Thanks so much Michael!! We’re happy to answer any questions you have. I will say the club level was a great option because you do get guaranteed beach chairs and the separate pool which is super nice. Also check out the steakhouse, that was pretty good. Request a room closer to the beach to avoid the noise from shows at night. Let us know any questions you have!
Hi Darci! Diamond club is listed as a room type online so if you haven’t yet booked, when you search for your dates you will see standard rooms or diamond club rooms. That’s the easiest way to book it. If you already booked, you can upgrade upon check in :)
Thanks so much for your informative review. I’ll be traveling to the DR solo in a few weeks and as a Marriott Ambassador level member, looking for a safe, clean property to enjoy while traveling abroad. Glad to hear about the Covid test, looks like there are plenty of things to do/enjoy, dining, etc. I made my final decision regarding this property based on your review (wasn’t sure I would feel safe traveling alone) but seeing your extensive review helped ease my concerns so thank you!
Hi Michele! Thank you so much- that means a lot. You’ll have to let us know what you think!! There’s definitely a lot to do and it’s a really friendly environment for making friends since there are so many activities every day. Safe travels!!
@@VoyagerGuru thank you! I have booked some excursions and between those and the resort, I look forward to seeing this beautiful place for the first time. I'm an essential worker who has been working COVID response for the past year and a half, and finally getting a chance to travel so I am glad I found your helpful review!
Thank you so much for your work during covid - you deserve this trip more than most!! Have the best time ❤️❤️ don’t hesitate to reach out with any other questions anytime!
Hi there! thanks for your comment- we appreciate it :). Regarding the two, Bavaro is much newer. They sell hideaway as more exclusive but its really just a few rooms inside their larger, and older, Punta Cana property. I don't think it's quite as exclusive as one might thing. If I were looking at the two, I would go with the Bavaro property as the whole place feels much newer and nicer than the PC property. They're both located within 5 minutes of each other so you can access either one. Let us know if you have any questions!
The activities look fantastic!! Along with a good amount of relaxing spaces. It really does look beautiful. It was very fair to take in to consideration the time they had been open and perhaps the inconsistent service was down to it being fairly new still. Great video guys!
Hey Daniel! Thanks for your comment :). The good news is there are a LOT of great resorts for families in punta cana. Some of our favorite hotels that would be great for kids are the Hyatt ziva (great water park the kids will love and still has a great vibe for parents), the Royalton is good- this property has the lazy river and a kids pool area but the punta cana property has the water park. Nickelodeon resort is also supposed to have a lot of great kids spaces. My favorite is probably going to be the ziva due to how well they cater to both parents and kids. The ziva also has a much more private beach. The Royalton Bavaro is great but you have to leave the resort to go to the water park. Let us know if you have any questions!
Hey Awesome and a very detailed video. Thanks for that. I was wondering how much is it to upgrade to the diamond club and can i just upgrade the diamond club membership and not the room.
Hey Aquil! Thanks for your comment! So the room types are all the exact same so really the upgrade is just upgrading for the service itself. You’ll see the lowest tier room also has a corresponding diamond club room type - it’ll be something like “garden king” versus “garden king diamond club”. The rooms will be the same amenities, square footage etc just the diamond club includes the lounge, “butler” and added services. Let me know if you have any other questions!
what is your opinion on the majestic mirage? i’m booking for an anniversary this summer and was leaning towards that! other than that i was debating on the one you went to and breathless but am open to anything they have on costco travel. thanks so much and love the video!
Hey there! Thanks for your comment :)! The majestic mirage right next to its sister property, majestic elegance, and the Royalton :) the beach is super nice in that area, calm blue water - and lots of great people watching! I did check out some reviews of majestic and I see a pretty clear trend around the food being subpar so that’s something to consider. Breathless is a good hotel as well- it’s more of a party resort so if you’re looking for some lively atmosphere, that’s a good option. If you like that style of property, I would check if Now Onyx is on Costco- that’s a great hotel we have had our eye on. Quieter than breathless but you can access the amenities across both hotels. Another one to check if they’re on Costco is Live Aqua - it’s very new and on our list as well! Let us know if you have any other questions we can answer!
awesome review! my family visited this resort in 2018 and now planning to go back to the area and considering this one again and Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana. Since you've been to both which one would you choose for a family trip, ages 18-65?
Hey Taquera! Thanks very much for your comment :). Oooh that's a tough one - they are two different price points to start with but I would think about are you looking for a more "lively" party atmosphere? or more relaxing? Hyatt Zilara is by far my favorite right now and I find their food and services to be incredible. We also had no issues with dinner reservations etc so if you are a larger group, may be worth thinking about that as well since Royalton seemed just really packed everywhere compared to the Hyatt and we saw a LOT of people turned away who didn't make dinner reservations. I also like the privacy and seclusion of Playa Juanillo, versus how busy the Bavaro beach area is. In general, the Hyatt is very spacious, open and on the quieter side. However, if you are looking for more party vibes with lots of people then Hyatt may not be right for you. Also, important note, Royalton is not adults only so there are lots of kids. Zilara's entire property is adults only and therefore there won't be any kids on that side. The Ziva side of the property is family friendly and you can go over there anytime, but if you're looking to relax as adults by the pool, then Zilara is definitely for you.
Hi, this is a very detailed and honest review. We are going to Punta Cana in April with our 23 year old daughter. We have narrowed it down to this hotel, the Melia Punta Cana and the Majestic Colonial. Do you have one you would recommend over the others or any you would stay away from? Thanks
Hey Scott! Thanks for your comment! That’s a great question - we haven’t personally stayed at the other two, but Royalton is the newest of the three and is now part of Marriott so you would really benefit from the points/spend. Depending on how long you stay etc, you’d be earning a lot of points for a future trip, which really makes it worth it. I’m certain as well that Marriott taking over this property has increased some of the service flaws we experienced during our stay :). Let us know if you have any questions!
Thank you for the review. Can you confirm the all-inclusive package includes meals at every restaurant? What about beverages (water, soft drinks, alcohol) are they are also apart of the all-inclusive plan? Thanks in advance!
Hi Kim! Thanks for reaching out :) yes correct - all the restaurants at your hotel are included in the plan. There are upsells to things like lobster or nicer steak at some of the restaurants, but we never do that. Alcohol, soda, juice water and all that is also included. Their white wine and red wine were ok for an all inclusive. Our favorite restaurant was the steakhouse or the Brazilian bbq as well. Alcohol and food is included all day and night as long as the bar is open :). Room service is free for the club level, and there is a $5 or $10 surcharge for non-club level guests.
Hi there! It depends on what you are looking for. Royalton is definitely more family friendly in the sense that there are water parks, lazy rivers and lots of kids club type stuff. The flo rider is great- Hyatt is a bit more upscale, better food, lots of great dining options and the beach is incredible. Let me know what you’re looking for and I can give you the best recommendation :)
@@VoyagerGuru thanks for the reply! going as a couple to celebrate a birthday. Looking for something laidback with the opportunity for nightlife. Honestly, great food will always get me.
Makes sense - I would honestly go with Hyatt. Super laid back, great food and drinks, go club level if you can and the beach is amazing. Royalton is wayyyy more busy and crowded
Thank you so much for your comment! The nightlife is not quite clubbing, but there is nightly entertainment. They have a sports bar, a band during dinner hours and also a show each night. The shows are things like blue man group style and cabaret style events - nothing crazy but entertaining enough. The sports bar is popular so that looks fun. The good news is the evening events happen in the lobby area away from MOST rooms. Just keep in mind which room type you book and the room location as the buildings closer to the lobby will have noise until about midnight. Let us know what other questions you have!!
@@VoyagerGuru awesome! Thank you. Are there any all inclusive resorts that you'd recommend? Would this be a top option? Also, do you have a travel agent that you book through?
@@lindsaysimmons2528 Anytime, Lindsay! Hmmm top option, probably not. For the price- yes, it's excellent. If you're willing to go a bit higher id say Hyatt Zilara is probably the top for me. Alternatively, I've seen some great rates at the Hilton La Romana -- both these options will be more sargassum free in summer months as well. Royalton is VERY new which is excellent, love the property vibes etc but there are better service-oriented hotels. It just kind of depends what you're looking for- happy to give you my favorites based on your budget if you shoot me an email (team@voyagerguru.com) -- no we don't use a travel agent, I'm more of a deal hunter typically so I like to recommend websites that have the best prices :)
Great video. Very nice overview and helpful. How would you compare the Royalton Bavaro to the Barcelo Bavaro Palace? We have two 9 year olds. Is there entertainment at night at the Royalton Bavaro? Do the pools really close at 6pm? What would you say are the top 3 hotels in Punta Cana for families with young kids? Thanks.
