Punta Cana Hotels

My husband and I just returned from a week (April 1-8) at the Barceló Punta Cana. We found that previous reviews were pretty spot on, and you truly to get what you pay for. This is our seventh all-inclusive in the Caribbean. Here is our review: Rooms: We had a Deluxe on the 4th floor (Rm 2401). The room was great view was even better (balcony overlooking pool and ocean in distance). Always clean, great view, bed was comfy. Fridge was stocked daily with soda, water and beer. The bathroom was nice sized as well and we only experienced water pressure issues once however had hot water the entire week. Pools: We only spent time at the quiet pool. It was always clean and no issues. We avoided the "party" pool as there were 100 high school spring breakers at that location and didn't appear to have any self control. We wanted to relax and not deal with chaos. So we found the perfect place on the quiet side. Food: Ok at best. The breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet was bland and no variation (same food served day after day and we were bored after a couple of sittings. We do understand that it is difficult to feed 1000 people, however we've stayed at several other all-inclusives and they had "themed" nights at the buffet to shake it up a little (Mexican once night, Japanese/Chinese another, etc). The buffet seemed to be understaffed as there were rarely tables that had forks, spoons, knives or water glasses and it was a scramble to find these or staff to assist if needed. The pizza shack was good - but again, service slow. Each time we ate there it was a wait for a table and a wait for food. If you are in a hurry - don't stop here for a bite. Each occasion we were there for over an hour. The Mirador was ok - nice for a quick bite at lunch and the grill was a nice variety. Ala Carte: We ate at three. Tokio - was ok. Normal Japanese hibachi grill (if you've been to one in the states or Canada you can expect the same here). Roma - the Italian food was good. Nothing spectacular. And the Tex-Mex...we were not impressed at all. This by no means was Tex-Mex. It was more American than anything and the only "flair" related to Tex-Mex was the salsa served at the beginning or the fajitas. My husband ordered the ribs and they were cold (as were others we spoke to that had eaten this dish). We heard Paris was delicious and wished we would have gone there. Gym: If you are inclined to work out - it's actually a nice set-up. Good space. One treadmill, and several bikes and lots of weights (free weights and machines). Bars: We only were at the lobby bars - and both were nice. Staff were slow (but remember you are on their time). In the evenings one of the bars has nice entertainment (singers, sax players etc...depended on the night). Evening shows: We only attended two. And they were your typical fare of an all-inclusive show. Beaches: The main reason we came to the Dominican. AMAZING. Well kept, no trash and the views - WOW! Finally: if you are planning a trip for March-the beginning of April please be aware that this hotel caters to Spring Breakers (both university level and high-school level) (it is advertised on the spring break websites as a place “to be”). My recommendation is to not stay at this hotel during this time frame if you want to not feel as though you are in chaos. We are US residents and were embarrassed not only by the high schoolers from Michigan but also their parents which didn't seem to have any control over what the kids did (some parents even encouraged the behaviors). Would we go back to the Barceló Punta Cana? No, while the deluxe rooms were nice as were the pools and beach. One could find something at a different hotel if you want to pay a little more money (you truly get what you pay for). Most staff work hard (servers and room attendants) however the Barceló needs to add people to their staffing roster. We've actually paid less elsewhere and gotten better service and food.

Food was terrible! One buffet same food over and over.

Went for an extra long weekend (4 nts) and it was excellent!! The beach is absolutely gorgeous, one of the prettiest I have ever seen. The staff at the Riu Palace Punta Cana go out of their way to make your stay the best it can be! I highly recommend going to the Dominican Republic, it was a very relaxing trip.

The Rui Palace was a beautiful Hotel, actually one of the best on the beach after walking up and down the strip of hotels. Pool awesome too and lots of entertainment during the day for the kids and adults. You didnt need to leave your resort, everything was their for you to do.

