A good hotel!

Check in was quick and easy (but we were the only ones at the time). Everyone who worked there did a great job, people were friendly. Kids loved Jelly's kid club, the water park and the lazy river. Bring your own tubes or wait in line for a bit. Kids are picky eaters most meals they were able to find something, if not we went to Mike's Cafe and they were able to get yogurt and sandwiches. First resort that I found the a la cartes bland and nothing to write home about. I did like that there were [... read more] 3 you had to book a head if time and the rest you could just go to whenever, the cons of that were some restaurants were closed on certain days. Using the barcode they provide can help you plan meals accordingly thou. We much preferred the buffet to the a la cartes (this would not be typical for any hotel I've ever gone to). We were unable to go to the ocean because of the sea grass so that was a bummer. Would I go back to this hotel? Nothing draws me back or away to be honest. I probably wouldn't choose to go back just so I could go to other resorts, but nothing happened that wouldn't make me want to go back.

Good but not great

Had issue with the room assigned to us for the first 3 days of our trip and then finally got the room which was included in our package. Didn't like the attitude from front desk when I initially brought to their attention about the room. If you are beach lover this is not your resort. They have nice short lazy river and many pools. Food is Okay

It's okay

There are people at the beginning stating their your concierge for the week, but they just try to get you to a time share and you never see them again. They book 1 restaurant, give you a coupon for 20min massage and a little bottle of alcohol so you go to this weird time share at the tower. That was not enjoyable and the pressure is a lot. We were not booked side by side rooms although requested. The resort is about 1 hour away from airport. The rooms smell a bit mouldy. The tiles are nice. I  [... read more]like the reusable cups at pools and beach, plus the waiter services. Lazy river was the best feature. The little splash pool for kids was fun. The weird pool dance off was too sexual and felt more like a strip club. The buffet had a lot of options but we got sick. Hit or miss with taste. Same with the private restaurants. The steakhouse didn't work on app. The cafe was nice, same with the burger shack. The beach is rocky, but i like wild beaches. No point in bringing snorkel gear. Good sunrises.

Great resort

This hotel was great. Grounds are beautiful and clean. Stall was friendly. Great service around the pool. Unfortunately we couldn’t book a reservation for à la cartes the whole week we were there. Need to come up with a different plan for reservations. Our Air Canada rep was not very helpful and actually rude.

Resort

The resort was great grounds were well kept food was good staff was amazing My trip central advisor was no help We had issues with flight twice and on both occasions she offered 0 help and advised us to go to airport and ask for help there The most stressfull place to seek help I will Not be booking with "trip central" again l

A Beautiful Stay at El Faro Resort in Punta Cana

We had a great stay at El Faro Resort in Punta Cana. The resort itself is beautiful, with well-kept grounds and a relaxing atmosphere that made it easy to unwind. The staff were very friendly and welcoming throughout our stay, which really added to the overall experience. The restaurants were very good overall. The buffet had a huge variety of food, so there was something for everyone — even picky eaters. Our favorite restaurant was the Italian restaurant, which had excellent meals. The Privi [... read more]lege breakfast was also very nice, with the option to enjoy the buffet or order directly from their menu. Mike’s Coffee was always busy, but it was definitely worth the wait. The coffee and treats there were a great way to start the day or take a quick break in the afternoon. The resort is fairly large, so the trolley service was great to have for getting around easily. We also had WiFi all over the resort, which was very convenient. The lazy river was a lot of fun and something we used often during our stay. Another highlight was feeding the fish in the lagoon — that was a really cool experience. The lagoon area itself was great because it was mostly sandy with very few rocks. One part of the beach was a bit rocky, but it was manageable if you had water shoes. The lagoon definitely made up for that. Nexus also offered a free visit to a local store, which was a nice extra and a good opportunity to pick up souvenirs. We chose not to take part in the timeshare presentation, and the staff were respectful and not pushy when we said no. One tip for visitors: don’t go on the second floor of the lighthouse. Overall, we had a very enjoyable stay and would recommend El Faro Resort to anyone visiting Punta Cana.

