Punta Cana Princess: The best of everything minus getting sick

This is a calm resort tailored for more mature adults and not party people. There is entertainment once a day at the pool and almost every night, but when your looking for more entertainment you can head out to Caribe Resort for their nightly show selection. We appreciated that this resort was a mix of low and high energy. The beach area is amazing - best asset of this resort. The food and drink selection was really good but we did end up getting sick from it which is the biggest downfall of our [... read more] trip. The hotel location is a perfect distance from airport. The staff were very attentive, helpful and fun. There is lots of selling at this resort for time shares, souvenirs, excursions etc. which can get annoying. The room was very comfortable and they replenish fridge every day. The hotel size is smaller which makes it great to get around by feet without exhausting yourself. Overall very nice vacation.

Excellence Punta Cana: Amazing stay at Excellence Punta Cana

Thanks to our long standing travel agent Kevin we booked a 9 day stay at the Excellence Punta Cana. We have to say that everything from the check in upon arrival, the cleanliness of the room, the food at all of the restaurant as well as the friendliness of the staff made for an amazing stay. The staff never hesitated to go above and beyond to ensure that we always had everything that we needed to make our vacation a great one....service was second to none. I would definitely recommend this re [... read more]sort for couples as well as small groups of friends.

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: Good resort

This resort is a really nice facility and most of the staff make you feel welcome. We stayed in a corner swim-up room and we enjoyed the extra space and the tranquility of the pool. When we first arrived we were booked in a corner swim-up that was very close to the main pool. It was noisy so we requested to be moved to somewhere more quiet and reception relocated us immediately. The food at this resort was very good. Selection was ample, the presentation was very nice and staff were friendly and [... read more] attentive. There were some things however that made this vacation uncomfortable for us. The beach at the Ambar section is small and seating is very compact. We noticed all the loungers that were under umbrellas were reserved with towels, magazines etc. we could see some signs were visible to let people know that this was not permitted but people did it anyway. It was difficult to find a seat with shade any time we visited the beach. Because seating is so compact on this beach, non-smokers were subjected to smoke at all times. Because of this were were unable to enjoy the beach at this resort and this was very disappointing for me. This resort made some effort to provide a non-smoking area in the reception area, but I would suggest more needs to be done to provide non-smokers smoke-free spaces. Perhaps one of the swim-up sections could be designated non-smoking so people can relax outside their room in the pool and not be bothered by smoke. We paid a premium price to stay at the Ambar, we don’t drink alcohol and given the fact that we couldn’t enjoy the beach and had to accept smoke every day, I don’t feel we got good value for money. We would not rebook at this resort until these issues have been addressed.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: A Good Resort - 4/5

It was a good experience. Rooms and ground were very clean; and the pool and activities were excellent. Activities ranged from: Archery, air-rifling, aquarobics, kayaking, volleyball, bocce, horseshoe tossing, and water polo. The safe in our room was not working (the batteries were loose, so the safe would re-set every time we closed the door), so that was concerning. The food was good. There was a wide selection of meats and fruit, but not a lot of vegetables or local selection (think: to [... read more]stones, mangu, mofongo, habichuelas con dulce, etc). Also, their "Japanese" restaurant did not really serve Japanese food, just generic "Asian-y" food like: spring rolls, fried rice, and a 'sushi' containing cream cheese and carrots. The soda and ice-cream dispensing machines would regularly run out of soda and ice-cream. The coffee (cafe con leche) from the coffee dispensing machines was REALLY GOOD! The service was also good. The servers and bartenders would sometimes ignore you in favour of English-speaking American-looking tourists, but coffee / water / drinks eventually came around. Overall, a 4/5.

Occidental Punta Cana: Take interest in this resort!

We vacationed at the Occidental Punta Cana resort the week of February 7, 2020 to February 15, 2020. We were blown away with our experience at this resort, and would highly recommend anyone looking, to take interest in this one. The resort was clean, well maintained, and the staff provided exceptional service! We didn’t have a single issue during our entire stay. The food was amazing! It didn’t matter if you were attending one of the restaurants, or going to the buffet, or stopping for a [... read more] late-night pizza or taco! The options were endless, and everywhere was a hit. If you plan on visiting the main buffet restaurant, keep an eye out for Alejandro Lopez. He’s an amazing waiter! He was very attentive, always pleasant, and was an instant favorite of ours. He was always on top of replenishing drinks, checking in on us and provided exceptional service. The main buffet will not disappoint. There is a great selection of fresh dishes, for the brave and the non-adventurous. The staff were always replenishing the food, and with the amount of traffic in there, it was very clean and tidy. Make sure to try the fresh omelets, they were mouth-watering delicious – and made to your liking, by another awesome employee who was always pleasant and friendly. I must also commend the decorations displayed on Valentine’s Day. There were statues carved out of fruit on display. Everything was elegant, topped with valentine themed desserts. We had an amazing woman cleaning our room for us. Joselyn Z. provided exceptional services. She learnt our routine and worked around us by cleaning later in the day, without us even asking. She always left fresh towels, and lots of water. We were never without amenities. She did extra little things which brought her services beyond our expectations. We couldn’t have asked for better! The best part was being able to kick back and relax. Pool time was a favorite, as Santos Castillo was a delight. He is a bartender at the main pool and would get everyone laughing all the time. He remembers his customers well, and most times had your drinks ready before you even asked. He made you feel memorable by seeing you around the resort and stopping for a chat and bringing you a drink. He made the experience so much fun with his bottle balancing acts, and sending your drinks gliding down the counter into your hand. I was also blown away with the amount of languages the staff could speak. Many introduced themselves using 4 different languages. We are fluent English and French. Some reviews had mentioned language being an issue, but this was not our experience at all. We were able to communicate with minimal difficulties, if any, and we learnt some Spanish as well. If you are looking to kick your feet back, with some fun entertainment, this is the resort for you. They have different live entertainment each night, as well as different activities throughout the resort. There was never a dull moment, and we left feeling refreshed. It was the stress free holiday we were longing for!

