Vista Sol Punta Cana: Never Again!!!

I have travelled to Punta Cana many times and stayed in various hotels. But I think this is one of the worst hotels I've ever been to.The staff we rude and had no customer service and the food was horrible!!! I would not recommend this resort to even my worst enemy. My room was dirty when I first arrived and when I advised the sunwing representative about our issues with the room, he said he will get back to us and never did. The security allowed all the locals to come on the beach all day an [... read more]d basically harass everyone to buy things or to get your hair braided, when all I wanted to do was relax. Will not be returning to this hotel again. My favorite hotel in Punta cana is Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe... nothing has topped that one yet.

Royalton Punta Cana Resort: Great Hotel

We loved the Royalton everything was great the food, entertainment, beach and pools and the people so friendly! Foam party was a blast! The restaurants were very good, lots to do! Comfy hotel rooms! Would go there again loved it!

Sensatori Resort Punta Cana: Sensatori Punta Cana Makes the Grade

Visited Sept 3-10/2017. Yes, more to follow about Hurricane Irma. This is the fourth time to a Karisma/Sensatori resort, most recently Sensatori in Mexico in 2015, and fourth time to Punta Cana. Thus, I think that is recent enough, and frequently enough, to provide a fair comparison of this resort to others in the Karisma family, and to its competition. The resort is just over a year old. It is clean and fresh and the grounds crew do an amazing job keeping it so. Nothing is amiss. Modern a [... read more]nd pristine comes to mind. It is easy to walk everywhere, and the centre piazza and restaurants is an interesting concept. Location is about a 35 minute drive from the airport. The beach has plenty of room and lots of chairs. Finding shade during the busy season may be a challenge. Due to weather conditions, the water was rough and pretty much red flag during our stay. Did play a bit in the waves, though pretty rough. The water this time of year is amazingly warm.Suffice to say that the location results in very few beach vendors bothering you (security staff also ensured that no one lingered). The beach is public space, however, any vendor didn't really move up to where the loungers/chairs and guests were. No doubt because security keeps a close eye. There is also not a lot of beach traffic, so if you like to people watch, well, bring a mirror. lol A plus to this location is the fact that vendors don't have boats tied up along the shore. Thus no boat noise and no boat fumes. Not like Bavaro beach that has lots of boat traffic and related fumes that go with it (yes, location dependent along Bavaro). The pools were pristine, with an infinity pool overlooking the beach. Very nice. The composite decking does get very hot. The staff are typical of a Karisma/Sensatori resort; amazing. Special shout out to Angel ! The food at Sensatori Punta Cana is not up to par with the Sensatori in Mexico that I visited in 2015 (second time there). Having been to other resorts in Punta Cana three other times, most recently 2016, I would say the resort has a challenge ahead of it. Not for lack of trying though. Due to the approaching hurricane, I was only able to dine at the Verdello twice, brgrs once, Lighthouse for breakfast, and buffet the balance. Each time I ordered the ossobuco at Verdello I was told they didn't have any, with no further explanation given. If you don't plan on ever having it, take it off the menu, or at least advise that it isn't available. The ossobuco served at the Sensatori in Mexico was one of our favourite meals. BRGRS was good with many choices. The Lighthouse restaurant is near the beach and provided decent breakfast and was adults only. Sugarcane was good. The room is plenty big. Mine was on the third floor and provided a nice view towards the water. Lots of space, high ceilings, large balcony with enough furniture to suit your desires. Along with a collapsible hanger to dry clothes on (not sure why guests ignore that and ignore the posted note that asks guests not to hang stuff from the glass railings). The mini bar was well maintained and stocked daily. Hurricane Irma Wow, what an event. This is where the Sensatori staff, management and TUI Team really stood out. On the Wednesday about 700 guests were evacuated to Santo Domingo for safety sake. Everything the team did was for the safety of their guests. While other resorts put guests in large rooms (think of 300 people sleeping on the floor and waiting out a storm of epic proportions and not knowing what to expect) Sensatori relocated their guests to a safer area. We all returned on the Friday and were greeted by a band, refreshing drinks, snacks, and staff singing a welcome back song. It was like returning home. While the resort and Punta Cana area were fortunate to miss the brunt of it, I can't imagine how a resort would take care of guests if restaurants and grounds were out of commission. In summary, I selected this resort because of what I like about the Karisma/Sensatori standard and level of excellence. From that perspective, I was not disappointed and say 5 Star. The only downfall was the food which I hope is something that can be addressed. The food would be a 3 Star.

