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 Sunscape Punta Cana  Sunscape Forum Friends Program Location: Beach front - Punta Cana - East Coast - 20 mins. from Punta Cana airport All-inclusive - 540 rooms Hotel Web Site Description from resort website: Renovated in 2003 - 4 restaurants - Le Petit Cafe (Continental Breakfast, Tea Time, Coffee shop) - 1 snack bar - 6 bars - Kid's Club supervised activities program - 1 large swimming pool with children's basin - 4 lighted, soft-surface tennis courts - News stand, boutique, photo and logo shop - 18-hole golf course 15 minutes away  ~ Reviews posted on this page — 30  Don't forget to send Debbie your review ~ Reader's Vacation Photos ~ 1, 2 Save on All-Inclusive Caribbean Resorts with Travelocity Save on All-Inclusive Caribbean Resorts with Travelocity.ca |
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| Sunscape Punta Cana | Melissa ~ Ontario |
Arrival and Flight
Punta Cana airport was swift and we were on a bus on our way to the resort within 20 minutes of arriving.
Rooms
Rooms were clean and spacious. The bathroom glass door took a little getting used to. Shower only had a half-glass, which leaked water all over bathroom floor. Linens were clean, room fridge came stocked with bottles of soft-drinks, beer, and water. They only replenished it once, but also brought a jug of water almost everyday.
Restaurants
Buffet and Tex-Mex restaurant very , very good. Excellent service at Tex-Mex. Italian was a little slow, but the food was also good.
Bars
No problems, kids were able to use self-serve for water and juices.
Beach and Pools
Beach nice when it wasn’t windy. A little weedy, but kept clean by staff. Pool was fairly large, a little older, but clean enough for the amount of people. There’s a nice beach a little ways to the left of the resort.
Grounds
Well kept and clean.
Activities and Entertainment
Staff did a good job of trying to involve guests in games, aerobics, Spanish lessons, etc. Kids had fun. There’s an Explorer’s Club and they played a movie at night by the stage and stage shows were ok, typical comedy and dancing.
Tours
We did the monster truck tour. It was eye opening. We didn’t expect to book an excursion, so I didn’t bring anything for the kids in the villages, but I was able to buy some candy at the market. I cried when we were going through the Haitian village, it was so sad to see so much poverty. I was happy to be able to bring my own children (8 & 10) on this trip. They were able to actually see what they have in life over others.
Departure and Check Out
Fine, easier than Toronto, haha.
Conclusion
Good value resort for the money.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Heather ~ Ottawa, Canada |
Hello Debbie,
My family (me, my husband, my 6 year old son and 3 year old daughter) just returned from an excellent holiday at the Sunscape resort in Punta Cana (on Bavaro beach, formerly called the Allegro. This is NOT the Dreams Sunscape. Many people get the two confused.). After reading many negative reviews, I admit we were a bit nervous, but the price and timing were excellent, so we went for it…albeit with fairly reasonable expectations. However, on the whole we were very pleasantly surprised, and I would recommend this resort for budget-conscious families with young children looking for a great holiday. You simply need to know what to expect, and to be prepared for it. Here are some very detailed comments that might be valuable to anyone else considering this resort:
Timing:
We went the week of April 12 – 19, and the resort was nowhere near full capacity. We could always find a chair at the pool or at the beach when we wanted one, there was never a line up of more than 3 people ahead of us for anything, and you never got the sense of there being too many people. Yes, people do the “chair saving” thing. We did it too, but because we were hanging out by the kids pool we actually didn’t have to…there were ALWAYS empty chairs there at any time of the day. There were also ALWAYS empty chairs on the beach as well…we would just drag them over to a shady spot (LOTS of palm trees) if they weren’t in the shade. So while we did the chair saving thing, it was more as a place to dump our stuff then actually reserve a chair. I wonder if the negative reviews this place got in February / March are what caused the resort to be emptier than normal…but it made for a wonderful vacation for us.
Grounds, etc.
Nice compact resort, nothing is more than a few minutes walk from anything else. Grounds are lovely and well kept. Staff always working, cleaning, painting something. Building are pleasant, lobby is fairly grand, everything is open and airy.
Pool:
Clean, wonderful. One continuous loop with different sections. There is an excellent children’s pool cordoned off at the end closest to the lobby. It’s about chest height on my 3 year old, meaning she could play in the water without having to have an adult right in there. Instead, I could relax on a deck chair on the edge of the pool. It’s also conveniently close to one of the many bars, the pizza restaurant, and the fruit kabob stand, and a bathroom (which as parents know is important for small children). The rest of the pool is deeper (obviously) and has spots for basketball, volleyball, and just plain swimming. There are a couple of charming bridges over certain sections that my kids got a big kick out of as well. I thought it was wonderful…I can’t understand the reviews I read about the pool being dirty.
Beach:
The beach is beautiful. The sand is soft, white and smooth, and the water is crystal clear and calm. Great for swimming – my son learned to swim in the ocean while we were there. There are also many trees and shade umbrellas on the beach, so you can always find shade if you want it. One caution: depending on the weather, there can be a lot of seaweed that floats in the water and washes up on shore. The first two days of our stay we were a bit dismayed by all of it, but there was practically none by the third day. Fortunately it’s sturdy, grassy stuff, not icky or slimy.
Weather:
Hot, sunny, gorgeous. What else is there to say?
Kids Club:
They have a spectacular set up for kids – a gated section with a club house (including Nintendo), climber, swings, treefort, outdoor fooseball and hockey tables…even a resident goat. And the kids club staff are fantastic. Both our kids enjoyed a couple of half days at the club, and even watched a movie on the beach one evening with the club. As a parent, I felt very comfortable with the staff looking after my children. They work SO hard.
Food:
The DR is not known for its food, so with that corollary the food is reasonable. If you are seafood lover (like my husband) then you might actually think the food is great. The buffet (where we ate most of the time) always had many different fresh seafood dishes (fish, shellfish, calamari, etc.). Otherwise, it is pretty average. Carbs and meat are tasty and easy to come by, certain kinds of fresh fruit are always plentiful, but don’t look for much in the way of fresh vegetables. Lots of choice, but I found things to be a bit bland (I guess I was looking for more flavour and heat). So better than I expected, but not necessarily spectacular.
There are two buffets – the main one, and one down at the beach. The food served in both is identical, so we would have lunch at either depending on whether we were at the beach or pool. There are also several a la carte restaurants. The beach restaurant/bar is open all night, others have specific hours. I think the only hour of the day where you can’t literally get food is between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm when the main buffet is changing over from breakfast to lunch service, and the beach one hasn’t opened yet. The bars don’t serve drinks until after 10:00 am, but will hand out bottled water before that.
My kids are “grazers” so at breakfast I would stock up on dried cereal, buns, biscuits, banana bread (in zip lock bags and small Tupperware containers) and fruit (anything with a peel) and have it with me when my three year old started up with her “Mommy, I hungry!” call. I’m not sure what the staff and other guests thought about that, but no one gave me a hard time.
Rooms:
Because the hotel was not full, we were able to upgrade our room to a beachfront room for no extra charge. It was technically a junior suite…which just means that it was about a foot bigger than a standard room, and had a pull out couch. But we were about 10 steps from the beach (literally separated from it by a flower bed and a short stretch of grass), and had a beautiful ocean view from our porch.
The rooms are nice enough. Yes, there is a bit of “gunk” in the bathroom corners…but I didn’t look too closely. Our room was cleaned and we got fresh towels and sheets everyday, the beds were comfy, the room safe worked, and our bottled water was replenished everyday…what else do you need? I understand the hotel is undergoing a fair bit of renovation so be prepared for some things to simply not work. Our fridge didn’t work. We didn’t care. We DID have a shower curtain – I’ve read that many people didn’t, but this wasn’t an issue for us. One note: because it is so humid there, NOTHING ever dries out, no matter what you do with it. So we always dumped all our towels in the tub everyday and got fresh ones just to have something dry!
Staff:
I thought they were all wonderful. Really friendly, helpful when they could be, and they treasure children (Prepare for your little ones to be hugged and fussed over at all times.) However, you need to be sensitive to the way the culture works. Tips are appreciated but also expected, and if you want something out of the ordinary done, be prepared to grease someone’s palm for it. That’s just the way things work there. For instance, my husband’s suitcase was mistakenly routed to another resort, and after repeatedly appealing to the concierge, the front desk staff etc.., and getting friendly but vague promises that they were looking into it, he eventually just offered one of the bellhops 10 bucks to drive him to the next resort and presto – off they went and retrieved his bag. At another time we tried to get a small cot for our room, but we didn’t do it the right way – used the phone instead of going to someone with a small bribe in hand…and we never got it. So definitely bring lots of American dollars, leave your maid a tip and a small gift everyday (we brought fun things like nail polish, lipsticks, hair clips – all inexpensive ones from the dollar store.) Tip the porters, bellhops, drivers, bartenders and anyone you want to do anything extra for you. You’ll get what you need right away with a smile. I know some people have the attitude that they just spent $1000 on the trip and they shouldn’t have to spend any extra, but when you think of the resources it takes to run a resort, the hours the staff put in, the crap they have to deal with…come on, it’s just a few bucks to you.
Activities / Amenities:
We didn’t participate in the activities or use many of the other amenities, but I think this resort is pretty typical. There was a small casino, a night club, and nightly shows (amateur, but entertaining and enthusiastic). There was a spa. There were lots of watersports, for a fee. There were lots of organized games and activities (aerobics, etc.). There were many excursions you could book. Overall I found that this was primarily a family resort geared to swimming and sunning…if you are a honeymooner or a serious partier or an adventurer there are better suited resorts out there.
Shopping:
There is a small store on site for essentials (sunscreen, snacks), and a boutique with clothing, jewelry, bathing suits. Twice a week, authorized vendors come and spread out their wares…there are no vendors on the beach itself at any other time. They are very aggressive, but still very friendly. They do use the trick of giving a free gift to your children to entice you to come and buy something. My kids came home with about 6 different beaded necklaces that we didn’t buy. There is a market just up the main road for more crafts, food, jewelry, art, textiles etc. (but we didn’t go to it, so can’t comment on it.)
