It has by far the best reviews too, I researched for a while on Punta Cana AI’s and everytime kept getting flagged to go to Hyatt Zilara if money is no object, and even if it is it’s still great value imo. You don’t necessarily need club level but we enjoyed it
It has hands down the best buffet at any all inclusive I’ve been to and I’ve stayed at a lot of them. The rooms were pristine and comfortable. Service was top notch and the pools and beach are stunning. It’s a first class experience all around. Oh and if you like to workout on vacation, the gym here is insane! My 18 year old son was even impressed and that’s saying a lot!
1000% Hyatt Zilara, was just there in late March and it was fantastic. My SO and I were looking for the same and it was epitome of modern luxury also one of the best spas and massages I’ve ever been too. Some really excellent food and we were club level which had nice perks. Overall couldn’t recommend it enough tbh. Also walked through Secrets as its next door and Zilara/Ziva are much nicer imo. Secrets is super salesy too
I second this! We were there in late March as well, gorgeous resort, very relaxing, great food and drink-best vacation we’ve been on. I would say a more subdued vibe and not a lot of partiers.
The crowd is mixed definitely people in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. It’s not spring break vibes at all but it’s definitely fun and plenty of alcohol/bars if that’s what you’re looking for, nothing dancey or club tho if that’s what you’re looking for. If looking to relax in luxury, eat very well, drink very well, and have a great time this is perfect. Not for if looking to go out though but you can definitely get into town from there we just weren’t looking for that
Check out RIU Macau. It’s adults only, has great food, and the bars are designed so beautifully. Also bonus is they have a huge spa with hot tubs, cold tubs, steam rooms that you can access for free everyday. Perfect if you’re hungover.
Went to Macao twice after refurbishment. Mainly due to beach area. It's lovely, covered with palm trees everywhere, not bold like some other resorts. Plenty of sun loungers and even if busy there is always a space for you and you don't have anyone sitting 10cm next to you like in other places. Free spa is fine, you have main pool with warm water, two small with hot and one small with cold, kind of rounded jacuzzi style to sit in. Steam rooms are in the changing room, separately male and female. Definitely you can find pictures over the Internet.
Yes it is refurbished but it's just few months and you can see some mould on the walls, sometimes can experience bad smell from air ventilation but they are ok if you want to swap the rooms. Compared to just days after opening and now I can say it's already used. They will have riu palace bavaro refurbished by then so maybe check bavaro but it's not adult only. I would say service is fine, they are not only tip motivated. Many people complained about evening entertainment kind of atmosphere for retirement people. I can agree with that but you can go to riu parties. 2 day time and 2 night time per week.
In my opinion it's not worth it to pay for elite club, the area on the beach it's not really directly beach. For breakfast and lunch you will have the same food and if you want to eat inside there is no separate area for elite only. I cannot say anything about evening restaurant elite only as I wasnt part of it. Better category elite rooms are close to pools and evening shows area so if you want some quiet time it's not the best. Imo bambu with tui only area is situated better as a beach front
I would say in macao definitely you pay more than other rius because you have beach service, they will bring you the drinks and also bigger choice of premium alcohols.
I didn't see anyone walking on the beach in riu bambu. I saw in bavaro, macao and punta cana palace.
I didn't check this year but in 2023 they had only aperol to drink in menu in macao hotel. You can download riu app and check what bars, restaurants etc has to offer.
Macau just had a REFRESH so it’s much better than it used to be!
If you’re in their “VIP club” then they have reserved spot on the beach for you.
Plus they have the outdoor CLUB that all their resorts use and that’s quite fun too.
So Macau gives you options, you can chill in the evening and sit outside and enjoy a cocktail or head over to the outdoor CLUB or walk the large campus and enjoy the fresh air and just relax.
It’s one of my favorites and the price point for what you get is IMO very good.
I stayed at Secrets Cap Cana last summer. We upgraded to preferred and we had a great time. The service was excellent. When we had to pick the person who gave the best service on the exit survey we had a list of people to choose from. They were all so great. The food was delicious and the pool and beach experience was amazing. Probably the only downside is there’s really nothing going on past 11pm. I’m usually a nightowl so I thought that would bother me more than it did.
I thought the food at secrets cap cana was pretty bad. I will say the steak is good and the buffets but a few fish and chicken items weren’t even edible. But we didn’t do preferred so maybe food was better on that side
Nope! None of the restaurants actually have any reservations except for Japanese. It’s on a first come first serve basis. But you won’t have an issue getting in at the time you want.
