There are two Paradisus Resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic so make sure you are booking the correct one. This review is for the Paradisus Punta Cana Resort and the other one is the Paradisus Palma Real Golf & Spa Resort. The Paradisus Punta Cana is part of the Melia brand of hotels and resorts, a Spanish hotel chain. The Paradisus Punta Cana is a beautiful resort located in Bavaro Beach, one of the most popular beach towns in the Caribbean. The resort is ranked #6 by US News and World Reports for best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana.
The Paradisus Punta Cana is a massive resort complex with dozens of restaurants, bars and amenities to keep guests well-fed and entertained throughout their stay. The surrounding area outside of the resort is not great but I would imagine most guests staying at the Paradisus (or any resort in Punta Cana, for that matter), will not want to leave the resort at all. Luckily for us, the Paradisus makes it very easy to not leave and you can literally do anything and everything on-site. On this trip, my two brothers and spent the weekend here for our sister’s wedding.
From the Punta Cana International Airport, the shuttle ride took us approximately 30 minutes from door to door. When we arrived, we were greeted by hotel staff, escorted to the front desk and welcomed with chilled towels and tropical drinks. From the warm welcome to the cool outdoor breezes, the resort will instantly make you feel relaxed and de-stressed. Check-in was quick and easy and we were assigned room 2176, a junior suite with a garden view, for the weekend.
Like I said earlier, the resort is massive and though you can walk everywhere, there are golf cart shuttles to transport guests throughout the resort. The walk from the lobby to the rooms alone will take you approximately 8 minutes. Here’s a map of resort complex.
Room 2176 is a standard junior suite. The room is not a true suite with an enclosed bedroom but the “sleep” area of the room is elevated from the “living” area of the suite. Our room was furnished with two full-size beds, sitting area and a work desk. Because there were three of us, I called ahead of time and asked for a roll-away bed for my brother. It was all set up prior to our arrival.
The large wall to ceiling windows let in a lot of natural lighting and open up to the balcony seating area. Our room had a view of the resort. Nothing special.
The bathroom has an open sink area and an enclosed shower and toilet area so multiple people can use the bathroom at the same time. The walk-in shower is equipped with dual, rainfall shower heads so couples can shower together. Mugler branded bath and body products and a shave kit are provided for your use.
Room amenities include robes, slippers, in-room safe, iron/ironing board and a mini-bar with complimentary drinks, beers and snacks. The mini-bar is refreshed daily.
The Paradisus Punta Cana is an “all-inclusive” resort but as with all “all-inclusive” resorts, not all things are included. Just think of this as a cruise on land. You can do and enjoy most of what the resort has to offer for free but do expect to spend some money while vacationing here. All-inclusive means the basic restaurants, drinks, nightly entertainment and some activities are included. Premium drinks, specialty restaurants, spa services and water sports will cost you extra.
At the Paradisus Punta Cana, you can dine at 8 of the 11 restaurants for free. However, 6 of them require reservations at least one or two days in advance so make sure to book these as soon as possible. But don’t worry if you can’t get reservations, you can still dine at the two buffet restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Both restaurants are fantastic and will offer a wide variety of contemporary cuisine for you to enjoy. And of course, you can order complimentary room service with a limited menu 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You know, for that late night, sweet tooth.
The Gabi Beach Restaurant (one of the two free buffet restaurants) is actually really good. The restaurant is right on the beach and offers a wide selection for breakfast, lunch and dinner. On the Friday night we were there, they had a seafood buffet with fresh lobster, fish and meats grilled to order.
Naos, the other free buffet restaurant, is delicious as well. It offers an open air seating area with the same selections as Gabi Beach. For breakfast, you can expect an omelet station and for lunch and dinner, you can expect a grill station with meats and fresh seafood cooked to order.
As far as activities go, there are a variety of fitness classes and workshops available throughout the day and nightly activities to entertain you every day of the week. You won’t be bored here. And if you just want to lay out and get some sun, there are complimentary lounge chairs and umbrellas by the pools and beach. Cabanas will cost you extra. There are no golf courses on-site but you do get unlimited green fees at the nearby Cocotal Golf Course and Country Club where you can find experts who can give you golf tips.
Other hotel amenities include a kids zone, spa facility and a fitness center. The fitness center offers a spin room, cardio station, resistance machines and a small free-weight area.
There’s also a casino if you accidentally brought too much money and need to spend it all before coming back home.
Service-wise, all the employees and staff members were perfect. From the reception desk to the beach attendants, all the employees were friendly and attentive. They really do go out of their way to ensure you have a pleasant stay.
Paradisus Punta Cana Resort overall thoughts
Overall, the Paradisus Punta Cana Resort is a great place to spend some R & R time. It’s not a high-end luxury resort by any means but the suites are comfortable and the amenities are plentiful. The restaurants are all delicious and the “all-inclusive” benefits are great. My brothers and I thoroughly enjoyed our weekend here and we wouldn’t hesitate to spend a much longer family vacation here.
Have you stayed at the Paradisus Punta Cana resort or have any other Punta Cana resort recommendations? Please share them with us in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!
