Impressive Punta Cana: Beautiful and Relaxing Resort

We booked this all-inclusive towards the end of November for a March getaway. It was on a whim and we did not do much research. After reading reviews of the hotel leading up to our trip, we found some not so favourable comments and remarks but we were in for a very pleasant surprise! We found the staff extremely friendly and helpful however, sometimes the language can be a barrier. The grounds are immaculate and constantly being looked after. You will also notice how clean everything is. And the [... read more] food choices are endless! You don’t feel overcrowded in the eating areas and food is presented nicely. What struck us was the safety of the guests and there was security personnel on the beach 24 hours. We would recommend this place.

Bahia Principe Grand Bavaro: well run

rooms were clean grounds well kept drinks were o.k. a la cartes were very good buffet food was good but mostly cold pools were good but beach area was too crowded service was good throughout the resort music was too loud in lobby and theatre

Bahia Principe Escape Aquamarine: Big and Beautiful!!

First off I would like to say that my stay at Bahia Principe AquaMarine was absolutely fabulous. From day when we decided to book our vacation TripCentral really stepped up and made the planning process so painless for us. Thank You Teresa Gates for that!!! When we arrived at the Punta Cana airport we were greeted by our representative which kindly directed us first to cold beer then to our bus to take us to the resort. Upon arriving at the resort the check-in was very simple and they had our GO [... read more]RGEOUS room ready and waiting for us. All week we encountered exceptional food, service, and always entertained. The beach was nice, staff was friendly, and the pool was always a great place to kick back an relax. All in all this is definitely a 5 star resort priced very reasonable and I will be going back no questions asked.

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: Great Resort

Resort is very well maintained, clean. No issues with our room. Great food. Awesome entertainment staff. This resort does have a lot of stairs, so not for anyone with mobility issues. There are shuttles always running.

Breathless Punta Cana Resort: Amazing vacation.

The resort was beautiful. There were palm trees everywhere. The resort was clean and well maintained. the food was amazing and we always had a good variety to choose from. The beach was spectacular. You could chose between a quiet area and a party area.

Melia Caribe Beach Resort: Overall awesome resort

My partner and I vacationed here for my birthday for the week. When we first arrived we were told we would get a room closer to the beach from our travel agent but when we arrived we were booked into a room right by the lobby. Not much we could do so we went to the lobby bar before heading to our room. On our way to collect our luggage the desk concierge came us and asked us if we had been there yet and as we had not he had told us that he switched our room for us, closer to the beach. When we a [... read more]rrived in our room it was nice, smelt a little musty but whatever. The Jacuzzi in our room however was not clean so we didn't use it. Our room overall was decent. Hot water and air conditioning was working :) We had no problems with getting new towels or our fridge being restocked. Our first morning there we were woken up with a call to our room at 7am..not impressed and 2 more every half an hour after that. Them wanting to give us a free hour massage for the trouble the day prior was the excuse. Of course it was a timeshare tour. So beware (they wear all white). I wasn't happy about that as it was almost 5 hours long and even though we kept saying no they kept pushing it. In the end we only ended up with a half hour massage so I was even more pissed. Normally you get more then that out of a timeshare tour. So half my day wasted. The resort is beautiful, it is large. I don't mind walking though so it didn't bother me. The grounds are extremely clean, they do an amazing job. The food....YUUMM!! We didn't visit the buffet to many times but it was pretty good when we did; breakfast and lunch. The snack bar was delicious. Just the right type of food for when your feeling just a little hungry. The a la cartes..wow! Amazing! We did have a little problem at one on my birthday dinner night. She forgot our apps and my partner had asked her to sing happy birthday to me but she never even bothered coming back after forgetting the appetizers. So that sucked. I mean it was my birthday. But overall great food. Service at the restaurants..awesome. Service at the bars everywhere other than the lobby was great. The lobby bar we stood there for 10 mins sometimes and they would serve others around us when we were clearly there first. Even sitting at the bar with empty drinks for awhile it happened. The pool was okay. A bit cold for water temperature but at least it was big so if it got busy it wasn't too crowded. The beach was fair. The bar was pretty far away and there were a lot of vendors. We didn't get bothered too much by them though. The water was nice once you got used to it after 2 mins and as long as you get to the beach before noon lots of chairs to choose from. Overall we had a great experience and I would definitely recommend this resort. I can't say anything was awful. Would book here again.