Ocean El Faro

The resort was very clean and the guest services was particularly helpful. Buffet was great and we enjoyed the Italian, Steakhouse and Mexican restaurants. The beach was difficult to manage so I was unable to go to ocean. Bar staff were great.

Clean and Beautiful

A large resort with many areas to occupy your day. Many staff working throughout the day and night, cleaning the pool, tending the garden, cleaning public areas and beach. Entertainment was plentiful and spread out from family areas and adult only areas. We changed our room from rooftop to swim up adults only area. This worked out as we now had a swim up facing the sun, near the action of a pool and bar. If you want privacy and quiet choose room top. We also upgraded to privileged, $575 cdn pp. [... read more] We didn't find it worth the price with other resorts at half that price. The provided butler did make our reservations for dinner, get us a dehumidifier , and wine and champagne. Our upgraded mini bar wasn't in place until day 4, which didn't matter as the excellent bar staff looked after us and our neighbors. The lighthouse restaurant, privileged only, was the gem of the resort, excellent food and service, top notch. A la carte restaurants were all good. The buffet was so so. ( We only went once and not impressed because the the light house was outstanding. The lazy river was nice, tubes provided, or bring your own. In room coffee was awful, no tea( hot water) available. The only good coffee was Mike coffee shop, a good variety of hot and cold drink with terrific friendly service. We did find that too many sales people trying to sell their chain program, a little annoying. Beach chairs and area was terrific, only drawback was the water was inaccessible to swim, of f which we knew. A cove usable to swim but was not owned by the resort and garbage washing up made it unappealing. 2 areas, family and adult , both terrific in there rite. We had a late departure flight, we left our luggage in the lobby lockup and enjoyed the facilities for the day. They booked us a shower located near the lobby before our departure. Thank you for Shannon and trip central for organizing our trip, worry free, nice transfers.

Great Resort and Experience

The resort exceeded my expectations. Our Jr suite was spacious, bed was super comfy, and bathroom had everything we needed. Grounds were impeccable and very scenic. Evenings at the strip were fun and entertaining. Shows were good and the restaurants were all great, including the buffet. Main beach was a bit rough but right next to it was a beautiful and calm bay/beach that’s still part of the resort. There aren’t any chairs there but if you just want to swim, it’s perfect. Bars served up amazing [... read more] drinks - lots to choose from but our favourites were the caipirinhas and mojitos. Mike’s Cafe was also a special hangout for us where you can get specialty coffees, smoothies, juices and small treats throughout the day. Ocean el Faro is one of my favourite resorts in PC and we’ll definitely be returning.

Love it!

This is the second time we go to Oean El Faro because we loved it so much the first time. It was still great the second time around. I love the staff, love the food and love how well maintained everything is. My family with 2 rambunctious babies was treated so well and never felt like a burden (even when my toddler was throwing tantrums). My daughter got a cold while we were there and the doctor was right on site to do a wellness check on her. Totally free! Will definitely go again!!!

Okay Resort but wont go back.

Food at alacarts was excellent, buffet was pretty good but the service set up not really great. i like to be offered coffee, tea, water, juice when i sit down. i don't like to have to serve myself of flag somebody down. Pools, lazy river, water park all fantastic. Resort old but very well laid out. Beach too small and too rough. Bathrooms spaced out too far apart. Lots of walking to get to the facilities. Worst maid service we've ever had. Lots of restaurants. Loved Mikes coffee shop. Won [... read more]t go back because of the beach and maid service

Amazing resort

The food was amazing, the restaurants were above expectations... Mike's coffee shop was our favorite spot as we are coffee lovers. Staff was friendly and helpful and the beach was awesome even though we couldn't swim

This place is a dump!

Not at all impressed with this resort. Advertised as 5 star luxury, it was, at best 3 star. The resort is very dated and in a state of disrepair. The door to our room did not even close requiring multiple attempts by maintenance to remedy. The staff is very disinterested and inattentive. Food was mediocre and many of the à la carte restaurants weren’t even open and those that were open were impossible to book. Buffet was repetitive and bland. Very disappointing. Would have left on day 2 if it ha [... read more]d been an option.

