Melia Caribe Tropical

By Nina Flores from San Jose, California • Nice family resort

Overall Rating: 6   Location [5] • Room [5] • Service [8] • Value [6]

	Your kids will love it! Good Service
	If room is not close to the beach, you'll end up doing a lot of walking.

We've heard that Melia Caribe Tropical is a great family resort. It came out to be true. The hotel has a decent daycare (our 2 year old girl didn't want to be left though). She had a couple of great naps at the daycare while we enjoyed the beach.

The pool areas were not as clean as we are used to, but the water was warm enough and the kids loved the little shallow areas. ... [more]

Food is good. The beachside restaurant close to the baby club is very kids friendly. Wide choice of fruit juices and snacks on it betweeen meal hours.

Rooms are nice and clean. Good size. Not a 5 star, but sufficient since you should not be spending much time in the room anyway There was a curtain that I could clip shut to keep our girl from watching us while she fell asleep in the crib in the sitting area.

Grounds are beautiful. Huge. Very lush. The train (shuttle) is fun for kids. It was only ocasionally needed in the evenings to go from our room (almost at the beach) up to the restaurant area and lobby.

Conclusion: It is not a 5 star resort. So don't expect that. Go because your kids will love it or if you get a great deal
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By adamparks22 from Chicago • Aug 5th (05) Awsome!!

Overall Rating: 10   

August 5th, 05

Stayed in building 51 - totally recomend asking for that building or one in the new section. Construction was finished as far as we could tell.

I'll give you an honest opinion of what was good and what was bad. The actual hotel was absolutley amazing. I highly recommend staying on the Carib side if you are traveling without kids. The other side ... [more](tropical) is for kids. The Carib side is geared for adults and the area is newer. If you can upgrade to the Serviceo Real (Royal Service) you'll find it well worth it. You might even be able to get the upgrade for free if you ask (we did). The benefits are top shelf liquor, WAY better rooms, preferred reservations, free internet and faxes (key for business travelers) ect ect..
All in all it's just a better trip if you can.

The resturaunts are all very nice. The food wasn't all THAT great but we didn't expect Ruth Chris steakhouse or even Outback for that matter to begin with. The Japanese place is very nice, fun and the food is great. We also at at the Mexican (yuk) and the Italian (good). Set up your reservations early or you'll have a hard time getting in. If you have 2 in your party you'll do better but if you have a $5 or $10 bill you'll pretty much be a shoe in.

The other one we liked was the one by the Carib side that was by the pool (forgot the name). The whole set up on that side is VERY cool and the music was great too.

The entertainment was fun and lively. The Casino staff is very unfriendly. I was a big winner the first night so they probably were just annoyed with us, maybe you'll fair better. The 'fun pub' was a younger crowd but worth a visit.

Excursions:
Saola Island - forget it. You'll spend half a day on a bus there and back, two hours on a packed catamaran (and not a nice one) 4 hours on a scoarching hot beach with no breeze. Skip it.

Jet Boats - pretty cool. worth it.

If you get a chance check out "the Jellyfish" which is a restraunt/bar about a 10 minute walk on the beach (not part of the all-inclusive). It's not expensive just don't expect to pay your bill with a wristband, get it? The atmosphere was worth checking out. I'd go there about dusk and head back before dark, You never know.

The staff was SUPER friendly to us. I found them to be very accomodating and we kept hearing "No no, we'll do that for you, you're on vacation" and we weren't throwing around money or anything. In fact, we tipped only when someone really went out of there way or made dinner more fun and enjoyable.

Keep your own bags when arriving at the airport. The airport porters will ask to carry your luggage for you which is cool and cheap for $1 a bag. Until you realize that you only needed to carry them 10 more feet and your at the transportation area. Just walk the extra 10 feet to the transportation area.

All in all it was totally worth it, very beautiful and we will be returning as soon as we can. Have fun and say hello to Rafael at the Apple Vacations counter. He's very helpful with excursions and will give you the tips and trades of Punta Cana. Nice guy. Tell him Adam and Gina sent you.

One more thing.. Try the Mamma Juana. I know it sounds like Marijuana but it's a shot. The 'dominican viagra'. Maybe, maybe not. But when you're in the Dominican, you probably won't need any help.

Be safe, travel well.

Adam and Gina Parks - Chicago [less]
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By All-Caribbean User from Santiago, Chile • 5 stars well deserved

Overall Rating: 10   Location [10] • Room [10] • Service [10] • Value [6]

Sol Melia Caribe Tropical is really great, the villas are scatered in a really beautiful garden, full of palms.
All the facilities were excellent, nice beach, incredible pool, lot of water sports available and daily activities.
The food wasn't so great, there were a couple of good restaurants, but the rest was way average. You have to book them in advance, which turns to be the o... [more]nly stress during your stay. If you are not successfull with your reservation, you have to go to the buffet restaurant, that is usually crowded.
The hotel staff is very friendly.
Overall, a very good experience. [less]
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