Where to stay in Punta Cana Dominican Republic

I had the opportunity to visit the Dominican Republic for the first time, and I was very excited! After the bad press in the news and the concerns people had for my safety, I still decided to go despite all the misconceptions and bad news. I had a fantastic experience in Punta Cana, and I believe people should continue to visit the Dominican Republic.

I booked my trip through Standby With Addie Travel series, and I will indeed help you find the best resort or hotel for your liking in whatever destination you choose! The best part is you don’t have to pay for your dream vacation all at once! I am a firm believer that vacations should not break the bank. I provide you with a small deposit option and an affordable monthly plan to pay for your vacation. If you would like to take the next step and plan your next getaway, “baecation”, or birthday celebration contact Adrie at standbywithadrie@gmail.com or text 404-480-9125 to get a special offer.

During my stay at the resort I met the director and general manager of the Grand Palladium Punta Cana Luis Fraguas Moure. He was very welcoming and wanted to know how my stay went. I felt safe at this resort and the food, drinks, staff and entertainment were great. I definitely plan on going back!

Arrival

A van picked us up at the Punta Cana airport, and we drove about 20 minutes to the resort. When we got to the resort, we were warmly welcomed with a complimentary fresh coconut while we checked in.

After checking in, we received our room keys we were escorted on a golf cart to the villa our room was located.

The Grand Palladium All-Inclusive Resort is massive and has four different sections:

The Bavaro section is where you will find most of the action in this resort. El Arrecife (located at the beach) is located here and serves lunch buffet style and grill. In the evening, many of the restaurants serve international dinners. La Cathedral is a restaurant located near the lobby and serves the most extensive breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet themes. There are several other a la carte restaurants located on this property, which include La Adelita (Mexican), El Tapeo (Spanish), and Bamboo (Asian) restaurants. For entertainment, you will find the Amphitheater Grand Palladium, where the entertainment shows occur. You can also find a Mini Market and some small gift shops here.
The Punta Cana section is best known for its proximity to everything. Here you will have complete access to two large pools that are close to the beach. The restaurant La Uva is located here by the beach, and it serves continental breakfasts, lunch buffet, and a la carte snacks. Also, there is El Behique, which serves breakfast, lunch buffet, and dinner theme buffets. For entertainment, there is the Amphitheater where you can watch live shows. This section of the property holds the Sports Center that is open 24/7. At the Sports Center, you can have a drink at the bar and grab some food at the buffet.
The Palladium Palace Resort is closest to the beach with a large pool located in its center. The casino is located in this section. This section also has small gift shops, a Mini-Market that includes a medical service building. If you are looking for a quiet vacation with additional amenities, this section allows you to stay in the upgraded Royal Suites Turquesa area.
The Royal section is Adults only located at the furthest end of the Grand Palladium. This section is the more quiet and personal side of the resort as it is exclusive for the use of the Royal Suites Turquesa Guests only. You have access to all the aspects, amenities, and services of the Bavaro, Punta Cana, and Palace. In this section, you will have access to unlimited a la cartes during your stay, free Internet (cable and wireless), and room service. The pool areas in Royal Suites Swim-up rooms are exclusive to the Royal Suite guests only and, therefore Adult only with a unique feel. Helios Beach Club, Capricho (International food), La Boheme (French restaurant), and Kusko (Peruvian and Japanese fusion) are exclusive for TRS guests.

I enjoyed my stay at the TRS Turquesa Punta Cana Resort. It was tranquil and relaxing. I noticed that it was not as crowded as the other sections on the Grand Palladium property.

