Sunscape Coco Punta Cana Hotel - All Inclusive

The staff were attentive, the food was really good, and it was convenient to have a bar nearby wherever we went. There are 16 restaurants and bars, no reservations needed at the à la carte places, and room service was good when we tried it. The Sun Club area also had its own pool, lounge, bar, and buffet. I used the Hyatt app for amenities and other requests. The minibar refill came quickly, and the maintenance worker who replaced our broken, barely attached sink fixture did a good job, even though he arrived late at night, after 9 pm. The bed was so uncomfortable that it hurt my back. I tried sleeping on the chaise lounge daybed instead, but its single mattress was thin enough that I could feel the frame when lying on my side. I didn’t bother raising the mattress issue because I figured the resort used the same ones throughout. Getting extra sheets was frustrating: I requested them eight times, and each time the request was marked fulfilled even though they hadn’t arrived. I told them that each time, but it was never sorted out. On our last night we had a special steak and lobster dinner by the ocean planned. It was off season for lobster fishing, but nobody told us in advance. Shrimp or salmon were the alternatives, and neither was on the menu or mentioned when I booked. I chose shrimp, which was good, but the meal didn’t feel worth $45 USD. The wine cellar, though, had an impressive selection. Smoking was allowed almost everywhere except the lobby bar. People smoked at outdoor dining tables or just beside the dining area, with smoke blowing toward guests who were eating. We like to tip everyone for everything, since all inclusive doesn’t mean you don’t tip. Taking both the good and bad together, it’s a decent place, but I wouldn’t return.

The beach water was clear and nice, and about a 10-minute walk to the left, past a couple of resorts, there’s coral you can snorkel around. Watch out for the boats leaving from there, though, since they go right over the coral. There are lots of pools, but the waterside and main pools get busy and it can be hard to find a chair. People from the entertainment crew were engaging, and some of the shows were decent. The staff were mostly friendly. Food was mediocre, though there was usually something we could manage to find. Three of the six of us had some kind of stomach issue that lasted around 24 hours, but I can’t say what caused it. We were there for a week with family. Check-in and checkout were long, slow processes, though efficient. They don’t hand out towel cards, so we had to wait in the long line twice just to get towels. The swim-up bar and beach bar were both understaffed, often ran out of drinks, and had long waits. The six of us stayed in buildings 3, 5, and 15. I’d specifically asked not to be put in building 15 when booking, because there’s loud music across the road from locals all day and night. We sleep with white noise, so we managed, but I can see it being a problem for most people. The rooms themselves were okay. You probably get what you pay for. I doubt I’d return. The place has potential, but management and processes could be much more efficient, and I think they could use some lean training.

The private beach was a highlight, with very soft sand and calm, warm water. My room was spacious, had a huge LCD TV, and looked straight onto the pool. The pools were all good, though the central one, where most of the activities happen, was busiest. The resort is large, with more than 1,000 rooms, so it may not suit someone looking for quiet. Even when busy, it didn’t feel overcrowded. There was entertainment day and night, but the daytime team could have been bigger for the number of guests. My other concern was the sunbed situation. The resort says unattended beds will be cleared after 45 minutes, but I never saw that happen. People put towels out as early as 6 am, then didn’t show up until 10 or 11. Guests getting up at 9 after breakfast could find no beds, even though many were just being held unused for hours. The resort needs to address this.

It was nice to get away from home and relax by the pool or beach with a book, but a lot of the resort experience was awful. The service, especially at the main buffets, was terrible. Servers rarely came by to ask about drinks. When we called one over, our drinks might arrive after we’d finished eating. They didn’t ask about cream or sugar with coffee, and when we asked for four waters for the family, only one came back. Another day I ordered coffee with cream and sugar and got milk poured into it. I don’t think this was a language issue, since so many English-speaking people visit. At Windows, I went to the bar myself after no one came to the table, but was told to wait a minute. I stood there for 20 minutes, with a line forming behind me. Bring water from your room fridge wherever you go, even to the beach or restaurants. For breakfast coffee, CafeCoCo beside the Windows Buffet near the lobby has sugar and powdered creamer you can add yourself. The à la carte meals varied. At the Mexican restaurant, tiki tako, the vegetable fajitas were actually good, but we waited 30 minutes outside before the 6 pm opening, then another 40 minutes after ordering. It’s first come, first served, so arriving later can mean waiting hours if it’s full. I’d give it 4/10. Bluewater Grill was quicker, but the grilled veggie plate was just tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and onions. I don’t eat eggplant or tomatoes, so my dinner was really small. I’d expected other vegetables like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, or potatoes. My family’s XL burgers were warm and good for the first few bites, then cold and gross in the middle. 5/10. Damario, the Italian restaurant, was the best à la carte for us. I got to choose penne, Alfredo sauce, and broccoli for my pasta, and it was delicious. I’d recommend it, 10/10. The Teppanyaki dinner at chopsticks seats 14, so you share with other people unless your group fills all the seats. You have to reserve early that same morning. The fried rice, chicken, and beef were very good. They also had seafood, which I didn’t try, though a family member liked it. 9/10. For lunch or dinner, the snack spots were amazing. The Pizza Shop and Snack Machine truck are good choices when you’re hungry in the middle of the day. The burger next to the Pizza and Burger place is the one to get, fresh off the BBQ with hot fries. 10/10. At the shop you can watch them make the pizza and bake it in a wood stove. It was delicious, but there weren’t many toppings. The few times I went, they had the same choices: Hawaiian, corn, veggie, and a few others that didn’t look appetizing. I stuck with the veggie pizza and liked it. 8/10.