Amer Azzam

A great resort to spend your vacation. Although the rooms could benefit from renovation, the service is very fast whenever you need anything. The food and drinks are very good and available to everyone. The pools and the beach are beautiful, and you can enjoy swimming at any time. There are plenty of activities and shows, making it suitable for families, couples, friends, and even solo travelers, as there is always something to enjoy.

Bob Gill

We just returned from a 7 day stay on December 14, 2025. We've stayed at this hotel at least 6 times since 1995 with several different hotel chains. Over time this architecturally beautiful hotel was slowly losing it's charm. That said the Barcelo hotel chain has taken over the Occidental and I saw a remarkable improvement since my last stay 3 years ago. Rooms are old but very clean and comfortable. All public restrooms are also very clean. The grounds are superbly maintained and are absolutely gorgeous. The hotel's beach is hands down the most beautiful beach of all the neighboring hotels. I'd like to thank Anna our friendly and attentive waitress at the main bar. Vanesa, our maid for keeping our room so clean. Carmelo, for a few good bottles of wine including his professional service. Manuela and Juan at the Mirador pool bar for friendly and fast service. And finally but not least Martires at the front desk check in. Martires is friendly and courteous. We appreciated the effort he made to give us a room with a view of the pool and beach.

Mariana ZN

Even though the resort is a bit old, it was very well maintained. The property is beautiful with two large pools and the beach front is always clean and sargassum free, I was very impressed by that. There are plenty of chairs by the pool and beach, no need to stress about that. Food was good. If I could point out something I wish was a little better, I'd have to say that the staff needs to have some customer service training. I loved my stay there.

Vickie Smith Burgon

We went for our anniversary trip and was very pleasantly surprised by how beautiful the resort is!! The rooms are a little dated but the resort in all was very well kept and clean! I can't speak much on the food as I was sick n survived on mainly fruit the whole time but there was plenty of options at the buffet as well as the specialty restaurants to choose from. The pools were big and beautiful with different heights for different enjoyments, the bars had great service n never had to wait more than a minute or two! We took the premium level 4103 two bathrooms a living area and the bedroom. There was a balcony off the bedroom and another off the living room directly facing the pool and ocean! n it was nice with our own lounge n check in area with free snacks n premium drinks. I'll definitely return!! Plenty for kids of all ages as well with many activities and a mini water play area too

Eric Stewart

I would rate this hotel a 1 star overall. I recommend going to a different resort nearby as this resort wasn’t a great experience. Here are some pros about the resort: 1. Not all staff but most could understand English 2. Obviously close to the beach and they have a net up in the water to help prevent sea creatures and seaweed from coming to shore Here are the cons about the resort: 1. The biggest disappointment of all was the fact their PLUMBING STOPPED WORKING and there was no compensation or apologies or anything about it. It is NOT okay for the resorts water to stop for the toilets, sinks, and showers. Urine and poop was getting backed up in all of the toilets in the resort. HOW DISGUSTING. That alone made this an AWFUL trip and will never return or recommend this resort. 2. Most of the staff weren’t necessarily rude but they all just seemed like they didn’t care. 3. All the food and restaurants were mid. Not great but better than fast food. 3. The restaurants are booked days in advance and it’s allowed to book for the full week so you will have to go on the waitlist or hope for a cancellation. 4. The room was very dated and needs serious upgrades. Please do yourself a favor and go to another resort nearby.

Berle Kedus

We spent in that hotel 10 days. Hotel was great, staff helped suitcases to the room and when checked out took them to lobby area. Hotel itself if nice, staff very friendly. We had no problems at all. Lots of sunbeds at swimming area and beach, beach was just near to swimming pool area. Food was okay, but we understand it as there are lots of tourists to feed. We preferred buffet. Also we tried other restaurants, they were nice too. Staff everywhere are just amazing. Room cleaned every day, new towels every day. Beach was clean and nice, had some rocks in the water, but not a big deal. Hotel had lots of trip out choices, so we went for 4 trips. I would definitely come back again ❤️

Ewelina Domagala

The hotel is large and has a lot to offer: a beautiful beach, pools, games, attractions for children, and restaurants from around the world. Everyone will find something for themselves. I really liked the hotel app on my phone, because I could make restaurant reservations at any time and check the attractions for a given day. A note to all spa lovers: you can't miss it. These are top-notch services. I had the full Rainforest package: hot stone massage, sauna, and jacuzzi. I'd like to thank Elba, who gave me the best massage ever.I will never forget that feeling.

