Melia Punta Cana Beach Wellness Resort Adults: Disappointed

We have travelled to all inclusive resorts for over 25 years and some deliver what they advertise and some don’t. This resort did not live up to the criteria for which we booked back in May. The pictures don’t lie, the resort is stunningly beautiful but unfortunately that is where it ended. We booked on the same booking with another couple. When you book together on the same booking it is reasonable to expect we would be in the same building but no, they put us in opposite ends of The Level se [... read more]ction (we booked The Level). So we said it was unacceptable so they found us a room in the same building as our friends. This took an hour and a half. Then when taken to the room, it was already occupied! So we had to wait again for another room. Then when we went to put our valuables in the safe, we needed a card which was not supplied at check in so we had to go back to the Concierge to get one. So check in was very disorganized. Having said that, we were happy with the new room but very tired and ticked off at this point. I might add that we expected a butler as other people got one but we did not. We were told to book the ala carte restaurants the next day at the Level Concierge but then the game started. No times available until 9pm! Really? Our friend then contacted the Concierge Manager and all of a sudden the ala carte restaurants had availability. The Muoi we loved, the Mar de Sal not so much. When we booked it showed Mediterranean and Italian but there is no longer Italian so the menu wasn’t what we liked. The Yumay…simply awful. Melia, take it away and put in an Italian Restaurant. The Level had very good food and service for dinner but for breakfast and lunch better reserve lots of time because the service was very slow. Melia, hire servers that speak English as we had several wrong orders due to the server not understanding what was ordered. The Serendipia buffet was one of the most disorganized and poor buffets we’ve seen in our travels. The towel game was extremely prevalent. Our friend had to get up at 4am to get a spot around the pool. There was no Security to control this. Most resorts will remove your saved items until 8am. The pool is a large pool but at no time in 10 days did we see it vacuumed. There was sand and dirt in it always. Hand Skimming helped a bit but not enough. The water level was below the skimmers so water could not circulate. This resort is advertised as a Wellness Resort. I can understand smoking on the public beach but around the pool and everywhere and cigars no less? Nowadays Resorts have designated smoking areas. Also the Melia Punta Cana’s website mentioned that The Level guests could eat at the ala carte restaurants at the neighbouring Melia Caribe but this is not true. Also pictures from tripadvisor showed Canadian Club rye whiskey which is what we drink and another reason why we chose this resort. But guess what? No CC. They advertise premium alcohol but when we asked they said that the alcohol they were serving was their (Dominican) premium. Also they were upselling what we in Canada consider premium alcohol. Having said all of this, because the weather was stellar and we did enjoy our 10 day vacation, however, we will never recommend or return to this resort.

Serenade Punta Cana Beach and Spa Resort: Good stay with some drawbacks

The grounds are well kept. The towels in the bathrooms are very old and rough. Without wearing shoes, this is not the place where you can walk the beach forever. Huge buffet and good food. They were unable to accommodate two side by side rooms (as requested six months in advance) until half way through our stay. Handle in bathroom broke and was subsequently locked in the bathroom for half an hour before they opened it and then asked me for money. The waterslides were fun. Beds were [... read more] comfortable and so were the pillows.

Caribe Deluxe Princess: Great Resort!

The design of the resort is nice. There are multiple pools to choose from depending on your needs. If you are a beach person there is alot of beach in front of this resort and it is cleaned every morning. The resort itself is clean and well kept by staff. Staff are friendly and always willing to help. The food at this resort was very good, there was always a good selection at the buffet. There were a few times at the a lacarte restaurants that the food could have been warmer however the flav [... read more]our of the food was good.The only issue we had while on vacation was a cold shower here and there (usually morning) due to so many people using it at the same time. We would definitly reccomend this resort.