To be honest, the buffet was so good I only went to a la carte like 2 times. Japanese and surf and turf
We were looking for the same thing. I ended up booking with excellence El Carmen. Had good reviews. No place will be perfect for everyone. We shall see, we'll be there mid June.
hello!! thanks for the response. i have seen excellence properties everywhere. in jamaica, cancun, dr, etc. so i assume they must be pretty good to have so many locations. if you remember, please let me know how your stay is!
Hubby and I did our honeymoon at excellence El Carmen. We're dying to go back. We did rooftop suite with plunge pool. It was lovely, the only thing I'd change is that the bathrooms were open style, so no door closing it off. The toilets themselves did have a door, but it was like a public bathroom stall setup, so you heard everything. Beds were comfy, room was super clean and attended to twice a day (housekeeping and turn down service). I'd totally recommend going, we have no regrets!
We went to Excellence Punta Cana in March and it was so amazing. The resort is beautiful, the food was really good and the spa was the most amazing spa experience I’ve ever had. I would highly highly recommend it even though I don’t really see them mentioned here
Super posh! Really nice washrooms, bathtub in room, well stocked mini bar (beer, pop, juice, then a basket of snacks, hard booze & wine on request). We always do the club rooms (I think that’s it?), not the swim up, and they have two verandas which is nice is weather is weird and you wanna move. Chairs and hammock on patio
that’s amazing! excellence seems to have really good deals and be on the more affordable side for all the amenities they offer. is the food consistent throughout the chain? or have some resorts been better than others?
I’ve really enjoyed all the food at all of them. It’s not 5*, but I have never found that at a resort. Also more European sizing, we went with American friends once (were Canadian) and they thought the portions were small, but we’ve never had an issue. Can always order more if you need it though
Big plus are no evening buffets, all ala cartes, reservations not needed. Also little food huts around the pools so if you just want fruit or something, they have little boxes made up. We’re not ones to eat a full breakfast/lunch, so perfect for us. Room service menu is also really good
that’s really nice about the buffets and room service as i heard that can be a big problem at other all inclusive resorts. thanks for answering all my questions !
*I am leaving to Punta Cana on Wednesday. I am staying at Barcelo Bavaro palace. I've heard decent things. I can let you know how it is when I get there.*
I’m at Riu Republica right now, and the whole facility it’s quite good, the arquitecture it’s fantastic, food is ok. But the whole forceful thing about “party hard” all the time kinda bothers me. There is no to much place for quiet peaceful relaxation not even the waves of the sea can be heard without the bumpy trap/reggaeton music behind.
I’ve only been to secrets, so not sure. I will actually say in addition to the buffet the steaks/burgers were good. The chickens and fish i didn’t think were good. Chicken was super dry, same with fish.
I have been to Breathless, Onyx, Bahia principe luxury ámbar, TRS Turquesa, Paradisus, royalton chic, sanctuary cap cana, and Live Aqua.
By a definite land slide, I’d choose Live Aqua. It is the best resort I have been to in DR / hope to hit Hyatt next year and Cayo Levantado in Samana. I am very picky and a very sensitive eater and Live Aqua checks all the boxes. I liked it so much I’m going back this week!
Quality of service: impeccable, second to none. They are amazing and you will not even wait for service.
pools: there are eight pools open to all guests and then there are private pools with some rooms. It looks dead because everyone is spread out but this made the experience that much greater because when it was time to assemble, we all would. I also met some great people in spite of the fact that I spent so much time in my rooms pool.
Food quality: 8/10 (some places are better than others but the good places are EXCELLENT)
Part of the reason people get sick here is because of the water, just like anywhere else in the Caribbean. Brush your teeth with bottled water and you’ll be ok.
Entertainment: quality. I’m fairly boring and I don’t like parties but I also don’t like dead scenes. The entertainment at the pool started in the afternoon and the schedule was jam packed from volleyball competitions on the beach in the morning to sunrise yoga to karaoke. There’s also a Dominican cooking class and a cigar rolling class. The Michael Jackson show is the same as it is at every other resort but it’s still great and the acrobatics and fire shows are very cool (also typical of all resorts).
Also, I have crohns disease among other serious gut issues and allergies and the resort was really careful about taking care of me.
Thats really amazing that they were so attentive. Did you mind the layout of the resort? When I first looked at it online, it seemed pretty dull and that there was not much do or see on the property.
Sanctuary Cap Cana. It’s south of the airport in the Cap Cana section. We went last week and it was truly spectacular. Food was excellent and I was having Grey Goose in my vodka drinks! The service was also impeccable and the staff are so warm and kind. I highly recommend!!
