By Laura Stuart
Sunscape Punta Cana Resort
The first thing you see as you step out of the main lobby of the Sunscape Punta Cana
resort as you shade your eyes from the dazzling sun is the turquoise water of the Dominican Republic--water so crystal clear, you can see to the very bottom and watch sunlight reflect and blink off the scales of fish as they swim. The second thing you notice when you walk outside the main lobby is the blinding, white sand of the
beach, the hovering palm trees and the buildings of the resort surrounding you in their rich
Caribbean color scheme of oranges, reds, whites and blues.
Features
The Sunscape Punta Cana Resort is an all-inclusive destination in the Dominican Republic. That means people who stay at the Punta Cana do not pay extra for meals, drinks, activities, tips and gratuities. All those amenities are included in the price of the room. The all-inclusive room rate also includes the rental of all land and water sport equipment and activities, including kayaks, snorkeling equipment, sailboats, pedal boats, pool aerobics, scuba diving lessons, bikes, basketball equipment, tennis equipment, outdoor classes and fitness center use. The Sunscape Punta Cana Resort also offers a wide range of free classes for vacationers, including dance, language, painting, cooking and yoga. For children, the resort offers air-conditioned indoor activities, beach activities, ice cream parties and evening services. Teens have the opportunity to participate in rock climbing, video-game tournaments, bonfires and sports tournaments.
The Sunscape Punta Cana Resort has seven restuarants included in the all-inclusive room rate. The World Cafe serves buffet-style lunches and dinners. Bordeaux is the resort's adult, French bistro restuarant. Bordeaux is open for dinner only, and it has a dress code. Hitmitsu serves Asian cuisine and a la carte food including sushi. El Patio serves Mexican dishes. Oceana is the resort's beach-side grill and serves a la carte seafood. The Seaside Grill serves light seafood including shrimp, as well as kabobs, onion rings, potato skins and burgers. And Italian food is available at La Trattoria.
The Sunscape Punta Cana resort has 620 rooms at the all-inclusive rate. Every room at the Punta Cana Resort has either a king-sized bed or two twin-sized beds. Every room also has a terrace, hammock, air conditioning, telephone access, a coffee maker, ironing board, bathrobe, bedroom slippers, blow dryer, umbrella, work desk and a luggage bench.
The resort has four room upgrades. The deluxe swim-out room has direct access to the pool. The honeymoon suite has a spacious living room and private jacuzzi. The preferred club rooms offered by the resort have a private lounge, private check-in desk, resort VIP status, complimentary newspapers, wireless Internet, breakfast and upgraded minibar. The resort also offers a family deluxe room that connects three regular rooms.
Pros and Cons
The Sunscape Punta Cana Resort is set on the northeast end of the Dominican Republic on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. The all-inclusive offerings from the hotel including food, activities and services are not offset by the drawbacks. The Sunscape does not offer shuttles, taxis or transportation to or from the local airport. The all-inclusive room rate does not include snack food, spa treatments, outside tours or expeditions, motorized water-sport equipment, advanced scuba diving courses, personal hygiene products, telephone charges, Internet charges, business services, medical services, laundry services, dry-cleaning services, photos or babysitting. But the rooms offered by the hotel are quite spacious, and the beds are plush and extremely comfortable.
Bottom Line
If you are taking a trip to the beaches of the Dominican Republic, you and your family will more than likely spend less time in the rooms of your resort and more time on the beach and in the waters of the Atlantic. The Sunscape Punta Cana Resort's sandy beaches and views of crystal teal water make it an ideal location for a family-friendly vacation or spring break destination. The minor inconvenience of there being no airport shuttle is quickly overshadowed by the range and variety of activities provided by the all-inclusive resort at no cost to you. The room rate includes everything and lets you choose three meals a day from the resort's seven restaurants. Considering what you get for the cost, the Sunscape Punta Cana Resort is well-worth the dime.
Resources
About the Author:
Laura N. Stuart is a writer. She has served as a newspaper reporter, photographer, copy editor, feature reporter, editor, entertainment reporter and freelance writer for multiple community and regional publications. She holds a Bachelor of Mass Communications degree in journalism from Louisiana State University.
Photo Credits:
Courtesy of Tom Peppers Productions
