Zel Punta Cana - All Suites

We just got back from an amazing week at Zel, and I wanted to share my thoughts since I was a little unsure after reading some reviews before our trip. We’re a family of four – my husband and I are in our mid-30s, and our kids are 4 and under. The vibe at this resort is different from other all-inclusives we’ve been to. The activities were focused on wellness, and there were some really cute arts and crafts. It wasn’t a big party scene, which was exactly what we were looking for. The cocktails were great though, so it wasn’t lacking in that department. If you’re looking for a party vibe or a non-stop schedule, this might not be the place for you, but if you want a peaceful, relaxing week, it’s perfect. The resort itself is gorgeous, with lush gardens everywhere. It’s a nice size – small enough to be super convenient, but large enough that you can wander around the gardens or find a new spot to hang out each day. Our room was beautiful and clean, and as a family, we really appreciated having a separate bedroom and living area . We stayed in the Master suite, and it worked out great for us. Most of our time was spent at the shallow pool, which was perfect for the kids. We never had trouble getting lounge chairs or cabana beds after breakfast. A special shout-out to Mr. Ricardo, who was kind, attentive, and his level of service was top-notch. The poolside restaurant was our favorite spot to eat! The beach is just a quick golf cart ride away, and it’s a beautiful stretch of sand. The beach club is a nice bonus. We didn’t eat there, so I can’t speak to the food. We didn’t go to the beach every day. It just felt like a bit more effort than the pool with all the stuff we had to bring for the kids. That said, when we did go, we really enjoyed it. If you want a chair you should go before 10am or wait until mid afternoon. Prime beach hours it might be a challenge! As for the food, it was fine. We were never hungry, but we didn’t have any meals that wowed us, except maybe at the pool restaurant. A lot of other reviews mention that the food wasn’t hot, and I’d agree. But honestly, we don’t go to all-inclusives for gourmet food, so it wasn’t a dealbreaker for us. The staff really made our stay amazing. Frank helped us with check-in and was available via WhatsApp for anything we needed. We’re pretty low-key and didn’t need much, but whenever we did reach out, he was super helpful. Angela, who worked at the buffet for breakfast, the pool restaurant for lunch, and a la carte dinners, was fantastic with us and especially with the kids. Pedro and Latissia at the main bar were the best! I didn’t catch all the names, but the staff at the buffet was generally wonderful too. Oh, and the WhatsApp line for the front desk was awesome. We asked for an extra blanket, and it was at our door in less than 10 minutes.

Muy buen hotel en general, las habitaciones son excelentes al igual que el servicio. La playa está un poco alejada del hotel (Translated by Google) Overall, a very good hotel; the rooms are excellent, as is the service. The beach is a bit far from the hotel.

Pros: - Fantastic room, especially if you have a baby thanks to the separate rooms and kitchenette - Very friendly and helpful staff, again especially if you have a baby! He loved being entertained by the staff. - Excellent pool and gardens. - Restaurants: Nokkyo, Tacorini, Neguri beach club and Breakfast buffet all good - Maintenance issues were resolved quickly - Nice beach and sea - Excellent gym and free classes - Excellent cocktails Cons to improve: - The cot we pre-booked and confirmed for the room wasn't there when we arrived. Our baby had to sleep first part of the night on the floor... - The room wasn't clean on arrival, particularly the bathroom, with hairs in the bath (didn't look like it had been cleaned at all) and dirty taps. We had to clean this ourselves to make safe for the baby - Volcan restaurant is very disappointing. Below average food and the service was shockingly bad, particularly in comparison to Nokkyo - Food buffet is average to poor for lunch and dinner. - Not enough beds on the beach unless you get down at 7am... What's more annoying is there are some premium beds available at an extra 50 dollar charge. Very disappointing to be charged extra for their own inadequacy - A lot of plastic bottles and no recycling option. Bit ironic to then be showing the Earth Day movie - The transfer service booked by the hotel was poor. Low quality vehicle with limited safety belts. Confusion around the payment being full covered via the first trip even though we clarified this via email. Pressure to "provide good tip" from first driver. Limited English. And initially dropped off at the wrong terminal.

We liked the experience. Stefanie and Louis were great servers at Tacorini restaurant - full of joy,fast service paired with great recommendations. Great vibe overall.

El hotel es muy bonito y la comida en la playa y en las cenas muy buena , la atención de Juan estupenda . Lo único malo fue que el buffet es muy pequeño y de baja calidad, la playa necesita muchas más tumbonas ya que si no te das prisa terminas con una toalla en la arena . El transporte es rápido a la playa por lo que a pesar de esas dos cosas pudimos disfrutar de la estancia .