Dominican Republic / Punta Cana - all inclusive recommendations please
Apr 5, 2022, 7:37 am
#32
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
My wife and I stayed at The Level Melia just before the pandemic hit. We loved the rooms, amenities as well as the food and beverage service. It is smaller and more intimate than the Iberostar Grands that we have visited (Playa del Carmen and Jamaica) but the rooms, facilities as well as the food/beverage were very nice. Overall we thought it a much better value than the Iberostar Grand. I've checked their rates and they seem to be very competitive for what you get..
Apr 7, 2022, 6:22 am
#33
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,461
My wife and I stayed at The Level Melia just before the pandemic hit. We loved the rooms, amenities as well as the food and beverage service. It is smaller and more intimate than the Iberostar Grands that we have visited (Playa del Carmen and Jamaica) but the rooms, facilities as well as the food/beverage were very nice. Overall we thought it a much better value than the Iberostar Grand. I've checked their rates and they seem to be very competitive for what you get..
I will say the Grand in Punta Cana is dramatically smaller than the one in Mexico. I originally picked it due to it's small footprint when I was taking my 80 year old mother. (I did Jamaica once with another company but probably won't be back. I was turned off by the constant selling on the beach and the drug pushers everywhere we went, but that's just me. I did enjoy exploring the island but...)
Level does look promising. Price is actually about the same I will do some more research.
Apr 8, 2022, 1:53 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
Thanks
I will say the Grand in Punta Cana is dramatically smaller than the one in Mexico. I originally picked it due to it's small footprint when I was taking my 80 year old mother. (I did Jamaica once with another company but probably won't be back. I was turned off by the constant selling on the beach and the drug pushers everywhere we went, but that's just me. I did enjoy exploring the island but...)
Level does look promising. Price is actually about the same I will do some more research.
I will say the Grand in Punta Cana is dramatically smaller than the one in Mexico. I originally picked it due to it's small footprint when I was taking my 80 year old mother. (I did Jamaica once with another company but probably won't be back. I was turned off by the constant selling on the beach and the drug pushers everywhere we went, but that's just me. I did enjoy exploring the island but...)
Level does look promising. Price is actually about the same I will do some more research.
I would make sure to compare the room details. The Level suites are very spacious. You can still get the pushy beach vendors in Punta Cana, We have stayed at several of the better resorts and most have very good security on the beach itself.
Last edited by cheltzel; Apr 8, 2022 at 2:01 pm
Apr 8, 2022, 7:50 pm
#35
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,461
I was checking the prices out on the Costco travel site for 1 week in November. Looking at an Ocean View Suite for both properties. The Iberostar Grand was $2958.93 and the Level was $2285.74
I would make sure to compare the room details. The Level suites are very spacious. You can still get the pushy beach vendors in Punta Cana, We have stayed at several of the better resorts and most have very good security on the beach itself.
I would make sure to compare the room details. The Level suites are very spacious. You can still get the pushy beach vendors in Punta Cana, We have stayed at several of the better resorts and most have very good security on the beach itself.
well the price and I’m seeing actually goes the other way. It’s cheaper to stay at the grand
As for pushy vendors, yeah I’ve had lots of pushy vendors all over the world and Jamaica was not pushy they were abusive and rude. There’s a difference. I’ve been to the bazaar in turkey, I’m good at pushy vendors. I’m not going back to Jamaica
Apr 9, 2022, 7:52 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,301
Loved Secrets. Adults only. Small, every room is close to the beach/pools/restaurants. No need for golf carts. Long beach for miles in either direction.
No wristbands, no pushy touts on the beach, no staff cruising for tips. Great restaurants. Seaweed barrier, surprisingly proved very important on Bavaro beach.
No wristbands, no pushy touts on the beach, no staff cruising for tips. Great restaurants. Seaweed barrier, surprisingly proved very important on Bavaro beach.