Hey there! Thanks for your comment. we really appreciate your feedback! Regarding Barceló versus Royalton- Royalton has a much more modern and new aesthetic. Barceló is a great brand but the rooms and property will feel much more dated than Royalton. The Royalton is certainly a lot of fun with the lazy river and activities. The water park is actually not on site so that’s worth noting. The pools do close at 6pm, unless you have a swim up - we didn’t see anyone enforce any rules on the swim up rooms so that’s positive. I’d say the best hotel is Hyatt ziva because the water park is onsite, beach is private and the hotel is fabulous and then Royalton is a good option and then I’ve heard good things about the Nickelodeon hotel for young kids because of their activities. Let me know what other questions you have!!
@@VoyagerGuru Thank you. Very helpful!!! We have stayed at the Barcelo and agree with you that the rooms are a little dated, but the kids waterpark is nice (more for younger kids) and the main palace are with the main restaurants and pools are great.
Good to know about barcelo!! We stayed at one in Aruba and the property itself was spectacular - dated rooms; same style as at punta cana but overall likes it. I’d rather the Royalton is definitely a winner on the style front
Hey Cary! Thanks for your comment. One questions: what time of year are you traveling? If it’s summer, Hilton for sure. There’s no seaweed. If you can swing it, Hyatt ziva for sure. But if not, Hilton
@@VoyagerGuru thank you so much for your respond. Unfortunately, Hyatt Ziva is sold out 😩. We are going on early August so Hilton it is. BTW - Love the detail you guys put into your reviews.
Thank you so much Cary!!! Ahh gotcha - don’t worry the Hilton is really excellent and will likely have even less seaweed than Hyatt :). I hope you guys have an amazing time! Let us know if you have any questions or need anything!
Hey there! Thanks for your comment :). The hard rock is located on Bavaro as well so it’ll be the same beach with lots of hotels and activities. We have not been to hard rock yet but it looks nice! I believe it’s a bit more of a party hotel :)
Can you tell me all of the daytime and nighttime entertainment? Many of the travel agencies tell me that is not the time to go because majority of these things are closed down and the resorts are only allowed 25% occupancy. Cen you help me. I am trying to plan out trip March 27
Hey Jennifer! Thanks for your comment :). Most of the hotels are open in punta cana and since they are private entities, they are allowed to operate under special regulations in the DR. The occupancy isn’t really capped either. Most hotels have rotating open hours for restaurants to accommodate the number of people in house. I’m happy to help you out- feel free to shoot me an email at team@voyagerguru.com if you have some questions about resorts and I can give you some guidance if you’re looking to book your trip :)
Hey Maria! Thanks for your message! The Royalton Bavaro was definitely lively but if you’re looking for a bigger party atmosphere I’d look at hard rock, CHIC and breathless as well. Keep in mind things may not be open or available during covid :)
Hey Charlie! Sounds amazing- i hope you have a great time!! Regarding restaurants, no, you cannot reserve in advance. What I would recommend, however, is right when you check in, make reservations with the front desk (or butler if you are club level). If you can't get the reservations you want, we saw many people show up to the restaurants and wait for no-shows :). Let us know if you have any questions!
Amazing review! Thank you :) Do you know if the lazy river actually flows and you can sit in an inner tube and just float around? Or is it just a long pool shaped like a river with no current? Dying to go sit in a real lazy river haha
Hi Robyn! Thank you so much for your comment. Yes- it does! It's actually a really cool feature and it's quite long. It floats through a swim up bar, a cave thing and some fun water features. It's definitely relaxing, and it's also mostly shaded so GREAT amenity on property. and LOL, I hear you- there is nothing better than floating around in a lazy river! Let us know if you have any other questions
Definitely sanctuary in that case- Royalton is a bit more loud and a lot of families- I would recommend sanctuary for you guys :). Let us know if you have any other questions!
Hello 👋 is everything open here? Such as pools and restaurants? Also can you swim in the beach how was it I am thinking in booking the swim up suit thank yo u
Hey Stephan! Thanks for reaching out. There are lots of open things - the pools and beach etc. I will say the restaurants are on a rotating basis and we found the options very limited. I’m sure as more people start to travel, more of the restaurants will open every night so I would call in advance to find out what is open on each night. You can definitely swim on the beach - in the summer there will be a bit of seaweed but it’s shallow and very nice to swim there. Great idea to book a swim up! We saw so many people relaxing and enjoying their swim up all day and the waiters can even come to your swim up pool to take orders :) let me know if you have any other questions!
Hey there! Yes, they do. They do antigen testing free- for Canada I believe you need a PCR and they can do that as well on property but they do charge a little for it
Hi Dennis! Thanks for reaching out- Bavaro beach in the summer tends to get seaweed, however it’s pretty much anywhere in the Caribbean right now. Bavaro does have some current so some days there’s none, others there a lot. Hilton la romana doesn’t have sargassum due to its location so if you’re looking to avoid it entirely I’d look over there. Otherwise, Royalton has awesome pools in the event you face a lot of seaweed
Hi Christina, thank you so much for your comment! If you are on the Club level, you get room service included for free. If you are in a standard room, the room service is $5 per order.
Do you recommend going here for couples that want a combination of relaxation but a lively atmosphere too? or would you say this resort is more family orientated? Thank you
Hi There! Thanks for your comment :). I’d say Royalton is a bit more of the lively adults atmosphere with music and bar life, particularly in the club section. There are families as well but I found the beach and bars way more adult oriented. There’s a lot of activity at the bars after dinner as well which is really fun
Thanks so much for your comment! It totally depends on what you’re comfortable with but what I’d say is $1 for a drink here and there, $5 for good service beach side. In the DR it’s customary to give someone 50 pesos (~1 USD) as a quick thanks and 100-300 pesos for good service. The hotels in punta cana are VERY accustomed to USD so no need to exchange.
Hey Billy! Thanks for your comment. It usually depends. We often get compd media stays at hotels. However, for hotels in the DR I usually find the best deals by booking direct (they are often doing good add ons like free upgrades or late checkout for direct booking) or in hotels.com. A few times, I’ve seen decent deals on travelzoo.com as well. Let me know if you have any other questions
Excellent review of this hotel. My only question is if there is any entertainment at night, like shows or something similar??? Im not that kind of disco guy....
Hey Juan Carlos! Thanks for your comment! They do have a lot of live music every night in the main atrium of the hotel. They also do have shows as well in an auditorium like blue man group-style shows and cabarets. They were pretty fun! I don't believe they have a disco on property - let us know if you have any other questions!!
@@VoyagerGuru thanks for your answer. Im considering going this June an entire week. Last question, do they have coffe shop so you can get any time you want you cappucino and lattes?? Coffee addict, sorry...
@@juancarlosmartinezacevedo4659 Thank you so much!! They do have a coffee shop- that little cafe has the best coffee at the whole resort so highly recommend making the trek there. They serve instant coffee in the breakfast buffet which is not good at all, so we ended up just having a quick bite and then going to the cafe every morning. They make good lattes, cappucinos and iced drinks :)
Thanks so much for this super informative review! I could only find a garden view room at this hotel and since I'd like to avoid being right next to the nightly entertainment you mention, can you please tell me more about the location of this? Is it at the Majestic? Thanks again!
Hi Laura! thanks for your message :). Ah yes- so there's basically two areas where sound could be an issue. One is if you are too close to the lobby. The lowest tier of rooms are close to the lobby typically, but I would also recommend adding a note in your reservation for a "quiet" room so that they can intentionally put you away from the noise. The second area is going to be on the side of the property facing the Majestic (so basically the left hand backside of the hotel if you're facing the water). We heard quite a bit or music at night when we were on the backside of the hotel. In terms of view, the best view is going to be in the higher floors, particularly with club level-- the buildings slant outwards towards the beach. There are not a lot of rooms with direct ocean views, though. They offer a program where you can pay to pre-select your room, and I may recommend doing that at this property if you're looking to book something quiet with a view. Happy to help if you need anything! feel free to shoot me an email or follow up here :) team@voyagerguru.com
@@VoyagerGuru wowwww thank you so much for your super detailed reply. This is fantastic. I did use the room selector and booked a top floor room far from the Majestic, facing the resort, and half way between the ocean and the lobby, so I should be fine. You guys are really awesome and I really appreciate your super informative videos. Thanks again!
@@lauraandreatta3739 No worries! happy to help!! Im glad you were able to use that feature- that's fantastic. It's worth the money to get the room you want. Have a safe trip and happy holidays!!
Hi Olya, thank you so much for your comment! I believe they charge $35 to access the water park, but I would double check by calling the Royalton to verify what the cost would be. Let us know if you have any other questions!
Hi, we are torn between 3 resorts...Royalton Bavaro, Dreams Macao, and Hyatt Ziva. We have a large group of people ranging from 8 to 65 years old. We are looking for water slides, lazy river and good food and drinks. Ziva is a little pricey but we are ok stretching our budget if that resort will hit all of our needs. Please help!