The other guests:
We saw mostly Europeans (Germany, France, Brits), then North Americans (Canadians and Americans), and then a sprinkling of other Spanish speaking nationalities. It’s fun for people watching. I can’t get over how much Europeans smoke (even those with young children) but at the same time how beautiful they all are. Overall, the other guests were friendly, reasonably well behaved, never had any issues or problems. Was especially nice at the kids pool – parents would just toss a bunch of pool toys into the pool and let all the kids play with them. Great sharing. Lots of women go topless however, even at the pool, so be prepared for that.
Booking and Travel:
Our charter company was Sunwing vacations, but we actually did the booking through Selloffvacations.com. We got an excellent price, and we booked less than a week before we left. We left Ottawa (ON, Canada) at 6:00 am and were literally on the beach by 12:00 noon. Yes, our rooms weren’t ready, but our bags were locked in a secure room until 4:00 pm when our rooms were ready. (Take your bathing suit and cover up in your carryon. Flight regs mean you can’t take sunscreen in a carryon anymore, so pack a bottle of sunscreen in the most accessible pocket of EVERY suitcase so you can grab one easily and go.) Also, we flew home at 10:30 am, meaning the bus left the resort at 7:00 am…so we didn’t run into checkout problems / bag storage problems like other people with later flights.
Charters are charters, meaning the planes are cramped, and you are traveling with a pack of other tourists. But our flight was on time, we breezed through immigration, picked our bags up easily, sauntered over to the porters who found our bus immediately. Really short bus ride to the hotel. However…keep track of your bags. I didn’t see any special labels on our bags indicating which resort they are supposed to go to, so make sure you actually witness your bag being loaded and unloaded at the right place. I had to point out two of our bags to make sure they got off with us, and then when I walked away (thinking I was in the clear) they actually put my husband’s bag back on the bus and took it to the next resort. So just be vigilant.
Coming home was also smooth and well organized…just tiring. There are many lines to wait in. Don’t forget about the departure tax of $20 US per person…we didn’t realize this until midway through our vacation, and had to set aside all our remaining cash for this. The bank machine in the hotel did not work either so that could have been a problem…although there is probably a working bank machine at the airport!
Health:
Despite our best efforts, we all got a small touch of you-know-what. Nothing that a little immodium couldn’t fix, and nothing that really caused anyone any serious problems. Don’t know if it was the food or accidentally ingesting some water. So take some immodium, ask your doctor / travel clinic for some preventative antibiotics in case you do pick up a really nasty tummy bug, take your anti-malarials. Given that I am paranoid, we also brought a full set of other meds for us and the kids – Tylenol, gravol, dimetap, polysporin, OTC eye drops (my kids are prone to eye infections), bandaids and penaten cream…just in case.
Conclusion:
I think this is a resort that is trying very hard to improve itself. I think they have been hampered by some bad experiences (thieving staff according to other reviews) and are really trying to turn the place around, and it shows. Give it a year and this place will be a true 4.0 or 4.5 star resort, and then they’ll up the price…so if you want a budget-friendly family vacation in the sun, this is a good place to go, now.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Linda |
We went with another couple and had one of the best times of our lives.
Re: Mark's review from April 2008, don't believe a word he say. This hotel is one of the nicest and cleanest we have been to and we have travelled to many countries over many years. These are the type of people who should stay home for their holidays, not go to another country.
We found the rooms were very clean and comfortable, with small fridges, full bathroom and sitting area. The t.v. was not the greatest, however remember they have to pull the signal in all the time and it was cloudy and windy at times. Besides, we didn't go to watch t.v. The grounds were beautiful, and very well maintained. There were people working in the garden daily to upkeep it, and we even saw the worker responsible for keeping the coconut trees free on dead leaves and heavy coconuts that could fall and hurt someone. The beach was beautiful (there is seaweed, but they rake it every morning to keep it clean) and the pool was heaven, especially on a hot day.
We also saw them checking the water quality quite a few times while there.
The meals were excellent in the buffet, and even the fussiest of eaters could find something to fill their tummies with, there was so much to choose from. My husband never once had meat over the two weeks we were there. And the desserts were yummy also.
We found the employees very attentive from the busboys to the housekeepers.
They bent over backwards to make your trip a very enjoyable and worthwhile time. There are so many things to do you could go to a different place everyday and not see all there is to see.
We highly recommend this hotel, and the Dominican Republic!!!
We are planning to return to the same place next spring.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Canada |
Carrier: Sunwing out of Halifax, Nova Scotia
Myself and my husband, flew with Sunwing. Flight was delayed one hour due to de-icing issues in Halifax and runway congestion. No problem, more time to nap on the plane (our flight was to leave at 6 am)
Check in at Sunscape PUnta Cana was quick and easy. Our arrival time was at 11AM and check in time was 3 pm, so our room wasn't ready. We were shown a room to change into our swimsuits, given a welcoming drink and cold towels. There are no bracelets at this resort, and we were encouraged to use all parts of the resort. We were given two towel tickets and shown on a map where the beach was and where to get towels. Off to the beach we bolted!!
The beach was beautiful. Fine white sand, a beautiful breeze and lots of palapas and shade from random palm trees if you wished. There was also no shortage of chairs. A large variety of drinks were served at the beach bar also.
We returned to the front desk at 3pm to receive our rooms, because we wanted to get rid of all our bags, and our room was ready as promised. When we booked our vacation, we requested a second floor room with a queen size bed and that is exactly what we received. Yes, as others have stated, there were no shower curtains in the room, but we didn't mind a little water on the floor. We only used the room for sleeping and showering anyway. The room was clean, there was a little fridge and the ceiling fan and air conditioner kept the room quite comfortable. We did make the mistake of sitting on the patio in the evening, with the patio door open, and let in some mosquitos, that fed happily on me (not my hubbie). I do recommend bug spray for the evenings.
The steak house and italian restaurants were delicious...I highly recommend Dominican Soup in the italian restaurant. The Buffet had large selection for all meals, and the breakfasts were fabulous. There was also a barbecue on the beach every day for lunch, offering hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken, porkchops, etc. They have fountain pops there too. Allways something to eat and drink!
The animation team were hilarious. Mamajuana and gasoline were two of the funniest! The shows in the evening were much like others at different resorts, but they kept us occupied in the evenings after dinner. No complaints there either.
There is snorkeling on a little reef in the safe swimming area on the beach, with a little octopus in the rocks there. There is also excellent snorkeling just down the beach past the neighboring blau natura park. More variety of fish and more coral etc. The whole beach has some currents, at times, so if you are doing some snorkeling, use swim fins. Some days there was lots of seaweed on the beach and in the water, but there is a group of workers that rake the beach daily and seaweed doesn't bite, so not to worry. To get a guaranteed Palapa on the beach, take your towel and reserve your chair before 7AM. I know people don't agree with this, but we used our Palapa all day, and didn't just reserve it and not use it. Please don't put your towels and not return til after lunch, or not at all. People would like to stay at the beach all day and have shady spots. There were often chairs reserved and no one in them.
Our flight didn't leave PC, until 10pm so we wanted to keep our room, because we wanted to shower before we left for the plane. They do offer a hospitality room, and to book a time for the room. WE didn't want to do that so we asked to keep our room til around 5. They said our room was going to someone else, but we could have another room for ten dollars an hour after noon that was the check out time. No problem for us and the room we moved to was just fine.
Also, there is a 12 dollar charge for a room safe. Not a problem for piece of mind.
All in all, this was our fifth trip to the caribbean and we enjoyed this one the most. No problems with upset tummies, and we ate everything! Excellent, friendly staff,good food, clean bed, good drinks, nice beach| Who could ask for anything more.
The fountains at the front of the resort were being cleaned the day we got there, there was painting maintenance poolside while we were there and grooming of the trees and shrubs while we were there. We swam in the pool maybe 3 times and found no troubles there. There was a guy that cleaned the pool at around 7pm every evening.
I would return to Sunscape Punta Cana in a heart beat!| I would even take my teen agers there because I felt very safe. The resort is small and cozy and nice.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Bob ~ NL, Canada |
Arrival and Flight: Sunwing out of St. John’s, NL
We were a party of six and flew with Sunwing, the flight was delayed in St. John’s. However, this is the charter airline to take! The plane was roomy, they served a nice meal and provided snacks and were always offering water and juice for the long 5.5 hr trip. The attendants were friendly and attentive. This is my 2nd time flying with Sunwing and I can’t say enough about their excellent service. The worst has to be Air Transat, followed closely by Air Canada.
Rooms: Not great, no fridge, no shower curtain- only a half glass door which leaked water onto the floor. The shower head was broken.
Restaurants: the Italian was very good, very nice service and food. The steakhouse good also. The main eating area, also ok, the food isn’t bad, you will find something you like. The staff were very nice and friendly, well we tipped, as you should. It was amazing lots didn’t……….cheap and sad.
Bars: We had no issue with the bars.
Beach and Pools: The main pool was ok, family orientated pool. The beach, while the sand was nice, the water was disappointing. There was no surf like you will find in other places-no nice waves to play in. There is tons on seaweed. I will not return here. The other thing is the sand is almost too fine- n two days it was really windy which blew this fine sand around and it was everywhere. For me I will return to the Porta Plata side, the surf is better and the sand doesn’t blow in your face!- Remember this. Lots of people left the beach when it was really windy.
Grounds: ok, nothing great.
Activities and Entertainment: Usual evening entertainment- not always suitable for children. Lots of sexual overtones towards women.
Tours: Did none this time
Departure and Check Out: ok
Conclusion: I would never return to Sunscape, the rooms were bad, the beach was a disappointment and no surf to enjoy- just choppy water all the time. If you like that and lots of seaweed…the this is your spot. Again the staff waiters, etc were great- nice people.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Mark |
This is a terrible, awful, dirty, dangerous and run down hotel. You can get a much better vacation for your money. This is one of the worst places in Punta Cana that you can stay. Please don't go here, it is dirty and dangerous and just awful overall.
*WARNING * BREAK INS: We had a break in at 3 am in my 62 year old mother in laws room, she was alone, theif never caught, we also met another family who was broken in to at 1:30 am, they said the person had a staff uniform on. These break in's both occured on NON-GROUND floor rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floor from the patio's, so these theives aren't scared to climb. The pins on the patio doors will fall out if you shake the door about 10 times. Not safe. Don't go anywhere alone on this resort.