THE ROOMS

The TRS Turquesa has 6 rooming options:

Junior Suite– has poolside views, double bed with canopy, lounge with sofa bed, complete bathroom with hydro-massage bath, minibar, Nespresso coffeemaker with capsules and tea, balcony or terrace with table and two chairs.
Junior Suite swim up- complete with direct pool access and a terrace with loungers. This elegant 44 sq. meter rooms have a spacious living area for your comfort, and a luxurious bathroom with a hydro-massage bath to unwind in.
Premium Junior Suite-two full-size beds or one king-size bed, Sea and pool view / Pool and garden view
Romance Suite– romantic lighting, private jetted tub, minibar, balcony
Villa Suite– located in bungalow type buildings with two floors and 4 rooms per unit, layer and balcony or terrace with a table and two chairs. There is a Swim-up on the ground floor.
Superior Suites– offers one of the best views on the complex, located very close to Bávaro beach, jacuzzi on the balcony terrace as well as a Balinese bed, and a minibar.

Each room comes with a fully stocked minibar, which I took full advantage of every day. It was stocked with plenty of bottled water, American snacks, and candy, as well as full-sized bottled liquor and a bottle of complimentary wine.

I stayed in the Junior Suite, which had the pool side view.

THE AMENITIES

A stay at the Grand Palladium Punta Cana is an excellent escape from the fast pace of life and is the perfect opportunity to disconnect. A few things I did during my stay included:

Hanging out by the pool partaking in foam parties and aquatics exercise classes. There was entertainment by the pool, such as a violinist playing pop songs while floating in the pool.

Going to Bavaro beach and having Pina Coladas while enjoying the beachside grill that served steak and grilled squid, among many other items.

There are many places to choose from to eat on the property, 17 restaurants/buffets ,to be exact. My favorites included:

Capricho is where I ate breakfast every morning. This food was so good, I still dream about this food buffet. They had so many options just about anything you can think of and might have a taste for. They had American style breakfast(Waffles and pancake bar, eggs, ham, bacon, build your own omelet and other delicious food) they also had Dominican style breakfast. They also had a smoothie, and a pressed juice bar, as well as self serve mimosas and Bloody Mary bar available every morning. They also had donuts, pastries, and fruits.

Sumptuori Restaurant was a live Japanese cooking show, which was very entertaining, and the food was very delicious! The cooks were really funny and very welcoming. They had several choices that included shrimp, chicken, fish, and steak. They also serve fried ice-cream for dessert, which was yummy.

La Paisana is a restaurant known for its steak. The steak was well seasoned and tender. The interior of this restaurant was also unique to the other restaurants.

24 Hour Sports Bar is open 24 hours, of course. I went here one night after watching an entertainment show. This place is convenient because it has food already prepared on the buffet that is quick to grab. The menu has a variety of different items.

If you are looking for a relaxing night to enjoy in your room, then room service will deliver to you. They have sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas, tacos, and lobster, which was my favorite, along with many other options to choose from.

Other amenities include:

Volleyball court
Tennis court
Gym with full equipment and personal trainers
Kayaks
Ping pong
Concierge service
Children’s pool
Kids club
Babysitters
Game room

Things to Do

FUN

There are several things to do everyday and they have a schedule every morning. Here was one of the schedules:

I went to the Michael Jackson show, and it was entertaining! If you are a Michael Jackson fan, you should check this out!

After the show, I watched people partake in karaoke and headed to the “disco” where they have club/ dancing music with a dance floor.

Relax

There is also a spa in the resort. I highly recommend checking out Zentropia. When I tell you this was the best massage I have ever had, I am not kidding. This was THE BEST massage I have ever had (my mother feels the same way). I have gotten some mediocre and bad massages before and have nearly given up on finding a massage therapist that can tend to my every need, so I was weary about going to this spa, but I am glad I went.

The massage therapists asks you about how you would like the massage ,such as pressure levels and trouble areas. They listened very well and were hospitable. Afterwards, there is a hot tub, sauna, and pool where you can relax after you you drink your complimentary tea/water.

Play

There is also a casino on the resort for all of you who love their casinos!

The Location

The resort location is accessible if you would like to explore outside the area. The hotel will help you if you are interested in a local restaurant or bar. The front gate or front desk can help you get a taxi.

I stepped foot off the resort to go to Saona Island, which is a popular tourist area that you get to by boat.