Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: Good value

Resort is very clean and easy to get around. Views are amazing.Staff are friendly. Buffet was good, although repetitive. Legends was great for early morning coffee and playing cards in the evening. Comfortable bed. The shower stall was too small. Pools were great.

VIK Hotel Arena Blanca: Great time

We liked everything about this resort! Excellent staff, all of them speaks English. Our room was clean and we never ran out of the toilet paper or shampoo. Every day we were getting 2l bottle of water. We loved the ground, lots of palm trees, ficus trees were huge. I was amazed by them and I really loved them. Food was great, pretty good selection. 2 beaches, one was short and rocky, the other long and sandy. Both fantastic for walking. We stayd there for 2 weeks and never got board. Thank yo [... read more]u! Ek.

Secrets Tides Punta Cana: Phenomenal Resort

Everything about this resort was amazing.Food and service stands out above other resorts. Swim out pool is highly recommended, especially recommend asking for a swim out room near the manatee bar as staff will always get you drinks while you get to chill out in your private pool.

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Great Resort

I have been to a few Bahia Principe resorts and this one rates at the top. Great layout, food and staff. I would definitely recommend this resort. It is about an hour drive from the airport and the coach was very comfortable.

Secrets Tides Punta Cana: Upscale Couples Experience

We just came back from a couples getaway and had an amazing time at this resort. From the moment we arrived, everything felt luxurious, new and welcoming. We had upgraded to the Preferred club which gave us private transport to the hotel. Check in was easy. We were immediately given a welcome drink off the bus and then brought to the Preferred Lounge where we had more drinks and snacks available while we were checked in. Our butler then met us and gave us a little tour of the resort on our wa [... read more]y to the room. Our room was modern and new, everything worked well and was digital, including motion sensor lights in the water closet which was a nice touch. Rooms were cleaned well, stocked well and turndown service done nightly. We spent most of our time between the Preferred pool and the beach which were very close to each other. The Preferred pool bartenders were a great crew, all worked very hard to make sure people were served quickly and there were constant rounds being done on the beach and pool area to take orders. Edward, Jordy and Juan especially stood out but the whole team here was amazing. In the morning for coffee and the evenings for drinks, both Preferred Club lounges were also amazing. Top shelf drink offerings, and the bartenders were excellent mixologists. Felix in the front lobby and Sueheidi (spelling?) and Miguel in the other one were wonderful. The food was very good everywhere. Coffee was nice and strong and house wines were good. We understand the resort is feeding a lot of people so you aren't going to get a gourmet experience but we had no issues. It was nice not to have to make reservations for the a la carte restaurants and we never waited to get in. The Dominican buffet by the beach was also very nice on the Thursday night. Now the things that could be improved. Service in all the restaurants was a bit hit or miss but especially in the Oceana for breakfast and lunch. I think we had some sort of issue every meal there but we still went for the beautiful view while eating and the food was good. Examples - one time they only brought one of us our meal and asked the other why they weren't eating even though the same individual had taken both our orders. Other times we would be seated before others who fully finished appetizers and mains before we received our appetizers and had to ask about them. On other occasions, water would go unfilled while servers walked by to fill water at other tables. None of this ruined our trip but the trip would have been near perfect without the issues. I also don't know why a new resort is still using key cards. It's just something guests have to think about but shouldn't have to. They should upgrade to bracelets and this would also allow easier ability to identify preferred club members. As a preferred club guest, I know for certain non preferred club guests were using preferred areas because they are not really monitored extensively. Someone standing at a podium asking on occasion for a room number as you pass to the pool area is not enough and there was no monitoring of people coming up from the beach. Similarly, no monitoring in the Preferred Club lounges. I was never asked for a room number or any way to identify myself as a Preferred Club member here.

Ocean El Faro: This place is a dump!

Not at all impressed with this resort. Advertised as 5 star luxury, it was, at best 3 star. The resort is very dated and in a state of disrepair. The door to our room did not even close requiring multiple attempts by maintenance to remedy. The staff is very disinterested and inattentive. Food was mediocre and many of the à la carte restaurants weren’t even open and those that were open were impossible to book. Buffet was repetitive and bland. Very disappointing. Would have left on day 2 if it ha [... read more]d been an option.

Catalonia Bavaro Resort: Going back again.

Upgraded to Privilege and rooms are closer to beach but farther from main buffet and Lobby. Not the resort if u don't like walking. Walked 6-8000 steps most days just getting around. Found this to be an advantage though. Food was mostly excellent with usual buffet problems of sometimes not hot as we would have liked it to be. Lots of variety. Grounds are very well kept, lots of birds and fish in ponds. Occasional bug bite. Room comfortable. Several English language TV channels. Huge p [... read more]ool with shallow entry and deeper section. Going back again with Grandson and his parents as we are now sure they will like it. Short bus ride from airport.