Pool: DISGUSTING, didn't see them check the chlorine even once all week. GROSS GROSS GROSS. My baby who is 1 yr and has NEVER been sick before now has an EAR INFECTION AND an EYE INFECTION in both eyes from this ses-pool. My poor little baby will be forced to gag down antibiotics and take eyedrops for weeks because this horrible pool made him so sick. It was not uncommon to swimm through clumps of people's hair and such, grossest pool I've ever seen in my life
Hotel: Run down, mosquitoes and ants everywhere, gardens not taken care of, cheap, super tacky, terrible, fish pools stink of poop, rooms are grungy, bathrooms are terrible with no shower curtains resulting in a wet floor that is a death trap, t.v. is popcorn on every channel, you have to pay for safety deposit boxes, no fridges or remotes in some rooms, holes in walls with wires sticking out. The only animals on ground are some ducks and a bunch of roosters that crow from about 5am onwards.
Bars: few and far between, no swimm up bar, bartenders are decent though, funny and fast.
Food: there are NO 24 hr buffets which sucks, there are long line ups, food was tasty though, that was the only thing good about this place, it had really good food!
Beach: Great if you don't mind seaweed, they do their best to rake it up. there are a lot of palm tree roots exposed from a past hurricane here and the wood from them is dangerous, I got a nasty splinter that left me limping for days from this wood. We liked the beach though, they have water sports included 1/2 hr per day.
Smoking: People smoke everywhere, even in the dining halls, so be ready for that, gross if you are a n/s or have kids
Staff: If you really need to talk to someone, go to guest services in the lobby to the left of the front desk, they speak the best English, but you have to be firm and demand things from them, there is a good sub-manager called Shantia, she was helpful. The maids and such were usually quite nice. The hostesses/greeters to the dining halls were very nice. Front desk is rude and unaccomidating, they don't speak very good English either, just bypass them and go to guest services.
Service: We booked 2 rooms, and they put us in two different buildings, it took 3 days of me sitting at guest services, first being nice to them and then finally I had to get demanding to get them to finally put us in the same building, and I think they only did so because of our break in.
Travel Program: we booked though Sunwing, good flights and planes there and back, but they don't seem to care that they send people to terrible resorts that are rated as 4 star.
Kids Programs: seemed okay but we didn't use them
Fitness: good fitness classes, decent instructors
Night entertainment: just dancing with a lot of girls butt cheeks showing, tacky stage spray painted neon colours, smoke machine and techno music from about 1999.
OVERALL: I would not recommend this resort to anyone, not even to 21 year olds for spring break who just wanted to get drunk and barf on the ground. It is not even safe enough to do that. I can't believe this place is rated as a 4 star, it should be a 2 or 2.5
Don't go, save your money and go anywhere else. I recommend Ocean Blue, Punta Cana, it is 4.5 star and about 5000 times better than this place. We went there in Feb. 2008 six weeks before we went to Sunscapes and had zero complaints about it.
Anyway, Please don't take your family or anyone you love to this place, it is dirty and dangerous. Don't go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Wes |
Arrival and Flight : Arrived about 4:00 pm March 20/08 from Calgary, Alberta. Direct flight was a bonus. 20 minute trip from the airport.
Rooms: Rooms were adequate, but the shower was ridiculous. Only half the tub was enclosed and each shower resulted in a flood. The humidity remained high constantly in the room, and nothing really dried out. No mini-bars in the room. We complained and they brought us a small fridge, but never stocked it with anything. Beds were adequate, but I wouldn't call them comfortable.
Restaurants: Food was generally good with the exception of one bad meal at the a la carte near the beach. Could be just that we arrived later in the evening the food sat about too long or they were scraping the pots for our meals. The buffet was always good for breakfast and we had dinner there several nights. No complaints there. The Italian and Tex-mex restaurants were very good. The buffet on the beach had pizza, bugger, salads, a sandwich maker and was very convenient and a big hit with the kids.
Bars: No difficulty finding drinks throughout the resort (except in your rooms) and no short-pouring your cocktails. Be careful at the Pirate bar on the beach. Bartenders were freindly and service was good. Tips are greatly appreciated and will get you better service.
Beach and Pools: The beach was very nice, powdery white sand. There was alot of seaweed when we arrived owing to some rough weather before we got there. That was cleaned up after a couple of days. The pool was nice and cool, but there was little or no breeze poolside and I found it too hot for my liking. There was always a nice breeze on the beach, and shade easier to come by. Getting lounge chairs involved collecting your towels and staking your claim before 9:00 am or you're pretty much out of luck. People WILL steal your chairs an towels if left unattended for too long. If you want a shady spot on the beach you better be there at sunrise. Same goes for poolside.
Grounds: The grounds were beautiful and very well maintained. Pool decks and sidewalks were cleaned daily. Lots of flowers.
Activities and Entertainment: The nightly entertainment was hit and miss. Some shows were good, some not so much. I found the audience participation stuff tedious and somewhat embarassing for the participants. Karaokee night should be banned. We went on a snorkling excursion for $20 a head which was well worth it. Staff were enthusiastic organizing activities pool side and on the beach and the games were fun.
Tours: Didn't do any tours. Quite pricey and from people we spoke with, not really good value. We talked to one couple who really enjoyed the monster truck tour though. We were advised not to arrange tours from anyone on the beach, and we did see some pissed off people in the lobby who were never picked up for the excursions they had booked and paid deposits for.
Departure and Check Out: Fairly smooth exit, although we had to be out of our rooms by noon, and the bus didn't pick us up until 3:05. It would have been nice if we could have kept the rooms for an extra couple of hours.
Conclusion: Overall it was a great trip. There were eight in our group including 5 teenager who had a great time. There was some confusion as to whether we were in the right resort because there is another Sunscape operated by Dreams which is apparently much nicer, and that was the website we were browsing before we arrived. Not alot wrong with this place, but I was choked to find out others had paid significantly less than us for the same trip. All in we paid about $1800 a head, and met lots of Canadians who paid less than $1000 (we met two gals from Toronto who paid $600 each). Can't shake the feeling we got ripped off. That said, we were there during spring break and booked well in advance to ensure availability. The resort was touted as a 4.5 star, I'd say 3.5 stars at best. For the price we paid, I would have liked a few more amenities and better quality rooms - although we spent very little time in the rooms. If you can go last minute and save some money I'd recommend this place. If you're paying as much as we did, I'd look elsewhere.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Andrew |
We arrived at Punta Cana around 8 pm from Alberta,Canada on Feb 24/08. Once the door of the aircraft was opened, the humidity and the smell of ocean brought a breath of fresh air after a long day of travel. Check in at the airport was a breeze.
The 30 min bus ride that included 1 stop was full of antcipation for my family (wife and 10 year old), and the rest. Maybe more for us cause it was first time!!! It was hard to see the scenery obviously because of the dark but exciting.
We checked in quickly and headed to the room. Cozy and cool with the a/c on. Comfy bed but sofa bed had thin mattress that staff fixed up with thick mattress. No fridge in room but were available with some whining to staff.
Next day headed to the beach. White sand and very hot. Hard to get lounge chairs after 8 am but easy if you throw towels or sandels on chair early in am and return later. Same with pool area. There are 2 beach bars, and 1 bar next to the pool.
Buffet breakfast, lunch, supper at main eating area, lunch at beach area restaurant with snacks till 2. Italian rest. was supposed to be good but never made it. Pizza rest. by pool was good for a snack during the day and late in afternoon. Pizza rest. turned into steak broil at 6pm. Wait in line and eat if a table available or put name on list and come back later. Well worth the effort. Seafood rest. was very good also. No dress code except for italian rest. Shirt and sandels expected. Food was good with lots of variety.
Staff were great. Knowing spanish would have helped but their english better than our spanish. The entertainment staff worked the beach and resort organizing games, dancing on stage show every night, and making a presence all day long at various spots around resort. Very happy people always smiling and making day fun. Gasolina and DJ Love good guys. Cigar stand by buffet introduces good smoke. Talk to Dominic as his english is excellent and he will tell you a wealth of info. about the country and its people. Very nice people that you will see everyday as staff is the same.
The main stage by the pool has a different show every night that starts around 9pm. The dancers are good and Mike the MC is very funny. Winners from the various games during the day are brought up for recognition and usually a few people from the crowd are brought up for a funny show that can win you a bottle of rum. The show ends around 11pm, have a few drinks at poolside or beach/snack bar that closes at 12pm then head to disco bar at reception area and party till 2am. Dancers from show are there and DJ Love will take your request for tunes. If you want to drink after that you should stock up and head to beach area or hang by pool. Be quiet around pool area and no swimming!!!!
Various day trips are available and cater to how much you want to spend and do. Snorkeling at the beach is fun for kids and small boat is sunk about 10 pylons from the beach swimming area on the left for fish action. Head to the left on the beach 2 resorts over and coral reef extends to beach with all kinds of marine activity. The seaweed is not as bad as reported and cleaned from beach regularly. Kids have a blast looking for shells and stuff in the sand.
Market is 5 min. walk from resort and comes to resort on wed. and sat. evening. The venders all want your money but fun negotiating price. Usually you can get them down to a third of what they are asking . Feel free to bring a plate of fruit, meat or a drink to one of the guys for a better deal on what you want.
The resort is fairly small but makes a nice home for a week with lots of people to meet that you will run into on a regular basis.
I have no complaints at all for Sunscape Punta Cana and am looking forward to a return trip asap. Very family orientated and a blast for children.
I would recommend this resort for family first timers as you will not be disapointed. Did hear complaints from people that had stayed at other resorts, but we had nothing to compare to so we give it a high rating.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Darlene ~ Cleveland |
Arrival -
Went smoothly, we passed very quickly thru immigrations and customs to our surprise. They must have relaxed their rules at arrival because we were on the bus within 1/2 hour to go to our motel. The only problems was that we had to sit on the runway for about 45 minutes because of the Saturday night rush.
Rooms -
First impression - clean and sufficient. I've been in better but it had everything we needed. We were in the room only to shower and sleep. We had an empty refrigerator. It would have been better if it had been stocked as in other resorts.
Restaurants -
We only went to the Grill once. It was OK. We didn't feel like waiting in the lines. The buffet by the lobby was good. There was always something there that I liked. Omelets at breakfast were the best. The buffet by the beach was lacking but it was mostly for those who would rather stay by the beach then get a decent meal.
