TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

We stayed at Royalton CHIC Punta Cana for five nights in July, and unfortunately it was the worst all-inclusive resort experience our group has ever had. We’ve stayed at several all-inclusive resorts in multiple countries, many costing less than this one, and every one of them delivered a noticeably better experience. By the end of the trip, every person in our group agreed we would never return. To be fair, there were a few bright spots. Our Diamond Club butler, Teudi (“T”), was outstanding. He responded quickly to every request, whether it was dinner reservations, room issues, or restocking the minibar. Without him, we would have spent far more time dealing with Guest Services. The spa was also excellent. It was clean, modern, smelled wonderful, and the massages and hydrotherapy circuit were fantastic. We also enjoyed our swim-out suite and the quieter Diamond Club pool. Unfortunately, that’s where the positives ended. Diamond Club Wasn’t Worth It We paid extra for Diamond Club expecting a noticeably elevated experience. Outside of our butler and one quieter pool, it simply wasn’t worth the additional cost. The exclusive areas were limited, and even there, getting drink service was often difficult. Even more frustrating was that one of our first interactions after arriving wasn’t hospitality. It was pressure to attend a Vacation Club presentation. We received repeated phone calls to our room, multiple WhatsApp messages, and continued invitations to what was essentially a timeshare presentation. When we politely declined, the representative tried to guilt us into attending anyway. It made the resort feel far more interested in selling memberships than making guests feel welcome. Room Problems Immediately The problems started as soon as we checked in. Two of the rooms in our group had dirty sheets on the beds, and paint was dripping from condensation around the air conditioning vent onto the floor. Not exactly what you’d expect from a resort that advertises itself as luxury. Loud, Out-of-Control Guests For the first two days, a large group completely took over the atmosphere of the resort. People should absolutely enjoy themselves on vacation, but this went far beyond that. They blew whistles, screamed throughout the day, blasted music through portable speakers, confronted members of our group and accused us of calling security, smoked marijuana throughout the shared pool area, and left behind bottles, cans, cigar wrappers, food, and other trash in the water. Several members of our group also witnessed overt sexual activity taking place in the shared pool in full view of other guests. The first night, staff briefly intervened, but the group returned after dinner. The second night, no one attempted to control the situation or enforce any quiet hours. Relaxing or getting a good night’s sleep was nearly impossible. A Bucket List Excursion Ruined The single biggest disappointment happened on the morning of our shark and stingray snorkeling excursion, something that had been on my bucket list for most of my life. After breakfast we returned to our room only to discover the electronic door lock system had failed. Housekeeping couldn’t get in. Staff couldn’t get in. Maintenance spent nearly three hours trying to open the door. By the time they finally forced it open, our transportation had already left. Because of a problem that was entirely the resort’s fault, we missed our $360 excursion. Management’s response was an apology and a 10% discount at the spa, even though we had already planned to use the spa. There was no reimbursement for the excursion, no meaningful compensation, and no follow-up afterward. That experience perfectly summed up how the resort handled problems. The Food Without exaggeration, this was the worst food we’ve experienced at any all-inclusive resort. The buffet rarely had fresh or appetizing options, and the dining area was uncomfortably hot. The specialty restaurants looked great online, but many menu items weren’t actually available, even when arriving right as they opened. Every chicken dish was dry and overcooked. Dinner service routinely exceeded an hour, with one meal taking nearly 90 minutes. One meal arrived so cold it honestly tasted like it had come out of a refrigerator. Even the pizza somehow tasted like cardboard covered in cheese. Every restaurant disappointed us. Slow Service Everywhere Outside of our butler, service throughout the resort was consistently slow. Drink service was slow. Meals took forever. Servers disappeared for long stretches without checking on tables. Room service regularly exceeded 90 minutes. Everything seemed to move at an incredibly slow pace. Safety & Maintenance One member of our group cut her hand badly enough on broken pool tiles that she required medical attention. When we reported it, both the medic and resort staff largely dismissed the incident. Rather than showing concern or apologizing, we were simply told the pool had been renovated six months earlier. No follow-up. No concern. No accountability. Activities & Resort Layout Compared to other all-inclusive resorts we’ve visited, the entertainment staff lacked energy and enthusiasm. Activities weren’t promoted well, there was little effort to get guests involved, and it was often unclear where or when events were happening. The resort also lacked adequate signage, making it surprisingly difficult to find restaurants, amenities, and other areas without asking other guests for directions. Final Thoughts Luxury isn’t defined by marketing photos or upgraded room categories. It’s defined by how guests are treated when things don’t go according to plan. Royalton CHIC Punta Cana failed us in nearly every category that mattered: room quality, food, service, maintenance, organization, and customer service. The only things that prevented this trip from being a complete disaster were our butler, Teudi (“T”), the excellent spa, and making the best of it with our friends. For the price we paid, especially after upgrading to Diamond Club, we expected a completely different level of quality and service. We left feeling like the resort cared far more about selling Diamond Club upgrades and Vacation Club memberships than delivering the experience guests had already paid for. None of us would ever return, and unfortunately we cannot recommend Royalton CHIC Punta Cana to anyone looking for a relaxing, high-quality all-inclusive vacation. Pros * Outstanding butler (Teudi) * Excellent spa * Nice swim-out suite * Quiet Diamond Club pool Cons * Terrible food * Extremely slow service * Dirty rooms on arrival * Aggressive Vacation Club sales tactics * Missed a $360 excursion due to a resort lock failure * Broken pool tiles causing injury * Poor management response to multiple issues * Diamond Club not worth the extra cost * Loud, disruptive atmosphere with little staff intervention

