Zel Punta Cana

Long and honest review from experienced travellers. We spent one week at Zel Punta Cana with our baby, staying in a Swim-Up Master Suite. Overall, we had a lovely holiday and made some wonderful memories. The weather was perfect, the resort itself is stunning, and there are many things that Zel gets absolutely right. However, despite the beautiful surroundings and excellent facilities, the overall quality of the experience didn't quite match the five-star boutique image the resort promotes, which is why I’ve rated this review at 3 stars. The absolute highlight of our stay was the room. Every room at Zel is a suite, and our Swim-Up Master Suite was huge, with a separate living area featuring a sofa bed that would comfortably sleep two adults. For families, it's a fantastic layout. We requested a cot for our baby, which was provided before arrival without any issues. However, the indoor jacuzzi did not work. The private swim-up terrace was wonderful, with comfortable loungers and a large Bali bed that became our favourite place to relax. Having this private outdoor space made travelling with a baby so much easier. Check-in was smooth and efficient, with complimentary drinks offered while we completed the formalities, and we were escorted to our room with luggage arriving shortly afterwards. As we visited during low season, the resort remained peaceful throughout our stay. There were always plenty of available loungers around the main pool, although we mostly stayed by our own swim-up area. The resort itself is beautifully designed. It's modern, stylish and much smaller than the huge all-inclusive hotels nearby, creating a far more relaxed atmosphere. The drinks were another strong point. There are several bars around the property serving both imported and local spirits, cocktails were well made and never tasted watered down, and bartenders were happy to prepare drinks that weren't even on the menu. There was also a full programme of daily activities, with the schedule displayed at the main bar. Although we didn't take part in much due to travelling with our baby, it was nice to see there was always something happening for guests who wanted entertainment. The majority of the staff worked incredibly hard and service was generally very good. Food arrived very quickly in restaurants, which suited us perfectly travelling with a small child. If we had been travelling as a couple, however, we would probably have found the dining experience lacking atmosphere, as meals felt rushed rather than relaxed. One observation worth mentioning is that speaking Spanish would probably improve the experience further. Most staff spoke good English and communication was never a problem, although some had limited English. It simply seemed that Spanish-speaking guests enjoyed slightly smoother interactions. Unfortunately, this is where the positives begin to fade. The biggest disappointment by far was the food. The resort has several à la carte restaurants included within the all-inclusive package, which sounded fantastic when we booked. However, with the exception of the steakhouse, we found the menus quite limited. The dishes lean towards modern and creative cuisine, but there are very few simple, familiar options. If you're an adventurous eater you may enjoy it, but if you prefer classic favourites or are travelling with children, you may find the choice disappointing. Some restaurants didn’t have everything on the menu available throughout our stay which made the choice even more limited. The beach restaurant was our favourite and is definitely worth visiting for its beautiful setting. However, transport back to the resort relies on golf buggies, and the waiting times can be excessive. During our visit some guests claimed they had already been waiting over 40 minutes, with no shade or seating available while waiting in the heat. Because we were travelling with a baby, we decided not to return. The buffet restaurant was, unfortunately, the weakest part of the entire holiday. Breakfast was acceptable but extremely small, offering pastries, eggs and an omelette station but little else. While we understand that a boutique resort doesn't need the enormous buffets found in larger hotels, the quality and variety simply weren't what we expected from a five-star resort. Lunch and dinner were even more disappointing. The food often looked dry and uninspiring, with limited variety and very little attention to presentation. Most evenings there would be one beef dish, usually resembling a goulash, some chicken, accompanied by plain rice, one potato option and vegetables. Sauces were almost non-existent. One evening I chose a pork chop that was so dry it was difficult to eat. The buffet consistently felt like an afterthought rather than somewhere guests would genuinely enjoy dining. The room itself was excellent, but there were several maintenance issues that suggest quality control could be improved. Our jacuzzi never worked throughout the stay. After speaking to other guests, it became clear this wasn't an isolated issue, with some guests even changing rooms because of it. As we had already unpacked and settled in with our baby, moving rooms simply wasn't practical for us. The shower light also stopped working for most of the holiday before randomly fixing itself on our final day. Although the minibar is included within the all-inclusive package, it wasn't automatically replenished each day. Whenever we requested a refill it was done quickly, but it would have been nice if this happened routinely without needing to ask. The pools were cleaned daily and the pool staff worked hard, but there were visible signs of wear, including missing tiles around the steps, which seemed out of place for a luxury resort. Housekeeping visited every day but usually quite late, often between 2 pm and 3 pm, meaning we would returned from the pool to find our room still being cleaned. The resort also appears to offer a butler or concierge service, but we weren't introduced to it at check-in. It was only by chance that one member of staff offered us his WhatsApp number and assisted us throughout the week. He was excellent and responded quickly whenever we messaged him, but this service should really be explained to all guests on arrival. The final disappointment came on departure day. We asked whether a late check-out would be possible, as our airport transfer wasn't until 2 pm. The answer was an immediate no because, according to reception, our room was needed for large incoming groups. The receptionist didn't even ask for our room number before giving this explanation, making it difficult to believe. Throughout our stay, the swim-up suites on both sides of ours remained empty, so the explanation felt more like an excuse than an honest answer. It wasn't the refusal that bothered us so much as the way it was handled, and it left a slightly sour taste at the end of our holiday. Overall, Zel Punta Cana is a beautiful resort with excellent facilities, stunning accommodation and a relaxed atmosphere that will appeal to many travellers. The Swim-Up Master Suite was outstanding and easily the best part of our stay, while the majority of the staff were friendly and hardworking. What lets the resort down is not the facilities themselves, but the overall execution and attention to detail. Small maintenance issues, inconsistent service, and above all the disappointing food prevent it from feeling like the luxury five-star boutique resort it aims to be. Would we recommend it? Yes, particularly if you value beautiful accommodation and a quieter atmosphere over food. Would we return? Probably not, unless the dining experience improved significantly. The potential is definitely there, but at the moment it feels like a gorgeous resort that falls short where it matters most.

Raphy, Andres and the rest of the staff made us feel very welcomed and helped us out a lot. They helped us during the arrival and departure a lot and also for our gender reveal Raphy worked very hard to get our requests accomodated and Andres helped us find the perfect spot to do the gender reveal and the rest of the staff was so happy for us and I loved how they joined in for our experience!

I’ve visited a few all-inclusive resorts, and this one is absolutely the best thus far. The restaurant options were impressive, the buffet was always clean, well-presented and offered tons of options. The rooms were cleaned daily, the staff was welcoming and attentive, the tennis/pickleball center was well-designed and included a gym to warm up, refreshments, pro shop and very nice, newly painted courts. The coffee shop offered lattes that hit the spot every morning. The overall layout of the entire resort offered tons of privacy, relaxing spaces and just an overall elegant vibe. If you’re looking for an above average all-inclusive resort, with more than just a good buffet, this is the destination. Luxurious, relaxing, well-appointed, very clean and elegance describe our experience!

extremely nice service Emanuel is the best . He is really friendly and made our vacation very enjoyable.

Ricaldo at the beach bar is amazing really good service excellent employee in general 5 Star would leave more if i could