Bars -
The bartenders were always ready to serve. Always upbeat and fun. No complaints there.
Beach and Pools -
Pool was very good. Very big and clean. The beach was good although I have seen better. The water was not as clean as I have seen. Some seaweed and the water was blue/gray. They said it was because of the location of the resort. Being between the Atlantic and the Carribean Sea causes alot of upheavel in the water. I would go further north next time. But there was plenty of room to enjoy the sun and sand. They do need more beach chairs. If you don't get yours by 7 forget it.
Grounds -
The grounds were beautiful. Clean and so alive with greenery and flowers. Couldn't ask for more.
Activities -
Lots of activities but we were there to relax. The shows were OK could have been better. Kind of boring.
Tours -
There were plenty of tours available but did not go on any.
Conclusion -
We remembered that this was a 4 rated resort. It was good for the price. We were going mainly for the sun, sand, relaxation, sufficient food, accomadations and price. We were totally satisfied in those areas. I would go back if the price was right.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Eddy ~ Montreal |
Arrival -
We arrived early Friday Feb.15 (4AM).Bus ride to Hotel was under 30 minutes, which included a stop at another hotel first. Check in was less than 10 minutes.
Rooms -
Very old and needed repairs. The showers had no curtains, only a half glass. Which meant a very wet floor everyday. Towels were in short supply, some days none! AC was loud, had to turn off before bed. Maid cleaned everyday, but the room still felt a little dingy, dark, and dirty. Bring Kleenex, not supplied.
Beds were new and comfortable.
Restaurants -
The NO reservation policy for al-la-carte was horrible! You wait in line at 5, for 6PM dinner, if they had room. Then you put your name down on a list for 2nd seating. Dress code was in use only at the Italian restaurant, but if you smiled, then they let you in with shorts. Poor people that were turned away! There should be more consistent rules. Staff was very confused about any policy.
The buffet staff were excellent. Sergi,Leonel,Debrorat,Juan, etc treated us like royalty. Always a full glass of whatever you had. Even before we sat, they would bring us our regular drinks.
Bars -
Good bar service at regular bars. We upgraded to First Club for 15 US per person a day. Was realy worth it. Xcellent service (Fany, Rosauria,Stanley and Wander) Premium drinks and again impeccible service only @ FC.
Beach and Pools -
At FC it was over the top. At the regular resort never found a Palapa on the beach after 6 AM. or pool seats after 7 AM. People would reserve them all day long and show up for 10 minutes only. But that is not the fault of the Hotel. The beach was well located. They tried their hardest to keep up with the seaweed under control.
Grounds -
Lots of flowers. They had a couple of water fountains, a huge bird cage, and some wondering geese. Constantly cleaning.... A+ for effort.
Activities -
Saw alot of people enjoying the daily activities. I just wanted to relaxand vegitate by the Ocean.
Dominic at the Cigar Bar in front of the Main Buffet was realy nice. Many thanks to him. He educated us in the world of cigars. Very friendly and not pushy at all. Good times! His demeanor was always sincere.
Tours -
Take the Santa Domingo Day Tour. Beautiful. We have been to Dom REP six times already. Seen most she has to offer before.
Conclusion -
We were turned off by Miguel(Cook) at the afternoon pizza bar. He just plain ignored people. Was not very happy.
Upgrade to Firt Club. Free internet, premium drinks, always a place at the private pool or private beach. Can't say enogh of the good service there.
Wouldn't come back here. Gran Bahia was much nicer. Still had a relaxing and great vacation.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Martial |
We arrived in Punta Cana on January 18 2008 We took a taxi to the resort. The check in was very quick, of course we arrived at night in darkness, so we did not do any visiting that night. The next day we walk around the resort to familiarize yourself with the resort.
We found the employees there very friendly and helpful, a little problem in communication sometimes but that we expected. To our surprise many of the employees could speak French which we can too.
The beach is not the best one that I have seen too many weeds, but we did not swim in the ocean.The swimming pool is excellent.
Our room was very nice and clean we were in building # 5. What is good no matter what building you are in it is a short distance for the ocean and pool.
The food we find to be of good variety.
There was all day entertainment which I participate in many of them this was very good, lots of fun.
I would go back to the same resort, and would recommend it.
My greatest disappointment is the so call exchange office or bank at the office. Very hard to cash travelers cheque or even a $50.00 dollar bill.
This was Our first time in Punta Cana and we stayed for 14 days.
I know it is all exclusive but sometime you want to leave a tip for good services. I think the workers there do expect that and may do tip.
Some of the workers in that exchange office were not too friendly. Where are we to get change when there is no bank around the resort, unless to take a cab for $20.00 to go in town. Next time we go back I quess we will be smarter and bring a lot of one dollar bills. The resort should and must supply a place to get some change, and with more friendly one that were in the exchange office.
My second disappointment was no small fridge in the rooms, this meant drink water at room temp. or warmer.
As I said I would recommend the resort, and would stay there again. At least now I know what to expect.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Canada |
This resort is being confused with the Sunscape the Beach Punta Cana, which is where I thought I had booked, see page 77 of the Sunwing Vacations brochure. A much superior resort an hour from Punta Cana airport not 20 minutes such as the Sunscape Punta Cana. The Sunscape Punta Cana, the grounds are kept immaculate. I have just returned from there and the resort was full. They had to borrow lounge chairs from the Oasis resort next door, so people had a lounge chair on the beach. Very crowded resort. The pool would be cleaned daily, but I questioned if the filter was working properly as it could be heard making very loud noises that would be left unattended for quite some time. Our room was very old and musty and dark. Staff did keep it clean, but you could also smell the mustiness as you walked in. The breakfast was always good with lots of variety. People we spoke to had no hot water for the majority of their trip, despite their daily complaining. Always promised to be fixed. I would consider this resort no more than a 3 star resort. The staff are trying, but the resort rooms need work and when the resort is full, it is way too crowded. I would not recommend this resort.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Valery - 6 Adults, 2 kids (ages 6 and 3) |
The trip from the airport to the resort was very short, with two stops at other resorts along the way in a clean and air conditioned bus. A lot of fun with everyone on the bus very excited to start their vacation and drinks were shared all around.
We arrived at the Sunscape Punta Cana at about 1:00 p.m. - check in is not until 3:00 p.m., but they were very accomodating and greeted our group with icey strawberry drinks then directed us to the buffet for lunch. It was very hot, and we were uncomfortable in our jeans, but changed in the lobby restrooms and headed for the pool. Our rooms were ready on time, and we got all 3 rooms on the ground floor (as requested) and within close proximity of each other. Our room was VERY musty smelling, but once we asked the maid for help she ensured we received a de-humidifier immediately which removed the musty smell within a couple of hours. We had to run the humidifier all week, but would turn it off at night because it was so noisey. We asked for a room with two double beds (one for us, one for the kids) but the room came with only one double bed and a pull-out couch. The couch had no mattress and was missing some springs so there was a big hole near the end of the 'bed'. The staff brought a flimsy mattress for the first night, and the next day brought a proper double mattress, so the couch-bed was now so high it looked like a trampoline, but at least the kids had somewhere decent to sleep. The maid service was great, fresh linens and towels everyday. There was no fridge, but we asked for one at the desk. If you have small children under 5 they will bring you a fridge for the kids juice/milk.
The food at the buffet was touch and go, some things were good, some not. The breakfast smoothies are awesome. Most of the vegetables had creamy sauce or cheese all over them. A nice fresh steamed or grilled veg option would be better. The Grill at the pool was excellent for dinner and the Italian restaurant was also nice. Watch out, the pesto is REALLY salty and sticky, but the lasagna was a nice surprise and my kids loved it. You have to line up at 5 pm to get in when they open the doors at 6, but you are lining up outside so bring a chair and a cool drink and the time will pass before you know it. The Beach Grill down on the beach had great lunches with burgers, freshly made nacho chips, salad bar, desserts and coffee. A quick lunch if you are at the beach and don't want to head up to the main buffet.
There were plenty of chairs at the pool and beach, and the towel service was great. Get out early and reserve your chair(s). The beach was nice and clear, there was a bit of seaweed but we did not find it bothersome. I saw staff out there numerous times clearing the seaweed and debris.
There are wonderful excursions offered through this resort and at great prices! We went horseback riding, the whole family (2 adults, 2 kids) for $60. It was over an hour long ride on a secluded beach with a rest-stop at a local farm with puppies to play with and a market place. The ride to the ranch was somewhat precarious on a motorized 'wagon' that they call a bus, but the kids enjoyed it and we arrived and returned safely. The snorkling in the glass bottom boat is amazing! For $10 a person, they take you out to the ocean reef and you are surrounded by friendly fish, hundreds of colourful tropical fish, that swim right around you. If you take your time and look to the bottom, you will see small sting rays, and other interesting marine life. Be forewarned, if you have never been snorkling before (like me) they do not give you any guidance, just a pair of flippers and a mask and say 'jump' overboard, but if you are adventerous and patient with yourself, you will soon get the hang of it and really enjoy yourself!
The Explorer's Club (kids club) is truly amazing! I don't know what they do there, but the kids just loved it and they wanted to go back day after day. The caregivers are so good with the kids, my youngest son became very attached to Tito. The kids who played together all grew very close very quickly, and when it was time to finally pack up and fly home, it was not without a few tears from the little ones leaving their new friends.
Although there were ups and downs with this resort, for the most part it was a nice vacation. The staff are really what make this place so great. They are dealing with an older facility with humid and musty rooms, and trying to satisfy everyone's food expectations, but all you have to do is ask and they will do their best to accommodate you. The grounds were spotless. In fact, it was a dissappointment to see so many of the guests carelessley throwing their cigarette butts and straws on the ground and having to watch the staff clean it up hour after hour.
I would recommend this resort to my friends, but with caution regarding the rooms and food quality being mediocre.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | Martin |
Sunscape Punta Cana (previously Occidental allegro)
Location: 20 mins from the airport. Located south of the bavaro beach next to the Natura Park Blau.
Travel time: January 20 to January 28, 2008.
Price: 899$ Taxes included
Travel Agency: Gotraveldirect
Resort: Beautiful resort, well maintained. Very good services and Staff. Except for the beach staff (rentals) were no one speaks English. all Spanish. Ridiculous, these people should raking seaweed.