Occidental Punta Cana: Felt unsafe

This was our first trip out of the country and I can’t say I’d recommend this resort to anyone but I have no experience with others. You are constantly haggled to buy things and made to feel horrible when you dont comply, there was a ring of sex traffickers on our resort. The drinks were very watered down. The food was very bland and undercooked. The bathrooms were dirty. Beautiful beach other the being hounded the whole time. I wish I could say better things but it just wasn’t what I  [... read more]expected at all.

Impressive Punta Cana: Not totally impressed!

Beautiful grounds & surroundings, beautiful beach! No doubt about that!! Check-in at reception was very slow. It was disorganized. We had to wait almost an hour to get registered and there were only a few of us checking in. Some guests received a welcome drink, others were overlooked. The food In the buffet restaurant was good, yet the evening fare was quite repetitive every night. However, more than that, what was truly lacking was the customer service in the buffet restaurant. Many morn [... read more]ings we had a long wait to receive a second cup of coffee, and in the evening, there was often a shortage on napkins, cutlery, and when we tried to get a second glass of beer or wine with your meal, we had to wait and wait and wait. There seemed to be too many guests and too few servers. The atmosphere was chaotic and disorganized. Housekeeping service was limited. Some days, completed by 3 pm, other days no show, or a show up at 5pm ....which of course was not convenient. Be prepared to be approached by the many time-share representatives in the lobby & surrounding areas offering free massages.....for a deal.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Average resort

The nicest thing about this resort is its location. It’s the only resort in the area and you can take a long walk along a beautiful beach. Snorkelling in the shallow water off the beach was nice but we didn’t see an abundance of fish. The beach was crowded but there are a lot of lounge chairs and shaded areas under trees. The rooms were basic but I liked the firm mattress. Shower had poor water pressure. The AC was super noisy but the room also had a ceiling fan. Great selection of food a [... read more]t the buffet. Quality was pretty good. Buffet was very crowded and noisy. Had to wait for a table several times. Did not enjoy the Italian and seafood restaurants. Brazilian restaurant was fairly good. Cocktails at the resort were really sweet and weak in terms of alcohol content. Piña colada, for example, was made with a slushy mix and was terrible. Staff at the resort weren’t very friendly.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Good Time

+ food (big selection), service (well above average), small resort = easy to get around, entertainment team had tons of events - beach (too much seaweed), ocean cloudy, very windy in the afternoon

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: Perfect staff and wonderful environment

The staff was just amazing, always ready to help with a smile, I felt like a princess the entire time. The daily activities were entertaining because of the active entertainment crew. I enjoyed the dance lessons and the pool aerobics. The food was always on point. The restaurants really outdo themselves. The ice cream was to die for. The pools are clean and crystal clear. The beach is free from litter. If I were to recommend this place I would do it a hundred times. The only downside was the f [... read more]irst night checking in. The reception was so slow. They spent way too much time checking in one person. I feel like they should have a digitized system and just make a few clicks when checking in instead of filling out the forms manually at the counter.

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: A paradise within the heart of the Atlantic Ocean

Services were incredible and the staff was amazing. Senator resort is a perfect escape to all things fun, relaxation and rejuvenation especially after a long winter season in North America. This incredible resort caters for families, couples, friends or corporates. Fun activities, themed parties and lively Dj's made this trip worthwhile. I was impressed the most about the food and gourmet restaurants, a selection of free snack bars and unlimited drinks. The only suggestion would be for the reso [... read more]rt to stock up the room fridges with more water as 2 bottles a day for 2 people was not quite enough. Face towels would come in handy as well. Otherwise an incredible place to visit. I will definitely go back there again to explore more.

Bahia Principe Explore Punta Cana: Best Vacation so far!

