Zel Punta Cana

My friend and I took a “girls trip” to The Dominican and last minute decided on Zel. Thank goodness we did because it was OUTSTANDING. The decor was super cool, clean, and chic. The food was really great (the hibachi was an unexpected treat in the DR). But above all the staff really crushed it with their service and friendliness. So much so I they deserve some individual shout outs: Angel, who we first encountered at the beach club made us some killer drinks and taught us some about the Dominican culture and music, notable figures, and was just an all around sunshine to interact with. GRACIAS ANGEL!!! Jasmell and Danyelis stopped by my friend and I at the pool and snapped some Polaroids (all of us together) that I’ll cherish forever! The activities they put together were well organized and fun. I painted a couple of Zel canvas totes and brought them home as souvenirs. Innocencia and Angelica at the restaurant lobby helped us organize a last minute reservation because we forgot to make one (there are kiosks around the resort - we just got carried away at the pool and forgot!). That special treatment (and the sushi that came with it) was memorable. They also cracked us up with some Dominican humor and it was the highlight of our evening chatting with them. Tatiana at Voltaje (my girl!!!) made some very effective drinks, made me laugh, and kept me company at the bar while my friend decided to turn in early on one of the nights we were there (lame!). She also helped me pull some strings and convince the DJ to play some of my favorites, so big shout out to her for making my night “out” a blast. We also met Jose at Tacorini (the Greek + Mexican spot by the pool - get the lamb chops) and he helped us kick off the vacation with some Mama Juana (DR infused rum) and laughs. A heartfelt guy through and through! He made sure everything was always “todo frío” (that means cool… lol). Overall, I had a great time full of laughs and warmth at Zel. I could feel it the staff really cared about our experience and I highly recommend it. Sending the Zel crew all a big hug from Atlanta!

We had great massages at the Zel Spa. Genesis at reception was so nice and the spa facilities and thermal pools were lovely. Can’t wait to come back

This hotel was gorgeous! The suite was luxurious and clean. The staff was excellent and responsive. The food was good, especially in the selected dining options. The beach is not on site, but the shuttle is always available. Go to the beach in the afternoon if you actually want to find a lounge chair, however. We didn't find any nightlife per say, but that really wasn't a huge concern for us. One piece of advice I would add is to have hand sanitizers available. There was none to be found, most importantly, none in the Pardo buffet area. Nairobi was personable. Jose was a wonderful shuttle driver. There were so many wonderful staff members, but I don't know their names. :/ We were extremely pleased with the quiet, peaceful and beautiful grounds too!

The whole week was great. Room was enormous, food and drink easily accessible, and beach was nearby (with easy transportation from the front of the hotel). Beautiful grounds and wonderful staff. My Spanish isn’t great, but that wasn’t a problem at all.

We had an amazing family trip with our young adult daughters. The two bedroom master swim up suite was amazing, giving us the space we wanted and direct access to the incredible pool. Our favorite part about Zel - the people. The staff are incredibly kind and gracious, working hard to make sure everyone has a positive experience. Special shoutout for Yunior, our concierge (and now friend!). He went above and beyond to make our stay fun and relaxing. With his recommendation, we took a two island snorkeling trip to Catalina and Samoa through Otium tours. It was a long, super fun day exploring the beauty of the DR. Other highlights include the yoga classes, hydrotherapy spa, Neguri Beach, the buffet, social dance lessons, and again the Zel Staff. Note when leaving: give yourself plenty of extra time to get through airport security. It took us two hours.