Hey Tony! Sounds like a blast! I have a couple of questions and thoughts but my initial gut reaction is to say ziva. Now the only thing is that Ziva’s lazy river is at the water park, not on the pool area at the beach side in case that’s important to you. Ziva by far will have the best experience in terms of food and beverage, service and how they will treat you as a large group. The f&b is frankly better than most high end resorts we have stayed at in punta Cana- full stop. As a large group, they will be more inclined to accommodate you at restaurants at long tables and get you spots at the pool, etc because they generally have the best service and also because they are not yet at full capacity. The beach is also by far the safest and nicest for a group. There aren’t any sellers in cap Cana on the beach and there’s only a couple hotels on playa Juanillo so it’s generally much safer and quieter than Bavaro’s hotel zone (less to fear with the kids out and about). All guests in cap Cana have to register at the main gate. The price tag is higher but I believe it is justified for all the reasons I mentioned. Playa resorts also has done the best job with covid that we have experienced in punta Cana, which includes the Hyatt complex. I think you guys would 100% not regret booking the ziva. We have not stayed at dreams yet but Royalton is going to be more difficult to accommodate large groups due to the size of the property and how much more crowded it typically is as well as the beach is public so a little less “safe” to have kids running around. Their water park and lazy river are phenomenal and definitely on par with Hyatt. Their service is not always the best so I would be a little hesitant with a group larger than 5 as many people while we were there experienced issues getting dinner reservations and beach chairs together. Let us know if you have any other questions that we can help with!
@@VoyagerGuru thank you so much for such a quick response. Great info as well! Looks like we are going to have to dig a little deeper in our pockets and book Ziva. How is the night life there? Is there an upgrade to a premium club for added benefits? If so, what would those benefits be? Sorry for all the questions!
Hey no worries - so happy to help! We love this stuff :). Ziva is definitely worth it if it’s in the budget. Also, if you do go with ziva make sure you sign up for World Of Hyatt if you don’t already have an account - the points you will earn are incredibly valuable. Regarding nightlife, the sports bar was VERY lively when we were there, and they do have 29 bars so there’s a lot to choose from. They also have nightly family-friendly activities like shows and dancers. I’d say pretty solid - as solid as you can get during covid. Regarding upgrades, there is a club level (it’s a room type option when you book), the rooms are the same as standard but the added benefits include a lounge to check in and out of with a full bar, premium alcohol and access to the shutters and chinola oceanfront restaurants for breakfast and lunch. These two restaurants are only available for dinner for standard rooms so I’d say this is really the main perk - they’re a la carte, which I prefer over a buffet. Standard rooms have access to the buffet and room service so it’s not a huge deal, but I’d say that’s the main “win”. Being with a large group, I think that’ll be up to what your style of vacation is to figure out if it’s worth it or not. It’s nice to have they added benefit, but not going to make your stay any less wonderful if you don’t. The additional benefit is a club level pool that is set back from the beach but I found myself never going there since the pool on the beach is huge and there were ample chairs. There’s also a butler with club level, which means you have a dedicated concierge to help you with stuff, make reservations etc - it’s a nice benefit to whatsapp them whenever you need something, but again not going to ruin your vacation not to have it. Club level is great if it’s in the budget but I wouldn’t stress too much about it if it’s not. The service across the board is excellent so I feel the hotel staff won’t disappoint whether or not you book club. Also no need to apologize- keep asking away! We’re always here to help :)
Hi Marc! Thanks for your comment! We have not yet stayed at Secrets Cap Cana - however, we are hoping to stay there later this year so stay tuned!! We have heard excellent things about the property. It's a highly requested review so we're hoping to make it happen :). Let us know if you have any other questions!
Hey Harley! Thanks for your comment. The main pools were closed but the swim up suites we not. We saw people in their swim up rooms late into the evening so that’s a great option for you if you want to enjoy the later evening swim :) let us know what other questions you have!
@@VoyagerGuru Thank you for the response. We actually booked another hotel, but we are learning five weeks out from our trip that we are getting moved to this hotel. :-(, but your review was awesome and really helpful. Thank you :)
@@VoyagerGuru Royalton Chic, diamond club presidential suite, but they are trying to down grade us. They originally suggested Hideaway but were taking away all of or perks. So it has been a little challenging the last few days trying to figure things out.
@@Harley-ql1rd Oh gosh, that doesn't sound like great service... well the equivalent room at the Royalton Bavaro is the diamond club presidential one bedroom. I would try and push back as much as possible because when guests are "walked" in circumstances like this, you are entitled to the same room type and amenities. If that's not available, you're entitled to a refund. Hideaway is not quite the same
Hi Makenzie! Thanks for reaching out. The Diamond Club is just a one time thing - it's basically just a room upgrade that includes additional amenities such as the free access to flo-rider and the water park as well as the comp'd room service and the private pool/beach area. When you look at the rates for your dates, you can scroll down to see the Diamond Club rooms. The rooms are exactly the same, just come with more amenities and access on property :). I think it's worth it, depending on the price of course, if you plan to use room service and activities.
Hi Bahar! Thanks for your comment - the Dominican government subsidizes covid testing at hotels so most luxury hotels are doing it free by appointment for the antigen test, including royalton :) be sure to call ahead for an appointment! Let us know what questions you have
Thank you so much for this awesome review! We are considering going here, but your 3/5 COVID rating is kind of worrying me. Is there another all inclusive resort you would recommend that is more covid “strict” (traveling with my husband and our active 2 year old). Thank you in advance!!
Hey there!! Thanks for your comment - and I hear you, I’m not super enthused about being stressed on vacation. It’s one thing to not require masks for guests but it’s a whole other for none of the staff to wear masks either. The most strict hotels that we know are Playa Resorts (Hyatt, sanctuary and Hilton) as well as Marriott (not all inclusive though). Hyatt ziva, if you can swing it, did an exceptional job and could be worth checking out (we have a review on that as well). Next weekend we’re going to Hilton la Romana and I can follow up here with my thoughts if you’re not booking in the next week - or reach out to me directly and I’ll keep you posted :). Alternatively I have seen good things about palladium when it comes to covid, TBD we are going to stay there as well coming up on the 12-14th of the month. If you’re booking in the next week I’d definitely recommend Hyatt over all, not super busy, staff are exceptional and the rates have been a bit up and down. I even saw a deal on the AmEx travel portal. Let us know if you have any questions!
Hi Sophie! We would highly recommend reservations because it was always very crowded at prime-time. I would try and make your reservations the day you arrive for the duration of your stay to make sure you get into the restaurants you want :). Hope this helps!
Hi there! Thanks for your comment! We have not yet stayed at finest, but I can say Royalton is very updated and clean and has a beautiful beachfront. The club level is worth it to not have to stress about a beach chair and reservations. Finest does look very nice, but we can’t say for sure how their food and service is yet - it’s on our list to visit! Let us know any other questions you have.
Hey there! Thanks for your comment! The water park is free to access if you are in the diamond club. If you are not in the diamond club, I think it was $35 USD to access the water park at the sister property. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Hey Mando! Thanks for your comment. In my opinions, yes. The diamond club has its own beach area and pool, which can be really nice when the hotel gets crowded. Diamond club also comes with free room service ($5 fee otherwise) and access to the flo rider free as well as the spa facilities for thirty minutes per day. I’d say if you are a big beach or pool person and want a little extra service, it’s worth it. It felt like we were always able to get a beach chair any time do day on the diamond club side. Let us know what other questions you have!
Hey Jay! We have not yet stayed at the Majestic elegance, but here's what I can say: they are very similar in terms of look of the rooms and the offerings. I can also say that the food was quite good at Royalton Bavaro, whereas I have seen negative reviews lately about the Majestic dining offerings. In general, the furnishings at Royalton are super high end and from the beach, the Royalton had much nicer beach chairs (the hotels are very close to one another). Something I always recommend if you're not sure, look at the room types and prices and decide based on which one you like more and would get more value from (are the rooms the same size? one bigger? better view? etc). Royalton will definitely be a great time if you're with friends and looking for a high quality vacation in the sun - just make sure 100% to book all your reservations at restaurants in advance!! This is important at any of these hotels, especially if you are traveling with your friends. If you're still not certain, let me know which room types you'd be looking at at both and I'm happy to help be the tie-breaker :).
