Majestic Elegance Punta Cana: Beautiful Resort

First of all let me say that I was there with my daughter and toddler granddaughter so my comments are based on our family configuration! The Majestic Elegance Hotel in Punta Cana is beautifully landscaped, the rooms are very large with an open concept, ie the jacuzzi tub and the double sinks are in the open room area and the shower and toilet are individual private rooms with unlockable glass swinging doors. We were there with a 20 month old toddler and found the room not to be child friendly [... read more]. For example there is a step down to the jacuzzi tub and patio door area with an approximate 3’ marble ledge which she initially bumped her head on a number of times. The toilet snd shower doors are very heavy glass and they swing inward and outward. Our toddler initially managed to pinch her fingers in the doors several times. In the first room we were in the hand towel bar was approximately 10” long positioned on the front of the sink facade at eye level of the toddler. Again she initially bumped her head numerous times and actually could have walked into it at eye level. Suggestion would be to mount towel racks at a higher level. The floors are very slippery when wet causing danger to anyone. After showering we had to place towels on the floor outside the shower door. Aesthetically the room is beautiful however not toddler child friendly! The air conditioner was not working in first room we were in (for three nights) we asked to have it fixed on two occasions and after having three uncomfortable nights we asked to move rooms which they kindly moved us and the air conditioner was working well! I would also like to mention that the resort, as beautiful as it is, is again not child friendly in regard to pushing a child in a stroller. There are little to no ramps, mostly steps and the one bridge over the pool is in very rough condition and is three stairs up and three steps down three or four times across the bridge. Therefore impossible to use with a stroller, thereby having to go a longer way around every time going to/from the pool area. The staff: in all the years of travel, and I have travelled and lived all over the world, I have never met such wonderful, friendly and accommodating staff! They are the best staff ever! Big thumbs up ? Food: food is a personal taste thing. I don’t believe it would be fair to comment as everyone has personal tastes. Our preference was the Steak restaurant and the Italian restaurant. The Sea to See was great for lunch! Again we were with a toddler which did limit our going to the restaurants as we had to eat an early dinner. Pools: the pool we used daily was in good condition but there is only one entry with steps, which for seniors or someone with a handicap they would require. There were always lounge chairs and umbrellas available. The pool where the swim up bar and activities took place is in very poor condition. There are sooooo many missing pool tiles causing the pool floor to be very sharp in places which could cause someone to cut their feet! Would I return: I would return but not with a toddler. I would also only stay on the Club side as there are many more benefits to the Club side!

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: Awful Tourist Trap from Hell - Luxury? NO!

Lobby, Sky, Water, Grounds: Picturesque! But way too many cats that guests & STAFF feed/touch/pet. Gross!! Coffee Shop, Beach Bar & Grounds Maintenance - Miguel, on the beach to be noted: Excellent. Everything else was a NIGHTMARE and RUINED our vacation completely. The list is endless, so in a nutshell... Service & English Language: ZERO! We had to call daily for basic requirements that were met poorly, or not at all. Staff: Didn't speak ENG at all (outside of the lobby) & didn't even t [... read more]ry to understand us. Rude & useless & arrogant & did their jobs poorly. (I've been EVERYWHERE and NEVER had this problem!) Endless stream of inconsistent, mismanaged, or not managed at all, horrible service. AND everybody and their mother wanted a tip! Rooms: Not remotely noise proof & the beds were as hard as brick. Rooms were never cleaned, just swept (poorly) & beds made; that's it! God forbid you ask for more. Everyone is so shocked when you you have a "complaint/issue". Oh, and everyone in the pool drinks & pees in it all day. The guests told us. And the Esmerelda guests suck up Ambar umbrellas, meaning you have to get up at 6am to find one. And Ambar guests pays double! Ah yes, besides the restaurants being a disaster, an with average or below average food, the smell of diesel, all day, from the motor boats on the Ambar beach really sealed the deal. We are boycotting Bahia properties, as of now.

Catalonia Royal Bavaro: Amazing Resort

We had a great holiday at the Catalonia Royal Bavaro. Had great food and a variety of food choice. The staff were always friendly and very helpful. The pools and beach were great. They did a great job cleaning the seaweed off the beach every morning

Bakour Punta Cana Suites: The bakour Punta Cana

The grounds were nice , nothing spectacular! Hotel has some new rooms, but we were in a very run down room & not happy about it ! Food wasn’t the best either staff weren’t overly friendly! Weather was beautiful so that was good! I wouldn’t return myself!