Grand Palladium Punta Cana: Great visit

Great facilities food facilities.Staff very friendly and helpful .Beach is not very wide like the other resorts and water often close to beach chairs.We were moved twice so experienced 3 different t rooms. Rooms are fine but hotel ha s maintenance issues with the rooms which are not being kept up to snufff. Not enough hot water for showers, electrical issues in room broken tv,plugs not fitting wash basin, toilets plugging up in rooms and public areas.

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Typical for what it is. Good food.

This was our second year at the marien puerta plata. The resort is clean. Room maid was extra good. At one point I had a little tummy stuff and she brought me extra pop and tp without any request. In general the food is good. Like any caribe resort cheese is blah. Decaf coffee is instant. Other stuff makes up for it. The servers at buffet and restaurants are great. One reason we returned is that the staff are cheerful. But. The metal trays on the buffet are not heated properly so t [... read more]hose choices are cold, which is disappointing. Someone suggested just give your plate to chef at the grill and hv them heat it - I am not that patient. The buffet has theme nites. Sat nite a whole roast pig. Sunday nite is gala, roast beef very good. Other things, like what they called steak, forget it, but lots of options. You would have to be pretty demanding to not fill your plate. Some things varied, for ex the person making fresh juice - one of them made much better blends than the other. We found the bathroom at the pool bar deteriorated when it was busy, usually weekends. Which is better than a swim up bar, hands down. We liked lunch at the beach snack bar better than the buffet and ate there most days. Overall a decent resort. I would recommend strongly if they fixed the food trays.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: very enjoyable resort

Nice clean beach and immaculate grounds. Lots of good food and great assortment. Our room was in a great location and very clean. Staff very accommodating and friendly. Not far to airport. Check in and out was very efficient and fast.

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Punta Cana: Great for extroverts, not for introverts.

Wrote two days before to ask about room location, preferred closer to casino. Said they would respond in 24 hours. Never did and when I asked at check-in, she said I had paid for a different type of room and it was not available. I know the same type of room is in bldg. 7 as the one we were given in 4 this time. Being so far from main lobby meant using tram service over huge property. Very frequent service in day time but slows down at night. Still, never waited longer than 10 minutes.  [... read more]Not a welcoming experience at check in. Bellboy service was great and helpful both coming and going. Last day, I tried bell boy phone and seemed to be broken, with message “all lines are busy”. Ended up calling front desk to arrange bell guy who arrived promptly at 10:30. If you like noise, walking, families, and constant music, you are a welcome extroverted guest. If you need peace, quiet, silence, and low stimulation, avoid at all costs. At night the main lobby mall is a cacophony of screaming guests, live performers, and wandering families. Like being at an 80s mall on Christmas Eve!!! We found the casino to be the quietest part! Bedrooms were quiet, and could not hear any outside noise with the AC on and blackout curtains pulled. Guests in hallway could be heard through door. What are you gonna do? That’s travel. Room had great AC, we never used housekeeping over 5 days, there was critter poop in corner of balcony (small, so likely a bird) up in the ceiling corner of the balcony. Friend smoked on balcony but no ashtrays provided, so used a half empty bottle of water. No smoking in rooms. Pool areas had small smoking areas. Room service was spotty, sometimes 20 minutes, sometimes an hour. We ordered room service on our last day at 9:15 and as we drove off to check out at 10:35, we saw the guy arrive with our food. Room service food was better than restaurant food. Yogurt parfait, tropical fruit, fruit juices, banana pancakes – all delicious. Air Canada rep: USELESS. Rude. I tried reaching him every day of our five-day visit for our airport pick up time, and no response. The night before departure I had concierge try to contact both rep and 24-hour service because I was panicking about departure. Last morning I got through to rep and he said, “I’m busy, call me back” and hung up. They expect to do everything on WhatsApp so if you don’t use that, you are outta luck. Finally called the guy back and his connection was terrible, cutting in and out. I told him to phone/text/email me and he just kept talking while the sound cut out. After fifteen minutes I figured out the bus was coming at 11:20. You leave the checkout at the convention area, and that is where the buses come to take you to the airport. Our bus was five minutes late but a gorgeous leather seat bus, very luxurious. Driver took us to Royalton Bavaro pick up where ACV rep on on bus and was rude to driver. Bad for ACV brand. Beach: clean beach but always a red flag, so don’t expect to float peacefully in the water. We were there first week of December so maybe water is calmer at different seasons. Lots of pools with good drink service, but constant loud music, aerobics, salsa competitions etc. Property. Kudos to gardeners who work nonstop, and the other employees delivering food, towels, supplies, etc. Employees work HARD all day (and night) long. Restaurants: ate at Zen at hibachi table, met some lovely folks, Dad and his two daughters who were an utter delight. Ate at Ciao Trattoria where the food was ok but nothing spectacular. Room service food was pretty good. Fruit plate fruit was delicious, watermelon, pineapple and melon at peak yummy. You have to order on an iPad thing and it is not always intuitive so go carefully. Also be sure to replace iPad in its holder carefully as the battery wears down if not replaced properly. Coffee spot in main lobby had delicious chicken salad sandwiches and Green Juice mixture of cucumber, mint, etc. Refreshing! Tipping: I obtained $100 in USD ones at the bank and tipped for drink service, tram service, meals, and casino drink service. $1 for drinks, $2-3 for room service, $1 per person for tram. We did not use housekeeping (they always showed up when we were still sleeping) but left a tip at the end of the trip. These folks work hard, and the pool/beach staff are doing it in the heat. Casino: Very pleasant, lots of slots, no ashtrays but you ask your server and they will bring one. Attentive drink service, drinks included if you are gambling (my friend likes wine, I like sparkling water). We both won jackpots but eventually blew the money over the next few days. No tax on jackpots like in USA, so that was nice. They examine your purse upon entry, and you cannot bring in outside drinks or food. Very clean casino. Overall, this is a hotel for families and extroverts. We are introverts who like silence so this was not ideal for us. We still had a good time, the beds were so comfortable and we slept like logs. Pros: clean and well-tended hotel, nice casino, beautiful Christmas decorations, great room layout. Hotel bracelet is your room key so that is nice, no need to worry about losing key. Cons: crowds, noise, spotty service.