Majestic Mirage Punta Cana All Suite Resort: Blissful Week at the Majestic Mirage

Hubby and I just got back from an amazing week-long (7 nights) stay at the beautiful Majestic Mirage. We were super nervous the days coming up to it since Hurricane Irma was making her way into the Caribbeans. We decided to let fate take us and if our flight was leaving, we were going to be on it. Trusting our guts was the best decision we've made. We stayed from September 8th to September 15th for our 5th year anniversary. Here is my review: Check-in: We arrived at the hotel at about 4 pm a [... read more]nd were the only people checking in. I supposed flights were cancelled or people got scared of Irma and cancelled their trip so check in was a breeze with no wait of line-ups. As part of the Mirage Club package, we were ushered into a private air-conditioned reception area where we provided with drinks and cold towels. We were given our resort maps, packages and also explained the ins and outs, room key cards and bracelets (very nice Mirage bracelets - not the cheap plastic band they normally give at resorts) and were assigned our own personal Butler Carlos. (THE BEST BUTLER EVER!!!) Room: We were in building #3 - Room 3112. Mirage Club Swimout suite - Adults only. Across from one of the many bars (not a swimup bar though). Pretty central location to the beach and the main restaurants and square. The room was very large with a separate living room and bathroom. Free standing bath, rain shower and toilet closets. Private terrace with a jacuzzi tub, a exterior couch, bistro set and a Bali bed. The swim out also shared steps into the pool with the adjacent room. Our room came stocked with 5 bottles of premium alcohol which included a bottle of Dominican rum, whiskey, champagne bottle and rum cream bottle. The mini fridge was fully stocked with Heineken, Coors light and another beer (can't remember the brand but I think it was local), bottles Dasani water, Coke and Fanta with diet options as well. The room also had a Nespresso machine for espressos (pucks also included) and a coffee machine. (Trick to keep the mini fridge cold and not lukewarm... leave the cupboard door opened.) The AC can be controlled to as low as 18 degrees celsius. Double sinks in the main bedroom and a great blowdryer. There was also a scale (not that you would want to check how much you've gained during your stay!). Plenty of towels, Robes and slippers to match. The maids did a fantastic job every day to make up the rooms and would even turn the bed down for night time. If you do not want to be disturbed, just put the "do no disturb" sign on your door. Oh and how can I forget... we had a special "Happy Anniversary" banner on our door upon arrival. Restaurants: We had breakfasts at the Seaside restaurant on the beach on a couple occasion. It had anything you would want for a light breakfast (even had some gluten free options for those interested). Your regular eggs many ways, pancakes, bacon, sausages, fruits, cereals, assortment of breads and bagels, cheeses and deli, yogourts and the traditional Dominica donuts. The Marketplace was the main buffet area where we went for breakfast and lunches and had much more of a selection of freshly prepared delicious food. (Closed at 10 AM for breakfast though.) You could always find something to eat with freshly grilled fish and meats. Freshly prepared pasta, pizza bar and freshly made crepes (my favourite!). Desserts were to die for and of course fresh fruits, cheeses and deli, milkshakes or blended fruits shakes. We went to the steak house twice it was so good and the Italian restaurant which was also terrific. Beach: We didn't really hang out at the beach much, flags were mostly red and yellow while we were there. I mean, after Irma went through and hanging around, I don't think I would have risked being pulled into a rip tide or what-have you. But we did see some people sun tanned on the MANY Bali Beds and sun loungers. We also did splurge on the swimout room so we enjoyed that convenience from room-to-pool a lot more. But one thing I can say for sure was the beach was pristine! We didn't see any sea weed or debris. If there were some, then they were really quick to clean up. Entertainment and Shows: Every night after dinner, we would go to the Café Español Coffee Shop for our nightly coffee or Ice Coffee (DELICIOUS BTW!). We would then sit in the beautiful square to listen to live bands. One of the signer was amazing! She sang a mix of popular top 40 music and latino/spanish music while the Funjestic crew were dancing and engaging the crowd to do the same. Most of the entertainment crew was fantastic except for one who was a little too pushy for our taste. Hubby and I liked to relax and enjoy the show and did not want to dance. All entertainers got the hint except for the one - which I will not mention his name - I'm sure he meant well. The evening show were ALL amazing but we particularly like the Rock show, Magic show and the Michael Jackson show. Special mention to 2 members of the Funjestic crew "Coca-cola" and Alex! They went out of their way to get me the song title of a song I kept hearing everyday and fell in love with. Very difficult task when there's a language barrier, but they came on top and succeeded. We didn't participate in any daily activities but heard the foam party was great and way too hot for paddle board yoga for me. Service: Service overall was AMAZING. Our personal butler Carlos gave us his cell# (which you can add to whatsapp) so we could reach him at all times but he also made sure to check up on us every day to make sure we were completely satisfied with everything from dinner reservations should we need them, stock our fridge or book anything we wanted. He also brought us 2 Majestic golf t-shirts, hats and reusable tote bag. Concierge walking around the pools were abundant as well was waiters and waitresses. I can't express enough how attentive every one of the staff were - even the gardeners. We did not feel pressured to tip before services were rendered but we did after each services received to show gratitude. Golf: As part of our Mirage Club package, we did get free green access to the Punta Blanca Nick Price Golf Course. All we need to pay for was the golf cart fees for $45 USD per person. Carlos booked the excursion for us and made arrangement through the hotel for transportation there and back. The course is actually located a short golf cart ride from the hotel. Long winded review (I know... sorry) so I will end it here. Even though we were extremely anxious to find a resort in bad shape after hurricane Irma, we were extremely amazed by how clean and well kept everything was. The hotel did prepare for the worst by boarding up the essentials, emptying the fountains and pools and keeping their guests safe but when we did finally arrive, we were amazed by the beauty of this oasis and the kindness of its staff. All and all, we had an amazing relaxing vacation... from our Bali bed, to the pool and whirlpool, back to the Bali bed, eats, show, repeat. We have recommended this resort to many and we sure hope to be back soon as well.