Bakour Punta Cana Suites: The bakour Punta Cana

The grounds were nice , nothing spectacular! Hotel has some new rooms, but we were in a very run down room & not happy about it ! Food wasn’t the best either staff weren’t overly friendly! Weather was beautiful so that was good! I wouldn’t return myself!

El Beso Adults Only at Ocean El Faro: Great spot for a sister trip!

We chose this resort because it fit our budget for a 4-night getaway and we were impressed by the aesthetics captured in photos, as well as the adult-only option. We arrived at the resort for check-in just before midnight, and although we were assigned a room with 1 king bed, Luis working the front desk at the time, was able to give us a room with 2 queen beds instead, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, the mini fridge was empty upon our arrival (likely because we weren't supposed to have th [... read more]e room) and it took a while for us to receive water any time we called the desk for refill, but aside from that, we were happy with the room itself. There was a bit of wear and tear, but it didn't bother us. The AC unit in the room is fairly loud but for anyone who doesn't mind a little white noise, it's fine. Because it's a smaller resort, you have to be up and out early to grab beach chairs and bali beds by the pool, or anything with an umbrella. There is a section of beach that has soft sand, great for swimming, but it's quite rocky elsewhere. It's a public beach so there are vendors milling about that can be bothersome (but out of the resort's control). The process for making reservations at the a la carte restaurants was a bit stressful, as the booking feature within their app opens every day at 8am for the same day - you cannot make reservations in advance. I had to be ready to press "reserve" right as the clock struck 8am, and that may be an issue for those that like to sleep in. We enjoyed Pez Dama for dinner the most, but our servers - Olga at Dolce Vita and Leonel at the Steakhouse - were awesome. We mainly stuck to Aperol Spritz and mamajuana shots during the trip and appreciated the wonderful service from Franklin and the lovely lady with the light eyes (I forgot to write down her name!) at the adults-only pool, and Elizabeth at the main lobby bar. When we were making arrangements to leave the resort for our flight home, which was very early in the morning, Francisco at the main lobby front desk was so kind and helpful. My sister and I wanted somewhere we could hang out, veg, swim, tan, nap, eat and basically do nothing else - El Beso at Ocean El Faro delivered!

Riu Republica: This RIU not as nice as the Los Cabos one!

I found the resort way too big (1300+ rooms). The first room was not nice. It was on the ground floor and the balcony would not lock. The security box was closed so had to get someone to open it. The toilet ran. The bar fridge had no door on the icebox so it was over iced and was making a huge puddle on the floor. The phone would not call down to the front desk. So we changed rooms the next day and that was on the top floor and definitely nicer. Now, I think we still had residual sprin [... read more]g breakers because there was a lot of noise. Eventually it would quiet down. The restaurants...just two needed reservations and that was crazy. They were both steak houses. We were told be there for 6pm to get a reservation ticket. We walked right in. At the end of the week, we went to go there for 6pm and were then told, no its 5pm you have to be there. Next day, we went there for 5pm and there was a huge line up. Lucky we knew someone closer to the front and just dined with them. Then that restaurant I swear did not have any A/C on, it was brutal. Our favourite restaurant was the one with the pink chairs , I think it was the Kulinarium. We went twice it was so good. The pools were fine, the bars were fine. There are mosquitoes! We only saw the Michael Jackson show which was pretty good. The beach is beautiful, hot hot hot but the water was rough. Got in everyday anyway because I love the ocean. I am 64 and have been going south for years but my time in an 'all inclusive' may be done. I think now I would prefer quieter, smaller and maybe I control if/when for my food and drink. All in all, and in the end, not too bad but I would say this is a 3.5 resort and not the 4 to 4.5 it reports.

Riu Republica: For a Riu Hotel, it was subpar.

For a Riu Hotel, it was subpar. Very disappointed. First room, fridge was leaking all over floor, safe would not open, toilet ran, the phone did not work and the sliding door (ground floor) did not lock. Had to walk to reception as phone did not work to request a different room and was told none was available until the next day, but would have someone in to fix issues in 25 minutes later. 3 hours later we returned to our room where nothing was addressed! Had to walk back to reception (long w [... read more]alk as we were at very back of hotel) to complain. Our floor at this time now had a small river on it where we could have easily slipped and injured ourselves. They finally sent someone to fix issues. Switched rooms the next day (thank God!). I've been to several Riu Hotels, this did not measure up to the 5 star rating.