We enjoy the atmosphere of the Paradisus Resorts. We had visited their resort in Costa Rica and loved it. This location was very similar in regards to accommodations and friendly staff. There aren't many options close by for excursions but my husband and I prefer to relax and enjoy good food and drinks and a nice pool/beach. The food was average but the pool is very large and offers plenty of shaded areas to sit. We both suffered from a bit of a stomach bug on the last night of our trip which I am still battling but Ive always been prepared for the possibility of that happening. Overall, I don't think we will return to the Dominican but this resort delivered a good vacation for a very affordable price. Outside of the resort offered very little to experience. Enjoyed the resort but wasn't impressed by the destination.

The vacation was amazing. It was so beautiful there and the people were all so nice and fun, especially the activities staff. Everything was top notch, except the food, which was only okay. I would recommend it to anyone.

The hotel was very authentic! The grounds were well manicured, the lobby was beautiful but the thing that made this hotel so enjoyable was the staff. Especially the pool staff during the day. The food was descent. You could always find something enjoyable to eat. The beds were a littler hard but fine. We enjoyed our time and would go back. Our three children had a great time too! While dining at the restaurants it was obvious that people sometimes make reservations and don't show up for them. If people don't show up they should allow others to fill up those spots.

While they serve the Standard American Diet, the wide variety of foods lets vegans/vegetarians successfully "eat around the edges". For vegans, fresh tropical fruits, a good salad bar, breads (white flour), cooked vegetables and several starches are available at every meal. The juice bar at breakfast is not to be missed. But no hot cereal for breakfast. If you add dairy, you can include eggs, pancakes, and cheeses (breakfast), pasta with cream sauces (lunch), and pizza and desserts (lunch and supper). The dinner menu identifies 4 vegetarian dishes. These tended to be based on a single vegetable, such as roasted peppers, roasted tomatoes, or eggplant. I was not always able to find the vegetarian dishes, but that was balanced by (apparently) vegetarian dishes that were not listed. There were no vegan protein-based entrees, such as tofu or beans. And no nuts, except for peanuts (at the bar.) We tried the Italian-theme restaurant, and they had no vegetarian entrees, but we just took a second pass at the antipasto. In short, while they don't cater to vegans/ vegetarians, they allow for them. If you don't mind eating fresh tropical fruits instead of protein-based dishes, you'll do fine.

The resort is amazing. Everything looks brand new. The staff is ok. Great food selection. Chef Gourmet Restaurant was the best. We tried all the activities. The Zipline Adventure and Parasailing were the best. The beach is beautiful, very clean and well maintained. We really enjoyed staying at Barcelo Bavaro

Beautiful resort very clean gorgeous beach but very hard to communicate because they don't know how to speak english very well at all!!

The only negative was a couple of the restaurants. The Italian restaurant substituted our order without asking us. Service at the steak and seafood was slow. Otherwise, would go back.

this was one of the best resorts I have ever been too. Everything was clean and organized. The specialty resturants were delicious. The staff were always professional and courteous. This is truly a paradise resort.

The hotel and grounds were beautiful. The food however was mediocre at best. I could not get reservations at any of the restaurants that I wanted to try, but after going to the ones I was able to - I doubt they were any good. I ended up going elsewhere to eat dinner. You also must be an early riser if you want to get a chair at the beach or your favorite pool.

I was at this resort with my wife and 2 kids (ages 28 months and 14 months) from february 6 to 13. I checked all the reviews before going and have to say was not sure for 100%. But now I can say that everything was good. a few bad things. 1st. they gave me a room on the 3rd floor (no elevator.2 infants with a stroller).I thing that was purposly,but $20 fixed everything.2nd.the mattresses were terrible, may be for us only.they are very, very soft and you fall in and can't have a sleep.3rd.the resort was too big,was built towards the beach and a little long walk from resturant to the beach.but the rest was good.food is great,stuff very friendly,everything very clean.

Overall this resort gives fair value for your money. Not much special included. Could have included snorkeling. Food was average although the desserts were very good. None of the meat offerings were impressive, the steakhouse and the oriental were the best for this resort but not top shelf. Most of the service staff spoke little or no English so often had to refer to someone else. The beverage selection was poor unless you wanted to upgrade for $70.00 a day extra. The vacation club reps were a bit pesty but could be rebuked firmly.

