we enjoyed them all. If your not sure on something there is always Salad or a fresh pasta bar or later the snack bar for a burger.

The 2nd week of our holiday we camped out at the beach, this is superb (be warned its the Atlantic side of the resort so golden beaches and not the white powder you would expect at the Carribean) The Bar/Restaurant is probably the best on the beach it is really that good, There are plenty of looky-looky men to sell you anything you might want but we politely said no and they moved on without a fuss - watch out for the beach seller who sells toy Monkeys, he has a classic pata and has everyone waiting for him and he enjoys the attention. There is also a bloke on the beach who sells all the tours/ days out the hotel rep's do, but for a quarter of the price. Plenty of ppl book through him and the trips are exactly the same, although the rep tries to tell you its without insurance but often its the same tour and regardless of who you book with as soon as you get on the bus to the trip they get you a sign a disclaimer-so neither have insurance!

Inoculations/Mosqitos. Before we went we had Injections for Hepititis A, Tetinus and Diptheria + malaria tablets (sorry for the spelling) these were free and although the travel agent said we didn't need them we decided to go with the doctors advice, plenty of people didn't have them who we spoke to but this is your choice. We saw plenty of people with Mosquito bites some quite bad, however we took repellent spray and the plug in things for the rooms and if we had 3 bites between us that is an exageration.

On leaving the hotel, it was quite good you keep your room till 1 so none of the european thing of booking a shared room to shower in. The reverse of arriving is true, plenty of tips to issue to bag carriers and not much at the airport, the charge per KG over your allocated weight is $16 there are no scales at the hotel so keep this in mind on the way out we took way to much stuff.
The rep will take any toiletries/sun lotion/clothes/books you want to leave behind to give to the locals-whichthey are truely greatful for. We paid $25 each for the VIP room but steep but very nice. You have to fill in the reverse of the form you arrived with on the way out and it costs you a further $20.

Tips.
1) Plenty of Mosquito repellents and you will be ok
2) Make sure you have some $1 bills on the way out
3) Have pens at hand to fill forms in
4) Try the restaurants on the complex they are worth it
5) Shops are expensive, if you like crisps etc take some
6) Dont take beach towels, you get them there

Finally

The Weather was great if you go in May it will rain (normally in the evening and some afternoons) and it will rain hard but it normally doesn't last long and is normally refreshing but every morning it is beautiful.

Would we go back? definately it was great value and a great resort and time.

This was our third visit to Fun Royale in three consecutive years. Was not going to go back this year but after getting a good price decided to go , really wish we had paid couple hundred pounds extra and gone somewhere else. Big difference in twleve months to the place. Anyone wanting to book this complex please check first whether the locals are going to be there at the week ends as this is an absolute nightmare!! You can hardly get any food as they just grab it all, the quiet pool where no kids are allowed does not apply to them so there is no where to escape, even the beach holds no escape. They are very rude, loud and show totally no respect for any one else. It has also changed greatly in the type of people that go there, we are a couple late forties and are not posh just hard working , but some of the elements that are getting there are unbelievable. If you are a normal couple just wanting few beers some sun and some nice conversation i would please say look elsewhere. It has become somewhat sleazy if you get my meaning. Anyone wanting anymore info e mail me and i will give you details!! Channel Four have been there filiming which is to be shown i think June 12th, so you can imagine what i t is like from that alone!!! Would not want my daughter going there!! Food is ok, no complaints with that or the service from staff etc, they are work very hard. Rooms seem to have dropped in standard although they are doing them up slowly. This would not effect my view of a holiday as it is a third world country, but the behaviour etc certainly did. Having said that meet few lovely couples that helped make the holiday enjoyable, but they were all of the same mind set that they certainly would not go back. Anyone that has been there last year and before, there is a new manager now and you can see the difference!!!