Serenade Punta Cana Beach and Spa Resort: Family-friendly with great staff, but in need of maintenance

We just returned from a one-week stay at Serenade in the Dominican Republic, traveling with young kids. Overall, I’d rate it about a 6.5/10 — we had a good time, but there are definitely some areas that need improvement. Pros: The staff were absolutely lovely — friendly, warm, and great with kids. The resort is very family-friendly, which made traveling with a toddler and a baby much easier. The water play area was a big highlight: there’s a fun splash zone for little ones and larger water s [... read more]lides for older kids, which kept everyone entertained. We also really appreciated how actively the beach was maintained — staff were constantly working to manage the seaweed, which made a noticeable difference. Cons: The biggest issue is that the resort feels quite run down and in need of maintenance. Our room had no hot or even warm water for the duration of our stay, and the mini fridge didn’t work. We reported both issues, but unfortunately they were never resolved. Communication was also a challenge, as the staff answering the phone didn’t speak enough English to fully understand the maintenance requests. Around the resort, there were several maintenance concerns: • Public washroom stall locks were rusty and didn’t align, making them difficult or impossible to lock • Broken tiles around the pool bar with sharp edges and exposed adhesive (a safety concern) • The kids’ play area, while very fun, was noticeably dirty and could really benefit from a deep clean and proper sanitization The food was okay — the buffets always had enough variety that we never went hungry, but overall the flavors were fairly bland. We didn’t get a chance to try the à la carte restaurants or attend the evening entertainment, as our toddler’s schedule didn’t quite allow for it. Final thoughts: This resort has a lot of potential, especially for families, thanks to the great staff and kid-friendly amenities. However, the lack of maintenance and upkeep really holds it back. With some improvements in those areas, it could be a much better experience.

VIK Hotel Arena Blanca: Nice resort... Could just use a facelift

We are frequent travelers. We have stayed at many resorts and private residences both in DR and other parts of the world. We booked this trip for a quick, cheap get-away and, after reading the reviews, we were a little hesitant. We were pleasantly surprised. The resort is quite nice. The grounds are beautiful. The beach was nice (a little small but exactly what we expected). The rooms were decent but could use some updating (furniture and a fresh coat of paint) and the food at the buffet was p [... read more]retty good most nights. The breakfast buffet had everything you need to start your day with trays being replenished frequently. We were on the main floor in Building #4 so we were close to everything (pools, snack bar - great pizza- and the beach). Our air conditioning was working great but we were a bit cold through the night so we asked for another blanket which ended up taking 3 days to obtain after asking front desk at least 6 times. SHORTFALLS.... the staff... not very pleasant -especially the front desk. I'm sure they are overworked and underpaid but they were miserable from the time we arrived until the time we left. NOT ENOUGH POOL CHAIRS... UGGGH! well aware that this is a problem in almost every resort but have not seen anything like this before.... fights breaking out at the pool most every day... get there early to reserve... like at 6:00am...We brought our own coffee maker so we were good for the morning. Would suggest this for any early morning coffee drinkers(there is a fridge in the room for cream or milk). NO NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT... they could have used a night or two of entertainment but resort is very quiet and I'm guessing most guests didn't really miss this. All in all we were pleased with the resort and agree that this is a 3+* and good value for the price we paid.

El Beso Adults Only at Ocean El Faro: Where are all the loungers?

Lots of good things but also a few problems...including a severe shortage of loungers at the beach and the pool. Lots of space to add more so not sure why the space is not being utilized. The lack of loungers really brought out the worst in people. Changed the vibe of vacation. For this reason I would probably not recommend El Beso. Other issues; next to impossible to book a reservation at al a carte restaurant unless you have Privilege package. Tried on the app everyday at 8am and only 53 [... read more]0 or 930 available. Plus no where at El Beso to get a good coffee first thing in the morning! Lobby bar doesn't serve until 830. Mikes too far and the lineup is INSANE. Otherwise layout is great. Easy to walk most places. Resort clean. Staff friendly. Beach bar is lovely. Beach rocky but lagoon is steps away and excellent for swimming. Warm and water is calm. Ground floor rooms are quite nice with walkout to pool.

Sunscape Coco Punta Cana: Old resort updated good job

The 1 major complaint we had. Was the main Lobby ( which was nice layout) The furniture in the Lobby was in very Poor condition, and not plentiful , Too bad because this is the first thing people see when first arriving, or have to gather to on raining eveing,s which we had too. The addition of better furniture and more plentiful would be a big asset for that Hotel. We were at this Hotel aprox 8yrs ago known as Belive, the upgrades made for nice inprovements.

