My 2 children daughter (26) son (23) and I (57) stayed for 6 nights October 2026 We upgraded to the level. Although it was nice to be close to the beach and pool, everything else was mediocre at best. Service was overall not great except for the 2 or 3 that were friendly , cordial , helpful. When we checked into our ‘upgraded room’ there were empty beer cans in the closet , no cot for our 3rd person and snacks were not replenished. After calling concierge they did bring the cot but with attitude. 6 days in , service has been same. Won’t return , don’t waste your money.

Hello everyone. It is my first time traveling to Punta Cana and I am staying at the Zilara. I have never traveled to a Caribbean country and I am not sure what is safe or not. I don’t drink, and I have a lot of dietary restrictions. I know you can’t drink the water, but is ice safe? Are the fruits and vegetables safe? We are bringing Pepto in case of any digestive upset but I am nervous and unsure what to expect.

We will be leaving soon for our first trip!

Looking for suggestions on things to do outside our resort that are somewhat nearby.

Thank you

Going to punta cana first week of November looki g forward very much.

Would like to hit a brewery or 2 out in town. Are there any worth our time?

Thanks and cheers.

Staying here a week Sunday for 11 days just wondering how safe valuables are in the room safe as I've heard conflicting reports ?

Staying in Eden Roc Cap Cana and lost my sunglasses somewhere during the travels. Instead of spending $300 for some Maui Jim’s at the gift shop, is there anywhere nearby that I can buy a pair of cheap shades? Or is there a delivery service that could do so? Open to options!

I’m trying to fill out the E-Ticket since I’m flying out tomorrow night. Can’t seem to access the website and makes me download some random file. Anyone else having the same issue?

https://eticket.migracion.gob.do/

UPDATE 8:55AM PST:

I emailed info@migracion.gob.do
This is what they responded:

Gracias por comunicarse con la Dirección General de Migración.
 
Estimado usuario, le informamos que, en estos momentos, nuestras plataformas presentan una incidencia técnica temporal, la cual está siendo atendida de manera inmediata por el equipo de la Dirección de Tecnología, a fin de restablecer su funcionamiento.
 
Por tal motivo, le recomendamos mantenerse pendiente de nuestra plataforma e intentar realizar su solicitud más adelante.
 
En caso de tener un viaje previsto, deberá dirigirse a los oficiales de Migración al momento de su salida, quienes cuentan con las instrucciones correspondientes para atender este tipo de inconvenientes.
 
Agradecemos su comprensión y le ofrecemos disculpas por los inconvenientes ocasionados.

Here is the translation:

Thank you for contacting the General Directorate of Migration. Dear user, please be advised that our platforms are currently experiencing a temporary technical issue. Our Technology Department is addressing the matter immediately to restore full functionality. We recommend that you check our platform again later to submit your request. If you have a trip planned, please speak with the migration officers at the time of your departure; they have been provided with the necessary instructions to assist with situations of this nature. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Going to punta cana first week of November looki g forward very much.

Would like to hit a brewery or 2 out in town. Are there any worth our time?

Thanks and cheers

Hi! Cross posting for more feedback but trying to choose between the grand palladium and the riu palace.

Had loved our stay a few months ago but their restaurants reservation "system" was poorly managed and was definitively a minus. Not exactly sure whose interests our concierge had in mind then but he also didn't help, made things worst in our case. Curious if things have improved of late?

Hi Guys, I’m gonna fly soon to Punta cana to have a nice vacation time, but I’m a little bit worried because my flight arrives at 11 P.M. to the airport considering immigration time and that stuff. I’m gonna be free by 1 A.M. But I need to Know if there is a place to sleep there because the Hotel gives me the room Until 12 P.M. i’m considering to spend the night in a hostal But. If I can save a few bucks gonna be great.

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Beaches

If you're visiting the Dominican Republic mainly for the beaches, I'd recommend avoiding Punta Cana and staying in Bayahibe or along the coast on that side instead. During my visit, the water in Punta Cana was dirty, with lots of seaweed, and you don't get to see the sunset from that side of the island. Bayahibe was a much better option if you want nice beaches and sunsets.

Punta Cana is, however, better located for excursions (Saona is closer to Bayahibe though). On the buggy excursion we stopped at Macao beach which is a better beach in Punta Cana with less seaweed than the other Punta Cana beaches

Saona Island

I thought staying in Bayahibe and departing from the local port in the morning would mean more time on Saona Island, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. There were still loads of tourists all departing at the same time, and we didn't end up leaving the port until around 9:30–10:00 am.

