Viva Miches By Wyndham, A Trademark All Inclusive Resort

The coffee shop is included, and the freshly ground lattes and mini pastries are delicious all day. There’s plenty to do from morning until night, with foam pool parties, beach volleyball, kayaks, salsa, and more. The staff are pleasant, even if most don’t speak English. The room was clean and modern, with a huge TV and top-quality beds, though the sheets didn’t smell of Lenor. Check-in was quick, and the porter took us to the room, explained things, and checked that the toilet and fridge worked. The maids usually knocked around 9-9:30 am, which seems fair when there’s a full day to enjoy. It’s quite a trek from the airport, but worth every minute. I’ve been to the Dominican six times, and this is the best resort by far. Don’t listen to the Debbie Downers.

Katherine at reception stood out for being professional, kind, and good at handling tense situations. The grounds were well maintained, and the beach was clean, clear, and suitable for kids. The buffet had lots of choice and good flavor, although some food was dry and we sometimes waited 5-10 minutes for clean plates. Regular staff were kind but slow, and drinks often took a long time to arrive. The drive from Punta Cana International Airport takes about two hours. The resort has potential, but felt oversold and poorly managed. There was nowhere to sit at the beach or pool. Dozens of guests sat on the sand, while others had to use snack bar tables because no loungers were available. That’s unacceptable for a resort this size. The pools were extremely cold and nearly empty. Until management addresses the crowding and service problems, this is a two-star experience at best.

The beach is sheltered, pretty, and has calm waves. It’s also right by the pool, which is nice, and the food is okay. But the communication is poor: I couldn’t find an entertainment schedule, so by day four we’d missed most of it, and there was no information about what to do, when things happen, or the theme days. Very few staff speak English. The people seemed less friendly, and I don’t feel this was an upgrade from Cuba at all. Service felt uninterested, and staff ran me off the walkway several times. We have a young son and return for his nap around 2 each day, so our room hasn’t been cleaned once. Things move slowly. Most bars close by 7, except the main one, and the beach and pools close then too. We tried walking on the beach at 7:30 and a man with a flashlight chased us off, yelling in Spanish. Wi-Fi is patchy and cuts out often. It’s generally okay, but I’m not feeling it.

The beach was lovely for swimming, and the gym was very good. Service at the bar and cafe was good too. But the noise was so excessive that it’s the main reason I wouldn’t come back. You could clearly hear it in your room and across the resort, with too much noise coming through from other rooms and the hallways.