Andrew Romanov

I stayed at this resort in the beginning of 2026 in January and had a mixed experience. Some things were excellent, while others were clearly disappointing. Rooms The rooms are outdated and the hotel definitely needs renovation. Furniture and overall condition feel old. That said, I personally don’t care much about rooms since I spent most of my time outside and only slept there. However, if you plan to spend a lot of time in your room, this may be an issue for you. Pools & Kids Zone There is one large main pool and a kids’ zone. The kids’ zone is decent: shallow water, about five or six smaller slides, and a couple of bigger slides that are fun. Small kids can easily spend time there playing. However, the water was quite cold in January. You can still swim, but be prepared for that. Beach The beach is the highlight of this resort. One of the best beaches I’ve ever seen. White sand, clear water, almost no waves if the weather is good. Great for swimming, snorkeling (lots of fish), and water sports. This alone makes the resort attractive. Activities & Service Everything runs very slowly and service is not very attentive. A lot of important information is not disclosed upfront. For example, I planned to kayak with my kids using a double kayak. During the paperwork process, it said kids 12 and under are allowed. However, when I arrived to register, I was told kayaks are only available for kids 7 years old and up. Nobody informed me beforehand, and I only found out at the last moment, which was very disappointing and ruined our plan. The personnel overall is not very friendly, and communication can be difficult. Many staff members do not speak English well, which makes resolving issues frustrating. Dining & Restaurants Restaurants are okay, and some food is genuinely delicious. However, the waiting times are extreme. One night it took almost three hours to get dinner, which is unacceptable, especially for families. Buffet The buffet experience was inconsistent and poorly managed. Multiple times food was placed out without utensils, making it awkward and unhygienic to serve yourself. Staff often seemed inattentive, and you had to ask for basic things repeatedly. There also appeared to be food shortages. For example, watermelon would be available briefly, and if you didn’t take it right away, it was gone with no replacement tray. This happened multiple times with different items. New Year’s Eve New Year’s Eve was excellent. There was a great selection of food, including lobsters, and everything felt well-organized. Lobsters were also served the next day. Unfortunately, food quality and variety dropped noticeably after that. Staff & Overall Service Many servers do not speak English, which makes communication difficult. It also feels like staff are underpaid and unmotivated. Most do the bare minimum and are not willing to go the extra mile. Instead of trying to help, they often prefer to do nothing extra, likely to avoid issues. Overall Impression Sunscape La Romana has an amazing beach and good potential, but it is held back by outdated rooms, poor organization, slow service, and lack of attentiveness. If you are coming mainly for the beach and don’t expect great service, you may still enjoy it. If you value good service, clear communication, and efficient dining, this resort may disappoint you.