The best thing about the resort is the size and location. It was a perfect size where everything was close by and you didn't have to walk to far to get the pool, beach, or restaurants. The grounds were clean and well kept. The beach was beautiful. Rooms were nice although we had to ask for a few things. The food was just okay, the restaurants were definitely better than the buffet. The nightly shows were fun and it was nice to have something to do in the evening. Not very many staff members spoke English which was very frustrating. For the price is was a good value but I think if I go back to Punta Cana I will try a different resort.

Pros - The beach area and pools Cons - Not enough air-conditioned spaces and food was just ok. Rooms could have been a little cleaner. This is your typical all-inclusive resort. Nothing special.

My boyfriend and I went to the Majestic Elegance in May for 6 days and we had a great time. We opted to pay a little extra for the Elegance Club and it was definitely worth it. The use of free-wifi/computers in the Elegance lounges and constantly having a place to go to for water, snacks, coffee and A/C was great! Plus, there's a separate concierge for Elegance Club members and you get your own butler. The room wasn't in the best condition I've ever seen, but overall, satisfactory. There are rooms that face one of the pools, so if you can manage to get one of those, do it! Oh, and the Funjestic team was awesome! Enjoyed every show we saw at night and it was great that they spearheaded the activities during the day and got anyone and everyone (including us) involved! All in all, we had a great time and would definitely considering returning!

Overall we had a great time. A few kinks need to be worked out such as more bar servers around the pool. Image not having pina coladas or strawberry daquoies with ice around the pool. Really our only complaint. everything else was great

The place is huge and beautiful , the stuff are very nice and very helpful. The only down side is the food, it was just ok, not to much of verity we've expected more from a five star resort. I would definitely go back there again.

If you are looking for a quiet getaway, this is it. Look no further, The Reserve is all about the chic-romantic lounge style. The premises are well maintained, the facilities are really nice and the beach could not be more beautiful.

The resort itself is amazing and so clean, but the food was hit or miss. The restaurants at the Paradisus (not The Reserve, but available to Reserve customers) were not great and you got lucky if you could find a good restaurant. Also, the service could use improvement.

Was there for my sister's wedding, the resort is very nice, the rooms are ok, the food is not great but the beach was amazing.

The all inclusive Majestic Colonial is great for total relaxation. Eat at nearly anytime at numerous different restaurants with different types of food at each. Reservations are easy to get at the two reserved restaurants (Japanese and French), both excellent. Beach and pool are very clean, though limited waitstaff at either, the bars are only a minute walk in both cases. If entertainment is your desire they have very good night time entertainment from 7pm till 4am at poolside, theater and disco. The lobby bar is entertaining in itself just with all the international guests that hang out together there all night.

Ive been to a few places here with my family and stayed at top of the line resorts. This isnt the nicest place on the island, but we had a wonderful time. The food was great, the staff was very friendly, and my boyfriend LOVED the golf course. He golfed two days, but got rained on one. They gave him a rain check for that day, but the next day was our last day and he wanted to enjoy it on the beach. We asked if we could switch the rain check for an hour lesson with the golf pro, and they had no problem accommodating us. We were sad to leave!

Hotel was nice but the beds were not fresh, and food was not the best.