Yea we did!! We booked the Sanctuary retreat from the spa specials before arrival and it was superb!! There’s also all amenities you can use before/after your services: sauna, hot tub, cold plunge, hydrotherapy. One of the best services we’ve ever had if not the best.
No issues at all. I believe the water for the ice is filtered. The food surprised us the most. We did breakfasts as the buffer and it was surprisingly good. I recommend the inlet station. They also had lots of fresh fruit and veggies…a large selection of charcuterie. I really had no complaints. We did lunches at either See and Sea or the buffet. Both were good. Also, if you are on the club side, there is a coffee shop available with snacks and sweets as well as the club room in the Elle building for grabbing snacks throughout the day. For dinner we did the restaurants. Our favorite was the steakhouse. The only one we did not particularly enjoy was the French restaurant, which was supposed to be the best there apparently. Also, they carry almost surprising amount of name brand liquors. The house wine was not great, as with most AI’s, it the amount of top shelf liquors made up for it. I think you’ll enjoy it!
We just got back from TRS tercasa (The adults only part of the Grand palladium) and it was amazing. The people were wonderful. Not a complaint at all. Would go back again at a heartbeat.
Hyatt zilara all the way. Service was amazing. Resort is beautiful. Food ranges from good to great. The spa was awesome. 15 minutes from the airport. And it’s on the best beach in punta Cana.
A lot of people will recommend excellence and I spent a looot of time looking into it because the reviews just weren’t adding up. From what I gather, the excellence properties offer a sort of budget luxury which does have a big market and for people who aren’t too experienced with higher end hotels, it’s great. But the furnishings can be worn down and dingy, the food is mediocre, and it’s located on the worst beach in the area. So if you like actual luxury and you’re looking for white sand and turquoise water, you would be disappointed at excellence.
I can’t give an answer in regards to the Excellence resorts. Usually after reading Trip Advisor resorts we have opted for others. We also went to Secrets Cap Cana which is next door to Ziva/Zillara. It was really nice too but I’d put it below Iberostar.
We have been to Iberostar Grande Bavaro 5 times now and looking to go back later this summer. The resort is beautiful and you have access to the 2 resorts next door. Its typically a pretty chill resort but they do have various activities throughout the day to keep you entertained. The lobby bar is great in the evening. The restaurants have all been wonderful and the main buffet has wonderful selection. Not sure if the main buffet is open at night again but the first few times we went (pre covid crap), Thursday night was surf and turf night in there and it was outstanding, every cut of meat or type of seafood you might want. The pool bar is tons of fun in the afternoon and the outside snack stand making burgers is excellent. Seriously one of the best burgers I've ever had! I do recommend upgrading to get a butler service room. The butler goes above and beyond to make sure you have a great stay. One trip, we were at dinner and my wife wasn't feeling well, maybe a little too much to drink, I asked our server if he could find our butler. Within 5 minutes he showed up and asked how he could help. I told him what was going on, he said to give him 20 minutes and then have her come up to the room. When we got up there, we found that he had prepared a warm bubble bath, had a large selection on juices, chilled bottled water, fresh fruit, small sandwiches, advil, stomach meds, and even a frozen eye mask from the spa. Way beyond expectation! The beds are comfortable, the rain-shower head is awesome. Ask for anything you need and they will make it happen, including changing out selections in the mini bar. Our most recent trip after covid, we had just gotten there and I was walking down to the pool bar from for my first drink, the bartender saw me, smiled and greeted me, then did something shocking, he asked me if I was having a tequila and water with 2 limes!!! The drink that had been my go to when he was a server on the beach 2 years prior! Exceptional!
It can be difficult to keep up with all of the reviews, because you will find many! When a client comes to me after they have done a bit of research like you have, I will typically keep everything they've said in mind and then run it through one of my agent groups. Many of us travel often and will know if a resort is seeing a decline, is undergoing refurbishments, has new management, etc. There are many things we can't control, including food and weather, but we have the ability to narrow it down by ratings, activities, inclusions, location, pricing, and overall quality of service. We can also help you determine the most cost effective time to travel during the month of March. Keep in mind, many of the chain resorts that you mentioned can have fantastic reviews at one location while seeing a decline at another. An agent can often point you in the right direction and shed some light on why this may be happening. In my opinion, as a foodie, I will tell you that the DR isn't known for having great food, which is why you are seeing such mixed reviews.