Jul 24, 2022, 3:36 pm
#37
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,461
So the June trip didn’t happen for a lot of reasons. We are now looking at an November trip right after Thanksgiving. I’m still leaning towards Iberostar grand but it is a little more expensive and looking at other options
Hyatt is out of the question. Their pricing is out of touch with reality and then they want to nickel and dime me on top of that! With their pricing there should not be a lot of extras charged in my opinion
I’m Titanium on Marriott which does make the Royalton resorts look appealing but overall reviews are not outstanding. The Hilton looks nice but I’d like to be closer to the airport so I’m probably not going there
Anyone got any feedback on the Mirage properties? Any others that look good recently. Adult only but not “frat party” is ideal.
Thanks
Hyatt is out of the question. Their pricing is out of touch with reality and then they want to nickel and dime me on top of that! With their pricing there should not be a lot of extras charged in my opinion
I’m Titanium on Marriott which does make the Royalton resorts look appealing but overall reviews are not outstanding. The Hilton looks nice but I’d like to be closer to the airport so I’m probably not going there
Anyone got any feedback on the Mirage properties? Any others that look good recently. Adult only but not “frat party” is ideal.
Thanks
Last edited by Orange County Commuter; Jul 24, 2022 at 9:09 pm
Dec 9, 2022, 9:37 pm
#38
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,630
So the June trip didn’t happen for a lot of reasons. We are now looking at an November trip right after Thanksgiving. I’m still leaning towards Iberostar grand but it is a little more expensive and looking at other options
Hyatt is out of the question. Their pricing is out of touch with reality and then they want to nickel and dime me on top of that! With their pricing there should not be a lot of extras charged in my opinion
I’m Titanium on Marriott which does make the Royalton resorts look appealing but overall reviews are not outstanding. The Hilton looks nice but I’d like to be closer to the airport so I’m probably not going there
Anyone got any feedback on the Mirage properties? Any others that look good recently. Adult only but not “frat party” is ideal.
Thanks
Hyatt is out of the question. Their pricing is out of touch with reality and then they want to nickel and dime me on top of that! With their pricing there should not be a lot of extras charged in my opinion
I’m Titanium on Marriott which does make the Royalton resorts look appealing but overall reviews are not outstanding. The Hilton looks nice but I’d like to be closer to the airport so I’m probably not going there
Anyone got any feedback on the Mirage properties? Any others that look good recently. Adult only but not “frat party” is ideal.
Thanks
Will spend a few weeks in the island and we were inclined to book the Hilton again for a few days, but according to the latest reviews it seems that the quality declined. Hyatt is again out of the question, the cheapest room costs $799, not worth it.
Aug 20, 2023, 2:15 pm
#39
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sun Peaks, Taupo.
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet Teal, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,130
Recent experiences
Good day FT,
Considering a one week all-inclusive in Punta Cana, not our typical vacation style, but sometimes simplicity is best.
Will be two of us, prefer adults only or an adults only section.
I despise having to hunt for a shady lounge chair or queue for anything, so will pay for a resort with a concierge type service.
Good food is important.
Ground level suite with a patio, so we can come and go and not feel shut in.
Please let me know of any good resorts, the room type or service level we should consider.
Any links to websites with unbiased and well informed reviews?
Considering a one week all-inclusive in Punta Cana, not our typical vacation style, but sometimes simplicity is best.
Will be two of us, prefer adults only or an adults only section.
I despise having to hunt for a shady lounge chair or queue for anything, so will pay for a resort with a concierge type service.
Good food is important.
Ground level suite with a patio, so we can come and go and not feel shut in.
Please let me know of any good resorts, the room type or service level we should consider.
Any links to websites with unbiased and well informed reviews?
Aug 21, 2023, 7:25 am
#40
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
Good day FT,
Considering a one week all-inclusive in Punta Cana, not our typical vacation style, but sometimes simplicity is best.
Will be two of us, prefer adults only or an adults only section.
I despise having to hunt for a shady lounge chair or queue for anything, so will pay for a resort with a concierge type service.
Good food is important.
Ground level suite with a patio, so we can come and go and not feel shut in.