My buddy and I stayed here for spring break. Other than there being no real bar open after 6 down by the pools and beach (seems reasonable ... but still want one open) I dont know what you can complain about? This place has great food, great staff, great rooms, great pools, great bars, a great beach.... What else could you ask for? Tip: book your a la carts in advance and make sure you record what time you booked them for! Hope you enjoy your stay, we sure did!

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: Awesome resort.

The resort was lovely, my friends and I loved it. We were lucky enough to get an ocean front view which made the experience even more wonderful. The staff is great and the food is good (not seasoned enough lol). The hotel staff was very friendly and we loved the facilities. One thing I did not like though was that a group of us arrived to the hotel at 11pm from the airport and had to wait for almost 3 hours to be checked in. We were all exhausted from a full day of travelling and they only had o [... read more]ne person working the front desk. If it wasn't for that particular experience, it would have been perfect!

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: It's OK

The rooms are large and very well kept, shout out to our maid Veronique, thank you. The food was good and varied. The ala Carte's were hit and miss. Lots of pool lounges, drinks were good. Fun time at the foam party. If you go to the cigar rolling, bargain for your cigars. They can and will over charge you if you let them. Great service at the coffee shop, great jobs ladies and gent. They do not advertise entertainment on other parts of the resort so walk about if you want to know what's going  [... read more]on. The village is main entertainment area. Check in was easy. Do not fall for the privilage service...can you say TIME-SHARE. On check out was very disappointed the gent did not even ask if we enjoyed our stay. Over all it was ok.

Excellence Punta Cana: WOW Ecellent Resort

From the time we got there and were met with some bubbly, through the quick and easy check in with Edison until we got on the bus to leave we were pampered, entertained and catered to in a way I have never experienced. Jose lead pool side activities and poker with a style all his own. The shows at night were entertaining. Didn't get names but the bartenders at the lobby/ martini bar were fantastic and always knew what you wanted before you ordered, unless it was your 1st time. Staff at buffet wo [... read more]uld go the extra mile for you.. My wife liked to have a glass of chocolate milk with her breakfast 1st couple days staff went and searched and found it for her.. After that they had it ready for her every morning. At our pool bar Felix and crew were 6 star. we had a mixologist with use and they ran for different flavored liquors constantly and never disappointed. There was a wedding there while we were there and the Newlyweds told me their experience was fantastic. No fighting for loungers or day beds. No reservations needed so we never had to plan more then 20 mins ahead. we ate at grill twice both times top notch. Lobster house was very good. Did French twice too because it was just so good. A big shout out to Oscar at the spa who made my wife very happy with a vitamin E facial, She said she never felt so good and the truth is she looked5 years younger and so healthy and refreshed. Many people there were returnees and that is because of the awesome staff. Room service, mini bar stockers, cleaning people.. Everyone was just so friendly and accommodating. Only downside is it in the north and if you plan on excursion most are 1-2 hours away. Place is so great you wont want to go any where anyways..lol Danielle Smith at Bedford Tripcentral was there for me when I had questions. I would highly recommend her to anyone going on a trip.

Riu Republica: Amazing Vacation for My Family!

The Resort was large but never seemed really crowded. There were always lots of Chase Lounges, both on the Beach and at the Pools. The people that worked at the Resort were very friendly and accommodating! They were also very appreciative of the tips that my family left every meal. We were a party of 6 and we would all go back again. It was a Great Experience!

Barcelo Bavaro Beach: Amazing Beach

We've traveled here twice now and we can honestly say they it was even better than the first time. Food and drinks were great but you can't beat that gentle warm breeze the runs day and night. All the restaurants were unique in their own way. La Brisa on the water front was probably the favorite for lunch and diner. Best burgers ever!!!! Best view ever!!!

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Quaint Resort

the resort was very remote and quiet, not a place for anyone who is looking for a party atmosphere, great for older couples or young families. The rooms are a bit tired compared to other Bahia resorts we have been to. The staff do their best a few are really great Francis is the main buffet restaurant is a hoot! The Air Canada representative Luis was extremely helpful and friendly and always available. We had issues with water pressure in our room, went from low to nothing but a drip and hot [... read more] water was touch and go. Food was good, Gourmet Restaurant was great and Italian was very good. Overall it was a nice quiet vacation. Samana region is beautiful!

Sunscape Coco Punta Cana: Enjoyable Resort

Nice layout, good pools, spa, massage on the Beach. restaurants a la carte, animation, good food, neat room, employees offering good service, always smiling. Two things i did not like, too much sea weeds on the beach and Wifi very slow and something does not work. Also in front of hôtel the sales people from the boutiques are insisting. bugging thé tourists.

Grand Memories Punta Cana: Beautiful resort.

The grounds of the resort was beautiful. I also found the staff very friendly and helpful. The Memories resort itself is quite always from the beach so be prepared for that and get used to taking the trams. The Royalton, which you have access to is gorgeous and we loved the ice cream shop on hot days to cool off.