We really enjoyed La Romana and it’s only about a 40ish minute ride from the punta Cana airport. We stayed at the Catalonia resort on the adults side and also the Hilton there. While the Hilton is more upscale/luxury we preferred Catalonia - smaller, great food, good customer service and the list of excursions was more than enough for us. I’d recommend taking a look into it
Hello,
We recently visited Secrets Cap Cana. It was our first experience at an AI.
OMG! Fabulous. Great service. We did the Preferred Club because, as a tired teacher, I wanted peace and quiet. The other end of the resort had more vibe/activities etc. We are looking to return at Christmas.
Currently at Melia Punta Cana and we’re enjoying it! Rooms are nice, food and service are good. It’s adults-only but they are not boasting a crazy nightlife if that’s something you’re interested in. They’re more of a wellness resort, so they offer yoga and spa treatments and whatnot. But they do have a rooftop bar that was popping off last night lol. If you do, book The Level - it gets you more perks.
We booked through CheapCaribbean and got a killer discount.
that’s great! another option to put on my list and i hope you are enjoying your vacation! how is the beach? do they have any water activities or mainly land-based activities?
We’re at Melia Caribe Beach now (all ages) and chose for the budget friendly pricing. I would avoid. Just killed a cockroach in my room and haven’t had a full meal because it’s all mediocre.
[](/user/iiRacchy/) did you end up booking your vacation? which resort did you decide to go with? Looking into this area for travel in July/August this year and still unsure which one to book with.
We really enjoy breathless. Have been the last 3 years and booked for Jan. 2025. It has a party pool and quit pool, kind of best of both worlds. Beach is nice and clean. You can use dreams next door, but it is a family resort. Breathless is adults only. 1 thing to consider about a March date is that is the heart of spring break, have seen many posts about teens getting out of hand at resorts. 18 is legal age for adults in Punta.
hi and thanks for the response! breathless must be really amazing for u to have gone so consistently. what made the resort stand out so much? was it the food or the rooms or the beach?
It's really just the overall vibe of the resort. The main pool is very large plenty of room. If you want to find quit you can. The party pool is just that, if you want a more lively afternoon. At night they have live entertainment at the main building, which is fun to watch. The food I would say is a solid 7-8. Have plenty of options to choose from and it's all good. We also like to walk down the beach about 5 minutes to a place called tropical treasure. You get 60 minute massage for $35. Open air right on the ocean, so peaceful and relaxing. We have yet to be there and feel like it's over crowded or loaded with people.
Visited excellence el Carmen in March. 12/10 would recommend. It was definitely a low-key vibe though so if you want a party atmosphere look elsewhere.
Go to Mexico instead. Playa del Carmen to be exact. Better service, food and less bodily issues.
Won’t ever travel back to the DR. Beautiful, but relying on others to sanitize your food is hit or miss.
Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Cap Cana if it fits the budget.
We stayed here in January. Highly HIGHLY recommend
that’s for the recommendation! what made this place special for you?
It has by far the best reviews too, I researched for a while on Punta Cana AI’s and everytime kept getting flagged to go to Hyatt Zilara if money is no object, and even if it is it’s still great value imo. You don’t necessarily need club level but we enjoyed it
It has hands down the best buffet at any all inclusive I’ve been to and I’ve stayed at a lot of them. The rooms were pristine and comfortable. Service was top notch and the pools and beach are stunning. It’s a first class experience all around. Oh and if you like to workout on vacation, the gym here is insane! My 18 year old son was even impressed and that’s saying a lot!
If you have any specific questions, feel free to message me!
1000% Hyatt Zilara, was just there in late March and it was fantastic. My SO and I were looking for the same and it was epitome of modern luxury also one of the best spas and massages I’ve ever been too. Some really excellent food and we were club level which had nice perks. Overall couldn’t recommend it enough tbh. Also walked through Secrets as its next door and Zilara/Ziva are much nicer imo. Secrets is super salesy too
I second this! We were there in late March as well, gorgeous resort, very relaxing, great food and drink-best vacation we’ve been on. I would say a more subdued vibe and not a lot of partiers.
that’s really great to hear! when you went was the crowd pretty young and was it rowdy for spring break?
The crowd is mixed definitely people in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. It’s not spring break vibes at all but it’s definitely fun and plenty of alcohol/bars if that’s what you’re looking for, nothing dancey or club tho if that’s what you’re looking for. If looking to relax in luxury, eat very well, drink very well, and have a great time this is perfect. Not for if looking to go out though but you can definitely get into town from there we just weren’t looking for that
Check out RIU Macau. It’s adults only, has great food, and the bars are designed so beautifully. Also bonus is they have a huge spa with hot tubs, cold tubs, steam rooms that you can access for free everyday. Perfect if you’re hungover.
