TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

We stayed at this resort for a week in December to celebrate our anniversary. Please find a very honest and thorough review below. What we loved: The hotel is absolutely beautiful. The lobby is completely open and very calming, clean, and spacious. There is lounge music playing, although some more upbeat music would be appreciated here and there. In the evening there’s music that can get a bit loud prior to the night’s entertainment. The rooms are dated but are otherwise clean, spacious and comfortable. We had a bottle of wine and a chocolate dessert upon arrival in the room for our anniversary which was greatly appreciated. The pool is cold so be prepared for a chilly dip however it’s very big and the surrounding area is beautiful. The beach is fantastic and there was very little seaweed during this time of year. The beach is wide with lots of loungers. You do get some approved vendors on the beach but for the most part, they aren’t pushy or inappropriate at all. The food lacked some variety but was otherwise good, including at the a la carte restaurants. The buffet has a good amount of options to choose from and even when busy, it moves pretty well. It does get a bit tired by the end of the week though and you do notice the repetition. The entertainment was decent and the staff make an effort to try to engage people. They are effective at communicating what is in store in terms of activities for the day, which they have plenty. We never really knew what the show was at night until it started, at 9:30pm. It would be nice if they had an activity or some engagement between 7-9:30pm. I would like to highlight the guest services desk, specifically Janika. I informed her that I had food poisoning and she filed a very thorough incident report and even offered medical attention through the hotel. She provided me with Gatorade and frequently checked in. This meant a lot to me. What could improve: Check in: The check in experience was not great. From the moment we got off the transportation, it felt like we were imposing on the staff. We arrived at 1:30 and were told the room would be ready by 3. At 3, the front desk agent said the room “still” wasn’t ready but that he would contact housekeeping to check. After we went up to him 3 times, around 3:40pm the room was finally ready. This is frustrating when you have been travelling all day and are exhausted, wanting to get changed in your own room. This is the first experience someone has at the hotel and it should be prioritized to be seamless and efficient. Dinners: We did not upgrade to the “Level” experience and I am glad we didn’t. We were offered a dinner at the Level restaurant and it was the most disappointing experience of the trip. The service was extremely slow, the portions were very small, and overall we did not have a pleasant experience. From the hostess to the waiter, we didn’t get a single smile or recognition that the food took over an hour to come out. I couldn’t imagine paying extra to have that experience. The Level bar however offers a beautiful view of the resort and was very nice but unless you need name brand alcohol and a butler to tend to your requests I personally don’t think it’s worth the cost of the upgrade. On that note the Level rooms are closer to the pool, beach and the breakfast/lunch buffet so if that’s something you prioritize then maybe the Level would be worth it. The Mediterranean and Vietnamese restaurants were good, but the service took over an hour as well even just to get the appetizers. It was very slow and no acknowledgment or apology from the staff yet again. Service: This is the biggest area for improvement. It is very slow and it shows. The staff are in no rush to get to you, the drinks take a long time to get (even when you go get them yourself), and the staff are often seen strolling around at a leisurely pace. It gets very frustrating when you have been waiting for service and they are taking their time chatting with colleagues. We would also overhear the staff talking poorly about certain guests, and even bickering with each other which is very unprofessional. Additionally, if you’re getting a burger by the Yumeira restaurant for lunch (for something different than the buffet) be prepared to wait up to 20 minutes with no acknowledgment of communication from the staff. Staff: unfortunately, not the friendliest. When you sit down at the buffet you are not even greeted with a smile or a “hello.” Someone walks up to you and just asks “coffee?” or “water?” They often look disinterested. Usually we have multiple staff members who stand out at resorts and we name them on our reviews however that was not the case at this resort. A smile and a “hello” would go a long way and costs nothing, even from the staff that you come across on the grounds. I specifically want to mention Rochel at the towel exchange hut. He was very disrespectful and very unprofessional when asking to exchange towels one day. It is also worth mentioning that every day, sometimes twice a day, the staff member who works for the spa borderline harasses you to go. If you say no, he walks away bitterly. Something similar happens with the staff at restaurants where they ask you to scan a QR code and harass you to write a review about their service right in front of them while they wait. This is unnecessary and very uncomfortable. It leads to a lot of disingenuous reviews in my opinion. Grounds: this resort is absolutely massive. Not so much in the amount of rooms but rather the size of the grounds. From the lobby to the beach is a good 15 min walk. Although they offer shuttles, these are often full and don’t come around as frequently as you’d expect especially in the mid-day heat. Be prepared for lots of walking especially if your room is closer to the lobby. But the grounds are truly beautiful and the walk is very scenic. Rooms: these could definitely use a refresh. The AC and fan are very loud (it startles you awake at night!). Our room had chips in the mirror, stains, and the paint was coming off in places. The TV was almost falling off the wall and the closet sliding doors were in rough shape. A good remodel and a fresh coat of paint would significantly improve the look of the hotel. important note: myself and other guests unfortunately had an issue with a stomach bug/food poison that was likely caught at the buffet. You see people using the same tongs to touch different foods and cross contamination happens. I was aware of a dozen or more people who had issues with a stomach bug including some food poisoning, myself included. Summary: this hotel is not a party hotel and they do take the “wellness” seriously. It is a more relaxed atmosphere which is great if that’s what you’re looking for. Lots of yoga classes offered everyday if that’s your thing. Overall we would recommend this hotel to friends and family as long as you know what to expect. We were happy with our stay and hope the feedback helps improve the quality of the service and the guest experience as the resort has potential to be even better than it already is.

