Looking for a little luxury, entertainment and fun? Lynette Kelly shares why the Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana may be right up your alley:
A few months ago, I headed south on my first trip to beautiful Punta Cana! Having only been to the Puerto Plata area, I was excited to explore a different area of the Dominican Republic. I was looking for a resort that would provide an upscale, luxury experience that still included a lot of FUN, and the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana certainly delivered this.
The Hard Rock resort is set on Macau beach in Punta Cana. I flew non-stop on Westjet; a four and a half hour journey from Toronto. After a quick transfer from the airport, you arrive at the Hard Rock Hotel. The check-in process was smooth, and my first impression of the hotel was BIG! With over 1700 rooms I was worried about getting lost! My worry went away quickly, as I soon discovered the resort is well laid out, with maps posted everywhere, and the shuttle/trolley system being frequent and efficient.
The rooms at Hard Rock are luxurious, stylish, and well stocked! Every room has a stocked mini bar, wifi included, and comes with free North American phone calls! I really appreciated the phone calls, while travelling on my own it's nice to be able to call home. 24 hour room service is also included, so if you want a cheeseburger and cheesecake in your suite as a late lunch, you just make a phone call.
I stayed in an Islander Junior Suite, which was a gorgeous room with a huge jacuzzi tub! 815Sq feet of indulgence including a really comfortable bed, huge shower, and a great big balcony with loungers and regular chairs. The Caribbean Suite is considered an entry level room, and it is more upscale and modern than most resort rooms I have stayed in. If you're travelling with a group, the Rock Star Suites are for you. Multiple adjoining rooms connect into a large living room and kitchen area, with a massive balcony to share. This gives family trips or wedding groups an amazing suite where you have your own space, but can be with your friends and family regularly.
The resort is laid out really well, it's easy to navigate and find your restaurants and pools. Most of the restaurants are in the main building with the Casino, Nightclub, Kids club, and Rock Spa. A few of the other restaurants like the Steakhouses are scattered around the property. Reservations are not required for a la carte restaurants, and the food is AMAZING. From the 24 hour Caffeto Cafe to the Brazilian style Ipanema Steakhouse, there is food available all day for every type of eater. There is even a Gelato shop and pizzeria! Don't worry if you have allergies or picky eaters, everything is well labeled, and you CAN meet with a food and beverage manager to ensure your vacation remains stress free.
There are fun things to do for everyone at Hard Rock Punta Cana. Golfers can swing their clubs on the Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay, located on site at the resort. It's an 18 hole, par 72 Jack Nickolaus designed course.
If you enjoy spoiling yourself on vacation, make sure to check out the Rock Spa. The spa has 35 spa suites, 11 couples treatment rooms, plus one of the best hydrotherapy circuits in the Caribbean. It is a very calming, private environment to completely unwind and be pampered.
If gambling and nightlife is your scene, you'll love the 45000sq ft casino and Oro Nightclub. The casino offers Poker, Blackjack, Craps, Baccarat, and Roulette plus various slot machines. You can also make your wagers on sporting events at the Sports Book, they have 5 betting windows and a really comfortable player's lounge. Oro Nightclub is accessible through the Casino, this is a true nightclub, not your usual 'disco' found at resorts. Oro has a VIP area with bottle service, plus lots of banquettes and tables to rest your dancing feet for a minute between songs. It's important to note that the casino and Oro are open to the public.
Bringing the family on your trip? The Little Big Club will take care of your little globetrotters while you enjoy the resort! Barney, Angelina Ballerina, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Bob The Builder all make regular appearances at Hard Rock Punta Cana. Located in the main building, the Little Big Kids club has toys, games, activities, plus an arcade beside it! Close to the beach you'll find the 'kids' pool, a large partly shaded pool with a great waterslide, and there's a lazy river too! Your family will be entertained regarldess of time of day.
One of the most unique features of the Hard Rock Resort is the room credit! Depending on length of stay, you get an unlimited resort credit to use for upgrading your room, green fees, excursions, dinner on the beach, or amazing spa treatments. You also have the option of trading in your resort credit and turning it into a golf credit! (With a small fee on top). It's another way Hard Rock is really making your stay inclusive! (Please remember you will pay taxes on the used portion of your credit, which is 20% in the Dominican Republic).
I wish I didn't have to leave the Hard Rock resort! I felt pampered and relax, and spoiled by the amazing service I received. I can't wait to try out more Hard Rock Resorts all over the Caribbean!
For more information about staying at the Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana, contact Lynette Kelly who is the Team Leader at our Flight Centre Cambridge Centre store in Ontario who can be reached online or by calling 1-866-569-9616.