Royalton Punta Cana Resort: Amazing Resort, Outstanding Customer Service

My daughter and I stayed at the Royalton Punta Cana last week (September) and loved it. The grounds are kept immaculate, customer service was exceptional, rooms are spacious, food was delicious, layout of the resort is well thought out keeping all amenities convenient. The only thing I was not impressed with was the spa reception... there could be some training done here to ensure guest satisfaction.

Riu Bambu: Nice renovations

The hotel renovations were nice. They did not nor were they willing to accomodate our request for our 3 reservations to be in the same building even though it was requested in our reservation months prior. The hotel staff were decent for the most part. We tipped so that always helps. Unfortunately, the three of us ended up with food poisoning so it's now difficult to be objective or give a raving review.

Bahia Principe Explore Legend: Awesome resort!!

We went there as a family with three kids 10 months old, 2 and 10 years to celebrate my husband's 50th birthday and it be was an off the chain experience. They catered to our needs entirely by providing an additional bed plus a crib for the baby before we got there. We were placed in a room close to the main buffet restaurant and pool which was ideal since we had the kids and strollers to manoeuvre with. The room was cleaned twice with fresh towels daily. The waiters were exceptional especially  [... read more]Pablo who made sure my husband celebrated his birthday in style with decorated table, champagne, cake as well as bringing out the entire waiting staff on duty to come and join him in singing Cumpleanos Feliz for him. That was just spectacular!! The grounds were very clean and the nightly entertainment was superb. After the nightly entertainment they had a film that was shown from a projector reflecting on the towers which the kids really enjoyed. The waterpark was great for the younger kids but not so much for the older but she enjoyed the pool more anyways. Didn't do much at the beach except for a photo shoot since there was so much seaweed which is only natural for which they tried to clean as much as possible. Overall it was a great stay and I would definitely go back and as the name implies Fantasia which is Fantasy in Spanish and it was just that... FANTASTIC experience�

Bahia Principe Escape Aquamarine: Overrated!