Beach: Nice, full of palm trees but its full of seaweed compared to the northern beaches of the Punta Cana Region. Snorkeling is discusting unless you want to see weeds. But for 10$ they will bring you to a nice spot by boat. Last year we were at the Grand Paradise (located north) and the beach was awesome, clear water with good snorkeling. Nice little convenient bar on the beach. Not enough chairs for everyone because of the stupid towel reservation system.
Rooms: Nice rooms, good size. The showers are ridiculous, there is only half a glass, all the water goes on the ground so the bathroom is constantly flooded. No fridge.
Food: Very good variety. We were 6 people travelling and we were all satisfied with the food. Nobody was sick.
Pool: Great big pool but no swim up bar. Cons: They play James Blunt all day long :(
For 899$, I would recommend this resort but most of the people we met paid at least 1250$ and at that price, it's a rippoff, just because the seaweed. Do not go there if you like swimming in the ocean.
| Sunscape Punta Cana | bb/mt |
Arrived around 2:30 at SUNscape Punta Cana to find the lobby in full Holiday Hustle and Bustle mode…Folks were checking in and checking out and the lobby was decorated with festive Holiday colors and lights….very welcoming!
I later found out that the resort was at 99 percent occupancy for most of the holiday! It was amazing to me to watch the staff take care of things knowing that the resort was so full.
The resort had just had the name changed to SUNscape not even a month before…and the transition is going well from what I could see. There is just so much for a resort to transition from one brand to another…logos, stationary, name tags, uniforms….so many details and touches that must be taken care of…
While there I got to meet with management and staff and tour the resort and take pictures of some rooms, the beach, the pool, the dining, convention center, the stores, the internet area at the lobby…all the details and places that folks ask about when planning their vacation…things that I want to know about when I am thinking of choosing a resort!
My first impression was a good one…I liked the way the lobby looked…it had a wonderful tropical yet familiar feel to it…sort of like visiting someone's home…or in this case….hacienda…I like the lobby at SUNscape Punta Cana a lot!
The walk from the lobby was not long at all, I was in building 4 which is part of the "Club Area". The Club Area has a separate pool, beach and club house for their guests. A club room cannot be booked through the travel company but is available through an upgrade upon arrival at the resort and only on availability of rooms there…the price for upgrading can range from $55 to $75 a night per person. It is a lovely quiet area and the club house has top shelf bar, snacks throughout the day and breakfast starting at 7am.
Walking to the room we passed the pool area and I could see how each of the buildings were built around the pool area and how convenient it was…I could see the beach and ocean too…I really liked the way the resort is laid out. Everything is close by and well planned.
After arriving I did a little unpacking and took a some pictures of my room and view…I had upgraded to a suite that consisted of a bedroom and living / dining area that even had a nice kitchen area…with micro wave, coffee maker, 2 burners, fridge, cabinets, 3 bottles of dispensed liquor and a bar top and 2 stools…what a great set up.
The room I was in had the capability to be two bedroom suite the dining / kitchen area had a bedroom on either side of it….so it can be broken up in a few ways…very nice indeed!
My first dinner was at The Seaside Grill and was totally awesome…beef in a coffee sauce…WOW was it ever delicious! As was the soup before hand which was a Typical Dominican Soup and dessert…which was a Pineapple Flan….All so good I couldn't stay up and go to the show…I went back to my room and crashed…happy to be there full with fine food and satisfied that this New SUNscape was going to be SUNsational!
It had been raining on Friday most of the day and I fell asleep to raindrops on the palm trees outside my balcony…what a lovely way to be lulled to sleep…
Saturday morning came before I knew it and the SUN was shining and all was well with the world and with me! I made a great cup of coffee with the fixings and the coffee maker in the dining/ living/ kitchen area of the suite…and had it on the balcony by my bedroom…what a way to wake up in paradise… the view below me was the Club pool and folks were starting to stir and go down for breakfast by the pool there…I opted to put on my bathing suit and walk up to the World Café and get my beach towel and spend some time in the SUN
The World Café was wonderful! Large and Airy and lots of windows decorated for the Holidays and lots of happy staff there to take care of the guests! A cute waiter took care of seating me and getting me a "Café Con Leche" por favor!!!! My minuscule Spanish…gives everyone a good giggle…
I found lots of great choices…eggs in any style you can think of and an "Omelet Guy" who will make whatever you like…both hot and cold cereals, cold meats and the list goes on and on…and even sweets to top it all off with…and the never empty coffee cup…ahhh…Life was SUNsational!
Saturday was great…I spent some time on the beach and time walking around taking pictures, talking with guests, meeting with staff and management and taking more pictures…even got some time to go up to the lobby and send some LIVE FROM reports via the "Leoopardo" (my leopard laptop!) It was a wonderful day in paradise…a few drops of "liquid SUNshine" had fallen but nothing that ruined anyone's day..
After a little siesta…I got dressed for dinner and headed up to the Lobby to have a drink and …of course take some more pictures…hehehe…I had planned to have dinner at DaMarios and stopped by around 6:30 the head waiter was there along with the hostess and told me they would be opening at 7pm that night…so I headed for the lobby bar…DaMarios is just off the lobby and very convenient to the lovely lobby bar…I like it there! After chatting with some guests I strolled over it was about 7:05 and I was seated with no problemo...there were already a few guests there and the room was lovely and intimate…I like DaMarios at SUNscape Punta Cana!
Both the Service and food were great! I love their Salad Area at the end of the room…all kinds of great "salad fixings" and kept cold by one of those "cold tables"…I have been seeing more and more of those popping up lately…rather than putting things in dishes in a huge table that has been filled with ice…The salad selections were great and I made a delicious salad and waited for my soup…the Lobster Bisque was good…very tasty!
I had the veal…OMG it was so good…I truly took my time and savored every single morsel…it truly was that good!
Well this is turning into a "Novella" ...you can see my "Live From" reports on the forum
And if anyone has any questions I would be happy to answer.
baltobabe@comcast.net
Happy Travels to Everyone!
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | Marcyn ~ USA |
Arrival -
We arrived October 6th 2007 - Check-in was quick and pleasant - we mis-booked our air flight and ended up in Santo Domingo - it was a grueling 4 hour cab ride so we checked in very late. They were waiting for us - extremely nice; and as were were booked into First Club (through RCI) - we were taken to our room immediately. Our glimpse of the lobby was that it was beautiful so it must have been remodeled recently or other folks are very picky.
Rooms -
We booked a two room suite - 3rd floor facing the pool. Fridge was kept freshly stocked every day with bottled water and pop. Microwave, stove, etc. with coffee and Munne stocked also. Free alcohol dispenser on the wall was kept full. Our room was spotless, had a full-shower curtain with a height-adjustable shower head - beware the glass bathroom door - you can run that thing over your foot. T.V., for those who care, was perfectly adequate - maybe 8 English speaking channels - we watched the Seahawks game... so the male was happy.... The beds were freshly made each day - the linen, like the room, was spotless and smelled absolutely clean. The sleeper sofa origianlly had a mat rather than a mattress but they immediately brought in a spotless new mattress, made the bed up with the correct linen and were extremely nice about it.
Restaurants -
The buffet food was okay. It was not great but you can get by on the fruits, breads and rice and bean dishes if you're a fussy-eater. There are many choices - goat stew seemed a bit too exotic for me but there was always something interesting to try. It seemed to improve the longer we were there so maybe it just didn't at first suit our Seattle-taste-buds and we got used to it. We booked into the Grill (good food) twice - booked Italian once - DO NOT ORDER the San Marino Shrimp and Fettucini or the Lasagne - they are worse than anything you can get out of a can. I'm not the only one that thought this either. It was universally acknowledged and laughed over at the beach. We had to scuttle out of the Italian fast and get over to the buffet to eat that night. We were able to eat breakfast and an afternoon snack at the First Club every day. Excellent food - especially the breakfast.
Bars -
Excellent service and they pour the booze with a steady hand. There are serve-your-own fruit juices and sweet tea... and do I love their sweet tea. A great deal of beer was consumed - I didn't hear any complaints from the others in the group. I think the favorite bar was the beach bar.
Beach and Pools -
The pool was large, clean and well-maintained. It's open from 8 to 8 and other than one night when they booted us, inexplicably, at 6:00pm - no other problems. The beach was wonderful. Maybe it's because October is a slow time but we never had a problem finding an umbrella or chairs. The sand itself was spotless; like powdered sugar - we didn't see anything like seaweed or garbage but we're also pretty lazy and we weren't getting to the beach much before 11:00 so maybe it was raked before we arrived - in any case - it was one of the cleaner beaches we've ever seen. The water was clear, aquamarine blue and, once you got in after an initial squeal or two, warm. I wouldn't recommend swimming outside the marked floats - two many boats zooming around for safety.
Grounds -
The grounds were lush, immaculate and well-maintained. I saw other people complain about garbage not being picked up, etc. We saw nothing of the sort other than the guests themselves not bothering to throw away their own trash - forcing staff to clean up after them.
Activities -
We aren't much for activities - I can attest through that there are banana boat rides, parasailing, watersking, scuba diving, horseback riding, hobicats, paddleboats, beach vollyball, evening shows, etc. We went out in a glass bottom boat for snorkling; $10.00 each including the gear and it was extremely enjoyable. They didn't hassle us at all - two young kids took us to a perfect snorkling area - pretty much tossed us over the side and told us to take as long as we wanted. It was decent snorkling - saw fish. My husband did go deep sea fishing. Total washout - didn't catch a thing and we heard that nobody else was either. The tour operators weren't exactly honest about their daily catch - we found that out later so $75.00 down the drain.
We played bocce ball with each other for hours on end at night and walked the beach after dinner. We were told to not go beyond the sand heading right onto the horse trail as it was not guarded... huh? We didn't.
Conclusion -
The Allegro was very clean. The Staff was, without exception, extremely nice - English is limited but the smiles weren't. The vendors are pushy around the pool. They'll force free stuff on you and get annoyed if you don't buy. They were only there for one night so it wasn't that bad. We only were asked once about timeshares - a simple no worked and we never heard about it again. Two of our party of three got the "revenge" in a bad way. About Day 3 for me. It was probably from stupidly brushing our teeth in the sink in the room. There are signs warning that the water isn't safe - we didn't think that one through. If your doctor will let you - take a 3 day course of Cipro with you - If you get sick - you'll be better in one day - Imodium just drags it out...
