Zel Punta Cana

This was an immensely lovely experience. Our concierge, Yunior, was exceptional and truly went above and beyond to make our stay as comfortable as possible. Highlights include the AUA Spa, snorkeling with Tio Rocky, and the beautiful beach.

Rubia is the absolute best bartender ever! They’re literally impeccable. I wish I could take her & her drinks back home with me. Rubia made our vacation so great! We looked forward to seeing her every single day!!! ¡Rubia es la mejor camarera de la historia! Son literalmente impecables. Ojalá pudiera llevarla a ella y a sus bebidas a casa conmigo. ¡Rubia hizo que nuestras vacaciones fueran geniales! ¡¡¡Estamos deseando verla todos los días!!!

Great place for a relaxing trip, combining some good wellness activities (yoga, pilates etc.) with relaxation.

Beautiful grounds, very clean. Good service at hotel. At the beach club, Ricardo is the best. He provides excellent service and a memorable experience!

Overall Impression: Zel Punta Cana is a visually stunning resort with a sophisticated, Mediterranean-Caribbean aesthetic. The architecture and landscaping are top-notch, and it never felt over-crowded, which is a rare find. However, while the physical property is 5-star, the service and communication currently feel closer to a 3-star experience. The Highlights: The Property: Absolutely beautiful. The pools and "secret" spaces are well-designed. A huge plus was never having to "fight" for a pool chair; we found a canopy bed or palapa every time we wanted one. The Room: We stayed in a Master Suite, which was massive. The private whirlpool tub in the back was a highlight of the trip. Dining Hits: The buffet selection was fresh with plenty of greens and fruit. Nokyo was our absolute favorite meal. The coffee from the cafe was also excellent. Areas for Improvement: Service & Language Barrier: This was our main struggle. We encountered significant communication gaps that we haven't experienced at other resorts. At one point, we ordered a White Russian and received a Screwdriver; another time, a bartender didn't recognize a Gin Martini or Manhattan. We eventually switched to wine just to keep things simple. Inconsistency: We had multiple appetizers never show up, and the follow-up from staff was hit-or-miss. At Tacorini, we were told there was no menu and received a tiny portion of beef souvlaki, which forced us to go to the buffet afterward to actually finish dinner. Logistics: The pools were quite chilly in February—a little more heat would have been welcome. Also, the beach area is nice but desperately needs more umbrellas for shade. Pro-Tip for Travelers: Check out FunRepublic for live music! It wasn’t well-advertised, but it’s a great spot. Also, the QR code menus can be tricky with the language barrier; I’d recommend the resort move to bilingual paper menus so guests can point to what they need.