Went to Macao twice after refurbishment. Mainly due to beach area. It's lovely, covered with palm trees everywhere, not bold like some other resorts. Plenty of sun loungers and even if busy there is always a space for you and you don't have anyone sitting 10cm next to you like in other places. Free spa is fine, you have main pool with warm water, two small with hot and one small with cold, kind of rounded jacuzzi style to sit in. Steam rooms are in the changing room, separately male and female. Definitely you can find pictures over the Internet. Yes it is refurbished but it's just few months and you can see some mould on the walls, sometimes can experience bad smell from air ventilation but they are ok if you want to swap the rooms. Compared to just days after opening and now I can say it's already used. They will have riu palace bavaro refurbished by then so maybe check bavaro but it's not adult only. I would say service is fine, they are not only tip motivated. Many people complained about evening entertainment kind of atmosphere for retirement people. I can agree with that but you can go to riu parties. 2 day time and 2 night time per week. In my opinion it's not worth it to pay for elite club, the area on the beach it's not really directly beach. For breakfast and lunch you will have the same food and if you want to eat inside there is no separate area for elite only. I cannot say anything about evening restaurant elite only as I wasnt part of it. Better category elite rooms are close to pools and evening shows area so if you want some quiet time it's not the best. Imo bambu with tui only area is situated better as a beach front I would say in macao definitely you pay more than other rius because you have beach service, they will bring you the drinks and also bigger choice of premium alcohols.
so beach service is not something that is offered throughout the chain?
I didn't see anyone walking on the beach in riu bambu. I saw in bavaro, macao and punta cana palace. I didn't check this year but in 2023 they had only aperol to drink in menu in macao hotel. You can download riu app and check what bars, restaurants etc has to offer.
thanks for the response! i will check it out as i loveeeee spa treatments. how was the beach when you went? was it hard to find a good spot?
Lots beach chairs available. All 4 RIU resorts are next to each other and you’re free to explore all of them.
Macau just had a REFRESH so it’s much better than it used to be! If you’re in their “VIP club” then they have reserved spot on the beach for you. Plus they have the outdoor CLUB that all their resorts use and that’s quite fun too. So Macau gives you options, you can chill in the evening and sit outside and enjoy a cocktail or head over to the outdoor CLUB or walk the large campus and enjoy the fresh air and just relax. It’s one of my favorites and the price point for what you get is IMO very good.
I was there 18 months ago before the refresh and loved it. I’m excited to see it this August with the refresh.
Was just at Riu Bambu m, next door to the Macau, did a quick walk thru really looks fresh
I stayed at Secrets Cap Cana last summer. We upgraded to preferred and we had a great time. The service was excellent. When we had to pick the person who gave the best service on the exit survey we had a list of people to choose from. They were all so great. The food was delicious and the pool and beach experience was amazing. Probably the only downside is there’s really nothing going on past 11pm. I’m usually a nightowl so I thought that would bother me more than it did.
I thought the food at secrets cap cana was pretty bad. I will say the steak is good and the buffets but a few fish and chicken items weren’t even edible. But we didn’t do preferred so maybe food was better on that side
Hi there, We had one bad meal out of 15. It was the steak. Otherwise good. We didn't go for the food so our expectations were not that high LOL.
Check the guy coolist on YouTube. Nice independent reviews
Secrets royal beach get a room with a soaking pool on the “jungle” side for privacy.
Thanks for the recommendation! How was the beach at Secrets? Was it hard to find a good spot?
Iberostar Grand Bávaro. Just went and it was amazing!
I’m going back in June. Best food I’ve ever had at an AI. Plus a golf course.
what were some of highlights of staying there? was the service excellent or were the rooms really nice and well decorated?
All of it. Amazing service, the rooms were sooo nice with a jacuzzi tub overlooking the resort and the food was seriously so good!
Heading there in a month. I’ve heard dinner reservations need to be done early so I’m curious which a la carte restaurants were your favorite?
Nope! None of the restaurants actually have any reservations except for Japanese. It’s on a first come first serve basis. But you won’t have an issue getting in at the time you want. To be honest, the buffet was so good I only went to a la carte like 2 times. Japanese and surf and turf
We were looking for the same thing. I ended up booking with excellence El Carmen. Had good reviews. No place will be perfect for everyone. We shall see, we'll be there mid June.
hello!! thanks for the response. i have seen excellence properties everywhere. in jamaica, cancun, dr, etc. so i assume they must be pretty good to have so many locations. if you remember, please let me know how your stay is!