Occidental Caribe: Disappointed

Disrespected from day one, arrived on a Friday at 2pm.. gave away our room as the locals fill the resort on the weekends.. we didn’t get a room till 8pm and we were premium level.. we got a room with 3 beds on the -1 level yes minus 1 level as our entrance was the loading dock for garbage and supplies for the rooms. Our room had cockroaches and large centipedes in the bathroom. To our dismay we were asked to come back several times a day to see if our regular premium room that we ordered was rea [... read more]dy only to be told that they gave our room to someone else even after saying they will hold our room..We could not believe what they were telling us! I got blisters on my feet as it’s a long walk twice a day for 3 days.. 3 days later we get our room on a Monday! and ended up on a different floor from my son and grandson.. they even painted our shower stall with us already in the room while we were away on an excursion and never told us, so we ended up getting paint on us. The top at all off there was no water in the hotel for the three days we had to go to à la carts and excursions without showers so I ended up getting laundry service because our grandson did have some accidents. I miss reading the form, thinking that it was in pesos was actually an American for a load of laundry, which was basically a load of laundry at home cost us C$500 so not worth it at this resort I don’t recommend it to anybody there’s so much more. I just can’t put it in here.

Ocean Blue and Sand: Not so great

It’s not worth the money. Bars are not good. Very cheap quality of alcohol even if you want to pay for higher brand they don’t allow that. Food is not that great too much salt in everything. I won’t recommend this.

Grand Bavaro Princess: Relaxation, spectacular scenery and great service!

Visited Grand Bavaro Nov 27 thru Dec 11th. Our 4th time at the resort and stayed in building 5 near the pool and beach. Rooms are getting a bit tired with some minor maintenance issues and soon due for new furniture but were spacious and well appointed. Our room was equipped with a dehumidifier which helped to reduce the musty smell. If the air conditioning worked properly and was kept “on” I suspect mustiness wouldn’t have been an issue. Visited most restaurants…favorites were el Gaucho (s [... read more]teakhouse) and Wasabi (sushi) were standouts. Also enjoyed Samara, Focaccia, Il Tartufo. Ate breakfast and lunch daily at, Trapiche, the beach buffet (and food trucks). Service was incredible. Staff were so willing to do whatever possible to ensure vacationers expectations were met and exceeded. Beach is the best in the area. The resort has a huge stretch of beach with great depth from palms to the ocean, even at high tide. Water is normally quite rough but rarely too rough to enjoy! Although we didn’t frequent the pool, we walked by it many times each day. The work effort of cleaning it was apparent at all hours of the day. We did have some minor stomach issues and saw incidents where food handling could definitely be improved upon, but overall it’s apparent that food service is well managed. When walking or sitting out at night, use bug spray. Although they spray the resort daily, we did have a few bites and found bug spray nightly to be beneficial. So, the rooms are nice…but a bit tired. The food is very good for a resort. The beach is beautiful and a good part of the reason we go to the resort but, the primary reason we will continue to go is the service! Wait staff usually work two locations so rather than review each restaurant, a shout out the the spectacular service of Juan Dario, Pedro, Bares, Wilfred, Antoine, Yesel, Juan and Eddy who did a absolutely spectacular job looking after folks at the beach buffet all day and then taking their skills to Al La Carter’s in the evenings. A shout out to Angel, Alexis and Ramon who did a great job serving folks from the “bar truck” and to Scarlet who managed the door at the beach buffet. Would definitely recommend the resort. All resorts have some drawbacks but the staff at this resort make the difference. They want to know what they can do to make your time better…so if you are disappointed with something, address it politely and move on to enjoying your stay!

Grand Sirenis Punta Cana Resort: Good hotel!

Nice hotel, stuff as well. Only small thing which I mark as “bad” is that when we asked for additional pillow, bed skirt etc it took more than 5 hrs and 4-5 reception reminding to do. Overall nice hotel.