At the end, we tipped our housekeeper $20.00 for a seven day stay(we loved the towel animals and fresh flowers); anybody that went out of their way for us and had a great time...
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | Maga |
Deb
Firstly, Occidental Allegro Punta Cana is not a 4-star hotel is more like a 3-star. The rating is based off of hotel location, amenities, activities, rooms, service, food & beverages.
Our first mistake is that we researched the hotel after we booked it. We were sold by the value for money -- we thought we were getting a great deal on a beautifully situated and full-service 4-star hotel sad to say that this hotel did not cater to any one's needs but their own which was a laissez-faire and non-chalant attitude. They were not interested in helping us if it meant that they were required to do a bit more work. The reservation desk was left unattended constantly, there were no working bicycles for the daily advertised bike tour, the one pool was opened and closed 8am-8pm and there appeared to be no maintenance done. The towels though replenished daily smelt badly (not fresh) and there were stains and holes in several of them. The bathroom tub leaked and most of the towels were used to mope up the water from around the moulding tub. The television was limited to 8 English speaking channels-- a bonus one of them was Showtime. The remaining channels were German, Spanish and French speaking. Satellite went down twice on the English speaking channels. The air conditioner leaked and mould was apparent around the unit not to mention bubbling and puffy white paint. The room was spacious with high ceilings a dangling ceiling fan which was left on all times since when the a/c was turned on the room smelt very musty. In addition, the activities area was left unattended and the equipment was either missing or broken which would have not been a problem if there were other activities. Any activity was ONLY on the beach -- which we figured out on the 5th day of our stay. The Activity schedule said activities were at the pool so we were waiting for those -- nothing -- none of the 10 activities coordinators bothered to approach guests to join activities they relied on the loud music and the Spanish speaking microphone to attract the multi-language speaking guests to the beach area.
But I think was the most disappointing thing was that my husband and I got very very sick and there was no room service to get food brought to us nor were the staff at the restaurants willing to help us nor would the bar give us bottled soda. Apparently, they have no problem giving us their bottled water but had problems giving us the soda pop bottles. We were throwing up, fatigued, fevered and dehydrated from the constant trips to the bathroom. There was a doctor that we could contact at our expense and there was no allowance made for when we were checking out and I was still sick not able to stand and wanted a courtesy room to sleep in till our bus left. We were told we could stay in our room for additional USD$10 per hour. My problem with this was -- we were sick because of them and the hotel was not FULL!!! We found them very unaccommodating and inconsiderate.
Here are our watch outs to potential risk-takers:
1. Do not go off the resort -- the vendors are VERY PUSHY and do not speak very good English. The expectation is that you as a tourist have money and money is what they want!! We were advised by the Hotel to go to Plaza Bavaro but do not do it unless you speak Spanish. Stick to the free trip to Palma Real Shopping centre. For the discounts that you think you will get elsewhere please factor in the cost to get there and the potential of getting robbed.
2. Do not get sucked into a sales pitch for the Occidental family of resorts. It is both time consuming and VERY EXPENSIVE -- if you have that type of available cash I do not think that you would be vacationing at Occidental Allegro Punta Cana -- we certainly would not have been there had we known that they only know how to charge the money and not deliver the expected service.
Unfortunately, there were good, honest and caring people working in the hotel -- Housekeeping Faliana and the hotel grounds are breath taking. The beach is good but the chairs are dirty and broken. The beach was not the best one on the strip but at least it was clean and clear.
I do apologize for the long and very negative review but how can anyone especially travel agents market this hotel as a 4-star hotel???? Just because I hotel provides drinks and food for 19.5hours a day(forgot the restaurants and bar both close at2am and do not open til 6:30am) does not make it a 4-star resort!!
Greatly disappointed
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | Dave ~ Swansea South Wales |
Having stayed at the Allegro from May 19th to June 2nd 2007 i would like to say what a wonderful holiday (vacation) we had. Travelling from Wales (for all you Americans reading this Wales is part of the United Kingdom) and after an 8 and a half hour flight it was nice only to be 20 minutes from our hotel.Our party consisted of myself my wife ,son,daughter and grandson.Our impressions of the Allegro are:
ROOM: It is always possible to pick faults but in general it was quite adequate.
FOOD & DRINK: No problems here and plenty of both.
BEACH: Excellent white sand turquoise water coconut palms warm breeze.
POOL Nice size very clean and safe for kids.
STAFF Very friendly and helpful hard working and very accommodating.
In general we had a wonderful time the kids thoroughly enjoyed it and we would definitely go there again.
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | Jean and Steve ~ Willis, Texas |
My husband and I just returned from vacation at the Dominican Republic Punta Cana. Our trip was great. Left Houston airport, flew into Miami Florida and then on to Punta Cana. We stayed at the Allegro punta Cana.
We we checked in at the front desk and then onto our room in no time. The room was a junior suite which overlooked the swimming pool. (Great View) rented a safe to put our valuables in $2.00 per day.
The resort was just beautiful. Plenty of activities going on each day for both adults and the kiddo's.
The beach (which was the main reason we went) was also nice. there was seeweed, but the workers cleaned it up each day. The snorkeling was not fantastic right off the beach, but for $10.00 an hour you can go out to the reef on the glass bottom boat and snorkel to see some great see creatures my husband says.
While on the beach, you can walk a ways to the left and see some vendors who is pleased to sell you some great items, you can bargin with them pretty easy.
If you choose to go the right of the beach to the vendors, they are very pushy, so keep that in mind, you can bargin with them also, but they are very pushy, so be prepared.
The beach; there were some topless sunbathing going on, but it was not something that was bothersome and you get used to it after a day.
This was our first trip to the dominican, we've been to Cozumel and Cancun before, but wanted to try a new destination. We'd go again in a hearbeat and would recommend this report.
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | Christa ~ New Brunswick |
Hola!! This is my second trip to Punta Cana, my friends and I do a girl trip, we spent seven fabulous days at the Occidental Allegro. We where greeted at the resort with a cool drink and many smiles. Check in was fine, we did not get the room with the pool view as requested, but we where told we could switch rooms the next day. This year only three of us went, we all wanted to stay in the same suite, they where happy to accomodate us by moving in another bed and mini fridge promptly.
Our food was great no complaints, we ate mostly at the a-la-carte for breakfast and some dinners. We had a delicious meal at The Grill(mexician) we would have eaten there again if we could have gotten a reservation. Caribbean Restaurant in the evening was a little more fine dinning, talk to Johhnathan, he took good care of us. We are beach girls so get down early to pick you beach hut, luckily one of my friends is an early riser and we also took in a couple of sunrises. Beach bar is great Roberto can set you up with a round of "mamajauna" and drink of the day. The bar near the pool talk to Clemente he can whip you up a good banana mama, and you may have to retrieve it off the top of his head lots of fun. A+beach white soft sand and the water is crystal blue with just enough waves to float around, there is no coral in the water. There is a bit of sea weed, but it is the ocean, and the grounds keepers do there very best to keep it raked. Nightly entertainment is great do not miss any shows, the entertainment staff work day and night and are always happy. Make dinner reservations early so you can get the to the ice breaker, its a lot of laughs. Mike the MC gets two thumbs up. Ladies, do not miss the SPA.....my girlfriends and I booked an Aroma Therapy Full Body Massage, I give it an A+ you will feel terrific afterward. Water activites are good, I did parasailing it was fun, there is banana boat rides, boogie boards, scuba,snorkeling, and lots of excursions you can take off resort. We meet a lot of nice people from the Maritimes, Montreal and United States. The only two negative things I can say it that making dinner reservations is a bit of a pain, since you can only reserve them two days in advance. I was also not able to use my camera battery charger not enough power so bring along extra batteries. My friends and I look forward to next year 2008.
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | Maria |
My husband, myself and our 11yo son have just returned from a week's vacation at Occidental Allegro. We had a great time; it may not be the best of resorts but for what it cost us, it's a good deal. This was our first all-inclusive and we're pretty low-maintenance. We stayed in room 7111.
Having read the previous reviews, we brought Febreze, Imoduim, mosquito spray, and ended up not using any of that. No mosquitos at all.
Arrival: We arrived around 9PM, the check-in was smooth, only complaint is that the main buffet was already closed and the one on the beach did not open till 11:30, so we spent a couple of hours sipping drinks on an empty stomach... which was kind of fun. Our Apple rep was very good and helpful throughout the entire stay.
Room: Okay to sleep in. The beds are good. Bring your own hangers, they didn't have any. We were surprised by the glass door in the bathroom. Also on the walls there were some 4-letter words and realistic drawings of male private parts that we couldn't wipe off. Not an issue for us, but those with younger kids may not like it. The half-door in the shower works well and hardly any water got on the floor. Nice view from the patio. The TV barely worked but it was fine with me as I'm not a huge TV person. We brought a laptop and some DVDs with us. Our room was right across the office and it gets very noisy in the mornings (they start cleaning around 7AM). The maid was kind of hard to track down. On one day our room didn't get cleaned. It seems that the resort is shortstaffed. No mini-fridge, but there was a gallon jar of water in our room when we checked in and it was replaced as we ran out. That was all we needed really.
Beach: Awesome. Lots of room to swim, the ocean was great. My family are late risers but I watched spectacular sunrises every morning. You kind of have to, as you need to secure a spot in the shade early in the morning, by 8AM all the umbrellas are taken. The entertainment staff was fantastic, Cappuccino is a genius and should have a stand up act of his own. Lots of different games every day. We did go to the market and ended up buying some nice souvenirs/jewelry as well as some stuff we did not need. The vendors are very pushy. I told them I was from Russia (which I originally am) and went through the entire market without being harrassed. My husband and son said they were American and never made it past the first store.
My advice is go straight to store number 12 and look for the guy named Willy, he was far superior to all other vendors. He'll give you a fair price and won't push you into buying anything. If you swim out to the ropes, don't touch them, they are covered with seaweed and miniature jellyfish are living in there. I got stung pretty badly but healed within a day.
Excursions etc: My son went parasailing and loved it.