Undefined Name

If you’re from an English-speaking country, this may not be the resort for you. English is almost never spoken here, and it makes even the most basic interactions extremely difficult. The outside grounds are nice and well-maintained. The spa is genuinely impressive—one of the only highlights. The spa staff were amazing, the pools were okay, and the slides were fun with no lines. Drinks were mediocre but not undrinkable. That’s sadly where the positives end. The rooms are rundown, the AC barely works, and housekeeping repeatedly entered without knocking—even when we were undressed. Health-wise, this was the worst vacation I’ve ever had. I was bitten by a spider in the room which caused a massive infected welt on my arm. Both my girlfriend and I got food poisoning more than once, despite being extremely cautious—no tap water, no ice, only bottled water, even brushing with bottled water. The food itself is awful; even the simplest dishes taste off, and honestly, expect to get sick. The beach water gave both of us severe rashes, and there are sand mites. I’ve been on hundreds of vacations and have never gotten this sick. The guests at this resort were another major issue. Many had zero respect or manners—stealing beach chairs, cutting in lines at bars, buffets, and slides, refusing to move out of the way on sidewalks, and even walking right into you without acknowledging it. As a 23-year-old guy, I found myself nearly in fights multiple times because of how aggressive people were. Security was regularly stepping in to break up situations. Most staff were generally nice, but a few made the experience uncomfortable. The sports staff were overly aggressive when joining guests in games—especially basketball—pushing, shoving, and even taunting people who were just trying to casually play in sandals. A bellman flat-out told my girlfriend and me to go get him two coffees while we were waiting for the airport shuttle, which left us shocked. There were also creepy moments: staff dancing with much younger teenagers, and staff hitting on my girlfriend while I was right there. If you’re booking through Air Canada Vacations, prepare for more frustration. Our assigned rep was unreachable most of the trip, admitted to being hungover, and at one point it genuinely seemed like we might have to arrange our own transportation home. Overall, this was a terrible experience, even though we tried to stay positive. Please take this review seriously—I strongly recommend not booking this resort. If you do, good luck. We absolutely hated it.

Milica Milivojevic

Of course, you will say this is not true and that almost no guests were sick. However, I spoke to many people around the hotel and did not meet a single person who did not have the same problem. When I went to reception to report this, the young man there was extremely rude. Instead of listening or showing concern, he became defensive and dismissive. This seems to be how the hotel deals with problems: deny everything and blame the guests. In our last few days, the situation became shocking. People were vomiting around the buffet during meal times. Only then did the hotel start giving out hand sanitiser before entering the restaurant. But the problem is not the guests. Something is seriously wrong with the water, the food, or the hygiene. Instead of properly investigating, the hotel keeps saying they are “not aware” of any issue. This was not our first trip to the Dominican Republic, and we have never experienced anything like this before. For anyone who has already booked this hotel, please be careful: • Do not drink the water they pour into your glass during meals • Do not use ice For us, pizza and French fries were the only food we felt safe eating. This was clearly not a virus. Babies who were fed mainly on their mothers’ milk, formula, or food brought by their parents stayed healthy. That says a lot. This experience was stressful and upsetting. What should have been a relaxing holiday turned into constant worry about getting sick. I would never return and strongly warn others to think carefully before booking this hotel.

Olivia Medina

I honestly don’t know where to begin. I find it extremely difficult to understand how this resort has a 4.6 rating. I was genuinely excited to stay here—the photos looked beautiful and the reviews seemed promising—but after experiencing it firsthand, I’m convinced those ratings must be bots. First, the food is absolutely awful. It’s unappetizing, bland, and poorly presented. The only things I’ve been able to eat are pizza and fries; everything else lacks flavor and looks more like cafeteria or prison food than resort dining. Second, the beach is very underwhelming. It’s much smaller than advertised and looks nothing like the photos. The same goes for the pools—there are only two, and both are small and unimpressive. While the rooms are aesthetically pleasing, functionality and cleanliness are major issues. There are barely any outlets, which is incredibly inconvenient. When we first walked into the room, we were immediately hit with a strong, musty humidity smell, as if the room hadn’t been aired out or properly used in a long time. Worse, the room was clearly not clean. There was dirt behind the doors, mold on the faucet, and mold in the shower. Basic cleaning seems to be overlooked entirely. After being so disappointed all day, I went to bed early—only to find hair in my pillow. The pillowcase smelled like someone else’s scalp, which makes me almost certain the sheets were not changed. Completely unacceptable and disgusting. Overall, I would rate this resort a 2/10, and that’s only because the design and aesthetic of the property are nice. Otherwise, this experience has been incredibly disappointing. I strongly advise others to save their money and look elsewhere. This resort does not deserve a 4.6 rating and is, at best, a 3-star property. *Update and response to owner’s comment since it won’t let me reply directly*: the reply from management is clearly automated and says nothing new. Identical complaints about cleanliness, mold, and poor food appear in reviews from years ago, yet nothing has changed. Apologies without action are meaningless. Basic hygiene and honest representation are the bare minimum. Instead of scripted responses, this resort needs real improvements. Do better.