Casa Marina Sosua Trademark by Wyndham All Inclusive: Not great this time

Hi, we went to Casa Marina from Dec 2 to Dec 10 this time and paid for a Deluxe Garden View room, normaly we are always on the first balcony, this time they told us no rooms on the first balcony so they put us completely on the top, we are 2 persons with back problems and had to climb on the last floor all the time, the shower was broken, the tv cable kept frozing all the time, they had to send the maintenance 5 times during our stay, and funny thing is we saw that yes they did had empty rooms o [... read more]n the first balcony! Our flight got canceled by West Jet the day of the departure, without us getting any emails or calls from the resort, took them 3 hours to solve the situation and our flight got delaided 2 more times after that, was not a great vacation this time, but the food was ok as usual and staff not too bad, but do not fly with West Jet!

Serenade Punta Cana Beach and Spa Resort: Wonderful resort

Our second time here and we enjoyed it just as much as the first time! Service is fantastic! Food is always good. Beach is nice. We enjoyed our swim out room. Only 10 minutes from the airport makes for a quick start to your holiday.

Barcelo Bavaro Palace: Barcelo Bavaro Palace - Great Place

Wonderful resort. Immense building, amazing architecture, everything is elegant, luxurious, clean and has nice stores. Food was good, many items to choose from; however, we did not see fish except for 2 nights when they had sashimi but not fried of grilled fish like we had in other Dominican resorts previous times when we visited. One point that needs quite a bit of improvement is communication. They hardly spoke English, and we do not speak Spanish. We could not get clear answers to any  [... read more]of our questions. And another point that was very disappointing was a very poor internet connection. The only place we could sporadically communicate from was the bar or the theme restaurants. Not even in the room, let alone on the beach. If I recommend this place to a friend, I will point out the minuses.

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: Not great!

Food not great - service not great - cleanliness not great - restaurant experience not great -overall not great - I have nothing really good to say about this resort.i would not recommend as an adults resort with all restaurants being a very bad experience.

Majestic Colonial Punta Cana Beach Resort: Great Stay at the Majestic Colonial

Just returned from 7 days stay at the Majestic Colonial Club section. Overall a fantastic stay at a resort that provides everything you need to enjoy your vacation! The resort is beautifully maintained and the service was one the best that we have experienced at any all inclusive hotel. Beach and pools are well maintained and have an abundance of chairs and shade. Only minor inconvenience would be that there is no bathrooms directly off the beach and is short walk to beach restaurant is req [... read more]uired. We utilized our assigned butler for the first time and Breymer “B” was fantastic and always available to help! We will definitely be returning to the Majestic Resorts.

Serenade All Suites Adults Only Resort: Serenade allsuites

The resort is very nice layout is great everything close by, rooms was very nice,alacartes where all very good service in the alacartes was very good, buffet is your typical buffet always something to eat but service in the buffet mostly at night was abit slow, and so.e of the staff just dont seem happy and I tip for almost every drink and meal even if service was not great I still tip something, but the server around the quite pool Marta she was amazing attentive kind laughing, but was rare to  [... read more]see most staff happy, but I would definitely go back.

Emotions by Hodelpa Juan Dolio: wonderful vacation!!!