Enjoyable resort

We just returned from a one week stay from Nov 17th, to Ocean el Faro in Dominican Republic. We were placed in building 2 (outer building), 3rd floor, facing the heavily treed area. There is an elevator. Room was very nice and quiet. It was also located very close to the restaurants and a short walk from the beach. For those with mobility restrictions, I can understand some complaints about distance between different areas however we (78 and 68 year old) did not find it a difficulty. Those in El [... read more] Beso had a longer walk to many restaurants. If you have major mobility problems this could be a problem for you as the advertised trams usually take quite a long time to come by. The restaurants were good however the application they show you on arrival for making reservations to those restaurants requiring them is almost a scam. Not once in the time we were there could we get a reservation except at 5:30 or after 8:00. We did far better talking to staff and you are better advised to attend the desks outside the buffet each day by 8:00 AM to get in the spot of your choice. This excludes those in El Beso or Privilege class who have concierges to make reservations for them. Our favourite restaurants were Blue Moon (reservations not required but adults only) and the Steak House and the food in those two was a step above the others. The Italian restaurant made us feel rushed with dishes coming out before we finished the one we were on. The Japanese was good but the show was mediocre for what we have seen elsewhere. The buffet had great omelette stations in the morning and plenty of other options. Variety was sufficient for any taste during other meals. Food was generally warm, and might have been kept hotter, but not so cold that we were concerned. Pizza was great. There are some staff whom we encountered who went far above their job description and did their utmost to ensure we had a great time. Arielys at restaurant reception is amazing and always happy and pleasant. Eugenia also was very good. Alexander at the sports bar always made you feel welcome as a friend. Ricardo and Dainer at the steak house made our dinner there quite enjoyable. Yohan, the manager at the Japanese restaurant, overheard us saying how we had wanted to go there but could not get a reservation and found us a spot. Entertainment was fair although the Michael Jackson tribute is well worth going to. The lead did a very good moonwalk. We are not “pool types” so usually went down to the ocean where most times we could find a lounger. This was probably easier than usual due to the high amount of sargassum weed piled up on the beach. Some people still persevered and took a dip in the ocean in spite of RED Flags being visible. The lagoon you hear about to the left of the resort property is small, has a nice beach area with no shade or seating but a boom has been stretched across the inlet to hold back the weed or whatever else might be floating in. There are also lifeguards on watch on the resort beach but none at the lagoon. This bit of water is not suitable for snorkelling as it is too shallow and murky. If you are planning to bring funds for tipping, bring U.S. dollars in small denominations as we brought Dominican Pesos and had little luck trying to find change for smaller denominations. Overall, we had a great time and do not understand all the excessively poor ratings evidenced on review sites.

As expected

Typical DR resort. Average everything, good lazy river beach was below standard. Rooms decent, be prepared to walk a lot, we went in low season so easy to get beach / pool chairs. Didn’t get to try all the restaurant’s as many were closed due to low season. If you get a good deal worth going. Be wary of the time share people in the white. They are your best friend before the sales pitch and Rude after the 2 plus hr sales pitch they claim will only be 15 minutes.after you tell them you’r [... read more]e not interested.

Thumbs down

Unfortunately, the beauty of this Hotel was ruined by the extremely unprofessional and unhelpful front desk staff. Very uninformative when being asked a direct question. I have never spent money on a 5 star before and this was a great disappointment.