Majestic Mirage Punta Cana All Suite Resort: Majestic stay

I have no complaints about the resort. It was very clean, rooms were beautiful, grounds well kept, food amazing at all restaurants and our butler Alexander provided the most wonderful experience we could have imagined.

Melia Punta Cana Beach Wellness Resort Adults: Wonderful Resort

Just back from a 10 day vacation at the beautiful Melia Adults Only, Beautiful property, lots of walking & quiet relaxing places outdoors. Really enjoyed all the activities they have daily Their fitness program is amazing. Beautiful gym, lots of aquafit in the pool, dance lessons, yoga even spinning. Maria & Jeramie do an amazing job with the activities. They make it so enjoyable and fun. There was lots of entertainment in the evening to enjoy & you are also welcome to walk over to the sister  [... read more]resort & take in their shows & casino as well. Our room was amazing , clean brighten & very spacious. We were in Villa #4 which was close to the back only a 4 min walk to the beach, pool & buffet area. Which is where all the day activities take place. When you need to go to the front of the resort you can walk about 15-20 depending on your pace ?or just take the cart they run every 12 mins ,you can also pick up the phone and call the bellboy and they will pick you up . The beach is beautiful white sand, which is wonderful on those extremely hot days it does not get hot in the feet. Lots of lounges to chose from, but best to do so early like everywhere else. Yes there is sea grass washing up daily but the resort is also cleaning it up daily so is not to bad. Lots of security on beach 24 hrs a day. Never had any problems with leaving our stuff on our lounges while swimming in ocean or pool. The pool is huge and beautiful, you are welcome to bring your small floating devices many ppl do. There is lots of seating around the pool and many chooses for sun & shade. Our food was amazing, lots of choices on the buffets. they are constantly filling up with fresh. The specialty restaurants are very enjoyable and are include in your stay you just have to book them ahead which was never a problem for us. Caribbean one is a great experience just a little rushed. Staff are very friendly, accommodating, & fun. They do work hard to keep the resort clean & everyone happy

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Lovely easy walking Beach

I had heard I would want water shoes but not at all as the Corral areas were obvious and all soft sand wear you swan. I snorkelled several times and always found schools of fish quickly along the coral areas. We walked barefoot 45minutes either direction from resort and not a stone or sharp shell even. Lovely area. Well maintained grounds. Never felt overfull Buffet or most sitting areas. Bar drinks were well done e.g. Expresso Martinees, Mojitos or Brandy Alexanders. Was disappointed there w [... read more]as no Pickleball lines on the tennis court. Bahai Principe is missing out on PB group vacationers. Food was good. I usually only do the Buffets at resorts, as I don't like to have a scedule, but did find the Ala Carts to be better and worth attending.