This hotel is really more for a quiet getaway! Exactly what I was looking for. Despite the fact that there is a kids' club on site, I saw a couple with small children there only once during the week. The hotel has 10 buildings. The first VIP building is located right a meter from the beach, next to it is a beach bar and a building with a la carte restaurants. The other buildings, including the reception, are located across a small road. Crossing the road is always monitored by a hotel employee.  [... read more]If you cross the road carefully, there will be no problems; it is not a busy highway. Building 10, the farthest from the reception, has two swimming pools and a jacuzzi and is located in the far part of the hotel. I stayed in building 5, in room 5201. Some guests said that something in the rooms was not working: a hairdryer, safe, air conditioning, or something else, and they changed rooms. My room turned out to be quite decent and cozy. On the first floor, there was a transformer box that was noisy the entire first night. After reporting the problem to reception, they fixed it by turning off the equipment while we slept. I'm very grateful for that! All rooms had a balcony, perfect for relaxing in the evening if you don't want to spend time by the pools. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the same buffet restaurant. The food is fairly the same, but they rotate the selection daily. There was chicken, pork, beef, seafood (shrimp and clams), sausages, potatoes prepared in various ways, eggs, various salads, local dishes, two soups to choose from, and a selection of cheese and ham. There was a small selection of fruit: watermelon, pineapple, papaya. There was also a huge selection of baked goods and sweets. I can guarantee that even the pickiest of eaters will find something to eat and definitely won't go hungry. I was delighted with the stewed pineapple in sweet sauce! Every evening at 8:00, you can book dinner for the following evening at the à la carte restaurant without any problems. There are four to choose from: Italian, Dominican, Asian, and Mexican. I personally tried the Italian and Mexican restaurants, and the food was very tasty! At the mornings, I saw that the pools were being cleaned, although they didn't look very clean. But personally, I don't understand people who come to the Dominican Republic to soak in the pool when the beautiful sea is nearby! During my week-long stay from December 3rd to 10th, I didn't see a single mosquito and wasn't bitten once, even though I sat by the sea in the evenings and went out to watch the sunrise twice. As I said, this is a family hotel, and there isn't much entertainment there. On Saturday, there was a Michael Jackson show, and I liked it. Every evening, there was music by the pool. At the morning, there was aqua aerobics or Pilates on the shore. As I was passing by, I saw a drawing and Spanish lesson. On the downside, the staff doesn't always speak English, but they always try to understand and help. I even used the Spanish translator on my phone, and it helped. In the main restaurant, the waiters sometimes ignore you; you have to ask several times. This didn't bother me; I can understand; they get tired, but it's hard work. The only thing I really didn't like was the "Do Not Disturb" sign on my room handle; it was removed on the third day. I was staying alone and didn't want someone coming in to clean my room every day. I was happy to leave a tip when I asked for a service. On the day the "Do Not Disturb" sign was removed, they cleaned my room, and when I returned from the beach and wanted to rest a bit, the maid knocked on the door and asked if everything was okay, probably because I hadn't left a tip that day. I don't leave tips unless I specifically ask for something to be done for me!!! And finally, I went on several excursions: I can assure you, Sanoa Island and Catalina are a must-see! It's a bit tiring to travel over an hour by bus and then another hour on a catamaran with lots of people, but I had a blast: music, dancing, and rum did the trick. But if there's heaven on earth, that's where it is! There's always something negative to be found, so stay positive and keep things simple, and your trip will be wonderful!

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Very good resort

The service,food,activities and bars,workers were all great . Beach was disappointing due to seaweed witch is seasonal but can still swim in ocean at different entry points. The concierge service was excellent Lucy attended to all our needs and more. Rosa the yoga ,Pilates ,Zumba teacher was excellent. Tavares and Mer our regular waiters were excellent and very attentive to all our needs and more. The water system was excellent with no worries re water. Our our room cleaning service was great [... read more] and did a great job every day. Julian the barman at the beach was excellent ,efficient,smiling and attentive to all our requests. We did not attend the pool only the ocean,always chairs available.

Adults Only Club at Lopesan Costa Bavaro: Amazing but loud

Everything was great.. beautiful hotel, amazing food, beautiful beach, friendly staff. Only complaint would be music is too loud and non stop into the late night hours. Don't go there if you're looking for a peaceful getaway.