Royalton CHIC Punta Cana: Amazing vacation

My partner and I stayed at the chic, to celebrate my 30th birthday. We stayed in the the Diamond club, with a swim out room and it was worth the extra money spent! Our butter Joan (aka JJ) was amazing, and made sure our mini finger and bar was always stocked. Remi was around to help out at time that JJ was busy, and did an awesome job! The Bar waitress always remembered what we were drinking, and brought them with the biggest smile on her face (I'm sure her ace had to hurt from smiling by the en [... read more]d of the day). We loved our stay so much, we tired to extend it, Wilkin hooked us up big! I miss the smell of fresh burgers being grilled everyday by the pool. All the food was so good and the portion sizes were great! We enjoyed our stay so much, and would recommend it to anyone!

Viva Heavens by Wyndham: AMAZING RESORT❣❣

This resort was much more than I expected! Right from the moment we walked into the lobby to our departure we were made to feel like family. The staff is so friendly and helpful. The cleanliness of the rooms right through to the public washrooms excellent. The food was simply amazing. Always something going on to keep you entertained or you could just relax. Music at night around the pool was geared for more of the younger crowd at times too loud. They did though play a blend and 70 and 80's a  [... read more]couple of nights. All in all I would give this 4.5 star! LOVED IT!!

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: amazing hotel

I have no complaints. food was excellent. people friendly, lots of activities. beach safe. If you want relaxing it was relaxing. if you want excitement - there was that too. truly an amazing place

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: A Fabulous Anniversary Trip!

Amazing pool, bars, entertainment staff and rooms. Food was good and a lot better then other resorts I have been to. We will return again at some point. The only thing that needs some work is the wifi connection. If you want a better wifi connection you have to pay extra for the premium wifi. This shouldn’t be the case. You pay a lot of money for your stay. Good wifi shouldn’t have to be a worry

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Would recommend for Family Travel

Very busy resort; better suited for Families, lots to do for kids. The “quiet pool” is NOT quiet. Kids being loud, splashing ect ... not a peaceful relaxing option at all. The Lobby bar closes at 11pm sharp; offering no other options other than a disco tech that is way to loud and plays obnoxious music. The food was pretty good, the service was excellent and the hotel and beach front was lovely. My room was clean, but shower barely drisseled and went from scalding hot to cold fr [... read more]equently. Very frustrating. Also my a/c was on the fritz; had high ceiling and a fan that worked well to compensate. Overall I would recommend this resort for a Family; but my group of friends and I (40-45 yrs) would not recommend.

Riu Republica: Great Resort!

Our group of 4 gals just returned from a one week stay at the Riu Republica. We had a beautiful week with lots of sunshine and hot weather every day! This resort is huge and has numerous pools and bars. It was the beginning of March breaks so there were lots of college students celebrating but they were well behaved for the most part. Beach - Arena Gorda so it’s great if you like playing in the waves Food - great selection. Lots of restaurants that you don’t have to book ahead [... read more]. A few of the evening restaurants were buffet style which was not as fancy. I do wish the Riu enforced the dress code a little more at dinner. Rooms - Clean and good size. Staff - always friendly and polite Grounds - well kept and clean. Lots of staff working everywhere

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Good resort

Great food and rooms very clean. Entertainment terrible.I know it is family friendly resort but just too many kids for 1 pool near beach. Staff good but no service at pool, no swim up bar either. I would not go back. Not because of resort but because I want adult only resort.

Bahia Principe Explore Esmeralda: Loved everything!

Service was excellent, food was amazing, grounds were beautiful, room could use some help though..broken drawers, leaking shower and just showing it’s age. We loved the service, food, kids club, pools.