The Gran Bahia Principe Ambar was a fantastic resort. This was our honeymoon & our 1st visit to the Dominican Republic. The food was great overall - much better than other all-inclusive resort food. The 1st night we had to eat at the buffet, but even that wasn't bad. After that, we had reservations at a different restaurant every night. 24 hour room service was convenient but the selection was limited. Luckily, there were numeous snack bars & buffets available throughout the day. Drinks were available everywhere, were tasty, and there were many options. The service was overall the best part of our stay. Everyone was friendly, greeted us, and were very professional. Drinks were regularly refilled, plates were cleared without asking; there was constant attention. The room was very clean and even mopped daily. A massage at the spa was very relaxing and a beautiful spot. The beach was perfect; there were gorgeous huts which provided plenty of shade and comfort lounge chairs. There were waiters, but not many so we frequently got our own drinks, which wasn't a problem. Be sure to go early and leave towels out to reserve a spot on the beach or at the pool; people were out very early. It was the most relaxing vacation my husband and I had ever been on. It was expensive to make or receive calls, so we didn't. There was free wi-fi in the Ambar lobby which we used a few times a day after breakfast or over drinks. Wi-fi was available in the room for an additional fee; we didn't opt for this as we truly wanted to "unplug." The lighting in the bathroom of our room wasn't ideal, but that was our biggest complaint. That, and restocking the rooms. We had to occasionally call for additional washcloths or toiletries but this was handled by Room Service. Choosing the Ambar section (adults only) was truly a great decision. The pool and beach were less crowded, it was quieter, and just overall better (we occasionally ventured to the family sections for dinner).

We stayed in this hotel for 10 nights. The food in the buffet and the restaurants was excellent. We also enjoyed the selection of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The only thing we did not like was the absence of any hooks in the bathroom and lighting of the room was not well. We had a hard time to read at night because it was too dark in our room.

the territory of the hotel is great - a lot of palms, trees, green grass, birds and fish in the ponds! I love it! The room that I stayed was not so great as the territory of the hotel) it was a regular room with king size bed and a shower. Please, next time I need a bath tub and a swimming pool view))) White sand and warm sea were amazing! An animation group was great, they entertained people all day long.

We stayed 4 days and each was filled with something new. The resort had plenty activities and nightlife. Perfect trip for a group of girlfriends with VIP treatment... The map they give you makes things look much further away than they are. And we were a lil upset there were no jet skiis

Overall it was a nice week long vacation. The rooms are not that nice but we didn't spend much time in there. The beach and pools are beautiful. The staff was super friendly. The food was average and so were the a la cartes. The Hibachi restaurant was my favorite. Most people there were Europeans... not many english speaking visitors there.

Very nice beach, nice pools, kids club was nice to give parents a break. The food was above average and the staff was friendly. Stayed in a junior suite which was very nice and clean. A fun Easter weekend!

Nice resort, but not a 4 or 5 star hotel. Room was too cold entire stay, constantly without face and hand towels. Food was average, staff friendly, but there was a language barrier. Staff needs to improve communications to guests, very poor. Paid for VIP transportation r/t to and from airport, had to pay for a taxi back to the airport ourselves $30.00, almost missed our flight, airport is a real zoo. Two oldest kids becane sick for two days each, throwing up.

Everything was good, however the employees were a bit aggressive and pushy.

Negatives: rooms are a little out of date (but they did have everything we needed) the bed wasn't comfortable (our backs were sore by the end of the week), and the gift shop workers were a little annoying trying to get you to buy their stuff. Positives: the food was great (the steakhouse and the italian restaurants were delicious), the resort was a great size small enough to be close to everything but not overcrowded, our room fridge was always stocked, and the swim up bar was awesome! We went the first week of May and there were only a couple afternoons of rain, it would rain hard for a little while then clear up. We would go back!

resort was very nice,food, drinks, pool ,beach,staff ,location, ...workers scrub resort clean every morning..lots of resturants to pick from ..casino , other sister resorts to use can say that hotel was good value ,very relaxing couples resort very quiet no reservations need for specialty resturants.super clean

The location was only 5 min from the airport, the staff were all so friendly, and the hotel was quaint, quiet, and beautiful. Loved my visit to Punta Cana, and I will definitely stay here again!!

The resort area was beautiful and provided the perfect setting for unwinding or finding interesting things to do. It seemed like a very family friendly place and a good place for gold, neither of which applied to me personally. Everything more or less shut down at night (also not overly important in my case). The food at the more casual restaurants did not seem to be freshly prepared, but the meal at La Yola was excellent.

We were very happy with this resort. It was DEFINITELY worth it to buy up to the swim-up suites. The food was good, but not great. The Mexican restaurant was the best that we had. We did one excursion for a "party boat" where we snorkeled with sharks & sting rays and then partied on the boat with music & drinks and it was a blast. Bottom line - you'll love this place, but get a swim-up suite. Don't forget bug spray!