We went to Saona island and had a great time. The island is okay, it's the trip there and back that's really the best part. The food they gave us at the island was awesome, but make sure to fill up on the first pass, the leftovers magically disappear and you won't be able to go back for seconds.
Pool: I'm not really a pool person, as far as I could tell it was OK. We were at the beach mostly.
Food: The main buffet is okay. It is shortstaffed, which could be a minor problem. I tried to stick to the grilled fish and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Tried some of the other stuff but it was not spectacular. They had a wide choice of pasta, donuts, desserts and other things appealing to my son. The beach buffet has decent hamburgers but my son tried the hot dogs and advised to stay away. The restaurants are hard to get into, get to the front desk at 8AM on your first day to make reservations. We went to the Carribbean (didn't like it) and the Grill (very good).
Important thing that no one seems to have mentioned, there is no dress code at the restaurants except The Italian, and at The Italian it is for men only, women can wear anything they want. We brought dress shoes, dress pants etc. it turned out to be a huge waste of luggage space.
Bars: Good stuff, good bartenders, we stuck to the rum mostly. Coco Loco and rum was our drink of choice. Halfway through the week they started serving Mamajuanas and those were very good. We did tip occasionally but it wasn't expected and hardly anyone ever did.
The time share reps were there, but we said no once and they ignored us for the rest of the stay. We didn't watch much of the shows, but what we saw seemed good. Not much in way of night life, but we were looking for a family-type resort and it was exactly that.
Overall we had a good time but will probably go someplace else the next time around.
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | Gloria & Robert ~ St. John's, NL |
My husband and I stayed here from April 12-19 and we had a great time. Our room (6105)was perfect, it was made up early every morning and the maid always had extra towels arranged on our bed. I always saw employees cleaning the path ways and hall ways and I never saw any sort of mess anywhere.
There was always something that we enjoyed at the buffet and the a la cart restaurant was wonderful. All of our lunches were eaten at either the pizzeria or the beach resturant.
This was our first visit to Punta Cana and the beach was superior to the one in Porta Plata. Every morning the guys went by and cleaned the seaweed that gathered overnight. The beach was crystal clear and I went snorkling on the beach one day and couldn't believe the abundance of fish around.
Our only excursion was the Bucaneros speedboats and it was so much fun, my husband really enjoyed driving our speedboat and the fish we saw when we then went snorkling on the coral reef was great. My only problem was we were leaving the next day and couldn't get a copy of the video they were shooting.
We had read previous reviews and were aware of the timeshare people so we just said that we were not interested and walked away and that seemed to work. We certainally weren't harassed.
All in all it was a great value for the money and I wouldn't hesitate to return again.
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | Linda |
My cousin and I have just returned from The Allegro Occidental Punta Cana.
This was her first time and this was my fourth time and I must say that I found this resort to be the worst that I have stayed at. It is classed as a 4 star but I would not give it more then a 3 star if that.
The resort is smaller then what I have been used to but the grounds are nice.
We arrived at the hotel at noon but had to wait for our room til 4pm. When we got to our room we were expecting to have 2 double bed but we only had one. There was a pull out couch that made up into a bed but the mattress they had on was as thick as a mattress that you exercise on. Our shower head was broken, the bathroom was dirty, the tub had a crack in it, and we had no hot water in our sink. We went to the front desk and asked to be changed to a different room but was told that the resort was full but they were going to go and fix the shower and water right away and also bring us a mattress. I would like to say that yes they came within the 1/2 hour but could not fix the tap in the sink, fixed the shower but they could not fix the pressure of the water, brought us the mattress but had to go hunting for a maid to bring us bedding. My cousin spent the whole week on her hands and knees in the tub washing her hair under the tap. After being in our room the night we found that the air conditioner was not working properly and we could not control it. So when it got very cold int the room we had to turn it off but then the room got very humid and we ended up being in wet clothing for the week that we were there.
All in all it was very depressing to have a room like this but we did make the best of it.
The beach was great and the food was OK.
I would not recommend this resort to anyone as I found that I felt dirty the whole week because of the humidty in the room and without any pressure in the shower you could not wash properly. I think that a 3 star resort would be better then this one.
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | Michelle ~ New Brunswick |
All vacation is good vacation and the Occidental Allegro Punta Cana is no exception.
Arrival:We had a smooth check-in when we arrived. Maybe it was a little too smooth. When we went to our room (11pm arrival) we found someone sleeping in the bed. What a funny way to start a vacation. Anyway, she didn't even wake up and the front desk gave us a new room.
Room:We were in building 5, first floor. Our balcony faced the beach (nice sunrise) but we were just a short walk to where ever we wanted to go. The room was alittle musty but I opened the patio door and the smell went away. The bed was not very comfy (it was too soft for mama bear) but I slept well every night and did a little stretching in the morning. The biggest complaint about the room was the absence of a fridge. We just tried to bring a bottle of water back from the bar at night.
Beach:The beach was beautiful and hot and breezy everyday we were there. We always had lounge chairs (4 together) and we always had shade for my fair-skinned husband. The beach was always busy and lots to do.
Pool:My husband's biggest disappointment was that this resort has no swim-up bar. Since this was my booking error we had to bring him beer while he was in the pool. The pool was always warm and clean.
Food:The buffet had a good variety of food and we ate well every meal. Great desserts. We went to one a la carte-The Grill-and it was excellent. We heard bad things about the seafood resteraunt while we were there. We had no illness (maybe a hangover or two) while we were there.
Entertainment:The nightly shows were lame. The only exception was the Lion King show, and I have seen another resort do a better Lion King show. But I don't travel to the Dominican to see Broadway productions. The daily activities were fun and the activity staff were always around doing something. The casino they have is just a closet with a few slot machines but there is a large casino just outside the resort entrance.
Bars:The drinks were good. Plenty of alcohol. Good bartenders. Good service (even without tips).
Overall:The grounds were beautiful, the beach was beautiful, the food was good, the room was good enough to sleep in, and that is exactly what I want in a vacation. I would probablt not return to this resort myself (again, my husband really missed having a swim-up bar) but I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone else. We simply like to travel around to different places. This was our 4th trip to the Dominican Republic and the people there are simply more laid back than your typical North American. If you can leave your expectations when you board the plane and get to that laid back state of mind you will have a wonderful visit.
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | Chris |
My stay at the resort was from February 17-24, 2007. Arrived at the resort after a very short and bumpy bus ride from Punta Cana airport at about 1pm.
When we arrived we were not met by smiling staff and a cold beverage as I had been in my previous 2 visits to Dominican in the past. However, desk staff were helpful and efficient. First impression, very lush and clean.
Room: Stayed in building 8 on the 3rd floor. My room was nice and clean and no smell of any sort. Shower needs updating but I ended up refreshed and clean every day. Beds were more than adequate, as I have a bad back and never complained once! Air conditioner worked well but a bit noisy. Maids did a wonderful job everyday! Room was in my mind a 3+.
Food: This was probably my biggest disappointment although I have had worse. Every day I could find something to fill me although I cannot really remember anything I said "WOW" about. Let's put it this way the bread and potatoes were great.
Al le cartes
Italian - OK
Caribbean - OK
Seafood - awful but I will admit I am not a big seafood fan The Grill - always booked and could not get in
Pool - Pool was nice and water was warm. Nice area for smaller kids.
Beach - One of the best features of the resort. A little seaweed daily but a crew cleaned it up early every morning as I watched the most perfect sunrises! Plenty of chairs and shade if required.
Bars - My most memorable time was at the central bar near the pool and entertainment area. Drinks flowed freely and there were some very entertaining staff! A fellow named Clemente seemed to head it up, however, my favourite bar tender was a fellow named Javier. A little shy at first but truly a nice happy guy! If you go tell him "Happy Happy says hi"
Timeshare (or whatever they call it) - just say no as they trick you into going and then did get a bit rude about it all, wasted about 1 1/2 hours of our time (it was raining though) and then wouldn't give us our free shirts!
I did get the big D very bad on day 6 and really did not leave the room.
Imodium helped but not with the cramps and I am still suffering as I write this! My best guess is too much fruit juice....but then again who knows.
All in all, I would go back and next time take my son as I think it is a very nice family resort, not a place for night life. The staff were friendly and pleasant and the whole resort was constantly being cleaned. A wide variety of people as we met some nice people from all over the world. We did book very early and paid too much for what we received. I would compare prices with a high 3+ to low 4 star resort.
PS look out for Cappuccino......this guy can make you laugh everyday and he works about 20 hours a day!!
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | D & L ~ Canada |
We had booked over 7 weeks ago through Redtag.ca for the Barcelo Beach resort only to find out 1 1/2 days before we left that 50 people were overbooked and we were being sent to the Occidental Allegro or we could have a full refund in 3 weeks time. They offered us a free week's stay at the Barcelo to be used in 1 year, not in peak season and non transferrable and we would have to pay for our flights (about a $1000 a person) for our "inconvenience". We were packed, had the children taken care of and we booked off work for a week, so they pretty much have you nailed. We thought we'd be optimistic, despite our friends being at the other hotel and our agent telling us it was a 4.5 star and only a mere 5 minute walk from our original hotel so we could still join our friends on the beach (HA, it was an hour and 1/2).
To start off we got to the hotel at around 10 p.m. and they are the rudest front desk personnel I have ever encountered. They barely spoke english, but they do speak french if that helps you. The fellow gave us our magetic keys and then sent us to building 9 near the buffet. He would nto give us a security key for the box as he wanted us to see our room first (should have been my 1st clue). We got to the room and found out that it did not use magnetic keys but a real key and had to walk all the way back for the key. We get into the room (remember we have been told that this is a "better" hotel than we had booked into and had been booked into a superior room) and it has 1/2 a glass door in the shower and is so tiny, no fridge as they state in the book and looks out onto a tin roof and old roadway. So down we go again to the desk and ask for another room only to be told they are booked solid and if we come back tomorrow they will try & find us another room. We ask for the security box key for the room to lock up the passports, money, etc and he tells us it's too much paper work and to wait for tomorrow and he goes to the back room. Another fellow comes out and we tell him what we want and he starts to fill out the paperwork for the box and goes back to get the box key (his buddy is in this room) and he comes out and says "that box key is lost, come back tomorrow". Now we're a bit perturbed, we did not want this hotel and they can't do some paperwork for a security box! Magically as we start to get a bit angry they find us another room in their "fully booked hotel"a few doors down from our old room. It is bigger, has the same 1/2 shower door that gets water all over the floor when you shower so you know, but again looks out onto the tin roof. We're still trying to be positive here so we live with the view.
