Words by Richard Jones
Just after 6am, having woken from my slumber and stepped out onto the balcony where the sun was already shining, I was faced with a dilemma: which of the 13 pools should I lounge in today?
Speaking of decisions, we also had to decide which of the 15 restaurants to dine at that evening. When you’re staying at the Dominican Republic’s largest resort, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Punta Cana, you have a lot of choices to make, although they’re very enjoyable choices.
Hotel
I’ll be honest, when I first arrived at HRH after a direct TUI flight to Punta Cana, I was a little overwhelmed by the size of the property. But thanks to an early morning scouting session and a handy pocket-sized fold-out map, I was soon wandering the sprawling 121-acre estate, where staff escort guests around in converted golf carts.
We understand that bigger isn’t always better when it comes to hotels, but the massive 1,882-room HRH Punta Cana is spacious enough that it never feels crowded, and the level of service and friendliness is so high that you’ll never be far from homely comforts.
Hard Rock has an unmistakable Las Vegas atmosphere, with smells, sounds and sights that will be familiar to Vegas goers, plus, for gamblers, the casino has plenty of Las Vegas-style slot machine lookalikes, as well as roulette, craps, blackjack and three-card poker tables.
As you’d expect from a Hard Rock Hotel, the place comes alive after dark with live music, entertainment and plenty of bars to pop into. Modelled on the finest spots in Las Vegas and Miami, Oro is considered one of the most exclusive nightclubs in the Caribbean. Night owls should keep an eye out for celebrities, artists and athletes.
Rooms & Suites
I stayed in the Islander Junior Suite, which overlooked the nearby natural river below and the Atlantic Ocean in the distance. There was a hydro spa bathtub on the balcony and a choice of two bathrooms equipped with rock spa amenities. The kitchen area included a sink and minibar stocked with sodas, bottled water, and Presidente beer, as well as a Nespresso machine.
If you don’t want to leave your room for a while, you can enjoy complimentary 24-hour room service on your iPad, as well as a range of other services.
Food & Drink
A hotel of the Hard Rock’s size needs a food and beverage program to match, and the Punta Cana hotel does not disappoint.
Among the restaurants I tried were Toro Steakhouse, where I had beef ribs that fell easily off the bone, Ciao, a contemporary Italian restaurant, and Zen, a teppanyaki and sushi spot that comes to life with fire and flying knives every night. There’s also Brazilian rodizio-style restaurant Ipanema for meat lovers, Los Gallos for Mexican food, and laid-back burger spot Stacked.
The best and most convenient place for breakfast is The Market buffet, which serves freshly made omelettes and toast, while The Split, a subway-style sandwich shop, is perfect for a quick lunch.
The Eclipse Terrace is a great place to unwind in the early evening, while the popular Moon Lounge offers drinks and snacks, as well as a bowling bar and a silent disco.
spa
If you’re looking for some grown-up luxury, head to the Caribbean’s world-famous Rock Spa.
My hydrothermal journey took me through the hot tub, sauna and special clay steam room before I headed into one of the 52 treatment rooms for a refreshing anti-ageing For Him facial.
things to do
There are lots of events happening at the Hard Rock throughout the day, and while the Central and Eden pools are great for the more energetic, I was drawn to Bongos, located just a few meters from my room. I spent hours there during the week, chatting with other guests about US politics and the British monarchy in the swim-up bar, and watching the turtles in the river.
Families will love HRH’s water park, Rockaway Bay, which features 26 water slides set in lush tropical gardens and a FlowRider surfing machine on the beach.
Not everywhere in the Dominican Republic is as luxurious as the Hard Rock, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore more of the island. I took the Dominican Republic Taste Safari tour with Runners Adventures and their hilarious and knowledgeable local guide, Angel.
“I like my coffee just like me: hot, strong, sweet,” was a typical joke he would often tell.
After driving through the countryside and villages of Anamuya and through colmados (small supermarket-turned-bars), our first stop was the Runners Base at the foot of the mountain, where we met rescued crocodiles and iguanas before learning how sugar cane is harvested and pressed to make rum.
And one of the highlights of the trip was watching an artisan demonstrate the art of rolling cigars using dried tobacco leaves collected from the surrounding jungle.
Our next stop was the spectacular modern Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia Cathedral in Salvador de Higüey, then we arrived at Maria’s house, a typical Dominican home where the family treated us to a lunch buffet of chicken, rice, beans and fresh fruit, followed by a demonstration of coffee and chocolate making on their farm.
The day ended with a trip to Macau’s beautiful public beach, where there were rows of stalls selling handcrafted gifts and delicious cocktails served in hollowed-out pineapples and coconuts.
On my last day in Punta Cana, I booked a round of golf with my new friend Tyler from North Carolina at the Hard Rock Resort Course. Designed by Golden Bear company Nicklaus Golf, the 7,253-yard course features platinum paspalum grass fairways carved from the Dominican jungle, numerous water features, strategically placed bunkers, and undulating greens.
Oh, and the kind lady at the all inclusive drinks cart helped us cool off in the hot sun.
In a nutshell
The Dominican Republic, and especially Punta Cana, is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world, with new hotels opening every year, so a Hard Rock Boat trip is a choice you will definitely not regret.
Fact Box
A seven-night stay at the five-star Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic costs just £1,949pp. The price is all-inclusive based on two adults sharing an Islander Junior Suite with balcony/terrace and includes return TUI flights and transfers from Manchester or London Gatwick. Prices are based on departures on selected dates in October 2023. To book, visit tui.co.uk or visit your local TUI Holidays store.
TUI offers direct return flights from Manchester to Punta Cana from £437 including 20kg of luggage.
For more information on parking options to suit every budget, security fast-track tickets and access to Manchester Airport’s Escape and 1903 Lounges, visit manchesterairport.co.uk.
Address: Km 28, #74, Blvd. TurÃstico del Este, Punta Cana 23000, Dominican Republic
Phone: +1 809-687-0000
Website: hardrockhotels.com
Please gamble responsibly (18+, UK) – check the age restrictions before participating