Sunscape Coco Punta Cana: Beautiful Resort

This hotel could use some newer lobby furniture. But otherwise the hotel was modern and fresh looking. Grounds were well kept. Staff were very friendly. We were assigned building 16 for the swim out room. Staff informed us that it was a long walk for my partner that had mobility issues. The next morning we asked to be moved to a closer room to amenities. They were accommodating and upgraded us to the Club section for $60 per night US. On seeing the room, we were impressed and enjoyed the rest [... read more] of our stay. We must say the food was good but the choices never changed much from lunch to dinner. Breakfast was great. Room service was slow but food was still warm when brought to the room. I would stay in the Club section again because of the convenience to all amenities.

Barcelo Bavaro Palace: good resort.

Its located in a nice area. Its a very busy hotel, good value for price. beautiful beach, nice room facing Golf yard. generally speaking I would recommend it if you have kids and if you want to have a beautiful beach experience. Restaurants were really average...

Majestic Elegance Punta Cana: Great Resort

Resort is beautiful very well kept beautiful beach that’s swept for sea weed daily very little to none. Service was excellent provided by friendly smiling staff. Highly recommend, only issue we had was the venders on the beach

Riu Republica: Loved this Resort!

I loved staying at the Riu Republica. Yes, it's very large. Yes, it's adults only so you can expect a party vibe. I enjoyed staying at the back of the resort, even though it was far from the beach, because it was quieter and more relaxing. The food was delicious, especially breakfast at Mangu. I enjoyed the Italian and Japanese buffets, and the Prime Rib at the pink restaurant (that begins with a K) was worth going back for. The Steakhouse, in my opinion, was a disappointment because m [... read more]y ribeye was overcooked. The service everywhere was fantastic. Shout out to Yuma, Reyes (del Sol), Made, Rudy, Roa, Angela, and Sandy for their excellent service and friendly conversation. I enjoyed practicing my Spanish. My room was clean, well attended to, and comfortable. The front desk took care of any needs that I had, although I had to walk to the lobby because the room phone did not work. It should be noted that North American style plugs DO work in the room so no need to bring an adapter. The resort store is well-stocked, but expect to pay inflated prices for gifts and goods. I would recommend taking extra sunscreen because it is very expensive at the store! I would definitely go back!

Live Aqua Beach Resort Punta Cana: Amazing Stay!

Our mother-daughter trip was absolutely wonderful. The resort itself was clean and included all the amenities needed. The food was great - the buffet was exceptionally good and the restaurants were fairly good. The vibes were more lowkey (it wasn't a huge party resort) which was nice. However, there were opportunities to drink/party more if that's your style. The staff was incredibly kind and because the resort is small and wasn't overly busy, we barely ever had ot wait for a drink or to get [... read more] into a restaurant. Lastly, the beach was very nice and not overcrowded which was very important to us. I really don't have anything bad to say about our experience!

Punta Cana Princess: Perfect

We were pleasantly surprised with this resort. The things we loved: small resort, amazing staff, good food, very well groomed grounds and amazing beach. Only 2 things we didn’t love: we had room 5012, we loved this room, however it has 2 single beds. The first bed is completely wore out and needs to be replaced. Very uncomfortable and needs a new pillow as well and when guests play their booth tooth at the beach. We loved the beach and go there to relax and listen to the waves, not someone’s pl [... read more]aylist blasting. All said, I would definitely recommend this resort and, hopefully, will be back. Thank you so much!

Breathless Punta Cana Resort: 100% recommend

Everything you wanted and more. The room was huge and amazing. Food was 5 stars and the drinks keep coming. You are steps away from the blue water beach with relaxing spots to be in the sun or not. Would go again

El Beso Adults Only at Ocean El Faro: Trip from Hell El Beso Adults only at Ocean El Faro

Room needs lot of work, doors need repaired, fresh painting. Grounds are not kept up. The pools need repaired tiles coming off. Restaurant need better cooks . Maids need to clean a little better. Upper management a little more friendly to guests. When something happens at resort they should do something about it. Air conditioner went and water leaked all over our clothes and they did wash them but we waited 1 1/2 to get them to come and get them. Two shirts ran on a white shirt and they did noth [... read more]ing about it.