The food is fairly good and there are 4 specialty restaurants and 1 buffet. You have to wait in line early in the a.m. to book into one of these (not the buffet) and are often told it's completly booked for the time you want. When we ate at these specialty one's we noticed that 1/2 the tables were empty. The bartenders are very good and do not jip you on the booze that's for sure and was 1 of the few good things about this resort. There is 1 pool, no swim up bar like the Redtag lady said. You have to reserve a chair early and be careful because we met people who said they resrved chairs early and someone took their towels. If you lose your security box it's $75 US and if you lose a towel it's $30 each.
Our TV in our room did not work for 5/7 days that we were there and 5 complaints to get this fixed. When they did fix the cable cord, they brought us a new TV with big black marks all over the screen and it buzzed off and on. Anyhow.......also beware of the Time share reps who are strategically placed outside the pool and the buffet entrance so you have to pass them several times a day and they do hound you!! You cannot avoid them at all, who wants that on their vacation??
The beach is nice but there was a ton of seaweed that they tried to clean up but it was often there all day long in heaps on the beach.
As for the check out, I called at 650 a.m. to book a courtesy room to shower for 530 p.m. as our plane was a late departure and they refused to do it over the phone so I had to get dressed and walk all the way down to the desk just to say the same things I said on the phone! When we went to get the courtesy room key at 520 they said, 5 minutes come back. We finally got the key at 545 and they called us from the front desk 10 minutes later to see if we were done yet!!! We were ready to lose it. There were no towels in the courtesy room, thankfully we had some and there was no hairdryer either, + water all over the floor and the bathtub did not fully drain. Yup, a 4.5 star alright. Then to top it all off, our shuttle to the airport booked through Sunquest was supposed to pick us up at 635 p.m. and a little 4 seater van shows up to pick up 25 people!! They called for another shuttle that arrived at 720 p.m. and got us there in time to barely make it through customs and board the plane.
Sunquest was the worst tour operator and I will never use them again, nor will I ever use Redtag either. We refused to sign the voucher for the free weeks accomodation the Barcelo offered us, as we found out that 66 people were at the Allegro, all Sunquest users because of an overbooking at the Barcel and Riu resorts. We were not offered any money back despite there being a money difference in the book. They really have you by the neck when this overbooking occurs. Who wants to cancel there trip when they are packed and ready to go?? We had not been away in 9 years since we were married (had 2 children, you know how it is) and we had researched for weeks where we wanted to go. We chose the Barcelo for the fact that we could go to 4 other resorts within the complez and had friends staying there. Our vacation was ruined to be honest, you try not to dwell on the fact that you aren't where you planned to be but all the little things add up and you get annoyed just knowing you had not chosen this resort to begin with. I would not recommend this resort to anyone, the front desk workers and time share people hounding me really did me in. I would never use Sunquest or Redtag again. Don't waste your money here folks REALLY!!!! I've travelled a bit and this has been a rude awakening in poor service all around.
PS Sky service airplanes you feel like a sardine, there is 0 leg room and you ache by the time you get off the plane. The flight attendants are pleasant though.
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | Bonita/Bill ~ Nova Scotia |
Arrived at resort at 11:55pm, booked thru Sell Off Vaca and Air Transat.
Plane meal was a sub which Bill didn't mind as he is a 'sub-lover'. All other steps from plane to resort and back to airport was great. Punta Cana airport was a full 2hour line up from arrival til they were calling our names on the speaker as we just finish the last line-up. :( At least we didnt have to wait in line to get on the plane.
RESORT: Family of 5, in Building 4 on the main level, with rooms too close to the entrance by the pool. Seemed like Grand Central Station. But this isn't the resorts fault its the vacationers with no respect for others, talking loud at all hours of the night. 4104-4105 beautiful view outside patio doors tho. We had good service even when we didnt tip. I chose to tip with gift items as I felt the Gov't couldnt tell or keep track of what they were getting. They all seemed very appreciative. Great entertainment night when 'The Lion King' played but that was the best show. We were told by our agent that all tipping is included in our price but if wanted could tip. This was great as Cuba gives better service when tipped.
ROOM: Had 2 rooms with a door that opened between. There was a screw that separated them and when we told the front desk, they pretended they couldnt understand what we were saying. So we took care of it ourselves and tracked down the maintenance guy by the end of the next day. Also disappointed there was no fridge, but you could get cold water from the bar whenever you wanted, when its open mid morning, so have a bottle with you for overnight and first thing.
FOOD: Lots of variety every meal.With more taste than Cuba. Meats other than fish and chicken always tough to chew but had flavour. One could never starve here with the salad choices, fruits,and other items. A la Cartes-Long line-up at 8am and need to book about 2days in advance. Well worth the wait for a change of flavours and atmosphere. The Grill-had tender ribs and served hot chicken fahitas. Delicious. Papaya was a Caribbean style with lots of choices for all courses. I loved the Talapia and my son loved the flamed dessert. :). The coconut pie was the best I ever had. Heard the Caruso was only Italian for the appetizer. Good food also.
POOL: 1 large, with a section for the smaller kids- which there was more than a few families enjoying their kids play time. It was hot around the pool with low winds.
BEACH: Nice to have the breeze as it made it not soo hot to bare. Tho one day the sand was blowing in the eyes so we turned our loungers around. Lots of seaweed as well making it look natural but there were lots of loungers to set on top if you wanted to be that close to the water edge. Two days before we left a clean-up crew was ready to gather some up with wheel barrows and a large truck. Many boats as well docked in the water which caused alot of water traffic later in the day. If you walked about 10-15min up beach it was perfect for snorkeling and swimming with no seaweed.
There tended to be many workers looking for recruites for Parasailing, banana boating, tubing, etc as well as braiding, throughout the day everyday. Even while you sunbathe they would approach you. This does not happen in Cuba.
Just up the beach to the right is a market you can be harrassed to buy things at a 'CHEAP' price. Out of one shop and coaxed into the next. My husband couldnt handle it so he left quite fast and didnt go back.
SICKNESS: Out of the 5 of us I was the only one not sick. My husband may have been alcohol related, but the 3 kids had the worst time. The 4th & 5th day was the toughest on the oldest and still took a couple days after being home to come around. Our daughter was sick the day we left and had a tough time on the plane. Not sure if it was something they ate, too much sun, too much fruit, or just what it was. Just glad their all good now. :) :)
TOWELS: Get your first from beach club and trade in before 6 so they can be washed. Hoping everyone else has done this and there is enough clean ones ready for the next day. You must have you paper when you check out saying you have passed them in or you pay for missing ones.
BARS/DRINKS: 5 barsincluding the Disco which are all spaced conveintly so you dont have to walk too far when you get thirsty. Service is great even without tipping. I like to tip closer to leaving when I find out if the staff treats you well even without tips. There is a bar directly on the beach and one by the eatery just off the beach. Never went to the Lobby bar as we were always near or on the beach. Lots of variety and even Canadian Club at request.
PHOTOS: hlywud on this site has some great pics as it gives the exact way of the resort. Also he has a good variety.
If i was to go back to the Dominican/Punta Cana I would not hesitate to stay here again at this resort. Go and relax. :) :)
| Occidental Allegro Punta Cana | beachenvy ~ Canada |
Having read most of the threads in this forum on this resort - we went well-prepared. The resort itself was nice - well laid out. Check-in was a breeze - as the tour company did it all on the bus ride from the airport - so we just grabbed our bags and headed to our room.
The Rooms:
I called the hotel about a week ahead and requested a top-floor room in a building close to the beach. We were in Building 22 - farthest from the beach, on the 2nd floor (not the top). Oh well - the A/C worked beautifully and the water was hot - so we decided to stay put. Furnishings were old - tub was rusty - but all was very clean. Maid service was great -we tipped her $5 US every 2 days - most of the time caught her in person. She was very appreciative. Mini-Fridge was always stocked with 2 large bottles of water - and after the 1st tip -she started leaving us 3.
They were replacing beds in the building closest to the beach, and looked like furniture and lamps, etc. Doors were also newer in the 2 buildings beside us - had better locks. So, it looks like they are in the process of upgrading - which is over due!
The Pool:
We are not pool people - so were only there a couple of times to get out of the wind from the beach. Long windy pool - so lots of seats, never had trouble finding a spot the couple of times we went there. They were cleaning it every day.
The Food:
Having read bad things about the ala cartes - we went strictly buffet. After day 2 - hubby came down with the big 'D' and stomach cramps and achy muscles. Lasted for the remaining 5 days of the trip. He had no appetite and barely ate anything. This did put a bit of damper on things. Even Immodium was not match for the "revenge". Up until this point - we had eat mostly the same things - with the exception of some octupus and mussels that my hubby ate that I didn't. Not sure if it was the food. I however - did not get sick - so did eat lots. The buffet was okay - not great. Managed to find something I liked most days. Friday was not a great buffet day - probably would have been a good night to try one of the ala cartes.
The Beach:
Definitely the best part of the trip. Lots of beach chairs - never had a problem finding a spot we liked. Did have a problem with a few rude europeans who would plant themselves partically in your lap and then be very loud and intrusive. The sand itself is great - my only complaint was there was stuff in the water. We arrived on a Thursday evening - so wasn't too bad at the beginning, but by the end of the week, you would hardly go in the water. Then on the last day - miracously it was all gone - not sure if they clean it out maybe once a week? It was the same all along the whole beach - the same at all the resorts. The wind was really strong the first 4 days - and was very cloudly. It would rain in buckets for about 5 minutes - then would clear off. When the beach was really windy - the pool never was - so if the wind bugs you - head into the pool. Most of the time we toughed it out.
Drinks:
Domestic brands only (unless you are "Royal Club"). The tequila and vodka were essentially undrinkable (tasted like rubbing alcohol) - so stuck to the rum. Coco Loco with Dark Rum became my new favorite. (Usually a margarita girl). However - every bartender made it different - so it was hit and miss.
Service / Tipping:
Never saw many people tip - certainly was not expected - and that is nice. Some not so friendly people - but mostly because their english was not good. Most very friendly and helpful. Didn't notice the "s