Bahia Principe Escape Aquamarine: Amazing place to stay

This is a beautiful place to stay. The staff were great to deal with. They were very interactive and always kept involved. Would recommend to anyone wanting to go somewhere warm. The only negative this i can say is don't eat the eggs in the morning because you are bound to eat lots of shells

Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana: Beautiful resort

Our stay at Now Larimar was great! The grounds and beach are beautiful and well kept. Our room was very spacious with a great view. We found the glass wall between the bathroom and the living area a little ackward as it did not provide much privacy. Overall the service was good most of the time. Special thanks to Gladys from the Preferred reception area who was always so helpful and pleasant.

Viva Heavens by Wyndham: What a great place!!!!

This resort was definitely a good choice. The food at the restaurants was amazing, the best at any of the resorts we have been too. We were a party of 14 and they had no problems accommodating us. Grounds were tidy and well cared for. Rooms were huge. For sure we will be going back.

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: Awesome!

Nicely renovated, clean, very pleasant staff. Didn’t do any a la cartes as we found the buffet was perfect. The swim up room was the best upgrade we could have made! We’re thinking about returning next spring.

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Impressive Resort but a Few Glitches. TripCentral excellent. Sunwing very good

Our "direct" flight with Sunwing and bus transfer to the resort were very good. Nexus, I believe, were very efficient, organized and had a very nice bus and system. Our agent with Tripcentral, Wendy, was just great. The extra coupons from Sunwing for valet airport parking were ideal and offered us a very reasonable price to experience something new, rather than taxi. Also excursions booked during the flight were cheaper through Sunwing than at the resort itself. Paperwork arrived without a glitc [... read more]h! To start a review with a negative is not how I planned this because I was so impressed with this resort, the travel agent, the airline, the male staffing, and the price! BUT... Reception at BeLive Marien on February 28, 2019 was a bit confusing. We had booked an oceanfront room and did not realize the extent of the package 2 of us had, offering VIP service. We were a group of 5 adults - my family. After standing in line to check-in at the main lobby desk for over 20 minutes, we were then redirected to the VIP lounge which was in a totally different area and this delayed the process. Our room in Unit 9 was allotted to us and the other 3 companions were already settled in a different building. IMMEDIATELY after being driven by cart to our room, I phoned to say the room was unacceptable due to a high level of mildew which I am very allergic to. I also did not like the fact that we were at ground level and there was no barrier from the grassed area to the patio entrance of the room. I was concerned about security with that lay out, as well as privacy. The lock on the patio door was merely a thin metal peg which you inserted into the centre beam and it didn't even fit securely in the hole. The light in the hallway was burnt out too, making it very difficult to insert the room key due to the darkness and we were right at the walkway to an empty lot, away from the main resort so I worried about my safety. The reaction to my complaints and request for a healthier unit almost went on deaf ears with the person on duty at VIP. It was later in the day and my patience was getting low. I was already having difficulty breathing in the room, needing my inhaler, and was told there was nothing available until March 3 but I could call in the morning to talk to a manager if I wished. My companions offered their room to me but I didn't want to rock the boat on Day 1 so to speak. I called early the following morning to be told that they would have to wait for a manager to arrive at 9:00 a.m. to deal with the problem. I did not go on a vacation to play phone tag or waste my time waiting around for what I paid for. My husband does not like confrontation so I hesitated to ask the Sunwing reps or our agent to handle this on my behalf because then there would have been more tension within our family unit. The distance to the VIP area was considerable for me as I was struggling with my breathing due to the mildew, and I just decided to turn off the air conditioning which seemed to be one of the culprits. When we were in the room we kept the ceiling fan as well as the bathroom fan on to circulate fresh air from the outside. Needless to say the room got quite warm. I asked the housekeeping attendants at our room to disinfect the room with bleach and wipe things down like below the cupboard units which wreaked mildew, but they kept claiming they didn't understand me. After that they hardly even cleaned our room or left supplies such as hand soap, matches, and when they knocked to come in we would immediately leave only to return perhaps 3 hours later to an unserviced room. One girl kept saying "later" when I requested it be done as soon as she knocked and we left. Yes, it was later...much later. The floors were very sandy requiring shoes on at all times. BUT on a POSITIVE note, THIS RESORT HAD THE