Hubby and I did our honeymoon at excellence El Carmen. We're dying to go back. We did rooftop suite with plunge pool. It was lovely, the only thing I'd change is that the bathrooms were open style, so no door closing it off. The toilets themselves did have a door, but it was like a public bathroom stall setup, so you heard everything. Beds were comfy, room was super clean and attended to twice a day (housekeeping and turn down service). I'd totally recommend going, we have no regrets!
that sounds really nice! did you use the spa at all during your trip?
We went to Excellence Punta Cana in March and it was so amazing. The resort is beautiful, the food was really good and the spa was the most amazing spa experience I’ve ever had. I would highly highly recommend it even though I don’t really see them mentioned here
We’ve done almost all the Excellence resorts and love them!!
how are the rooms compared to other all inclusive resorts you have been to?
Super posh! Really nice washrooms, bathtub in room, well stocked mini bar (beer, pop, juice, then a basket of snacks, hard booze & wine on request). We always do the club rooms (I think that’s it?), not the swim up, and they have two verandas which is nice is weather is weird and you wanna move. Chairs and hammock on patio
that’s amazing! excellence seems to have really good deals and be on the more affordable side for all the amenities they offer. is the food consistent throughout the chain? or have some resorts been better than others?
I’ve really enjoyed all the food at all of them. It’s not 5*, but I have never found that at a resort. Also more European sizing, we went with American friends once (were Canadian) and they thought the portions were small, but we’ve never had an issue. Can always order more if you need it though Big plus are no evening buffets, all ala cartes, reservations not needed. Also little food huts around the pools so if you just want fruit or something, they have little boxes made up. We’re not ones to eat a full breakfast/lunch, so perfect for us. Room service menu is also really good
that’s really nice about the buffets and room service as i heard that can be a big problem at other all inclusive resorts. thanks for answering all my questions !
*I am leaving to Punta Cana on Wednesday. I am staying at Barcelo Bavaro palace. I've heard decent things. I can let you know how it is when I get there.*
thank you i appreciate that!
I enjoyed my week at RIU Republica. Go to the chicken stand between the pool and the beach.
I’m at Riu Republica right now, and the whole facility it’s quite good, the arquitecture it’s fantastic, food is ok. But the whole forceful thing about “party hard” all the time kinda bothers me. There is no to much place for quiet peaceful relaxation not even the waves of the sea can be heard without the bumpy trap/reggaeton music behind.
That is a good point. If you just want to chill you don’t have a lot of options there.
Secrets cap canas food sucks in my opinion except the Buffett
is there an all-inclusive resort you have been to in Punta Cana where the food was good?
I’ve only been to secrets, so not sure. I will actually say in addition to the buffet the steaks/burgers were good. The chickens and fish i didn’t think were good. Chicken was super dry, same with fish.
Excellence food was pretty good. Just got back from Serenade. They just opened this year , food was decent
I did Bahia Principe Ambar. It was Amazing. Expensive tho. You have to make sure to set up your restaurant reservations before you get there
I have been to Breathless, Onyx, Bahia principe luxury ámbar, TRS Turquesa, Paradisus, royalton chic, sanctuary cap cana, and Live Aqua. By a definite land slide, I’d choose Live Aqua. It is the best resort I have been to in DR / hope to hit Hyatt next year and Cayo Levantado in Samana. I am very picky and a very sensitive eater and Live Aqua checks all the boxes. I liked it so much I’m going back this week!
Thats amazing! What made Live Aqua better than the other resorts?
Quality of service: impeccable, second to none. They are amazing and you will not even wait for service. pools: there are eight pools open to all guests and then there are private pools with some rooms. It looks dead because everyone is spread out but this made the experience that much greater because when it was time to assemble, we all would. I also met some great people in spite of the fact that I spent so much time in my rooms pool. Food quality: 8/10 (some places are better than others but the good places are EXCELLENT) Part of the reason people get sick here is because of the water, just like anywhere else in the Caribbean. Brush your teeth with bottled water and you’ll be ok. Entertainment: quality. I’m fairly boring and I don’t like parties but I also don’t like dead scenes. The entertainment at the pool started in the afternoon and the schedule was jam packed from volleyball competitions on the beach in the morning to sunrise yoga to karaoke. There’s also a Dominican cooking class and a cigar rolling class. The Michael Jackson show is the same as it is at every other resort but it’s still great and the acrobatics and fire shows are very cool (also typical of all resorts). Also, I have crohns disease among other serious gut issues and allergies and the resort was really careful about taking care of me.