Royalton Splash Punta Cana: Deeply Disappointing From Start to Finish

Our stay at this hotel was, without question, one of the most frustrating travel experiences we’ve ever had. From the moment we arrived, the customer service was shockingly poor. Check-in took over two hours, and throughout that entire ordeal the staff showed no urgency, no friendliness, and offered no apology for the delay. Because check-in dragged on so long, we missed the buffet entirely on our first day. Any traveler—especially those dealing with long flights, airports, buses, and hungry  [... read more]children—knows that access to a real meal is essential. Instead, we were redirected to a small café serving hot dogs and hamburgers. The grill area appeared poorly maintained, and the food looked and tasted like it had been sitting out far too long. We paid thousands of dollars to upgrade to the Diamond Club, hoping the higher tier would offer better service, care, and overall experience. Unfortunately, it was a complete waste. Nothing improved—in fact, things somehow felt worse. At the Diamond Club, we interacted with a staff member named Carlos, whose attitude was dismissive, unhelpful, and lacking in basic empathy. For a service tier that is supposed to provide elevated hospitality, this was incredibly disappointing. The wristbands used for room access were also poorly designed. Three of them fell off or were lost in the first day alone, resulting in a $450 fee—an unreasonable charge for something that clearly isn’t secure or durable. Our assigned butler, Miguel, offered no meaningful assistance. The entire point of the Diamond Club is supposed to be convenience and personalized attention, but we received neither. He even gave us incorrect information about restaurant availability—telling us a restaurant was closed only for us to walk by later and see it open and filled with guests. To make matters worse, our daughter cut her foot on a poorly maintained bunk bed, and not a single staff member showed care, concern, or initiative to address the issue. No assistance, no apology, and no attempt to fix the hazard. The “premium alcohol” included with Diamond Club status was another disappointment. Not only did we have to specifically ask for it every time, but we were often refused or told it was only available in certain areas. Even small, simple requests—like breaking a $5 bill—were met with indifference or refusal. Overall, nothing about this stay reflected quality, hospitality, or value for the money spent. The Diamond Club upgrade was especially regrettable. Between the poor service, misleading information, lack of care, and countless inconveniences, I can confidently say: I would not recommend this hotel to anyone.

Bahia Principe Escape Bouganville: Great Solo Trip

This was my first solo trip and this location was perfect. I was looking for a nice quiet and relaxing vacation and Bouganville checked all these boxes. Smaller resort, not to busy. Highly recommend for someone looking a chill vacation, not much of a night life. This is the oldest of the Bahia's on the island so it doe not have the best beach but it is well maintained. For breakfast I recommend Popping over to the La Romana side for the buffet as it is bigger and had more options. But for lu [... read more]nch and dinner there are 2 buffets the Bouganville side the one in the Lobby being the larger of the 2.

Dreams Onyx Resort and Spa: Beautiful walkable sandy beach!

We checked in late on Nov 24, our first experience with the resort was in the morning at orientation seminar. Our room was modern / larger than expected on the top floor. The grounds were very well kept and pools were impeccable and was easy to find loungers either on the beach or pool area. The beach was beautiful and very warm along with lots of palapas and loungers. We enjoyed the lazy river and water slides. There were a number of entry points along the lazy river, which made it convenient f [... read more]or families to enter, if their rooms were in that area. Good variety of food at the buffet with gluten free and vegetarian options. The barefoot grill was a great place to pick up a burger and great fries along with a salad. We found no problem getting through any of the 6 A-la-Cartes, with the French and Steak House as our favorites. The Fire show was excellent and would highly recommend it. There were a number of weddings while we were there. It was great experience and plan on returning soon!!

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: Great Swim-Up rooms and beach

This was our 6th visit to the Luxury Ambar Bahia and it never fails to impress us. It is a very well staffed resort with a good selection of a la carte restaurants and a pretty diverse buffet. For those with mobility challenges there is a wooden walkway to the beach, some wooden decks and access to a special wheelchair that can be wheeled into the ocean. We had a swim-up room that was bordered by shrubs and huge tropical plants that blocked us from view (mostly) This is one of least ex [... read more]pensive 5 star resorts in Punta Cana but I still feel it deserves a 5 star rating. It is very well cared for. There were a few staff members that enhanced out experience with the friendly personalities and efficient service: Dosalina at the lobby bar, Yasmenia serving on the beach and Fanny, our excellent maid.. Also wish to give a shout out to Trip Central as I love the vacation grid which makes it easy to compare dates, prices and all-inclusive resorts.