The Meliá Caribe Tropical Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic is a luxurious and popular destination for travelers seeking a beachfront paradise. Here's what you can expect at the Melia Resort:
The Meliá Caribe Beach Resort is located on Bavaro Beach, near Punta Cana. which is known for its stunning white sand and turquoise waters. Punta Cana International Airport is just 25 minutes away and you are only 10 minutes away from the downtown Bavaro area, so it makes it convenient for travelers.
My stay was in the family friendly area and was all inclusive. I did not choose The Level option. I did pick the mid-grade room. My stay was 4 nights and included airfare which I should have paid more attention to what the actual price of the room was. But I did get a deal. Rooms run anywhere right now for $179-$263 a night per person, but the best part for me was I was a solo traveler, and I did not get charged an extra fee for being by myself.
You will have to get used to using a shuttle to get anywhere on the property. I could walk from my villa to the main pool and beach though. The property is massive. Whether you have the Level Upgrade or Family Friendly, shuttles are a must with this resort. Personally, I did not mind it, I would jump on a shuttle anytime I wanted to be nosey and check out the whole property. There is a lot to see.
At check in, which can be busy, they hold your luggage and give you a complementary rum punch while you wait to check in. It did not help that I arrived before check in actually started. But that didn't matter, I was allowed to sit and wait, or start walking around the property a little bit, I walked to a couple bars, and talked to some people who were staying there. Saw the beautiful birds and landscaping and started to notice where some restaurants were that I wanted to check out. A few rum punches later, (Within the hour) I was able to be checked in. They were so friendly, and helpful. They give you wristbands to wear while you are on the property, which I totally understand. A couple minutes later a golf carts being driven by their employee whisked me away with my luggage to my villa. It was a great and totally different experience.
Day 1
My first day was easy, arriving at the airport, I cleared the customs area quickly and was outside in a taxi in 20 minutes as the airport is on the smaller side. At the exit the taxi pick up area was to the left, and there were plenty waiting. You can use Uber or hire private transportation with Viator if you like. Some people feel more comfortable doing that, and I agree those are good options, but I did not have any problem with the taxi, and used my credit card to pay for the ride. Melia Caribe Tropical did not offer free transportation to and from the airport.
Day 2, 3, and 4
Every day was exactly the same for me, waking up before sunrise, making my way to the beach to watch the sunrise. While out there I was the only one on the beach, so it was extremely peaceful, it was my own private beach. I would stay in my lounger on the beach, wade out into the water for a few minutes, then come back to my lounger and read my book till about 9 AM. Very few people were out there this early. Then I would pack up and go to the buffet area near the pool, which was probably 1 feet away. The breakfast buffet was perfect for what I wanted, basic staples that people from the United States would love to eat, plus lots of fruit. There would be some international items too on the buffet. By 9:30 AM I was by the pool in a lounge chair. People were out and about by this time of the morning, getting breakfast and getting lounge chairs, but it was still very easy to find one available. From that point forward I would be swimming, drinking, or reading my book, on and off till mid afternoon. At about 3 PM I would walk back to my room, clean up and rest, as the sun wears you out for some reason. Lol sometimes I would nap, or watch tv,before heading out to dinner and the activities of the night. Visiting a different restaurant every night, stopping by the small casino, bars and listening to live music
Day 5- check out
I checked out at 10 AM, as my flight was around 12:30 PM, the resort is under a 30 minute drive to the airport, so it gave me plenty of time to catch my flight. There were taxis available the second I checked out to whisk me away from the most relaxing vacation I have ever had.
The Level Upgrade
This is the adults only area which has its own pool area. With The Level guests have access to everything this resort has to offer. There is a separate check in area that I am not familiar with since I did not choose The Level Upgrade. From the shuttle I noticed where the level area was, but it was gated off, so I did not have access. For me the family friendly all-inclusive worked fine.