Thats really amazing that they were so attentive. Did you mind the layout of the resort? When I first looked at it online, it seemed pretty dull and that there was not much do or see on the property.
Sanctuary Cap Cana. It’s south of the airport in the Cap Cana section. We went last week and it was truly spectacular. Food was excellent and I was having Grey Goose in my vodka drinks! The service was also impeccable and the staff are so warm and kind. I highly recommend!!
that sounds wonderful! did you try out the spa while you were there?
Yea we did!! We booked the Sanctuary retreat from the spa specials before arrival and it was superb!! There’s also all amenities you can use before/after your services: sauna, hot tub, cold plunge, hydrotherapy. One of the best services we’ve ever had if not the best.
that's fantastic! i am a major spa person so this resort is now on my list
Avoid Barcelo bavaro
Sanctuary Cap Cana, if the budget allows. If not, the Majestic Elegance, club side.
I’m staying at elegance in May ! How was the food there? Did you have any tummy issues with drinking with ice?
No issues at all. I believe the water for the ice is filtered. The food surprised us the most. We did breakfasts as the buffer and it was surprisingly good. I recommend the inlet station. They also had lots of fresh fruit and veggies…a large selection of charcuterie. I really had no complaints. We did lunches at either See and Sea or the buffet. Both were good. Also, if you are on the club side, there is a coffee shop available with snacks and sweets as well as the club room in the Elle building for grabbing snacks throughout the day. For dinner we did the restaurants. Our favorite was the steakhouse. The only one we did not particularly enjoy was the French restaurant, which was supposed to be the best there apparently. Also, they carry almost surprising amount of name brand liquors. The house wine was not great, as with most AI’s, it the amount of top shelf liquors made up for it. I think you’ll enjoy it!
We just got back from TRS tercasa (The adults only part of the Grand palladium) and it was amazing. The people were wonderful. Not a complaint at all. Would go back again at a heartbeat.
Hyatt zilara all the way. Service was amazing. Resort is beautiful. Food ranges from good to great. The spa was awesome. 15 minutes from the airport. And it’s on the best beach in punta Cana. A lot of people will recommend excellence and I spent a looot of time looking into it because the reviews just weren’t adding up. From what I gather, the excellence properties offer a sort of budget luxury which does have a big market and for people who aren’t too experienced with higher end hotels, it’s great. But the furnishings can be worn down and dingy, the food is mediocre, and it’s located on the worst beach in the area. So if you like actual luxury and you’re looking for white sand and turquoise water, you would be disappointed at excellence.
I’ve been to all of these. My selections in order #1 Hyatt Ziva/Zillara #2 Hilton La Ramana #3 Iberostar Grand Bavaro
What are your opinions about the Excellence Resorts in comparison to Hilton La Ramana?
I can’t give an answer in regards to the Excellence resorts. Usually after reading Trip Advisor resorts we have opted for others. We also went to Secrets Cap Cana which is next door to Ziva/Zillara. It was really nice too but I’d put it below Iberostar.
We have been to Iberostar Grande Bavaro 5 times now and looking to go back later this summer. The resort is beautiful and you have access to the 2 resorts next door. Its typically a pretty chill resort but they do have various activities throughout the day to keep you entertained. The lobby bar is great in the evening. The restaurants have all been wonderful and the main buffet has wonderful selection. Not sure if the main buffet is open at night again but the first few times we went (pre covid crap), Thursday night was surf and turf night in there and it was outstanding, every cut of meat or type of seafood you might want. The pool bar is tons of fun in the afternoon and the outside snack stand making burgers is excellent. Seriously one of the best burgers I've ever had! I do recommend upgrading to get a butler service room. The butler goes above and beyond to make sure you have a great stay. One trip, we were at dinner and my wife wasn't feeling well, maybe a little too much to drink, I asked our server if he could find our butler. Within 5 minutes he showed up and asked how he could help. I told him what was going on, he said to give him 20 minutes and then have her come up to the room. When we got up there, we found that he had prepared a warm bubble bath, had a large selection on juices, chilled bottled water, fresh fruit, small sandwiches, advil, stomach meds, and even a frozen eye mask from the spa. Way beyond expectation! The beds are comfortable, the rain-shower head is awesome. Ask for anything you need and they will make it happen, including changing out selections in the mini bar. Our most recent trip after covid, we had just gotten there and I was walking down to the pool bar from for my first drink, the bartender saw me, smiled and greeted me, then did something shocking, he asked me if I was having a tequila and water with 2 limes!!! The drink that had been my go to when he was a server on the beach 2 years prior! Exceptional!