Firstly, this is one small section of a huge complex. There is Ambar Green, Ambar Blue and Ambar Blue and Green- totally confusing! The best part of this resort is the grounds which are well maintained and clean. One of the restaurants, serving Brazilian food was very good. The main buffet dining room was acceptable but the restaurants at the beach were terrible! I've experienced better in Cuba!! The service and staff were unpredictable, some were nice and spoke a little English while oth [... read more]ers were rude, distant and asked us if we spoke Spanish! The reception personnel were Sooo ineffective! When we went to ask for something, they rudely directed us to guest services! For us, the worst part were the rooms! Perhaps when newly constructed, they were worthy of a 5 star resort but not any longer! The room was outdated, smelled of mold and humidity! We changed rooms twice! The staff couldn't seem to repair the Air Conditioning until the day we left! As one stepped into the corridor, there were dust bunnies everywhere and dirty dishes piled up! Disgusting! This is NOT a 5 star or a 4 star hotel!

Blau Natura Park Resort: An amazing resort to relax and enjoy your stay.

The grounds were well kept. The staff was pleasent and helpful. The rooms were clean. It was a wonderful experience. I will tell friends and family members about my stay at the resort and I will be returning next year.

Bahia Principe Explore Legend: Best customer service

That was the second time I booked my vacation through them, and I'm so happy with my choice, as I had the best deal with the best customer service experience. Rick spent almost spent an hour patiently to find me the best deal with as much as possible discount. I appreciate his work.

Riu Bambu: Excellent Resort

This was my first trip to DR. The people were great. The property was very well kept and well lit. I felt completely safe. The food was too good. I gained weight. There were so many bars to choose from and the entertainment was excellent.

Occidental Caribe: Amazing resort. The 5 star of the 4 stats

Just an amazing hotel. I enjoyed the every moment of my stay. Clean hotel, good food, beautiful beach, great pools, fantastic night shows and very good service. I consider it the 5 stars of the 4 stars. You get a lot of bang for your buck

Grand Palladium Punta Cana: Great staff

The rooms were nice, there were a couple times fridges weren't stocked and trying to get refills was almost impossible. Pools were warm, food was great but the menu didn't really change. The steakhouse was really great! Our experience at the Mexican restaurant was less favourable and I would not go back. Lots of entertainment throughout the day with water games, towel folding, bull riding, sports, yoga etc. We had an amazing server who saved seats for us every single morning and remembered our o [... read more]rders - we came with a large group of 20 and remembered most of our names and most of our preferred drinks!

Royalton Splash Punta Cana: Great stay

The hotel grounds was well kept, the rooms were clean . I stayed at the Memories Punta Cana and the staff was very friendly and helpful. I am thankful to my agent O'Neil Graham for his dedication and help finding me package.

Breathless Punta Cana Resort: Amazing first time there!

My mom and I went to the Dominican for the first time as a mother-daughter weeklong date. We booked with the Travel Agent O'Neil Graham and he was amazing! My mom had specific requests as to where she wanted our room, and he assisted us with all our needs, questions, and anything else we needed. Next time we plan a trip again, we will definitely be reaching out to him! The resort was amazing, it's on the smaller side as opposed to other resorts I've been to, which is perfect because you can m [... read more]eet people, make a lot of new friends and see them all the time. The food was great, the room was perfect, and the staff were so sweet. I enjoyed all the events everyday, and i met a lot great people! Shoutout to the E-TEAM at the resort for making my experience unforgettable, they were great new friends. My mom and i agree that we would definitely return whether with each other, more family members, or a large group of friends!!

Riu Bambu: Missing Riu Bambu!