Nice Resort But Need Improvements

We were at this resort a few years ago and thought it was fabulous hence we returned for a second stay. The buildings and rooms are very well maintained and in excellent condition. The entire resort is very clean! The staff everywhere were very helpful and friendly! Now for the negatives. The resort had a 32% occupancy so several things were downsized or closed. The Buffet Restaurant was closed every night for the entire week, so everyone had to eat at the A-La-Carte restaurants. This was a fia [... read more]sco with very long lineups with frustrations. Most guests were annoyed and somewhat rude to staff but it is upper management who should be held responsible. After the long lines to be seated, once you get in half of the tables were empty! Access was based on low level staffing. Better decisions and smarter choices should have been made regarding restaurant closures. There were also rotating closures of other restaurants! So choices were limited! The evening entertainment was limited and low quality. There was mostly the same Spanish music every night, no variety! The Piano Bar was closed for most of he week. The Pianist only plays 2 nights per week as compared to 6 nights in previous years. There were 3 guys "one night" who were Tenor singers and they were excellent, but this was unannounced and held in the Piano Bar with about 20 people present. This should have been in the main Plaza for everyone to enjoy!! The 70's 80's show was enjoyable. Need better entertainment with some English variety for guests! The beach was terrible and no one could swim all week with a permanent red flag. We have never seen so much Sargassum anywhere!! Yes they cleaned it but the next day it was the same. The sand was uneven with truck wheels imprint. They should level the sand daily so at least guests and children are able to walk on it.. Need better decisions by management regarding reductions of advertised features. I would never return to this resort although we like the Oceans Resorts. We wanted to leave after 3 days! Have been to several Oceans resorts in recent years! Please make better decisions to return this resort to the fabulous place that it was a few years ago. It has regressed!! Need better management!!!

Disappointing experience

We traveled end of August 2025. Beach was unusable due to the immense amounts of seaweed. The food was good, and most people were nice, but it felt like we were getting pressured every time we left the room by people trying to get us to join "Privledge".

Wonderful hotel

I had a wonderful vacation with my family. There are many activities for children. The room is spacious and bright. The food is excellent. Everything was always delicious and there was a variety of dishes. The resort area is large, there is room to walk around. The only thing is that we were unable to swim in the ocean because of the big waves and algae. But overall we enjoyed our vacation.

Awesome Lazy River

It was a quick getaway for my sister and I to just relax for three days. I chose this resort for the lazy river and it was everything I hoped it would be. They do run out of tubes at the resort though so we brought our own. It was so much fun with all the water features along the river and a swim up bar. My favourite water feature were the water cannons, little kids would spray us as we went by and my sister and I even took a turn spraying people with the cannons. There were also two huge swimmi [... read more]ng pools and each of them had their own swim up bars, we did not go in either pool but they were very nice. The beach was nice, lots of seaweed on the beach as it had been stormy when we were there so that's understandable. And it's the ocean so you get what mother nature gives you. The resort is not too large, easy to walk it and well laid out in a logical way. The nicest lobby I've seen in any resort as it was completely enclosed and air conditioned, made it lovely for our last day when waiting for our shuttle. We only ate at the grill beside the pool, hamburgers and hotdogs, it was just okay. All our meals were eaten at the buffet. I enjoyed the variety and thought everything was decent. I love that they have an adults only seating section at the buffet. The a la cartes, many of them are first come, first served, the three that we wanted to try were the ones that required a reservation and we had trouble and couldn't book any. The Japanese, Steakhouse and Italian all need a reservation. The booking app said they were always booked up, and even when I got through to the Japanese, it asked how many but would not let me put in two people, which is how many we were, it would only let me put in just one of us, so we skipped it. The rooms were comfortable, comfy bed, tv worked, always had hot water. Only issues with the room was how hard it was to open and close the balcony door, it took both my sister and I to open or close it, it was that stuck. And the AC in our room knew only two temperatures, freezing or off. It didn't matter if we set it for 18 or 28 degrees Celsius, it would stay locked at it's lowest setting so we had to frequently turn it off to unfreeze our toes. Highlights of our stay were definitely the lazy river, the ice cream stand, Mike's coffee shop with the fancy desserts and bowling (even though the balls were so warped, or the lane) but that made it super funny because everyone did terrible. We loved the arm bands at the resort, instead of the usual plastic bands, this one was a ribbon with a disk of plastic that was also your room key, handy. We would definitely visit again. Now for the few areas that need work, most of the staff speak no English, it is challenging trying to communicate with them, maybe getting a better app for restaurant booking, and the one that really bugged my sister and I...they ask that you don't flush any toilet paper in the toilet, they want is put in the garbage. That is a hot mess and unsanitary. Other than that...go and have a good time.