The location is beautiful. The atmosphere was very nice. The rooms were very clean. I only wish we could have had the room we requested 6 months prior to our stay when we booked it. The staff were all so friendly and helpful. Especially Alejandro our personal concierge, he along with Gilberto and Jose were always aiming to please. We stayed in the Level Wellness section. The pool was beautiful we spent a lot of time there, then would go for a massage in the afternoon before dinner. My only wish is that they offered more food and restaurants options, I feel Being in the Level, wellness and platinum, we should have access to all the restaurants, including the Mexican restaurant without additional charges. I also feel we should be able to get premium alcohol at any bar throughout the resort. My only other complaint is we spent 11 nights at Meliá, and I did not find out until the 9th night (by another guest) they serve sushi every night on the rooftop bar. I am big sushi lover and would have liked to have been told this when I arrived. The other part about it, when we went to the roof top and asked if they served food, they said no only olives and nuts. Never said a word about the sushi and you can’t see the chef making the sushi unless you go way around to the other side of the bar. Overall we had a nice time, but unless Meliá offers more food selections especially for level guests, I will continue going to Excellence Resorts.

This was my first trip solo to the Dominican Republic and to the Melia. This trip did not disappoint. Everything was amazing. The room was always immaculate. It was close to the beach and pool. The breakfast buffet was also very close and so many choices. They always had my iced coffee ready! The staff is every area was super friendly and the best!!! It was great using the cabana for the day and the service was really incredible. I was never wanting for anything. I give the Melia a high recommendation.

We just returned from our one week stay at the Melia, Wellness. Rating would be much higher but dropped when we returned home. Room was nice and clean, located down by the beach, which I recommend. Food at the beach area buffet was usually fresh, with lots of variety.Bars were well stocked and staff good. Buffet closer to the lobby is only open during supper and the three times we went, was good other than on 'Mexican' night where they ran out of some things. Beach and pool were very vice. Usually lots of chairs are available if you're down by there 7:30 which we tried. One unfortunate part of our trip, which was truly shocking and disturbing was that ALL of our checked luggage, from 2 couples, was ransacked by someone in the airport. I'm assuming it's the baggage handlers but you cannot not be sure. Zippers were opened, shaving kits and makeup kits were dumped within our bags, they were obviously looking for valuables.I had a small amount of money for tips, stolen from a zippered pouch. We have been to Punta Cana several times before and have never had this issue until now. This is truly disappointing and will make us think about returning to Punta Cana. There's many options to go where you don't have to worry about your luggage getting opened and things stolen from it. The authorities and hotels have to get a handle on this or they will be losing tourists.

Enjoyed my stay!! Gilberto Payan & the rest of the staff made my stay magical!!! I recommend staying in the Level because it’s a better experience!! Beach was beautiful, food delicious, & everyone in the DR is so kind!! Kenny at the spa is fabulous for massage! The activities the spa holds are blast, mud therapy & yoga were the best!! Muchas gracias ??????