BEST PLUMBING, the tub and sinks drained perfectly, water pressure was amazing, and there was an abundance of hot water. One of us had numerous bites and we had separate beds so we questioned if it was bedbugs. The beds and pillows were very comfortable. Our other companions in Unit 3 were told their rooms would be fumigated within days but we didn't know the reason. They also had bites but perhaps it was mosquito or sand fly bites. Mosquitoes were high on certain days even though the staff was spraying all the time outside. Our remaining party of 3 were VERY impressed with their cleaning staff and rooms. During our stay we witnessed staff upgrading beds, shelves, etc in many areas of the room units so they appear to maintain the resort well. In the end we just remained in this room. My husband went on the 3rd March to the VIP and told them we would just deal with it our own way, and we made the best of it. Previously I applauded the efforts of the male staff. They were exceptional with helping me no matter what my request. From the waiters, the towel hut (Maharoney), the bartenders, the security, promotions people and others, the men were so much more attentive and personable than the women. I do have to make an exception because one of the girls from the entrance to the buffet restaurant who got us our table, went above and beyond welcoming us and asking about our stay and personal lives. Otherwise, the women seemed to have attitude, putting forth minimal effort to make our stay enjoyable, and seemed to use the excuse of not understanding our English language every time we asked for something. One night, my daughter suddenly felt ill and we headed to my room. I was also struggling with stomach, breathing and other issues. The key would not work. My son and I headed to the VIP area to get a key leaving her behind knowing he would not be able to get one by himself. I wished the hallways had lobby phones. I was having a terrible time and was sweating profusely struggling to catch my breath. The VIP office was closed and as a cart drove by with maintenance men my son hailed them for a ride for me. They slowed but did not stop even though he said I needed help. We arrived at the front lobby desk. I requested a key and told the woman that there was no way I could make it back to the room without assistance. She told me to go talk to security and pointed to the entrance of the resort, not concerned at all. I hailed a young security man who immediately told me to sit and he would get me help. There was a bit of a scene because the carts were already locked up, and people were taking notice which embarrassed me. But the young man got the help I needed and I was carted back to our unit. The wrong end of the unit requiring more walking, but there. They left with their cart, and then the NEW KEY did not work! Thankfully my husband showed up with his. My daughter was feeling better but I was more than ill. I was totally stressed, crying and took some medication and went to bed. This sounds very dramatic, and it was, but usually I give the benefit of the doubt to hotel people because I once worked cleaning rooms and dealing with clients. It's not an easy job, and at times it's very unrewarding and frustrating. I apologize for even writing about this, but I was very polite with everyone, and just wanted to feel well again. I understand that my health issues are not their problem, but I did have the necessary items with me to eradicate most complications. It was inexcusable that the women employed here, totally ignored my requests with issues that could have been very serious. Now to the highlights...and there were many. Much more than I expected for such a great price. The resort was beautiful. The view of the mountain, the landscaping of lush tropical foliage, flowers, trees and eye catching architecture definitely appealed to us. The pool was gorgeous, large, well maintained, impeccably clean and perfectly treated with chemicals. The sound of the fountains, waterfalls, and the ambiance of the night lighting in the water added a special dimension to the hot tropical nights. Daytime loungers were plentiful and the "toys" available and activities were fun. I would have to rate this as the best pool we have ever had. Sitting by the poolside bar, day or night, offered a wonderful environment to chat, drink, soak up the sun, or watch the nightly stage and dancing in that area. Washrooms were conveniently close and very clean. The shaded area under the Mediterranean Restaurant allowed us to play cards without having to go far for refreshments. And the internet stations were all around for our daily limit of free time. Mind you we also had free wifi from our VIP package which was more than enough at 15 hours each.Every area of the resort from lobby, to dining areas, to grounds etc was absolutely stunning with the crowning glory being the view of the mountain from the pool area. The beach was delightful, too. It was much cooler on the beach than at the pool. The sand on the beach was fairly clean. We had a few very windy days so seaweed washed in but nothing excessive. Walking into the water was great - no sharp shells or stones. The loungers were plentiful all the time. We had use of the VIP beds and Adirondack chairs which were a lovely bonus feature. The swing in the VIP area was delightful. And the VIP bar hut was awesome. One of the