Overall experience was fantastic. I am a woman in my mid forties (but feel 30) and travelled alone, just so you can see my perspective. Spent two weeks for very little money. Tried to highlight what I thought others would like to know. Put sections in caps so yo ucan find what you're looking for (I hope).
TRAVEL IN: Flew in on Skyservice from Calgary. Good flight. Signature vacations rep was right there at the airport to help you and get you to the right air conditioned bus. Watch to ensure your luggage gets on the same bus as you when going to and returning from the hotel. They take you directly to the hotel. Approx 20 minute drive. Check in was good, but there were no resort maps. That would have been helpful, they were in the process of updating the maps. Porter takes you and your bags to room, and away you go.
The resort was very CLEAN, my housekeeper (Maria) was a wonderful lady. She made me a clay dominican doll. It may be nothing but made me feel special. I gave her a thank you card when I left and she was so appreciative she cried. Although they never knock.
I started in a normal room overlooking the soccer pitch first (225). It had no balcony, and you could hear eveything from the amplifier that was being said by the animation staff over the microphone. This starts at 10:30 in the morning and basically goes until late afternoon. There is then a break for supper but then the night shows start at 8:30 until 11:00 or so. Needless to say, no napping or early nights. The TV was pure static, and that was my main entertainment at night. I spent two night there and then requested another room.They weren't so forthcoming in the beginning but I persisted and they showed me a villa room (2523). WAY better, separate bedroom, living area with futon and chair, and a kitchen and a balcony, but no noise. The trip was much improved after my move. If you want a REMOTE FOR TV you have to request it and put a $20 deposit down. They also need to know the brand of TV so they can give you the correct remote. Apparently the staff were stealing them so they don't leave them in the room. I hid mine every time I went out for fear that someone would steal it, but I had no problems with anything going missing. You can rent SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES for $20 also. This is not a safety deposit box in the hotel but a safe in your room and you are responsible for the key. There were no washclothes to be found. You could request a coffee maker or kettle but good luck. I got a hold of a kettle when I was in room 225 but the cord end did not match the plug in. When I moved rooms, I didn't take the kettle with me, although when I got to the new room, it had the proper plug in. C'est la vie. There is an ice maching but does not work. There are also laundry facilities.
The staff were very enthusiastic (except one lady at the front desk). They were very good at getting everyone involved in games and activities. The FOOD was also good, lots of choices. Always have hamburgers, hot dogs, and steak or chops at the kid's corner. Great orange juice. I am from Alberta so the beef wasn't like home, but pretty good. Did not attend the a la carte Brazilian restaurant because I heard it was all meat dishes. Did attend the Italian a la carte, and it was excellent. Had four cheese penne to die for if you like pasta. The beach bar has great chicken and burgers. The Pizzeria is open from 12-5 and had pretty good pizza.
The BEACH was a five minute walk from the hotel or you could take the trolley, which runs non stop from beach to hotel from 8:00 to 5:30. One day the trolley broke down and they sent a taxi to pick us up. The beach is for all of Playa Dorada guests. There is 14 hotels in the complex and they share the very long beach. You have a section for your hotel but you may use any part of the beach. The beach is not the Caribbean Sea with the white sand. It is the ocean and rocky. It was quite windy the whole time I was there and it felt a little like being sandblasted sometimes. Not much by the way of snorkeling at the beach. Too much silt. Good thing the pool was great. Also topless sunbathers, beware. All kinds of vendors on the beach hawking goods nad hair braiding. All kind of activities rentals on the beach: banana boat, jet ski, kayak, etc.
There are three POOLS to choose from. The adult pool is by the restaurant and the 24 hr bar. It overlooks the golf course. Nice and peaceful with topless sunbathers. No kids allowed. The kid's pool was only 2 feet deep with supervised activites taking place. Almost empty most of the time because the parents want to go to the other pool where they can get a drink. Spent one full day floating in the kid's pool alone. Very peaceful. Then the main pool where all the activities happen. The swim up bar is there also. Never had a problem getting a drink. Lots of chairs everywhere.
ACTIVITIES: They have bikes that you can borrow, but it is not open on Sundays. There is a mini-golf course that has seen better days but still usable. There are ping pong tables, a pool table, volleyball, badminton, and soccer. The animation staff will play a game of ping pong with you if you ask. They play games all day which are enjoyable to watch. They play bingo, darts, frisbee, balloon games, races, merengue lessons, etc. There is also night time excursions to the casino, a beach party, a night club. They have an internet station where you can rent a computer for $5/half hr.
There is a PLAZA in the middle of the Playa Dorada Complex (about 10 or 15 minute walk form hotel). It has shops, cinema, restaurants, drug store, night club, etc. It is cheaper than the hotel shop. I bought a can of Pringles form the hotel shop for $6. There is also a bank and ATM at the Plaza.
MONEY: There is an exchange bank at the hotel but does require a passport or ID to change money. Nowhere else in the world accepts Dominican Pesos (RD) so make sure you change in your money before leaving the country. They also do not accept Canadian coin. I tried using a toonie and they thought it was like Monopoly money. When I was there it was 33 RD to $1Cnd, or 30 RD to $1 US.
SIGNATURE VACATIONS was fantastic at the resort. Louisa was the main lady with help from Elvis. They had a welcome seminar the morning after I arrived and gave all kinds of helpful info. Also booked tours with them. I was ill a couple days and they let me re-schedule everything. Just fantastic.
EXCURSIONS I took were: Outback Safari, rough going (like 4x4), and long day; Northern Highlights, shopping to Sosua/Puerto Plata and visit to Sosua beach, Amber Museum and cigar factory; Freestyle Catamaran (great snorkeling for what there is of it but also longday; and Ocean World, which was great except check for earlier transport if going.
CHECK OUT: Check out is at 1:00. My flight was at 7:00 PM. They let you use the facilities until your flight. You still check out at 1:00 and they have a luggage room where you cna store your luggage until the glight. This room is not locked and anyone can enter. Signature rep was there to ensure everyone was on the bus. Be careful of luggage weights. I paid $10/kg overweight and was 9 kilos over. I definitely did not bring back 20 lbs of souveniers. The humidity must add a few pounds to luggage.