Melia Punta Cana Beach Wellness Resort Adults: Nice Resort.. good not great

The resort was satisfactory for what it was. The food was good and the a la carte restaurants were good (Vietnamese being the best by far). Be prepared to wake up by 6 am if you want a spot at the pool or beach to put your towels out. The grounds itself are beautiful but the resort is showing its wear. It’s a long walk from the front to the back and the road to walk has a lot of traffic. We did not like that part because the golf carts and work trucks drove way too fast. You felt like you  [... read more]were going to get run over walking to dinner. The spa was nice for massages but they do not offer an extensive list of services. Overall it was a good stay but this is not a luxury resort, more of a mid tier.

Occidental Caribe: 3 star at most

Stayed here November 28th- December 5, 2025. The grounds are nice, beach good. Pools were good with lots of loungers and shade. Rooms definitely need upgrades, ceiling plaster falling, patio doors don't lock, toilet ran and leaked. My daughter and her friend had to move 5x. Food was okay. Al a cartes good. There is a language barrier but for the most part we were treated well. There are areas at resort that need to be highlighted for caution when walking. Entertainment crew very lively but se [... read more]emed to pick the same people all the time. No hot water in bathroom. Buffet crew very accommodating. Bar staff wonderful.

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: This Resort was not a 5, but was great for the price. We had a wonderful time. Had some issues but where fixed with no issues.

This Hotel was in the process of Renovations, the room we had was so dark we only had 2 lights in the room & 1 plug that worked. No light in the middle of the beds so hard to see when getting up at night. The staff where amazing. All staff front deck, Cleaning staff & the guys that filled up your fridge. Yes we would go back.

JOIA Bavaro by Iberostar: Joia Bavaro by Iberostar - Nov 26 to Dec 03, 2025

This was our first time to this resort. The Joia is a beautiful, well kept resort with excellent service, beach, Food, cleanliness, and accommodations. There were a few minor issues like toilets too low, no wand in shower, insufficient ventilation in bathroom, aging beach lounger pads, and the number of loungers by the pool and on the beach. During our week long stay, you had to get up early to get a decent lounger. Unfortunately, there were those who claimed their lounger first thing and did n [... read more]ot show up for a couple of hours. We observed many returning customers which is an indicator of the quality of this resort is. We found the staff to guest ratio to be one of the highest we have ever encountered during our 20 plus years of travelling to the Caribbean. The price was on the high side, but if you appreciate the finer things this resort has to offer, then it is worth the higher price. Overall, a great relaxing week and we will definitely be returning.

Bahia Principe Escape Samana: Adults-only, cozy resort with a great ocean swimming area. It’s definitely not a 5-star property, and with low occupancy many bars and restaurants were closed. There are also lots of stairs throughout the resort.

Check-in was terrible. Our group had 28 people, and because we were the first on the bus, we were the last off. We waited over an hour to be checked in, with no refreshments offered, and the restaurant was closed. When we finally reached the front desk, we were told that despite booking a room with two double beds, we were assigned a king room. After such a long wait, this was unacceptable. Knowing the resort wasn’t at capacity, we asked for it to be addressed immediately. Rosa, somewhat begrudg [... read more]ingly, disappeared for nearly 30 minutes before eventually giving us a room with two double beds. We were happy with the room overall. Cleanliness was just okay—the floors and bathroom were only marginally clean, and this low standard remained throughout the week. The sheets were stained, and the towels were worn. We arrived expecting a 5-star hotel, but once we adjusted our mindset to a 3-star experience, everything felt more reasonable. Our room, located near the end of the hall on the 3rd floor, was a long walk but very quiet with a beautiful ocean view. The stairs didn’t bother us, but having the beach bar closed and needing to walk up to the pool bar each time was inconvenient. Only the buffet and two rotating à la carte restaurants were open. While understandable given the low occupancy, it would have been nice to have at least the beach bar open for limited daytime service. Overall, I would return. You can’t control the inconsiderate guests who reserve chairs with towels despite the signs, though fortunately there were plenty of alternative spots to sit. It was also surprising how many people used speakerphone in the dining room and other public areas—rude, but not something the hotel can easily manage. Most of the staff were great. Rosa at the front desk was difficult to deal with, but the lobby bartender was amazing. The lobby music was also too loud and would have been much more enjoyable if it were salsa, bachata, or something fun and lively.

Dreams Cap Cana Resort and Spa: Amazing Vacation at this Resort

Buildings are in excellent condition; the preferred room was in excellent shape and very clean! Facing and literally overlooking the beach, I can confirm several morning breakfasts enjoyed on the balcony watching the sunrise with no stink. Pools are well maintained. Food is very fresh with lots of variety. The staff and everyone are genuinely kind and helpful and at times going above and beyond expectation! Note: hair dryer, body lotion, shampoo, conditioner and body soap are included in roo [... read more]m. Hot water was in abundance. Robe and slippers are included, but must request. AC was in perfect working order. Thank you to all the staff and to all those we connected with for making our stay memorable and so relaxing! I would definitely return.