dreamed husband stayed gorgeous hotel 4/30/07 5/7/07.this trip dr not hope, arrived long day travel hotel met dominga pleasant helpful representative hotel, saw quickly checked luggage taken room, gave 10 minute briefing hotel reach problems enjoyed cool refreshing fruity drink.our room standard room spacious spotless, seven days wore white socks getting shower tile floors, wear days got dirty, housekeeping superb, tipped second day 10.00 usd left, feel service tipped not, placard room stated minibar stocked day day returned room fully stocked.had laundry sent, returned day clean pressed hangers, inexpensive n't want home dirty clothes.the grounds websites, looked 6 months hotel sites impressed pictures grounds, not justice, everyday groundskeepers early morning raking manicuring trimming, pleasant despite working heat day, wished took home gardens, people working saw person standing doing nothing, amazing dominican people bartenders waitresses entertainment crew happy singing dancing doing job, hola, smile, refreshing people work actually like job, reception workers speak languages spanish english french german, not know language o.k, hotel workers told local tour guides attending language school completed, 2-3 year school attended secondary school completed, wanting work hotels attend.we booked vacation apple lisa representative extremely pleasant upbeat helpful, booked excursions loved all.went quad atv excursion driving time did fine, note not enjoy hot dominican sun little dust face n't tour took beautiful coastline soft sand 30 minutes stopping landmarks carribean meets atlantic, saw celebrity villas distance julio iglesias oscar la renta shakiras.julio oscar built punta cana airport people like fly closer santo domingo hotel district, went jungles rough terrain fun, june tour guide hovering sure no problems 21 stayed somewhat, atv riding went gorgeous beach cooled starting point drinks, hour fun day lots fun sun.went outback safari 1/2 day trip, tour guides funny informative, glad went life outside hotel perimeter, not sense culture not venture outside hotel.third excursion saona island, best, sailed catamarran island music drinks way, unbelievable water views, arrived buffet salads fruits meat cooked grill, hammocks relax bar dancing swimming course, return speed boat shallow swimming area huge starfish, caution got stung sea urchin told, apparently creatures live coral not bother unless tread, unaware, did not purposely walk kneel coral waves pushed coral, waves not strong waves, feels little painful beesting notice swelling immediatley, husband got stung legs did, did not require md visit, hydrocortisone cream just applied returned hotel, swelling pain disappeared day.food iberostar goes presentation looked fresh, fruit carvings adorn buffets, food buffet n't supposed, cold cold hot hot, choices offered daily, various themes night, read previous review describing bird droppings week tell saw nothing sort, yes small birds took cleaning crumbs right people left table floor restaurants open air, birds hurry eat staff did not let sit floor 5 minutes.staff constantly sweeping cleaning right people left tables.if starved choice, noted people roaming trying american food, no american food hot dogs beach restaurrant, question foreign country expect native food, tried maybe dishes did n't care, scheme things small portion offerings, ate buffets daily 2 specialty restaurants gourmet la sibilia, service 5 star food good enough.once not say domincan workers attentiveness hotel, dropped spoon morning pick waitresses bending saying no senora not wanting touch spoon.never problem getting drinks bar bartenders attentive hard-working, not regular drinkers did day, drinks strong unlike alot hotel reviews read stating drinks watered, not case here.beach picture perfect weather, no rain early day did 10 minutes showers usually evening, warning sun no joke, bring ample sunscreen cover-ups fair burned quickly not diligent applying sunscrreen frequently.do not expect able sit beach day sun asking sunpoisoning, shade not swimming water activity, beach huts palpas hard come went excursions 3 days row plus did not run pool beach 7a.m, towels reserve like did, no problem finding pool.that annoying signs telling people not reserve, towel hut times day want exchange wet sandy towels fresh ones, nice service.enjoyed ambiance hotel environment, quite families children presented problem, international crowd german canadian french french dutch south americans americans.did not attend night entertainment usually exhausted excursions early bed type-people, entertainment shows walked attended laughing appeared having good time.went casino dominicana mirror punta cana, husband won slots totally shocked, casino ca n't compare well-attended also.non-motorized sports stated included package free went snorkel-gear told 1 hour, left basically 45 minutes taking account short walk forth dive shop, husband went gift shop just outside dominicana near star rock cafe purchased set 15.00usd.this small mall-type area 24hr doctor office pharmacy disco internet cafe small gift shops, fyi want purchase internet time buy 30 minute increments hotel desk, went evening problem getting, 5.00usd=30 minutes internet time.we felt like definitely got monies worth hotel, spoke alot people met excursions staying various hotels near complaints food rooms, honestly say not complain anything.fyi small percentage topless women beach, no cared outraged aware small children, require explanation tipping told apple rep tipping paid not necessary, read reviews did bring 50 usd ones tipping, spent approx, 150.00usd tipping, bring alot ones people said not no problem desk, tipped bartenders waitresses housekeepers tour guides bus drivers, happy tip people service star, told husband joy tip appreciated deserved, husband bout diarrhea early mild case later week did not disrupt ruin trip, took immodium fine, people tend blame food water, rememeber different environment different schedule eating totally different diet used, cause changes body, honestly say ate healthier everyday home availability fresh vegs fruits, attribute bout, did not drink tap water warned, drank tons water restaurants bottled water, believe short stint diarrhea nothing contracting type bacteria food water source.do not hestitate book hotel not disappointed,