@@JayPatel-we4fm Haha oh gosh no worries!! It's my pleasure. So just looking at the two, side by side, the Majestic swimup is cheaper by about 60 bucks or so. Majestic is MUCH older, it's got an older design and frankly, very odd tub right in view of everyone outside. However, the price difference could be enough to make up for it. Also, the Majestic states they have 4 bottles of liquor in the room and you get a bottle of champagne on arrival- this is a big plus as at Royalton, they do not have any bottles bottles in the room, other than a few beers in the minibar, so also worth thinking about. It looks like room service also is included with Majestic (not at Royalton unless in Diamond Club, $5 per order otherwise). On the Royalton side, the room is about 100 square feet bigger, it's a nice configuration and no tub in the front facing everyone else. There is a tub in the bathroom so that's a win. The room is also much newer as the property is only about 3 years old, very cool design, great AC etc. Reviewing the reviews on TripAdvisor, there are some things that concern me with Majestic, mainly the pools (including the swimups) closing at 6pm - that's not cool if you pay for a swimup, you should have access anytime. Also, I saw some disturbing reports about food illnesses. Though, they seem to have fixed that issue. I found the food to be great at Royalton overall and the drinks were excellent. Ultimately, the two are VERY similar in terms of what to expect from service and amenities. My personal preference would be to go with Royalton because I found everything to be very clean, the food was good and the property itself is massive, lots of bars, good drinks. I also just generally like the style of the property more. Oh and re the booze in the room, it wasn't a huge issue at royalton as i would call room service and ask for 4 glasses of wine to work around the bizarre rule. I also do like that you can actually pay to pick your room in advance as well so if you're traveling with friends you could guarantee a specific room next to your friends. It costs a bit more but it takes the pressure off of relying on front desks or reservations who typically fail in the request department. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Hey Brenda! Great question. So far, we have found the Playa Resorts group to have incredible precautions that are well done. This will include the Hyatt Zilara, Ziva and Sanctuary that we stayed at. We felt incredibly safe there and are really impressed with their safety precautions. Let us know if you have any questions!
Due to my commitment to another vacation I cant due Hyatt zilara I am seriously considering this hotel any other suggestions in this price range Budget Lol
Hey there! great question. what properties are you comparing it to? The entertainment at royalton was nice - they did offer nightly shows, live music and a LOT of activities for travelers. Most of the entertainment was happening near the main lobby where the majority of the restaurants are. Let me know if you are looking at other properties and if I know anything about their entertainment, I'll let you know :)
This place was a nightmare for me. I stayed there a week ago. Totally not recommended unless you like long lines at check in, restaurants and just about everything else. I booked two nights just to see how it was, and I was in for a surprise. I am a Bonvoy Platinum elite and that means nothing at this resort. I arrived after a long day's drive to wait in line for an hour at check in. The floor in my room was dirty and the toilet stall hadn't been swept. There was a cringy yellow stain on the corner of the exposed part of the bed sheet. My room had a strong ammonia smell which is the by products of mold probably in the AC System. Loads of loud kids running everywhere, it was like Chucky Cheese on the water. If you are not a "diamond" member you basically spend your day just trying to get a seat to eat. LONG lines just to book a restaurant reservation. The restaurant basically ran out of food or the host just gave me an attitude. (Brazilian Beef Place). By 9:30pm I checked out and into the AC Marriott down the road. I ended up losing $741, but wasn't going to spend two miserable days in this place. Once I got to the AC Marriott, I was able to eat and the next day I found a beautiful beach just down the road. There are alternatives to these resorts, and I think it's a better way to go.
Hey David- thanks so much for this update! That is honestly horrible and does not sound fun. It doesn't completely surprise me, which is a real bummer. I was hoping that with Marriott taking over it would improve but sounds like it may not have. I would definitely recommend reaching out to corporate to file a formal complaint for having to check out- that alone is great context for them to take your complaint seriously and potentially help cover any losses, especially as a platinum member. If you ever plan to come back to Punta Cana, let us know and we'll suggest some adults only places that may be serving up a better experience than Royalton seems to be!
Alot of informative videos to check out, which is the top rated Dominican Republic hotel in a price range from $150 to $200 a night, thanks for the videos
Hey Nicholas! The diamond club fee depends on the room rate so it will change based on availability of the room and the season. As an example, when you go to book a room, you may see a standard king for $250 but then if you scroll down you’ll see the diamond club king for $300, for example. So my recommendation is to take a look at the rates of each for the days you want so you can see the price difference :) if you’re looking for an all inclusive in that range, I would start by searching trivago.com for that price range - I would also look at June - September for the best rates. Today, we are going to check into the grand palladium in punta cana so stay tuned! That hotel is in the $200 range.
Hi Ross, thanks for your comment. This video was filmed in the middle of the COVID pandemic when travel was just starting to pick up again. Hotels around the world had varying degrees of response and we were some of the first people to see what these hotels were doing at the time. Many hotels were taking precautions to protect its guests from COVID and many travelers were looking for information pertaining to these precautions when deciding on a safe holiday destination. Glad you liked the rest of the review, though! Thanks for making it to the end :) have a great day!
Hi Drew, thanks for your comment! It is technically only "required" to wear a mask in the restaurants. We recommend wearing a mask anytime you are in a public space with others :). Let us know if you have any other questions!
@@deborafletcher7492 I had a fever. A terrible cough a rash and was achy all over. I didn't think I was going to Make it back to the states without passing out but I did... One of my girlfriends had extreme diarrhea, stomach problems and upper back pain.. My other girlfriend was sick with a fever and ended up having an infection in her appendix. She had to have surgery and was released yesterday afternoon..
amazing review one question though I’m a bit confused my family and i are looking into this hotel and we saw that this one has better reviews than the royalton splash. We know they are both right next to each other the splash one has the waterpark. I want to know if we were to stay in the royalton punta cana casino is the water park free ? Or would we have to pay an additional cost. Because on the royalton punta cana website under amenities it says waterpark
Hey Amaya! Thanks for reaching out. The three Royalton hotels are very close to each other - there is a shuttle between the water park and the Royalton Bavaro that runs on the hour (i believe). The only way the water park is free is if you book club level so that’s a huge benefit of club if you intend to go there often. I believe access to the water park is 35 USD if you are not club level. Bavaro is definitely the nicer property since it’s newer, but you will have to be shuttled to the water park. The Bavaro property also has a lazy river and the flo rider surf wave which is super fun (and free for club level as well during certain hours). Let us know if you have any other questions!
Hi Jennifer! Thanks for your comment. The club level is actually a different room category! Basically, if you book the club level, you have a separate check in, lounge access, a la carte breakfast and lunch and beach area that’s private. I’ve heard Diamond often gets upgrades to the club level so I would definitely see if you can request it - it’s worth it
this was an incredible review! especially with the covid safety rating. really appreciate this :)
Thank you so much, Josh! We really appreciate the feedback and are so glad it’s helpful!! Safe travels :)
Hi 👋
Just watched your video and it was great. Really enjoyed watching your walk. I gave you a big thumbs up!! :)
Thank your so much! That means a lot to us
Thank you for such an in depth review! We are going in a few months and looking forward to your suggestions.
Thanks so much Michael!! We’re happy to answer any questions you have. I will say the club level was a great option because you do get guaranteed beach chairs and the separate pool which is super nice. Also check out the steakhouse, that was pretty good. Request a room closer to the beach to avoid the noise from shows at night.
Let us know any questions you have!
Fantastic review!! Thanks for taking the time. Very helpful.
Thank you so much for your feedback, Dave!! Were so glad you found it helpful. Please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any questions!
I love How you dont lie and say the true and Your positivé ❤️
Thank you so much! We really appreciate your comment ❤️ that means the world to us 🙌🏼
Thank you so much for this very informative awesome video! Booking today!
Thank you so much for your comment! That means so much to us :) hope you enjoy and safe travels to you!!
Sounds like the Diamond Club is a good investment ! Beautiful spot .
Hi Diana! Thanks fro your comment - we totally agree- diamond club is a GREAT upgrade and value at this resort. Safe travels!
@@VoyagerGuru How do you upgrade to Diamond Club?
Hi Darci! Diamond club is listed as a room type online so if you haven’t yet booked, when you search for your dates you will see standard rooms or diamond club rooms. That’s the easiest way to book it. If you already booked, you can upgrade upon check in :)
Great review !! Tons of useful information. Thank you :)
Thank you so much for your comment, Martha!! Really appreciate it :)
Thanks for including the COVID safety rating - definitely makes trip planning easier!
Thank you so much for your comment!! We really appreciate that feedback - glad you find it helpful :)
Thanks so much for your informative review. I’ll be traveling to the DR solo in a few weeks and as a Marriott Ambassador level member, looking for a safe, clean property to enjoy while traveling abroad. Glad to hear about the Covid test, looks like there are plenty of things to do/enjoy, dining, etc. I made my final decision regarding this property based on your review (wasn’t sure I would feel safe traveling alone) but seeing your extensive review helped ease my concerns so thank you!
Hi Michele! Thank you so much- that means a lot. You’ll have to let us know what you think!! There’s definitely a lot to do and it’s a really friendly environment for making friends since there are so many activities every day. Safe travels!!
@@VoyagerGuru thank you! I have booked some excursions and between those and the resort, I look forward to seeing this beautiful place for the first time. I'm an essential worker who has been working COVID response for the past year and a half, and finally getting a chance to travel so I am glad I found your helpful review!
Thank you so much for your work during covid - you deserve this trip more than most!! Have the best time ❤️❤️ don’t hesitate to reach out with any other questions anytime!
This is very helpful. I am deciding between Bavaro, and hideaway punta cana for sept 2021.
Hi there! thanks for your comment- we appreciate it :). Regarding the two, Bavaro is much newer. They sell hideaway as more exclusive but its really just a few rooms inside their larger, and older, Punta Cana property. I don't think it's quite as exclusive as one might thing. If I were looking at the two, I would go with the Bavaro property as the whole place feels much newer and nicer than the PC property. They're both located within 5 minutes of each other so you can access either one. Let us know if you have any questions!
