Iberostar Waves Dominicana - All Inclusive

I left two days early because I felt so uncomfortable and disappointed. I’m Dominican, and when I visit the DR, I like to spend a few days at a resort as a mini vacation within my vacation. This stay left me feeling that staff treated guests differently based on skin color. Most guests seemed European, Argentinian, and so on, and the preference was hard to miss. At a restaurant, my family and I were first in line for our reservation, but the hostess served the family behind us instead. When I politely said we were first, she replied, “Yes, but I want to take care of them.” At the buffet, I came in from the pool wearing a coverup over my swimsuit, as at least six other women were dressed. A staff member looked me up and down, asked, “Are you Dominican?” and, when I said yes, told me I had to cover up more. The other women dressed the same way were allowed in. The only difference was that they were white, and the reason felt clear. We also had a long wait for dinner. Our reservation was at 7:15 PM; we arrived early and ordered promptly, but after getting appetizers we waited over an hour and a half for the main course. People who arrived later were already finishing their meals. Our waiter said she’d check with the kitchen, but took more orders at other tables and didn’t come back for over 20 minutes. The resort feels very outdated. The entrance is old, the buildings show rust, and the rooms aren’t well maintained. Our showerhead was dirty on the first night, and several things were broken or not properly cleaned. It feels stuck in 2010, and the food was just okay, without spectacular dining or much variety. I wouldn’t recommend spending your time or money here.

The entertainment crew made the stay especially fun. They were always smiling and happy to get people into games, dance lessons, or fitness activities, without being pushy. The dance classes were my favorite! We had a great beach, pools, restaurants, and plenty of activities. There was a different food theme each night, with enough variety for different tastes and cuisines. Our room was clean and spacious and met our expectations, though it was a little humid and our clothes felt damp. A huge thank you to our concierge, Bella. She was lovely, always ready to help, answer questions, give advice, and point us to the right people. She also arranged special treats for my birthday, which made me so happy. A definitely positive experience, highly recommended to all.

The entertainment team was my favorite part of the trip. Get involved in the activities, they’re so much fun, and we enjoyed the nightly shows too. The grounds are small but lovely and well kept, with great wildlife. The pool and beach were nice, but there weren’t enough chairs at either, so go early. We were in a basic family suite with great air conditioning, but the bathroom felt very small for a suite that sleeps six. The gym was small but nice, and the classes were decent. I’ve visited Punta Cana several times and am comparing this place with another property that has since closed. The buffet food was fine. My favorite was the local Dominican food, like rice, beans, and platanos. Freshly made food at the chef stations was best, especially omelets, meats, and churros. The fries were delicious, and the fresh fruit and juices were excellent. Most other things were just okay, and we ate pretty much the same food every day. We also ate at Siblia restaurant and had really great steaks. We celebrated my teen daughter’s birthday there; you need to reserve through the customer service desk 24 hours ahead and pay $35 for a cake. For the first three days, the Dominicana customer service desk told me there were no reservations at either of the two indoor restaurants for our whole stay. Someone suggested I try the Punta Cana side, where they magically had space at both. We got very little help from Dominicana. Bethoven at Punta Cana customer service was incredible. Many servers were rude and miserable even when we were friendly and kind. A few were great, though. If you find a good server or bartender, tip them and treat them well and they’ll be great to you. Cocktail service at the beach and pools was hit or miss, so I usually got my own drinks at the bar. I don’t drink much, but otherwise that would’ve been an issue. The Wi-Fi was terrible for me. It worked best around the pool, rarely in the room or elsewhere, so I mostly used mobile data. There are no filtered water bottles in the room. Instead, glass bottles cost $20 each and you have to refill them yourself. Since the sink water isn’t safe for us to use, I found that ridiculous. Bring a refillable water bottle. I was there with my teen daughter and two of her friends for her 16th birthday, and it was fine for that. I won’t be coming back, unfortunately.

The staff really made our trip. Everyone was helpful and did all they could to make it enjoyable, including Ninosca.