bartenders, Jeffrey, was just so good and very very personable and friendly. It was awesome that vendors were minimal, and never bothered us once we nodded our heads that we weren't interested. Even when they would be allowed in the evening onto the resort walkways, they were not a problem at all. Security on the beach was excellent. One late afternoon my husband ventured out with his binoculars beyond the resort's edge. Immediately a security guard told him it might not be safe due to locals coming to the empty lot beside us. He said there had been isolated incidents we should be aware of. He befriended my husband and for the remaining stay they would converse regularly. While photographing the sunrises, there were always guards walking with their batons all around the beach and resort area. Very reassuring, as I was usually alone. Speaking of the empty lot beside our unit, it was such a joy to watch the farm animals coming down to the water's edge daily. I think this was the highlight of my afternoons and early evenings. The 2 mother sows and her piglets seemed like we were on a free excursion! I marveled at the variety of birds there, too which was perfect for my photography obsession. My companions laughed when a cow looked in the window to the Sunwing's room for our welcoming meeting. Some people were not impressed but I thought it just connected us more to the country we were visiting. The staff sprayed back there regularly too which I assume was for mosquitoes. The meals were good. One of our priorities was food because we have a person who doesn't like a lot of items. From internet reviews I figured this resort would be the best choice from what I read. We found the buffet offered a good selection of basic food like breads, cereals, bacon, fruit, cheeses, desserts and standard meat and vegetable choices. All 5 of us ate at the buffet daily at some point, and were satisfied. The a la carte restaurants were very good. We chose the Mediterranean, Brazilian and Mexican also ordering the extra lobster for a fee. Once again the waiters were very attentive to our needs. The Mexican was definitely the best however two of us had cramping issues afterwards which may or may not have had anything to do with the meal. We loved the beach snack bar and restaurant too. The burgers, hot dogs, and other foods plus the fantastic assortment of condiments went over really well with all of us! Each restaurant offered unique ambiances which complimented our overall impression of the resort. We found them very clean, and the food cooked properly all the time. We certainly enjoyed the entertainment, some nights more than others. The Beach Party was fantastic and lots of fun. The skits at the theatre and games before the dance troupe came on, were very entertaining and humourous. Many laughs. We were not impressed with the dancers' skills because we have seen much better and longer shows elsewhere, but it allowed us to mingle with other hotel guests and form conversations with them. The dance choreography was a bit off most of the time. The bar staff were excellent. Although I never proceeded to the dance bar after the shows, my 3 adult kids did and they put in quite a few very late nights always having a super great time. The beach bar and restaurant kept the party going even later, lol. Good memories were created for sure. Even the Kviar casino provided some fun even though their casino women were just as rude in my opinion. The female cashier made me feel like an idiot when I asked questions about their ticket redemption and currency exchange. Otherwise I will add some recommendations to finalize my review. Rooms: -Larger countertops in our bathroom and towel bars further away from wall and longer would have been perfect.Because nothing dries well, hooks to hang clothes would be ideal. -A system where the key card also allowed the ceiling fan and bathroom fan to remain on for those people who don't like airconditioning, or have faulty units. Screen to the patio door would help with mosquitoes and avoid having cats or birds walk in. -Our bathroom door stuck badly and I had difficulty opening it if it did close, due to not having the height to operate the lever handle. A regular doorknob would be better. -Hallway phones when keys don't work because it's quite a walk back to lobby. It was very hard for us to leave. Everyone of us had a different experience here, but all of us were very happy with our vacation once we accepted the fact that the room I got was just something we had to deal with or let ruin our limited time at BeLive Marien. Sometimes these things happen, although I wish it hadn't because I know this would have been the best family vacation we had ever taken due to the wonderful facilities and bonuses available. This resort offers so much for any age. Children, young adults, partiers, older retired people, rich or poor can all find something here. The clientele were such a great group and we formed many friendships in such a short time. I would return in a heartbeat and I think all 3 of my adult children are already making plans.

Paradise Playa Dorada: How fun!

Hotel was great! Food was great! Weather was great!! Company was great!! I would definitely recommend this resort for a comfy stay with great friendly staff! Lots of activities available if you want to do them.. a few steps to the ocean.. great clean sand....