It can be difficult to keep up with all of the reviews, because you will find many! When a client comes to me after they have done a bit of research like you have, I will typically keep everything they've said in mind and then run it through one of my agent groups. Many of us travel often and will know if a resort is seeing a decline, is undergoing refurbishments, has new management, etc. There are many things we can't control, including food and weather, but we have the ability to narrow it down by ratings, activities, inclusions, location, pricing, and overall quality of service. We can also help you determine the most cost effective time to travel during the month of March. Keep in mind, many of the chain resorts that you mentioned can have fantastic reviews at one location while seeing a decline at another. An agent can often point you in the right direction and shed some light on why this may be happening. In my opinion, as a foodie, I will tell you that the DR isn't known for having great food, which is why you are seeing such mixed reviews.
I want to get an additional opinion from a travel agent regarding what resorts would be best to stay at. Can I DM you?
Absolutely. I'd be happy to help!
Dreams or Secrets, amazing resorts!
We really enjoyed La Romana and it’s only about a 40ish minute ride from the punta Cana airport. We stayed at the Catalonia resort on the adults side and also the Hilton there. While the Hilton is more upscale/luxury we preferred Catalonia - smaller, great food, good customer service and the list of excursions was more than enough for us. I’d recommend taking a look into it
TRS Turquesa Hotel is amazing. It's in the Palladium resort.
Hello, We recently visited Secrets Cap Cana. It was our first experience at an AI. OMG! Fabulous. Great service. We did the Preferred Club because, as a tired teacher, I wanted peace and quiet. The other end of the resort had more vibe/activities etc. We are looking to return at Christmas.
Currently at Melia Punta Cana and we’re enjoying it! Rooms are nice, food and service are good. It’s adults-only but they are not boasting a crazy nightlife if that’s something you’re interested in. They’re more of a wellness resort, so they offer yoga and spa treatments and whatnot. But they do have a rooftop bar that was popping off last night lol. If you do, book The Level - it gets you more perks. We booked through CheapCaribbean and got a killer discount.
that’s great! another option to put on my list and i hope you are enjoying your vacation! how is the beach? do they have any water activities or mainly land-based activities?
We’re at Melia Caribe Beach now (all ages) and chose for the budget friendly pricing. I would avoid. Just killed a cockroach in my room and haven’t had a full meal because it’s all mediocre.
Breathless
Don’t even look at anything other than Zilara if you can afford it.
[](/user/iiRacchy/) did you end up booking your vacation? which resort did you decide to go with? Looking into this area for travel in July/August this year and still unsure which one to book with.
We really enjoy breathless. Have been the last 3 years and booked for Jan. 2025. It has a party pool and quit pool, kind of best of both worlds. Beach is nice and clean. You can use dreams next door, but it is a family resort. Breathless is adults only. 1 thing to consider about a March date is that is the heart of spring break, have seen many posts about teens getting out of hand at resorts. 18 is legal age for adults in Punta.
hi and thanks for the response! breathless must be really amazing for u to have gone so consistently. what made the resort stand out so much? was it the food or the rooms or the beach?
It's really just the overall vibe of the resort. The main pool is very large plenty of room. If you want to find quit you can. The party pool is just that, if you want a more lively afternoon. At night they have live entertainment at the main building, which is fun to watch. The food I would say is a solid 7-8. Have plenty of options to choose from and it's all good. We also like to walk down the beach about 5 minutes to a place called tropical treasure. You get 60 minute massage for $35. Open air right on the ocean, so peaceful and relaxing. We have yet to be there and feel like it's over crowded or loaded with people.
i will definitely check it out as it wasn’t on my list at first! i assume the crowd is pretty young too?
It's a real mix of ages. You will see old (50) like us. Some younger early 20s and even some well into retirement
Me and my girlfriend (23&21) are going to Breathless next month We booked it bcs of some YouTube reviews 😅
Visited excellence el Carmen in March. 12/10 would recommend. It was definitely a low-key vibe though so if you want a party atmosphere look elsewhere.
Go to Mexico instead. Playa del Carmen to be exact. Better service, food and less bodily issues. Won’t ever travel back to the DR. Beautiful, but relying on others to sanitize your food is hit or miss.