@@VoyagerGuru thank you!
Awesome job, really appreciate your video's but supper jealous too :)
Haha! Thank you so much for your comment :) we really appreciate it!!
Great Review
Thank you so much for your comment!
The activities look fantastic!! Along with a good amount of relaxing spaces. It really does look beautiful. It was very fair to take in to consideration the time they had been open and perhaps the inconsistent service was down to it being fairly new still. Great video guys!
Thanks so much for your comment! Omg the activities are awesome - you could literally never get bored here 🤣.
What is your favorite DR resort for a family with kids 5, 4, 2 and 2.
Hey Daniel! Thanks for your comment :). The good news is there are a LOT of great resorts for families in punta cana. Some of our favorite hotels that would be great for kids are the Hyatt ziva (great water park the kids will love and still has a great vibe for parents), the Royalton is good- this property has the lazy river and a kids pool area but the punta cana property has the water park. Nickelodeon resort is also supposed to have a lot of great kids spaces. My favorite is probably going to be the ziva due to how well they cater to both parents and kids. The ziva also has a much more private beach. The Royalton Bavaro is great but you have to leave the resort to go to the water park. Let us know if you have any questions!
Hey Awesome and a very detailed video. Thanks for that. I was wondering how much is it to upgrade to the diamond club and can i just upgrade the diamond club membership and not the room.
Hey Aquil! Thanks for your comment! So the room types are all the exact same so really the upgrade is just upgrading for the service itself. You’ll see the lowest tier room also has a corresponding diamond club room type - it’ll be something like “garden king” versus “garden king diamond club”. The rooms will be the same amenities, square footage etc just the diamond club includes the lounge, “butler” and added services. Let me know if you have any other questions!
what is your opinion on the majestic mirage? i’m booking for an anniversary this summer and was leaning towards that! other than that i was debating on the one you went to and breathless but am open to anything they have on costco travel. thanks so much and love the video!
Hey there! Thanks for your comment :)! The majestic mirage right next to its sister property, majestic elegance, and the Royalton :) the beach is super nice in that area, calm blue water - and lots of great people watching! I did check out some reviews of majestic and I see a pretty clear trend around the food being subpar so that’s something to consider. Breathless is a good hotel as well- it’s more of a party resort so if you’re looking for some lively atmosphere, that’s a good option. If you like that style of property, I would check if Now Onyx is on Costco- that’s a great hotel we have had our eye on. Quieter than breathless but you can access the amenities across both hotels. Another one to check if they’re on Costco is Live Aqua - it’s very new and on our list as well! Let us know if you have any other questions we can answer!
awesome review! my family visited this resort in 2018 and now planning to go back to the area and considering this one again and Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana. Since you've been to both which one would you choose for a family trip, ages 18-65?
Hey Taquera! Thanks very much for your comment :). Oooh that's a tough one - they are two different price points to start with but I would think about are you looking for a more "lively" party atmosphere? or more relaxing? Hyatt Zilara is by far my favorite right now and I find their food and services to be incredible. We also had no issues with dinner reservations etc so if you are a larger group, may be worth thinking about that as well since Royalton seemed just really packed everywhere compared to the Hyatt and we saw a LOT of people turned away who didn't make dinner reservations. I also like the privacy and seclusion of Playa Juanillo, versus how busy the Bavaro beach area is. In general, the Hyatt is very spacious, open and on the quieter side. However, if you are looking for more party vibes with lots of people then Hyatt may not be right for you. Also, important note, Royalton is not adults only so there are lots of kids. Zilara's entire property is adults only and therefore there won't be any kids on that side. The Ziva side of the property is family friendly and you can go over there anytime, but if you're looking to relax as adults by the pool, then Zilara is definitely for you.
Hi, this is a very detailed and honest review. We are going to Punta Cana in April with our 23 year old daughter. We have narrowed it down to this hotel, the Melia Punta Cana and the Majestic Colonial. Do you have one you would recommend over the others or any you would stay away from?
Thanks
Hey Scott! Thanks for your comment! That’s a great question - we haven’t personally stayed at the other two, but Royalton is the newest of the three and is now part of Marriott so you would really benefit from the points/spend. Depending on how long you stay etc, you’d be earning a lot of points for a future trip, which really makes it worth it. I’m certain as well that Marriott taking over this property has increased some of the service flaws we experienced during our stay :). Let us know if you have any questions!
Thank you for the review. Can you confirm the all-inclusive package includes meals at every restaurant? What about beverages (water, soft drinks, alcohol) are they are also apart of the all-inclusive plan? Thanks in advance!
Hi Kim! Thanks for reaching out :) yes correct - all the restaurants at your hotel are included in the plan. There are upsells to things like lobster or nicer steak at some of the restaurants, but we never do that. Alcohol, soda, juice water and all that is also included. Their white wine and red wine were ok for an all inclusive. Our favorite restaurant was the steakhouse or the Brazilian bbq as well. Alcohol and food is included all day and night as long as the bar is open :). Room service is free for the club level, and there is a $5 or $10 surcharge for non-club level guests.
Thanks for the thorough reviews! Debating between Royalton Bavaro or Hyatt Cap Cana, which would you recommend for a couple?
Royalton
Hi there! It depends on what you are looking for. Royalton is definitely more family friendly in the sense that there are water parks, lazy rivers and lots of kids club type stuff. The flo rider is great- Hyatt is a bit more upscale, better food, lots of great dining options and the beach is incredible. Let me know what you’re looking for and I can give you the best recommendation :)
@@VoyagerGuru thanks for the reply! going as a couple to celebrate a birthday. Looking for something laidback with the opportunity for nightlife. Honestly, great food will always get me.
Makes sense - I would honestly go with Hyatt. Super laid back, great food and drinks, go club level if you can and the beach is amazing. Royalton is wayyyy more busy and crowded
@@VoyagerGuru Thanks for the feedback. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for this awesome review! How was the nightlife? Particularly during covid.
Thank you so much for your comment! The nightlife is not quite clubbing, but there is nightly entertainment. They have a sports bar, a band during dinner hours and also a show each night. The shows are things like blue man group style and cabaret style events - nothing crazy but entertaining enough. The sports bar is popular so that looks fun. The good news is the evening events happen in the lobby area away from MOST rooms. Just keep in mind which room type you book and the room location as the buildings closer to the lobby will have noise until about midnight. Let us know what other questions you have!!
@@VoyagerGuru awesome! Thank you. Are there any all inclusive resorts that you'd recommend? Would this be a top option? Also, do you have a travel agent that you book through?
@@lindsaysimmons2528 Anytime, Lindsay! Hmmm top option, probably not. For the price- yes, it's excellent. If you're willing to go a bit higher id say Hyatt Zilara is probably the top for me. Alternatively, I've seen some great rates at the Hilton La Romana -- both these options will be more sargassum free in summer months as well. Royalton is VERY new which is excellent, love the property vibes etc but there are better service-oriented hotels. It just kind of depends what you're looking for- happy to give you my favorites based on your budget if you shoot me an email (team@voyagerguru.com) -- no we don't use a travel agent, I'm more of a deal hunter typically so I like to recommend websites that have the best prices :)
Great video. Very nice overview and helpful. How would you compare the Royalton Bavaro to the Barcelo Bavaro Palace? We have two 9 year olds. Is there entertainment at night at the Royalton Bavaro? Do the pools really close at 6pm? What would you say are the top 3 hotels in Punta Cana for families with young kids? Thanks.
Hey there! Thanks for your comment. we really appreciate your feedback! Regarding Barceló versus Royalton- Royalton has a much more modern and new aesthetic. Barceló is a great brand but the rooms and property will feel much more dated than Royalton. The Royalton is certainly a lot of fun with the lazy river and activities. The water park is actually not on site so that’s worth noting. The pools do close at 6pm, unless you have a swim up - we didn’t see anyone enforce any rules on the swim up rooms so that’s positive. I’d say the best hotel is Hyatt ziva because the water park is onsite, beach is private and the hotel is fabulous and then Royalton is a good option and then I’ve heard good things about the Nickelodeon hotel for young kids because of their activities. Let me know what other questions you have!!
@@VoyagerGuru Thank you. Very helpful!!! We have stayed at the Barcelo and agree with you that the rooms are a little dated, but the kids waterpark is nice (more for younger kids) and the main palace are with the main restaurants and pools are great.
Good to know about barcelo!! We stayed at one in Aruba and the property itself was spectacular - dated rooms; same style as at punta cana but overall likes it. I’d rather the Royalton is definitely a winner on the style front
Would you recommend Hilton or Royalton. Traveling with our two teenagers.
Hey Cary! Thanks for your comment. One questions: what time of year are you traveling? If it’s summer, Hilton for sure. There’s no seaweed. If you can swing it, Hyatt ziva for sure. But if not, Hilton
@@VoyagerGuru thank you so much for your respond. Unfortunately, Hyatt Ziva is sold out 😩. We are going on early August so Hilton it is. BTW - Love the detail you guys put into your reviews.
