Zel Punta Cana

We just returned from a 13-day stay at Zel Punta Cana, and once again, it did not disappoint. Having stayed here prior to the recent modernizations, we continue to find that this property stands out as our favorite among the Melia Punta Cana options—and the one we keep coming back to. What we love most is the tropical, intimate, and quiet atmosphere. The swim-up room offers an extra touch of luxury and relaxation that makes it easy to disconnect from the busyness of life. Every stay allows us to truly reset—mind, body, and spirit—so we can return home refreshed and re-energized. One of the most meaningful parts of returning to Zel is the people. Many of the staff recognize us by name and greet us like family. Their passion for service is evident, and they consistently work hard to create an experience that is both comfortable and memorable. A few individuals deserve special mention for making our stay exceptional: Angela, one of the managers, greeted us warmly each day and regularly checked in to ensure everything was going well. Leticia at Parda and Volcon delivered consistent, attentive, and thoughtful service throughout our meals. Ontaro, the pool server, was always nearby with a friendly smile, making sure our drinks were topped off and we had everything we needed. We do have one request—one that comes from a place of appreciation and hope. We would love to see Domingo, a longtime server, return to Parda. His presence and exceptional level of service have always made guests feel individually cared for and welcomed like family. He sets a powerful example of what true hospitality looks like. Zel Punta Cana continues to be the peaceful escape we treasure. We are already looking forward to our next visit.

After two weeks of research and review hunting, we decided to share the real, unfiltered truth — because trust us, most reviews out there aren't telling the full story. First off, this resort is visually stunning. Every corner is picture-perfect — you could point your camera in any direction and it would look luxurious. We stayed for 7 days and from a visual standpoint, it’s a 10/10. But let’s start at the beginning: There is self check-in — yes, you read that right. No warm welcome, no personal service. As seasoned travelers who have visited the Dominican Republic over eight times, we found this surprising for a so-called 5-star property. Important note: There are no elevators — something to seriously consider if you have children or mobility concerns and end up on a higher floor. Now, the food... It was extremely underwhelming. Having traveled extensively throughout the Dominican, we can confidently say this was the weakest food experience we've had. It's not quite "Cuba-bad," but it certainly doesn’t meet the five-star standard they promote. While it’s understandable that new resorts experience growing pains, the overall service was disappointing. The Service: Despite being overstaffed, the level of service did not match expectations. Only about 10 staff members stood out for their friendliness and professionalism. Many others seemed distracted or disengaged, often preoccupied with their phones. Staff rarely came around to check if guests needed anything at the pool or beach — and yes, we were tipping generously. It also felt like the rules and offerings changed daily depending on who was working. For six days, coffee at the pool was no problem, and then suddenly on the last day, three staff members (again on their phones) told us they had "run out" and suggested we walk to the front bar to get it ourselves. It was surprising, especially when simple hospitality could have made a big difference. Now, let’s talk about the music: Whoever is in charge of the playlist — I’m begging you — please refresh it. Hearing ABBA and "YMCA" 30 times a day really took away from the atmosphere. It felt more like a retirement cruise than a luxurious Caribbean getaway. Final thoughts: While the resort itself is breathtakingly beautiful, the inconsistent service, average food, and strange management choices would keep us from returning — at least for now. Staff training and stronger leadership are definitely needed. That being said, the gym is absolutely amazing — modern, clean, and fully equipped for a serious workout. And worth mentioning — the beds are incredibly comfortable, making it easy to get a great night’s sleep after long days in the sun. If you're coming strictly for aesthetics, you’ll love it. But if you value service, good food, and a true five-star experience, this isn't it — yet.

We had such a wonderful stay last week! It seemed like there weren't very many guests at the hotel, so it felt like we had a private luxury experience in which there were more staff than guests to attend to our every need. We kept saying that we felt like we were in a scene straight out of the White Lotus. We unfortunately missed the first day of our trip and ended up getting our luggage 24 hours later due to big mistakes by Air Canada vacations, so we were really defeated by the time we arrived. Zel Punta Cana made up for this in no time. Each drink we received was high-quality and made with care, and we were so pleased with the food - neither of us got sick during our week there. We also loved the activities included in our stay - we did Vinyassa and Aero yoga, went on a bike tour of the resort property, and did a variety of arts and crafts including making faceless dolls, hand fans, and wall tiles. The personalized attention we received from our two concierges Alvaro and Ericson was also outstanding. They were quick to respond to any questions or concerns via Whatsapp, and helped us book dinner reservations at the various hotel restaurants. The beach was gorgeous - we have never seen such fine white sand before. The beach restaurant was our favourite. It was amazing to jump right out of the water and enjoy an amazing meal with a great view. We also loved that this resort was on the smaller side, and nightly entertainment felt highly-curated and purposeful. We liked that Zel is not a loud party resort. Thank you for a wonderful week!

The resort seems to only cater to “influencers” everyone else is ignored or given bad service. Influencers are brought in to promote the hotel and we saw how they make things seem like a fun time only for the influencers to record, but as soon as the filming stops it is all over. There isn’t much of a vibe, not much to do, and the hotel is not very efficient is getting drinks or food to you. I would skip this hotel as it seems like the closest to a wellness lifestyle resort is that they practically starve you and bore you to death. No bueno! The management sucks but props to the employees that actually try and make it a good time even when they are told that they need to solely cater to specific groups. Save your money and go somewhere else.

I will start my review with the positive things I can highlight: Service staff in the Buffett and at the pool and wet bar was excellent Eladio at the beach Club is very personable, respectful, and professional. We also enjoyed the food there. They have nice options The room was always restocked with snacks and drinks and was well maintained The room is a good size and we love the jacuzzi, robes and slippers The shuttle staff is very friendly There are some areas for improvement: Since this is a kid friendly hotel they should have regular activities for kids so that they are entertained. We came with our 11 year old daughter and there wasn’t much for her to do in the resort. I found the instructors somewhat rude and not very engaging. They don’t provide enough incentive to stay in the exercise session. The lady who did the ice bucket challenge was great. Love her personality. At times there is no music at the pool so there is no motivation. They should also add nightly entertainment The breakfast buffet could use some improvement with a larger variety of options We had some issues with the room: the jacuzzi wasn’t working so we had to call maintenance In addition the air conditioner didn’t work on two separate days and again we had to call maintenance The resort has some good amenities but it could use some improvements to attract more guest especially that the neighboring resort have more options.