This resort was superb. The staff was helpful and attentive. The only minor complaints I have is the beds were very hard and uncomfortable, and the shopping experience next to the beach was very forceful and extremely annoying to the point where they basically pushed you into their shops. Scary actually. But the resort itself was more than I expected. First class all the way

Great experience at the resort. Staff was wonderful, food was good. A very intimate feel there and had everything you needed. Less to do when it rains outside but the spa is available. Just be aware that the resort is 1hr from the airport and a taxi ride is $80 each way. And make sure to use the OFF spray!

The food is great. The service is great. The location is great. The few things they could do to make it better is to get their staff trained just a little bit better. Communication wise. Also, perhaps put in a bug net on the bed so you can sleep comfortably. The bugs get a bit crazy.

The facilities were modern and relatively clean. Saw a few bugs in the room during the stay. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Food was mediocre, though.

IT IS A GREAT PLACE IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR NO NOISE, EARLY NIGHTS ,IF YOU JUST WANT TO RELAX ON THE BEACH OR SIT NEXT TO POOL . JUST 20 MINUTES FROM AIRPORT , THE GROUNDS OF THE RESORT ARE WONDERFUL, THERE IS NO NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT, YOU COULD NEXT STORE TO THE FAMILY RESORT BUT THE SHOWS ARE BAD , ROOMS ARE CLEAN , STAFF VERY NICE , FOOD IS GOOD . BAR GLASSES TOO SMALL, BRING YOUR OWN TRAVEL CUP , THEY WILL FILL IT UP ,

My family and I travelled here for March Break. The kids loved the little extras like the climbing mountain in the pool. The food was excellent and the beach was nicely shaded. The surf was full of weeds in the wash and to get that crystal clear water we walked about 200 meters down the beach. This made swimming in the ocean in front of the resort unpleaseant for my one son. Overall we had a great time and would certainly return to this resort.

The hotel itself was beautiful. The grounds, pools and the beach were fantastic. The restaurants were great, lots of food options at the main buffet. The specialty restaurants were very accomodating and the food was amazing. The staff was incredibly nice. We were in a large group of about 45 people and the staff went out of their way to accomodate large tables for us specially for breakfast and lunch. We traveled with children and dreams palm beach has a great kids club with lots of activities and parties. On the down side are the rooms and bathrooms. All of our rooms were old and the bathrooms were not accomodating at all. There is a stand up shower with half of a door so when taking a shower the water comes out and makes a mess on the bathroom floor. Also the entertainment wasn't that great. The nightly shows were not excellent as they proclaim. Overall good hotel if you don't mind older rooms but excellent service.

We had a wonderful time. The service was great. Always a smile, hello or High 5 from all the staff. The food was good . There is some repetition on the buffet, but if you change up what you eat, there are plenty of items so you can have something different every night. Service in the main buffet restaurant was fabulous, we had the same waiter every night. He knew what we liked to drink after the first night and had it ready for us, as soon as we walked in. We were with a group of 4 adults and 4 teenagers. The entertainment people did a great job including our teenagers in activities. They enjoyed themselves. The beaches are awesome, we loved walking the what seemed to be an endless beach. Our rooms was clean and the front desk got us everything we asked of them. My only complaint would be that we were there the last week before renovations and two days before we left they started emptying out the place and closing a few of the restaurants, which I felt was a bit unfare to us, I would have hoped they would have waited until the hotel was empty. We didn't let that get in the way of the good time we were having in a beautiful location. We all said that we would return to this hotel again. I liked the size of the resort you didn't have to walk far to get from your room to the pool to the beach and could easily walk back to the room to get something if you needed it.

This was my second time at Riu Place Macao...the facilities and staff are great, they want you to come back and do everything possible to make that happen..this summer the facility is being renovated it is currently a little dated...reno's to include a larger pool which will make the prop even more attactive.Good Value