Please let me know of any good resorts, the room type or service level we should consider.
Any links to websites with unbiased and well informed reviews?
Considering a one week all-inclusive in Punta Cana, not our typical vacation style, but sometimes simplicity is best.
Will be two of us, prefer adults only or an adults only section.
I despise having to hunt for a shady lounge chair or queue for anything, so will pay for a resort with a concierge type service.
Good food is important.
Ground level suite with a patio, so we can come and go and not feel shut in.
Please let me know of any good resorts, the room type or service level we should consider.
Any links to websites with unbiased and well informed reviews?
From my experience, I would recommend two resorts. In all transparency, we have not stayed in Punta Cana since before the pandemic. So please make sure to verify all the details of our experiences as things may have changed.
Our favorite place so far has been the Melia Level within the Meliá Punta Cana Beach Wellness Inclusive - Adults only resort. The Level is an exclusive resort within a resort. Private pools, private beach area, etc. Guests form other areas within the overall Melia resort complex are able to eat at the Level's restaurants but it requires an upcharge. Our experience was that we had no issues in any sort of crowding at the pool, at the beach or at a restaurant. And no children to be seen anywhere on the Level property itself. Meaning no children at the pool or the beach. We did not have to get up early in the morning and mark our territory with towels for a nice shady pool chair or beach chair. You can get a Level Suite on the ground floor, beachside for something like $3000 - $3500 USD for a high demand week (US school spring holiday week),
We have also stayed at Iberostar Grand resorts. Not the one in Punta Cana but in both the Riviera Maya in Mexico and the Rose Hall resort in Montego Bay Jamaica. Our experience at both was very similar and both were excellent resorts. The Iberostar Grand resorts are completely separate properties (sharing an larger aggregate campus with other Iberostar resorts). They are more exclusive and more private than the Melia. The food is also very good. The price for the same week I searched at the Melia as about double the cost of the Melia (around $7000) for a beach front ground floor suite. However I have done searches and the Iberostar Grand was the same as the Melia, so it will depend on your travel dates.
Iberostar is now an IHG brand so if you have status and points with IHG, you will probably get a lower rate. When we stayed at Iberostar Grand resorts, the service was the absolute best we had ever experienced. The higher end rooms come with a butler who doubles as your personal concierge (a service not available at the Melia).
We prefer the Melia because of the value and it is a bit smaller and felt more intimate. You can walk out your room, turn right and you are almost on the beach. Turn left and walk 10 - 20 meters and you are almost in the pool. But that was our personal experience and it fit our preferences and tastes.
Aug 22, 2023, 7:55 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sun Peaks, Taupo.
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet Teal, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,130
There are several places in Punta Cana that could be a good fit for your requirements. The only issue might be what you consider as good food. We've stayed at several all inclusive resorts in Punta Cana with very acceptable food. Well prepared, decent quality ingredients and tasty. But nothing compared to a Michelin star rated restaurant.
From my experience, I would recommend two resorts. In all transparency, we have not stayed in Punta Cana since before the pandemic. So please make sure to verify all the details of our experiences as things may have changed.
Our favorite place so far has been the Melia Level within the Meliá Punta Cana Beach Wellness Inclusive - Adults only resort. The Level is an exclusive resort within a resort. Private pools, private beach area, etc. Guests form other areas within the overall Melia resort complex are able to eat at the Level's restaurants but it requires an upcharge. Our experience was that we had no issues in any sort of crowding at the pool, at the beach or at a restaurant. And no children to be seen anywhere on the Level property itself. Meaning no children at the pool or the beach. We did not have to get up early in the morning and mark our territory with towels for a nice shady pool chair or beach chair. You can get a Level Suite on the ground floor, beachside for something like $3000 - $3500 USD for a high demand week (US school spring holiday week),
We have also stayed at Iberostar Grand resorts. Not the one in Punta Cana but in both the Riviera Maya in Mexico and the Rose Hall resort in Montego Bay Jamaica. Our experience at both was very similar and both were excellent resorts. The Iberostar Grand resorts are completely separate properties (sharing an larger aggregate campus with other Iberostar resorts). They are more exclusive and more private than the Melia. The food is also very good. The price for the same week I searched at the Melia as about double the cost of the Melia (around $7000) for a beach front ground floor suite. However I have done searches and the Iberostar Grand was the same as the Melia, so it will depend on your travel dates.
