I was lucky enough to stay in Punta Cana for 5 days on a semi-short notice trip. We stayed at the IBEROSTAR Punta Cana Resort and I have written this review as a guide for anyone who may be weighing their options on resorts in Punta Cana.
All-Inclusive:
I personally prefer all-inclusive resorts over regular resorts for several reasons. Although there is more of an upfront cost when booking the trip, it generally evens out to be about the same amount you would be spending on food and drinks at a resort normally. Especially when staying at such a beautiful and such relaxing destination as Punta Cana, it helps to not be constantly adding up how much you have been spending in your head. I mean, who doesn’t love the feeling of being able to walk up to a beach-side bar empty handed and walk away with a refreshing drink in hand?
Food and Drinks:
The all-inclusive feature leads to my next topic. I wouldn’t consider the food to have been out of this world, but it was pretty much exactly what you would expect for an all-inclusive resort. There are several buffet areas to choose from spread out across the resort, each with wide varieties of food. Depending on the package you choose while booking, you may also have access to several restaurants each serving different cuisines for dinner. The drinks weren’t weak, but they also weren’t very strong either.
Staff and Service:
I must say, one of my favorite aspects of my stay here was how friendly and considerate the staff was. From the minute you enter, you are greeted with smiles and genuine reception. We didn’t have a single bad experience with the service, and never once came across an employee that was in a bad mood. Smiles all around!
Pools and Beaches:
The enormous pools were the perfect size which meant it never felt crowded. There were two separate pools designed to mirror each other in shape which complimented the center of the resort. On the beach we never had trouble finding free lounge chairs and the little huts provided some much needed shelter from the sun. In addition to the pools and the beach I have to add that the upkeep to the grounds was impeccable. You could tell the appearance of the grass, hedges, and walkway are a high priority at Iberostar.
Nightlife:
If you are looking for a party scene, this is not your resort. I am sad to say that the nightclub featured on the grounds was a bit of a disappointment. I do think, however, that this is due to the crowd that chooses to stay at the resort. A majority of the guests were small families and couples of all ages, not many young singles..
Final Thoughts:
I would highly recommend this resort as a place for couples on a short baecation. It would also work well for families with kids who are older than 4 or 5 because there weren’t many featured designed for entertaining small children. I really loved the grounds of the resort and the rooms were simple but modern and clean. Be prepared to try to be talked into a timeshare deal. If you can sit through the appointment and NOT end up falling into that trap, it might be worth the complimentary service they add-on in exchange for listening. For us we were given free massages for our time. The massage facilities were gorgeous and have several different types of hot tubs and a pool you could relax in afterwards.
Side note: please excuse the picture quality, I did not own my camera at the time so these shots were taken on my iPhone.