Thank you so much Cary!!! Ahh gotcha - don’t worry the Hilton is really excellent and will likely have even less seaweed than Hyatt :). I hope you guys have an amazing time! Let us know if you have any questions or need anything!
@@caryc5324 we stayed at the Hilton la Romana. It was the best vacation I have ever had.
Great video. What are you thoughts on Hard Rock Punta? How is the beach there?
Hey there! Thanks for your comment :). The hard rock is located on Bavaro as well so it’ll be the same beach with lots of hotels and activities. We have not been to hard rock yet but it looks nice! I believe it’s a bit more of a party hotel :)
Can you tell me all of the daytime and nighttime entertainment? Many of the travel agencies tell me that is not the time to go because majority of these things are closed down and the resorts are only allowed 25% occupancy. Cen you help me. I am trying to plan out trip March 27
Hey Jennifer! Thanks for your comment :). Most of the hotels are open in punta cana and since they are private entities, they are allowed to operate under special regulations in the DR. The occupancy isn’t really capped either. Most hotels have rotating open hours for restaurants to accommodate the number of people in house. I’m happy to help you out- feel free to shoot me an email at team@voyagerguru.com if you have some questions about resorts and I can give you some guidance if you’re looking to book your trip :)
@@VoyagerGuru Appreciate your review! I'm booked for March 24th. Looking forward to it!
Awesome!! Have so much fun :) let us know how you like it
I love royalton. What do you think is the best party resort in punta cana, I want to go for my 18th birthday.
Hey Maria! Thanks for your message! The Royalton Bavaro was definitely lively but if you’re looking for a bigger party atmosphere I’d look at hard rock, CHIC and breathless as well. Keep in mind things may not be open or available during covid :)
@@VoyagerGuru thank you so much!
Our pleasure! Let us know what you end up booking :)
I’ll be staying here in July! Can you reserve the restaurants before arrival?
Hey Charlie! Sounds amazing- i hope you have a great time!! Regarding restaurants, no, you cannot reserve in advance. What I would recommend, however, is right when you check in, make reservations with the front desk (or butler if you are club level). If you can't get the reservations you want, we saw many people show up to the restaurants and wait for no-shows :). Let us know if you have any questions!
Amazing review! Thank you :) Do you know if the lazy river actually flows and you can sit in an inner tube and just float around? Or is it just a long pool shaped like a river with no current? Dying to go sit in a real lazy river haha
Hi Robyn! Thank you so much for your comment. Yes- it does! It's actually a really cool feature and it's quite long. It floats through a swim up bar, a cave thing and some fun water features. It's definitely relaxing, and it's also mostly shaded so GREAT amenity on property. and LOL, I hear you- there is nothing better than floating around in a lazy river! Let us know if you have any other questions
@@VoyagerGuru I’m sorry I just saw now that you actually replied! Thank you so much this is so helpful 🥰
Haha anytime!! Let us know if you have any questions and safe travels!
I cannot wait to go experience this resort next month. Thank you for your review!!!
Wonderful! Im torn between this hotel and sanctuary. What would you recommend for ages 40 -65. Looking for a quiet resort. Thanks!
Definitely sanctuary in that case- Royalton is a bit more loud and a lot of families- I would recommend sanctuary for you guys :). Let us know if you have any other questions!
Hello 👋 is everything open here? Such as pools and restaurants? Also can you swim in the beach how was it I am thinking in booking the swim up suit thank yo u
Hey Stephan! Thanks for reaching out. There are lots of open things - the pools and beach etc. I will say the restaurants are on a rotating basis and we found the options very limited. I’m sure as more people start to travel, more of the restaurants will open every night so I would call in advance to find out what is open on each night. You can definitely swim on the beach - in the summer there will be a bit of seaweed but it’s shallow and very nice to swim there. Great idea to book a swim up! We saw so many people relaxing and enjoying their swim up all day and the waiters can even come to your swim up pool to take orders :) let me know if you have any other questions!
Hello, i want to go to this Hotel in 4 week.....did they make covid test directly in Hotel for the come back to Canada.
Hey there! Yes, they do. They do antigen testing free- for Canada I believe you need a PCR and they can do that as well on property but they do charge a little for it
@@VoyagerGuru ok thank you !
Going in July Bavaro in July. Should I be worried about seaweed at this resort?
Hi Dennis! Thanks for reaching out- Bavaro beach in the summer tends to get seaweed, however it’s pretty much anywhere in the Caribbean right now. Bavaro does have some current so some days there’s none, others there a lot. Hilton la romana doesn’t have sargassum due to its location so if you’re looking to avoid it entirely I’d look over there. Otherwise, Royalton has awesome pools in the event you face a lot of seaweed
Is the room service included? Or extra charge
Hi Christina, thank you so much for your comment! If you are on the Club level, you get room service included for free. If you are in a standard room, the room service is $5 per order.
If you book with in all inclusive, does that mean that all the restaurants are covered during the stay??
That’s exactly right! All the dining is included :)
Do you recommend going here for couples that want a combination of relaxation but a lively atmosphere too? or would you say this resort is more family orientated? Thank you
Hi There! Thanks for your comment :). I’d say Royalton is a bit more of the lively adults atmosphere with music and bar life, particularly in the club section. There are families as well but I found the beach and bars way more adult oriented. There’s a lot of activity at the bars after dinner as well which is really fun
Great video. How much should we expect to tip?
Thanks so much for your comment! It totally depends on what you’re comfortable with but what I’d say is $1 for a drink here and there, $5 for good service beach side. In the DR it’s customary to give someone 50 pesos (~1 USD) as a quick thanks and 100-300 pesos for good service. The hotels in punta cana are VERY accustomed to USD so no need to exchange.
Which booking service do you usually go through?
Hey Billy! Thanks for your comment. It usually depends. We often get compd media stays at hotels. However, for hotels in the DR I usually find the best deals by booking direct (they are often doing good add ons like free upgrades or late checkout for direct booking) or in hotels.com. A few times, I’ve seen decent deals on travelzoo.com as well. Let me know if you have any other questions
Excellent review of this hotel. My only question is if there is any entertainment at night, like shows or something similar??? Im not that kind of disco guy....
Hey Juan Carlos! Thanks for your comment! They do have a lot of live music every night in the main atrium of the hotel. They also do have shows as well in an auditorium like blue man group-style shows and cabarets. They were pretty fun! I don't believe they have a disco on property - let us know if you have any other questions!!
@@VoyagerGuru thanks for your answer. Im considering going this June an entire week. Last question, do they have coffe shop so you can get any time you want you cappucino and lattes?? Coffee addict, sorry...
@@VoyagerGuru subscribed with notification bell...💪💪
@@juancarlosmartinezacevedo4659 Thank you so much!! They do have a coffee shop- that little cafe has the best coffee at the whole resort so highly recommend making the trek there. They serve instant coffee in the breakfast buffet which is not good at all, so we ended up just having a quick bite and then going to the cafe every morning. They make good lattes, cappucinos and iced drinks :)
Thanks so much for this super informative review! I could only find a garden view room at this hotel and since I'd like to avoid being right next to the nightly entertainment you mention, can you please tell me more about the location of this? Is it at the Majestic? Thanks again!
Hi Laura! thanks for your message :). Ah yes- so there's basically two areas where sound could be an issue. One is if you are too close to the lobby. The lowest tier of rooms are close to the lobby typically, but I would also recommend adding a note in your reservation for a "quiet" room so that they can intentionally put you away from the noise. The second area is going to be on the side of the property facing the Majestic (so basically the left hand backside of the hotel if you're facing the water). We heard quite a bit or music at night when we were on the backside of the hotel. In terms of view, the best view is going to be in the higher floors, particularly with club level-- the buildings slant outwards towards the beach. There are not a lot of rooms with direct ocean views, though. They offer a program where you can pay to pre-select your room, and I may recommend doing that at this property if you're looking to book something quiet with a view. Happy to help if you need anything! feel free to shoot me an email or follow up here :) team@voyagerguru.com
@@VoyagerGuru wowwww thank you so much for your super detailed reply. This is fantastic. I did use the room selector and booked a top floor room far from the Majestic, facing the resort, and half way between the ocean and the lobby, so I should be fine. You guys are really awesome and I really appreciate your super informative videos. Thanks again!
@@lauraandreatta3739 No worries! happy to help!! Im glad you were able to use that feature- that's fantastic. It's worth the money to get the room you want. Have a safe trip and happy holidays!!
If you're in the bavara... can you go to the other hotel to the water park?
Hi Olya, thank you so much for your comment! I believe they charge $35 to access the water park, but I would double check by calling the Royalton to verify what the cost would be. Let us know if you have any other questions!
@@VoyagerGuru thanks!
Have a regular place to get the buffet for lunch always only restaurants?
Hello! There is a buffet that is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a few a la carte options. I hope this helps!