Food wasn't good, Drinks weren't good, entertainment wasn't good, resort wasn't good. Breakfast was the same stuff everyday. Lunch was either buffet or the same two snack shacks. They list the sports club for lunch but it's not open for food even though it's listed as open. The snack shacks were often out of the items that you want ie chicken wings and mozzarella sticks. Dinner food was a hit and miss. Nothing great about it. Drinks - the bars were out of most of the items that our group wanted. Even being a diamond club guest they didn't have things like Malibu, Titos and some other whiskeys. One day they would have the alcohol then the next two days they wouldn't. I don't feel like the bartenders knew how to make drinks. We asked for a Mexican Martini and they had no idea what to do and said they couldn't make it. Diamond Club - This is a joke. You pay extra money to have to go and get your own drinks. We were told that the waitresses around the pool could NOT go to the diamond club bars to get drinks for us...We had to. So we had to get out of our swim up pools to get drinks. NOT WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY. Resort - don't even get me started. We were hounded the entire time. First by the painting guys to buy a painting or tell them which one is our favorite. Then by the jewelry place begging us to come in to buy. Then the up sale... the resort wants you to buy into this travelers club. EVERY DAY Multi people asking us to go to an hour presentation so they can get credit and we can get a free massage or cabana. It was not a relaxing time. No one in our group would go back and we would never recommend this place. It was a waste of our vacation time.

An amazing birthday, thanks to all the staff, Mr Alejandro y el Sr Ivan together with the amazing staff make my stay something to remember forever. The quality of the staff from the lobby to the bar, restaurants and housekeepers it’s top notch. Sindy and Sosa at the lobby, Sergio and Carmen at the pool bar and Nercy at the buffet, will make your stay unforgettable. Just remember those names but if I could I will mention everyone

Never have I ever gone to a resort and there was no elevator. I never thought to ask as I just never thought to ask. 3rd floor on a vacation does not do it for me. The food was just ok but I expected more Caribbean food at a minimum. I dont go to DR for Indian food and sushi. The rooms were hot and moldy. I could not believe it. 5 days and in these conditions....Do not recommend. The front desk was nice for the most part but didn't know alot pf answers to our questions. Had to Make dinner reservations every night if u wanted a sit down meal instead of buffet. I dont vacation to serve myself. Linen and towels were very substandard. The liquor was NOT top or middle shelf...straight less than bottom shelf type liquors. I was there 5 days and didnt even get a buzz from drinking. Again DO NOT RECOMMEND this hotel..very outdated.

Just stayed at Royalton chic for a week and had the best experience, the staff are super friendly, room very clean and modern. We had diamond club and the amenities were our favourite part, The diamond club beach bar is really good and a highlight, No sunbed battles in a morning, lots of pool activities and extra entertainment on weekends. The Al a carte restaurants are the best dining option with a good variety and fresh food. Joan our butler was amazing start to finish, very attentive and quick with reservations. Will definitely recommend this hotel and be returning ??