The trip includes a stop at a so-called "natural pool", which is basically shallow water near a beach. We then arrived at Saona Island at around 1:20 pm and were told to return to the boat by 3:10 pm.

By the time you account for queuing and lunch, you only get about an hour to actually enjoy the beach.

My advice: Look into private boat trips and compare the prices. It might be worth paying extra for more time on the island and a better overall experience.

Before visiting, I'd read lots of comments warning people against hiring a car because of the driving and road conditions. Coming from the UK, where we drive on the opposite side of the road, I actually found driving in the Dominican Republic to be fine.

Yes, there are some potholes on certain roads around Punta Cana, but overall, the roads weren't as bad as I'd expected for example the highways between Punta Cana, Bayahibe and Santo Domingo were easy to drive on

Traffic in the capital can be busy, as you'd expect, but it's no different from other major cities a lot of other cities are worse. Punta Cana also gets traffic at certain times of the day

I wouldn't rule out hiring a car based on the negative comments online. Just book from a company with full cover for peace of mind

Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park

Personally, I wouldn't recommend it for the price. Paying $70 just to walk through a forest and visit four cenotes felt extortionate.

If you want to visit a cenote as part of an adventure experience, look into other options, such as the adventure parks in the Punta Cana area, including Bavaro Adventure Park.

As expected, prices are high in a tourist-focused destination like the Dominican Republic. However, I found some excursions particularly overpriced for what you actually get

I'd personally choose Bayahibe/Dominicus for the beaches and sunsets, and Punta Cana for its location and access to excursions.

Stayed at Riu Macao last month. Phenomenal time, I’m already planning the next trip. But I was wondering if anyone else was familiar with the Elite club bar that’s right by the entrance of Macao. If you are or especially if you’re staying there right now, what is that scent they have going on in that room. It’s this fresh nutty smokey scent. That itself was such a highlight of my trip. If you’re there would you please ask about that I wish I did before I left

Hi, I have a group of about 20 people and we are trying to plan out an all-inclusive spring break trip for 2027. We are all 20-21 years old and we are looking to go somewhere with people our age.

I’ve been looking to book through juscollege but we are trying to look at multiple options. Not sure where to look at though.

Heard bad things about RIU Republica, looking at Occidental and Barcelo Bravo as options. If anyone has advice or suggestions for booking a trip like this please lmk.

My husband and I are staying at the RIU Palace Bavaro. We took a walk on the beach today and I thought I'd give a seaweed update. At our beach it is OK. A little sargusm but nothing crazy! We took a right out of the hotel and walked up towards Iberostar and beyond to the end of the jetty, as far as we could walk. Completely different story when we got up to the Iberostar property and beyond. The ocean almost looks like chocolate milk by the Iberostar and the beach is covered beyond that! Just a couple of pictures for evidence. 1st picture is of the RIU property. The 2nd is the Iberostar property. The 3rd is beyond Iberostar and Premier Resorts.

I am looking for a resort that has a separate living room and bedroom space within 30 minutes or less from the Punta Cana airport. I have already stayed at Majestic Mirage, Majestic Elegance, Excellence Punta Cana, Paradisus Palma Real, and Zel Punta Cana. Has anyone stayed at any others with this room set up and enjoyed their stay? Appreciate the help!

⭐ 1/5 — Extremely Disappointing Customer Service and Cancellation Experience

I had a very disappointing experience with Daypass.com after booking a day pass for Serenade Punta Cana.

After making my reservation, I came across multiple concerning reviews regarding the resort’s amenities and overall guest experience. As a paying customer, I contacted Daypass.com to explain my concerns and request a cancellation and refund.

Instead of addressing my concerns in a helpful and customer-focused manner, their responses repeatedly emphasized their nonrefundable policy. Despite several email exchanges and my clear dissatisfaction, they refused to refund my deposit.

They eventually offered the option to transfer the deposit toward another experience, but by that point, I had completely lost confidence in their customer service and no longer wanted to continue doing business with them.

What disappointed me most was the lack of flexibility and the repeated responses that made me feel my concerns were being dismissed.

My advice to other travelers: Be extremely cautious before booking through Daypass.com. Read the cancellation terms carefully, research the resort independently, and understand that you may not receive a refund even if you have legitimate concerns before your visit.

Based on my experience, I would not recommend booking through this platform.