This was my second visit to Riu Bambu and I have to say that I enjoyed all the upgrades that the resort had to offer. The rooms are better, service is better and the entertainment staff are more fun! We stayed busy with the daily activities like beach games, pool games, volleyball, dancing etc. The food was alright but I was not expecting much. We had a lot of choices of restaurants, however, I only went to two of them. I preferred the buffet to restaurants because we weren't forced to eat  [... read more]something we may not have liked. The nightly entertainment was a 6/10, but there were four nights of dancing (same performers, different costumes). I think they can use more variety - something different every day would be nice! I would rate the hotel 8 out of 10. I enjoyed my time but they can work on a bit more for a 5 star! My mother and I stayed at Riu, August 29 to September 5.

Grand Sirenis Tropical Suites: Awesome Resort

This was a fantastic resort for my family. We have 3 children (5,3,2) and they had so much fun. Buffet had lots of food to choose from. The restaurants were delicious. Staff was very friendly. The water park was fantastic. The only little complaint we had was that the water in the pool was a little too warm.

Grand Palladium Palace Resort Spa and Casino: Fantastic Trip

Before I start my review, I want to thank Diane Wick at Tripcentral. With her help, our trip was amazing with only one small hiccup (see below under rooms) but overall it was a great vacation. As for the resort, it was gorgeous. The grounds are beautiful and carefully tended to by the Staff. I like the layout of the Resort in general although I would like to see more sidewalks as pedestrians and vehicles have to share the road at times. Don't get me wrong, the drivers are accustomed to th [... read more]is and do move aside. It's just a bit uncomfortable. We enjoyed the sports area but wished very much for some overhead shade for the chess and ping pong tables. We really liked the signs naming the vegetation. Stay off the grass to avoid being hit by falling coconuts which you will see on the ground from time to time. The rooms are modern and always very clean. I love how the USB ports are built into the outlets (makes phone/tablet charging so easy!). I also really liked the free minibar (restocked daily with 4 flavours of pop/soda, 2 large bottles of water and sometimes a small bag of peanuts). The sole hiccup during the trip was with the room. Despite emailing prior to our trip to request a room with two beds my daughter and me, we ended-up with a room with only one bed. Since they apparently had no rooms available in our category with two beds, we had to pay to upgrade to a loft style room which, in the end, was even better since it gave us both a little space to relax and maybe have a siesta. As for the food, of the 17 restaurants on site, my daughter only ever wanted to eat at the buffet nearest the Palace. I didn't mind since the food overall was good (the Mexican items were made particularly well) and the Servers were nice. It's a large buffet with good variety which they change through the week. I really enjoyed sampling local dishes and the tropical fruit. We did order room service once which wasn't great. They only got half the order correct, the portions were small and you cannot order additional drinks or snacks. On the plus side, the service was prompt, the presentation was nice and the Server was very pleasant. The Resort is right on the beach, which is great. The beach has Security and Lifeguards during the day and we found our time at the beach to be enjoyable (and cooler) although we spent most of our swimming hours in the pool. For those who do not wish to venture into town to shop, they allow a few vendors to set-up small tables near the beach (and one near the casino). The vendors are friendly (and persistent). Haggling is expected which I think is fun but I can understand why some do not enjoy it. The Resort itself has shops which have some essentials and decent souvenirs but you will pay for the convenience. Transfers from/to the airport were included and easy to figure out. I went to the Front Desk on our last night to pay any outstanding amount which made checkout the next morning very easy. Upon checkout, you get a card which you must give the driver or he will not take you from the Resort. I took only U.S. dollars which worked out fine. I do recommend taking at least $40 in small bills for tipping although the Front Desk will break larger bills into smaller denominations for you.

Riu Palace Macao: Great resort

Rooms were extremely clean. Great service by all staff! Plenty of beach chairs. Food was ok same food at the buffet. Shows were good at both indoor and outdoor theatres. Rui staff were energetic and created a fun atmosphere

Majestic Mirage Punta Cana All Suite Resort: Majestic Mirage Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Swim up Ground, public area, room, dining, future were amazing. We are really appreciate mean fully our stay at the Resort. The service of the booking broker and other hotel staff were professionally great-full. Thank you very much for your kind heart!)) See you soon !))