Hi, we are torn between 3 resorts...Royalton Bavaro, Dreams Macao, and Hyatt Ziva. We have a large group of people ranging from 8 to 65 years old. We are looking for water slides, lazy river and good food and drinks. Ziva is a little pricey but we are ok stretching our budget if that resort will hit all of our needs. Please help!
Hey Tony! Sounds like a blast! I have a couple of questions and thoughts but my initial gut reaction is to say ziva.
Now the only thing is that Ziva’s lazy river is at the water park, not on the pool area at the beach side in case that’s important to you. Ziva by far will have the best experience in terms of food and beverage, service and how they will treat you as a large group. The f&b is frankly better than most high end resorts we have stayed at in punta Cana- full stop. As a large group, they will be more inclined to accommodate you at restaurants at long tables and get you spots at the pool, etc because they generally have the best service and also because they are not yet at full capacity. The beach is also by far the safest and nicest for a group. There aren’t any sellers in cap Cana on the beach and there’s only a couple hotels on playa Juanillo so it’s generally much safer and quieter than Bavaro’s hotel zone (less to fear with the kids out and about). All guests in cap Cana have to register at the main gate.
The price tag is higher but I believe it is justified for all the reasons I mentioned. Playa resorts also has done the best job with covid that we have experienced in punta Cana, which includes the Hyatt complex. I think you guys would 100% not regret booking the ziva. We have not stayed at dreams yet but Royalton is going to be more difficult to accommodate large groups due to the size of the property and how much more crowded it typically is as well as the beach is public so a little less “safe” to have kids running around. Their water park and lazy river are phenomenal and definitely on par with Hyatt. Their service is not always the best so I would be a little hesitant with a group larger than 5 as many people while we were there experienced issues getting dinner reservations and beach chairs together. Let us know if you have any other questions that we can help with!
@@VoyagerGuru thank you so much for such a quick response. Great info as well! Looks like we are going to have to dig a little deeper in our pockets and book Ziva. How is the night life there? Is there an upgrade to a premium club for added benefits? If so, what would those benefits be? Sorry for all the questions!
Hey no worries - so happy to help! We love this stuff :). Ziva is definitely worth it if it’s in the budget. Also, if you do go with ziva make sure you sign up for World Of Hyatt if you don’t already have an account - the points you will earn are incredibly valuable. Regarding nightlife, the sports bar was VERY lively when we were there, and they do have 29 bars so there’s a lot to choose from. They also have nightly family-friendly activities like shows and dancers. I’d say pretty solid - as solid as you can get during covid. Regarding upgrades, there is a club level (it’s a room type option when you book), the rooms are the same as standard but the added benefits include a lounge to check in and out of with a full bar, premium alcohol and access to the shutters and chinola oceanfront restaurants for breakfast and lunch. These two restaurants are only available for dinner for standard rooms so I’d say this is really the main perk - they’re a la carte, which I prefer over a buffet. Standard rooms have access to the buffet and room service so it’s not a huge deal, but I’d say that’s the main “win”. Being with a large group, I think that’ll be up to what your style of vacation is to figure out if it’s worth it or not. It’s nice to have they added benefit, but not going to make your stay any less wonderful if you don’t. The additional benefit is a club level pool that is set back from the beach but I found myself never going there since the pool on the beach is huge and there were ample chairs. There’s also a butler with club level, which means you have a dedicated concierge to help you with stuff, make reservations etc - it’s a nice benefit to whatsapp them whenever you need something, but again not going to ruin your vacation not to have it. Club level is great if it’s in the budget but I wouldn’t stress too much about it if it’s not. The service across the board is excellent so I feel the hotel staff won’t disappoint whether or not you book club. Also no need to apologize- keep asking away! We’re always here to help :)
@@VoyagerGuru thank you so much for all the information! You are making my decision a heck of a lot easier. I appreciate all your help!
@@tonyp4197 anytime Tony! Feel free to reach out anytime with questions - IG- @voyagerguru or team@voyagerguru.com
Have you done a review on secrets cap Cana ?
Hi Marc! Thanks for your comment! We have not yet stayed at Secrets Cap Cana - however, we are hoping to stay there later this year so stay tuned!! We have heard excellent things about the property. It's a highly requested review so we're hoping to make it happen :). Let us know if you have any other questions!
Did the pools stay open past six when you guys stayed there?
Hey Harley! Thanks for your comment. The main pools were closed but the swim up suites we not. We saw people in their swim up rooms late into the evening so that’s a great option for you if you want to enjoy the later evening swim :) let us know what other questions you have!
@@VoyagerGuru Thank you for the response. We actually booked another hotel, but we are learning five weeks out from our trip that we are getting moved to this hotel. :-(, but your review was awesome and really helpful. Thank you :)
Oh gosh really?? What hotel did you book (if you don’t mind me asking)?
@@VoyagerGuru Royalton Chic, diamond club presidential suite, but they are trying to down grade us. They originally suggested Hideaway but were taking away all of or perks. So it has been a little challenging the last few days trying to figure things out.
@@Harley-ql1rd Oh gosh, that doesn't sound like great service... well the equivalent room at the Royalton Bavaro is the diamond club presidential one bedroom. I would try and push back as much as possible because when guests are "walked" in circumstances like this, you are entitled to the same room type and amenities. If that's not available, you're entitled to a refund. Hideaway is not quite the same
Do you pay a monthly fee for diamond club or is it just a one time fee you pay for your stay?
Hi Makenzie! Thanks for reaching out. The Diamond Club is just a one time thing - it's basically just a room upgrade that includes additional amenities such as the free access to flo-rider and the water park as well as the comp'd room service and the private pool/beach area. When you look at the rates for your dates, you can scroll down to see the Diamond Club rooms. The rooms are exactly the same, just come with more amenities and access on property :). I think it's worth it, depending on the price of course, if you plan to use room service and activities.
did they offer free covid testing at this hotel?
Hi Bahar! Thanks for your comment - the Dominican government subsidizes covid testing at hotels so most luxury hotels are doing it free by appointment for the antigen test, including royalton :) be sure to call ahead for an appointment! Let us know what questions you have
Thank you so much for this awesome review! We are considering going here, but your 3/5 COVID rating is kind of worrying me. Is there another all inclusive resort you would recommend that is more covid “strict” (traveling with my husband and our active 2 year old). Thank you in advance!!
Hey there!! Thanks for your comment - and I hear you, I’m not super enthused about being stressed on vacation. It’s one thing to not require masks for guests but it’s a whole other for none of the staff to wear masks either. The most strict hotels that we know are Playa Resorts (Hyatt, sanctuary and Hilton) as well as Marriott (not all inclusive though). Hyatt ziva, if you can swing it, did an exceptional job and could be worth checking out (we have a review on that as well). Next weekend we’re going to Hilton la Romana and I can follow up here with my thoughts if you’re not booking in the next week - or reach out to me directly and I’ll keep you posted :). Alternatively I have seen good things about palladium when it comes to covid, TBD we are going to stay there as well coming up on the 12-14th of the month. If you’re booking in the next week I’d definitely recommend Hyatt over all, not super busy, staff are exceptional and the rates have been a bit up and down. I even saw a deal on the AmEx travel portal. Let us know if you have any questions!
Do non-diamond club members have to pre-book restaurants?
Hi Sophie! We would highly recommend reservations because it was always very crowded at prime-time. I would try and make your reservations the day you arrive for the duration of your stay to make sure you get into the restaurants you want :). Hope this helps!
Do you recommend this resort or the Finest?
Hi there! Thanks for your comment! We have not yet stayed at finest, but I can say Royalton is very updated and clean and has a beautiful beachfront. The club level is worth it to not have to stress about a beach chair and reservations. Finest does look very nice, but we can’t say for sure how their food and service is yet - it’s on our list to visit! Let us know any other questions you have.
Coming with my kids, is the waterpark at the sister property free
Hey there! Thanks for your comment! The water park is free to access if you are in the diamond club. If you are not in the diamond club, I think it was $35 USD to access the water park at the sister property. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Is the Diamond club membership worth it
Hey Mando! Thanks for your comment. In my opinions, yes. The diamond club has its own beach area and pool, which can be really nice when the hotel gets crowded. Diamond club also comes with free room service ($5 fee otherwise) and access to the flo rider free as well as the spa facilities for thirty minutes per day. I’d say if you are a big beach or pool person and want a little extra service, it’s worth it. It felt like we were always able to get a beach chair any time do day on the diamond club side. Let us know what other questions you have!
I am planning on going to birthday vacation in may, 3 couples, can someone suggest me Royalton bavaro vs Majestic elegance?