Accommodations:
The resort offers a range of accommodations to suit different preferences and budgets. From spacious rooms to suites and villas, you can choose the option that best fits your needs. This was in the family area, but there is an adult only area also. The Villas that are closer to the ocean are more expensive, and the suites farther back in the resort area which is closer to the restaurants. casino and bar areas are cheaper. Also depending on if you are going to do the adults only option or all-inclusive prices will be more expensive. The rooms are elegantly designed, featuring modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, mini-bars, and Wi-Fi. Housekeeping comes and refills the mini bar daily and that includes soft drinks, snack bar items and alcoholic beverages.
My room was huge, a large walk-in shower, marble everywhere. It was a garden view, but I did not mind at all. In fact, sitting on my patio was a favorite thing for me to do. I saw native birds land close by, including the Bananaquit. There were planters hanging off the railing of the porch with flowers, and it was covered to keep you out of the hot Dominican sun.
The full unit as seen in the picture has 10 to 12 rooms per structure, some upstairs and some on ground level. Mine was on ground level, with a patio overlooking the garden. I wish I had taken pictures of the inside of my room, I just was not thinking about it at the time I was there. It was by far one of the nicest rooms I have ever stayed in. I travel a lot, but usually I go for the cheapest option just to save money. Melia's villa, even though I got a deal, made me feel like I was staying in luxury for a few days.
Dining:
At the Melia Resort, you'll find a variety of dining options to satisfy your culinary cravings. The resort boasts numerous restaurants. Whether you're in the mood for a romantic dinner or a casual meal by the beach, there's something for everyone.
La Gondala- Italian Restaurant
Ma Maison-French- (loved it, the best)
Capri- Mediterranean
Agora Grill=Buffet (breakfast and lunch) (Good)
La Pagoda- Asian (make a reservation)
Marketplace buffet-breakfast, lunch and dinner. (International) (Good)
Le Gourmet-International
La Hacienda- TexMex Cuisine (Great)
Guarpo-Dominican cuisine open for dinner (Great)
American Grill-open for dinner (not a fan of)
The breakfast beach buffet was amazing, lots to choose from, and plenty of fruits and sweets too. I was always at the ocean or beach early to enjoy the day, so I made sure to hit the breakfast buffet while down there.
There are a couple restaurants are not included in the stay,
Hokkaido which is Japanese, but so worth the fee.
Steak and Lobster Restaurant has a fee, but of course you can tell by its name they serve steak and lobster.
Gabi has a fee, but is free with the Level Upgrade, which includes a la carte lunch and dinner and a breakfast buffet.
Restaurant Cuatro- Japanese/ Peruvian fusion, has a fee and is also included in the Level Upgrade
There are several bars located throughout. Some are near the restaurants, or near the main check in area. There are also bars near the pool area and beach. The swim up bar in the pool is wonderful.
On a side note, beside the pool you will sometimes find someone from the Melia crew husking the coconuts that are from the palm trees on the grounds, and you can get you a nice refreshing coconut drink, like I did.
Activities and Amenities:
The resort provides an array of activities and amenities to keep guests entertained throughout their stay. Enjoy swimming in multiple pools (with a swim up bar), relaxing on the beach, or participating in water sports such as snorkeling, water volleyball, kayaking, and windsurfing. There is even a water park with water slides. called Splash Island.
There is an on-site fitness center, spa facility for indulgent treatments (Yhi Spa), All spa service treatments are available. Plus, there are evening entertainment options with live music.
There is a rope climbing course which would be great for the adventurous types or kids.
A casino is also on the property, too bad I did not walk away a winner. The casino is very small, less than 50 machines but they did have a few table games for those of you who like them. I would say I was not really impressed with the variety of machines, and they looked older. It was a smaller casino room than I expected, but if you are a gambler, you can still take your chances to win big.
If you are a golfer, there is a golf course available or play tennis, you have options for that as well.