Iberostar is now an IHG brand so if you have status and points with IHG, you will probably get a lower rate. When we stayed at Iberostar Grand resorts, the service was the absolute best we had ever experienced. The higher end rooms come with a butler who doubles as your personal concierge (a service not available at the Melia).
We prefer the Melia because of the value and it is a bit smaller and felt more intimate. You can walk out your room, turn right and you are almost on the beach. Turn left and walk 10 - 20 meters and you are almost in the pool. But that was our personal experience and it fit our preferences and tastes.
From my experience, I would recommend two resorts. In all transparency, we have not stayed in Punta Cana since before the pandemic. So please make sure to verify all the details of our experiences as things may have changed.
Our favorite place so far has been the Melia Level within the Meliá Punta Cana Beach Wellness Inclusive - Adults only resort. The Level is an exclusive resort within a resort. Private pools, private beach area, etc. Guests form other areas within the overall Melia resort complex are able to eat at the Level's restaurants but it requires an upcharge. Our experience was that we had no issues in any sort of crowding at the pool, at the beach or at a restaurant. And no children to be seen anywhere on the Level property itself. Meaning no children at the pool or the beach. We did not have to get up early in the morning and mark our territory with towels for a nice shady pool chair or beach chair. You can get a Level Suite on the ground floor, beachside for something like $3000 - $3500 USD for a high demand week (US school spring holiday week),
We have also stayed at Iberostar Grand resorts. Not the one in Punta Cana but in both the Riviera Maya in Mexico and the Rose Hall resort in Montego Bay Jamaica. Our experience at both was very similar and both were excellent resorts. The Iberostar Grand resorts are completely separate properties (sharing an larger aggregate campus with other Iberostar resorts). They are more exclusive and more private than the Melia. The food is also very good. The price for the same week I searched at the Melia as about double the cost of the Melia (around $7000) for a beach front ground floor suite. However I have done searches and the Iberostar Grand was the same as the Melia, so it will depend on your travel dates.
Iberostar is now an IHG brand so if you have status and points with IHG, you will probably get a lower rate. When we stayed at Iberostar Grand resorts, the service was the absolute best we had ever experienced. The higher end rooms come with a butler who doubles as your personal concierge (a service not available at the Melia).
We prefer the Melia because of the value and it is a bit smaller and felt more intimate. You can walk out your room, turn right and you are almost on the beach. Turn left and walk 10 - 20 meters and you are almost in the pool. But that was our personal experience and it fit our preferences and tastes.
Aug 23, 2023, 7:15 am
#42
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
If you have never been to that part of the Caribbean, avoid going during the hurricane season (August through mid October). Even if you avoid any serious storms, the climate is brutally hot and humid. I have friends who went for one week stays during that time and were hit by serious storms where they had to spend at least 3 days indoors with limited food/beverage service.
Dec 7, 2023, 3:19 pm
#43
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: Accor PLT,Thai Silver, HH Dia, SPG Titanium (LT Gold), Aegean Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 5,119
We are contemplating a trip to Punta Cana and have been looking at the various options. We have narrowed it down to the Iberostar Selection Bavaro Suites or the Grand Palladium Palace and Resort Spa. Does anyone have any experience which they could share with either please. We are considering 5 nights in one of these hotels AI and then a further 5 nights at the new AC Hotel by Marriott. Not sure if the later is a good idea but would welcome any feedback.
Dec 11, 2023, 3:17 pm
#45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: Accor PLT,Thai Silver, HH Dia, SPG Titanium (LT Gold), Aegean Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 5,119
Interesting as I'm seeing rates for September at under $150. Will have a deeper look.