Hey Jay! We have not yet stayed at the Majestic elegance, but here's what I can say: they are very similar in terms of look of the rooms and the offerings. I can also say that the food was quite good at Royalton Bavaro, whereas I have seen negative reviews lately about the Majestic dining offerings. In general, the furnishings at Royalton are super high end and from the beach, the Royalton had much nicer beach chairs (the hotels are very close to one another). Something I always recommend if you're not sure, look at the room types and prices and decide based on which one you like more and would get more value from (are the rooms the same size? one bigger? better view? etc). Royalton will definitely be a great time if you're with friends and looking for a high quality vacation in the sun - just make sure 100% to book all your reservations at restaurants in advance!! This is important at any of these hotels, especially if you are traveling with your friends. If you're still not certain, let me know which room types you'd be looking at at both and I'm happy to help be the tie-breaker :).
@@VoyagerGuru OMG.. You are so awesome. I am looking at Majestic Junior suit Swimup VS.. Luxury Junior Swimout at Royalton.
@@JayPatel-we4fm Haha oh gosh no worries!! It's my pleasure. So just looking at the two, side by side, the Majestic swimup is cheaper by about 60 bucks or so. Majestic is MUCH older, it's got an older design and frankly, very odd tub right in view of everyone outside. However, the price difference could be enough to make up for it. Also, the Majestic states they have 4 bottles of liquor in the room and you get a bottle of champagne on arrival- this is a big plus as at Royalton, they do not have any bottles bottles in the room, other than a few beers in the minibar, so also worth thinking about. It looks like room service also is included with Majestic (not at Royalton unless in Diamond Club, $5 per order otherwise).
On the Royalton side, the room is about 100 square feet bigger, it's a nice configuration and no tub in the front facing everyone else. There is a tub in the bathroom so that's a win. The room is also much newer as the property is only about 3 years old, very cool design, great AC etc. Reviewing the reviews on TripAdvisor, there are some things that concern me with Majestic, mainly the pools (including the swimups) closing at 6pm - that's not cool if you pay for a swimup, you should have access anytime. Also, I saw some disturbing reports about food illnesses. Though, they seem to have fixed that issue. I found the food to be great at Royalton overall and the drinks were excellent.
Ultimately, the two are VERY similar in terms of what to expect from service and amenities. My personal preference would be to go with Royalton because I found everything to be very clean, the food was good and the property itself is massive, lots of bars, good drinks. I also just generally like the style of the property more. Oh and re the booze in the room, it wasn't a huge issue at royalton as i would call room service and ask for 4 glasses of wine to work around the bizarre rule. I also do like that you can actually pay to pick your room in advance as well so if you're traveling with friends you could guarantee a specific room next to your friends. It costs a bit more but it takes the pressure off of relying on front desks or reservations who typically fail in the request department. Let me know if you have any other questions!
@@VoyagerGuru just booked 🙌 🙏.
Thanks so letting me know jay! Would love to hear how you like it so make sure you comment back! Safe travels and happy birthday!
Hola este hotel tiene discoteca, o shows nocturnos y shows diarios, es decir es entretenido
Hola Oscar! Gracias por tu comentario. El hotel tiene muchas bares y restaurantes. Hay una bar para bailar y beber también pero no es como un disco
What all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, do you believe would have the highest covid19 rating?
Hey Brenda! Great question. So far, we have found the Playa Resorts group to have incredible precautions that are well done. This will include the Hyatt Zilara, Ziva and Sanctuary that we stayed at. We felt incredibly safe there and are really impressed with their safety precautions. Let us know if you have any questions!
Due to my commitment to another vacation I cant due Hyatt zilara I am seriously considering this hotel any other suggestions in this price range Budget Lol
Hey Daniel! Thanks for your comment :) if you send me an email at team@voyagerguru.com I’ll send you some recommendations - happy to help!!
Which hotel has the best entertainment/nightlife?
Hey there! great question. what properties are you comparing it to? The entertainment at royalton was nice - they did offer nightly shows, live music and a LOT of activities for travelers. Most of the entertainment was happening near the main lobby where the majority of the restaurants are. Let me know if you are looking at other properties and if I know anything about their entertainment, I'll let you know :)
This place was a nightmare for me. I stayed there a week ago. Totally not recommended unless you like long lines at check in, restaurants and just about everything else. I booked two nights just to see how it was, and I was in for a surprise. I am a Bonvoy Platinum elite and that means nothing at this resort. I arrived after a long day's drive to wait in line for an hour at check in. The floor in my room was dirty and the toilet stall hadn't been swept. There was a cringy yellow stain on the corner of the exposed part of the bed sheet. My room had a strong ammonia smell which is the by products of mold probably in the AC System. Loads of loud kids running everywhere, it was like Chucky Cheese on the water. If you are not a "diamond" member you basically spend your day just trying to get a seat to eat. LONG lines just to book a restaurant reservation. The restaurant basically ran out of food or the host just gave me an attitude. (Brazilian Beef Place). By 9:30pm I checked out and into the AC Marriott down the road. I ended up losing $741, but wasn't going to spend two miserable days in this place. Once I got to the AC Marriott, I was able to eat and the next day I found a beautiful beach just down the road. There are alternatives to these resorts, and I think it's a better way to go.
Hey David- thanks so much for this update! That is honestly horrible and does not sound fun. It doesn't completely surprise me, which is a real bummer. I was hoping that with Marriott taking over it would improve but sounds like it may not have. I would definitely recommend reaching out to corporate to file a formal complaint for having to check out- that alone is great context for them to take your complaint seriously and potentially help cover any losses, especially as a platinum member. If you ever plan to come back to Punta Cana, let us know and we'll suggest some adults only places that may be serving up a better experience than Royalton seems to be!
What is the Diamond club fee?
Alot of informative videos to check out, which is the top rated Dominican Republic hotel in a price range from $150 to $200 a night, thanks for the videos
Hey Nicholas! The diamond club fee depends on the room rate so it will change based on availability of the room and the season. As an example, when you go to book a room, you may see a standard king for $250 but then if you scroll down you’ll see the diamond club king for $300, for example. So my recommendation is to take a look at the rates of each for the days you want so you can see the price difference :) if you’re looking for an all inclusive in that range, I would start by searching trivago.com for that price range - I would also look at June - September for the best rates. Today, we are going to check into the grand palladium in punta cana so stay tuned! That hotel is in the $200 range.
@@VoyagerGuru thank you very much
@@nicholasbristol68 Anytime, Nicholas! Safe travels :)
was loving this vlog but once they startted banging on about covid they ruined it for me. Stay at home if you dont want to catch cold
Hi Ross, thanks for your comment. This video was filmed in the middle of the COVID pandemic when travel was just starting to pick up again. Hotels around the world had varying degrees of response and we were some of the first people to see what these hotels were doing at the time. Many hotels were taking precautions to protect its guests from COVID and many travelers were looking for information pertaining to these precautions when deciding on a safe holiday destination. Glad you liked the rest of the review, though! Thanks for making it to the end :) have a great day!
now this is how you review a hotel
Thank you so much for your comment, Jose!! We really appreciate you ❤️
Do you have to wear masks?
Hi Drew, thanks for your comment! It is technically only "required" to wear a mask in the restaurants. We recommend wearing a mask anytime you are in a public space with others :). Let us know if you have any other questions!
Coke products or pepsi
Hey Brenda! I just reached out to the hotel and confirmed they have both brands! Hope this helps :)
@@VoyagerGuru thank you very much
My girlfriends and I got sick as hell at this resort last week (05/2023). And I mean severally sick. Stay away.
Oh no!!! That’s horrible! I’m so sorry to hear that 😭😭 I hope you’re ok- make sure to file a complaint with Marriott for compensation
Sick in what way? What do you attribute it to ?
My assumption is food poisoning (based on some reviews I’ve read) which is a real bummer
@@deborafletcher7492 I had a fever. A terrible cough a rash and was achy all over. I didn't think I was going to Make it back to the states without passing out but I did... One of my girlfriends had extreme diarrhea, stomach problems and upper back pain.. My other girlfriend was sick with a fever and ended up having an infection in her appendix. She had to have surgery and was released yesterday afternoon..
amazing review one question though I’m a bit confused my family and i are looking into this hotel and we saw that this one has better reviews than the royalton splash. We know they are both right next to each other the splash one has the waterpark. I want to know if we were to stay in the royalton punta cana casino is the water park free ? Or would we have to pay an additional cost. Because on the royalton punta cana website under amenities it says waterpark
Hey Amaya! Thanks for reaching out. The three Royalton hotels are very close to each other - there is a shuttle between the water park and the Royalton Bavaro that runs on the hour (i believe). The only way the water park is free is if you book club level so that’s a huge benefit of club if you intend to go there often. I believe access to the water park is 35 USD if you are not club level. Bavaro is definitely the nicer property since it’s newer, but you will have to be shuttled to the water park. The Bavaro property also has a lazy river and the flo rider surf wave which is super fun (and free for club level as well during certain hours). Let us know if you have any other questions!
@@VoyagerGuru Hi by club level do you mean diamond club?
Hi Jennifer! Thanks for your comment. The club level is actually a different room category! Basically, if you book the club level, you have a separate check in, lounge access, a la carte breakfast and lunch and beach area that’s private. I’ve heard Diamond often gets upgrades to the club level so I would definitely see if you can request it - it’s worth it