As for me, I am the lounge around the pool type of person. Swim, relax, drink, and repeat. lol. With a book to read I am good. I do the same lounging by the beach. I am an early bird so I would be at the beach at sunrise and be the only one out there. It was quite peaceful. I would lounge around, take pictures, walk the beach and do some early morning swimming in the ocean. Then at about 8 am head to the breakfast buffet that was close by, then back to lounging around at the beach until about 10am, then I would make my way to the pool area before it became crowded. Grab a lounge chair with some shade and relax. When I wanted a swim I would get in the pool, get a drink from the swim up bar, and just stay until I was ready to go back and lounging, until I felt toasty (toasty from the sun and the alcohol) enough to head back to my room to get cleaned up for the evening of running around, eating dinner and checking out the many bars at the resort.
Family-Friendly: The Melia Resort is family-friendly, offering a dedicated kids' club and activities to keep children engaged and entertained. Parents can also take advantage of babysitting services, allowing them to enjoy some relaxation time. This is the perfect place for little kids too.
One thing I will also mention is there is a gift shop/pharmacy on the resort. So if you forgot to pack sunscreen (Like me), you can grab it on resort property. Prices are higher than you would expect to pay though.
All-inclusive options:
I chose the all-inclusive which included food at most of the restaurants, beach buffet and most alcohol at any bar. It also included drinks and sodas in the refrigerator in my room. The Mamajuana rum drink was good, you could taste the cinnamon and cloves soaking in it. It was a little strong, but still good. This is basically the favorite drink at the Melia Caribe and the rest of the Dominican Republic.
Finally, when you come to a beach resort, you are here for the beach. Melia did not disappoint. When I was here early in the mornings, there was still security on the beach making sure that only Melia customers were taking advantage of the area. Also, it prevented a lot of the locals from coming up and trying to sell you items on the beach. If there is one thing, I hate it is people walking up to you and trying to sell stuff on a beach. Melia prevented that. Of course, if you wanted to buy something from locals like that (like souvenirs, or hair braids) there are stands you could walk to just off property, they are easy to see on the beach.
Please note that it's always advisable to check with the resort directly or visit their official website for the most up-to-date information on available amenities, dining options, and activities, as they may be subject to change.
Overall, I loved my stay at Melia Caribe, there are a few pros and cons, but I would go back in an instant. Here is the quick recap of the pros and cons.
Pro:
The resort is very clean, and friendly. The crew was amazing and helpful.
Some restaurants were great.
Tends to be one of the most affordable all-inclusive in Punta Cana Dominican Republic.
Shuttles were always available when I needed them.
Beautifully Landscaped
Flamingos, Peacocks, and a variety of other birds will be seen. Plus, I saw iguanas. I just love animals.
Free wi-fi
Con:
Resort can be overwhelming because it is so large, and the Level Upgrade is advertised as a separate resort in a way, but still on the same property. It can be confusing.
American Grill was not that great.
Some wear and tear can be seen, but it still felt upscale for me.
You cannot walk this whole property easily. You have to use shuttles.
Casino was tiny, with older machines.
The Melia Caribe Beach Resort Dominican Republic was perfect for what I needed. Affordable, relaxing and being an all inclusive resort was the icing on the cake. I hope you enjoyed this review. I did not intend for it to be so long, but I couldn't help it. With so much to say and how much I loved the place it became very long winded. Lol You will have a great time with the variety of activities if you like to stay active, or relaxing by the pool or beach.
There are so many pictures I did not show you, so that just means you will have to come and check out the place for yourself and take tons of pictures.
I hope you enjoyed this review. I did not intend for it to be so long, but I couldn't help it. With so much to say and how much I loved the place it became very long winded. lol
There are so many pictures I did not show you, so that just means you will have to come and check out the place for yourself and take tons of pictures.
Hope you enjoy your Punta Cana Dominican Republic adventure!!!!
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This was very interesting. I wish I could go.