Divya P

Our first trip to the DR was a great experience overall, especially since we found such a good deal here. However, while we loved many aspects of our stay, there are several areas where the hotel could elevate the guest experience. ​What we loved: ​Dining: The food and service were excellent, particularly at the Italian restaurant. ​Staff: The hospitality was a highlight—everyone was incredibly warm and courteous. ​The Beach: Stunning views and very easy access to the sand and water. ​Areas for improvement: ​Wi-Fi: The connectivity is very poor. We had no signal at the buffet or the Kids Club. The resort needs signal amplifiers to ensure coverage in common areas. ​Buffet Labeling: As limited meat-eaters, it was difficult to distinguish between pork and chicken dishes. Clearer food labels are a must for guests with dietary preferences. ​Kids Club: The staff member (Odeline) was lovely and extremely loving. But the facility was disappointing. There was no AC (making it uncomfortably hot), and the play area was under construction for our entire 4-day stay. ​Entertainment Schedule: Most shows conflict with the 6:00 PM dinner rush.

Vashtie Maraj

6 people in our group got very sick from the food. Food safety is lacking. Food varity is also lacking. You can get tacos, nachos and pizza all night but not during the day. There is only buffet for lunch with basically the same food everyday. Too bad because the hotel is nice, rooms are comfortable and service is generally average to good. Grounds are very well maintained. The beach is rough, but that could be time of the year. Dec. The entertainment is okay. Not the best. Won't be returning there at all. It makes me even question ever going to a Barcelo resort ever.

David Korte

Attempting to coordinate airport transfer was a nightmare. Keep getting transferred to different departments and no one seem to know who I needed to talk to or what they are doing. The rooms need a refresh. Like other reviewers, I also got sick after eating in the buffet. The beach chairs definitely need to be replaced and are dirty/worn with some broken/not functioning properly. The beach bar is overwhelmed so be prepared for long lines. I ordered a strawberry Daiquiri after standing in line for 15 minutes and got a glass of warm mix and rum, with not even any ice. Ask guy behind the bar for a glass of ice and he just pointed to the bartender, like it was too difficult for him to help me out or speak a few words. Some staff were not very friendly toward us. Some were friendly/helpful. Worst of all of the issues, we made a simple request to check out 1 hour late and they said to walk down to the front desk as they can't do it over the phone. My girlfriend walked all the way down to the front desk only to be told they can't extend our check out. Almost like they playing games with us. Should have just told us on the phone versus wasting our time. Called and ask to speak with General Manager and was told he wasn't available. The assistant ask what the issue was and I explained the situation. He refused to allow a late check out and said it was an "internal policy" that we needed to request the late check out by no later than 745am. I asked him if customer service was important to him then he should accommodate our request. He said he didn't care it was the policy. Overall we still really enjoyed staying here and its a great location. Hope they can make corrections to improve the experience.

Dayana Carmona Darias

We had a great experience at Occidental Punta Cana! The staff was welcoming and helpful from the moment we arrived. The resort is beautiful, clean, and full of tropical charm. The beach is stunning with soft white sand and clear water, and there were always plenty of loungers. The pools were also great, with both fun and relaxing areas. The food and drinks were okay; we’re just used to a different type of cuisine, but there was variety and always something fresh at the buffet. The à la carte restaurants could use a more special menu. The bartenders were friendly and kept the drinks coming. The entertainment was one of our favorite parts, with live music, shows, and lots of daytime activities. But it was also easy for us to find quiet spots to relax. Overall, we felt the resort exceeded our expectations. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and fun, and the staff goes above and beyond. We would definitely come back!