Hotel Puerto Plata Dominican Republic (Playa Dorada, Dominican Republic)

Vacations in the Dominican Republic are all about the beach, and you'll be hard pushed to find a better spot than this. The resort is right on Playa Dorada, a golden sand beach, with warm, tropical waters to swim in. It's an exclusive location, so it won't be overcrowded - this is your slice of paradise.

With full supervision and a huge variety of activities for kids, they'll be kept busy and entertained from dawn 'till dusk, so you'll have time to relax and unwind with a massage or by the pool. If you want to be active, there's plenty for adults too, from an 18-hole golf course to scuba-diving courses.

Guests praise the staff highly, and the hotel prides itself on the level of service it offers. This is a huge, professionally-run operation, but individual members of staff help to offer the personal touch, whether it's an entertainer who puts on an incredible show, or a helpful receptionist who sorts things out.

Despite a wide choice of restaurants, some guests are not happy with the food at this resort. They say that the selection isn't great and the quality mediocre. Plus there are certain rules about limiting the choice of restaurants each evening, so you may have less choice than you expect.

On big crossover days, when whole coach-loads of new guests descend on the place, check-in can be an interminable experience, with some guests reporting a wait of up to an hour before they've been able to get into their rooms. It's not the best start to a relaxing vacation.

If it's a tranquil, romantic getaway you're after, you may want to consider this before booking. It's wonderful for families, but that means that many areas of the hotel are often overrun with children, while the "buzzy" evening entertainment program won't be to everyone's taste.