Melia was founded in 1956 and remains headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, where it all began. The hotel group currently owns 380 properties in over 40 countries, offering hotels for every budget. Melia Paradisus resorts are truly where “luxury meets paradise.” These all-inclusive resorts are located in breathtaking locations, from the lush jungles of Costa Rica to some of the Caribbean’s best beaches, including the Paradisus Palma Real.
The resort recently underwent a $50 million renovation and offers first-class service and amenities, nine dining experiences, and endless opportunities to completely relax on dozens of beachfront palapas and poolside chaise lounges. For those looking for more active activities, there’s everything from golfing to parasailing over the ocean. Of particular interest during the weekend I was there were a series of celebrity gourmet events held at this grand resort on Punta Cana’s stunning Bavero Beach.
How Paradisus Palma Real improved on the all-inclusive concept
Photo: Monte Matthews
The all-inclusive resort concept dates back to the 1950s and 1960s, when Club Med came onto the travel scene. Founded in France, Club Med’s concept was to offer everything – accommodation, food, drinks, activities – all for a one-time upfront payment. It was like an all-you-can-eat vacation buffet. And therein lies Club Med’s weakness: the food was plentiful, but far from gourmet, despite being French. Paradisus Palma Real has undertaken a renovation that puts an emphasis on great food in a great setting.
Once that’s in place, the other undeniable benefits of an all-inclusive vacation fall into place: safety, reliability, predictability. Paradisus Palma Real occupies grounds with as much security as the White House. Guests can rest assured that they won’t be hit with unexpected expenses upon check-out. Parents can kick back, knowing the kids are endlessly entertained. And for the adults, Paradisus Palma Real has created The Reserve.
Adults-only suites and amenities at this family-friendly resort
Photo: Melia Hotels International
The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real is an adults-only hideaway with its own pool, private beach, spa and Santé restaurant and bar for guests over 18. All 152 rooms at The Reserve are suites, offering a tranquil setting away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the resort.
The décor has a refreshing Caribbean feel, accented by sheer curtains that separate the bathroom from the rest of the suite and enclose the closet. Directly behind the king-size bed is a WiFi-enabled wired workspace (if needed) and dressing area. The bathroom has a fantastic bathtub, shower, double sinks with essentials like toothbrushes and toothpaste, and a separate toilet. The closet is stocked with beach essentials, including a tote bag, a pair of towels, and two pairs of flip-flops. There’s also a fully stocked snack bar, a safe, and a mini-fridge that’s constantly refilled with beer, soft drinks, and water.
When you want to relax, you can lounge on the sofa or sit in the chair next to the coffee table and turn on the huge TV with dozens of channels and an amazing number of languages. For a more beautiful view, head to the terrace where you’ll find two rocking chairs overlooking the pool, or head up to the third (top) floor for ocean and sunrise views.
Dining at Paradisus Palma Real is the ultimate all-inclusive dining experience
Photo: Monte Matthews
As mentioned, there are nine restaurants on-site: For dinner, you can choose from Asian, Mexican, and Italian cuisine, or you can dine at two new adults-only restaurants: Flora, helmed by Dominican culinary maestro Chef Leandro Diaz, or Malva, a more casual spot serving up a bazaar-style buffet of local flavors for breakfast, lunch, and à la carte dinner.
For families, Mosaico is a full-scale buffet with a wide range of dishes designed to please both parents and children. It is the largest of Meliá Paradisus’ dining spots, accommodating up to 600 people. Before you finish eating, the space is divided into a series of indoor and outdoor seating areas, making for a much more intimate experience than accommodating 600 people. All of the other restaurants are truly intimate experiences, featuring a variety of dishes prepared with refined style.
For Food Network and Top Chef-obsessed travelers like me, one of the resort’s culinary highlights comes from celebrity chef and restaurateur Antonia Lofaso. Meliá Paradisus is familiar territory for Chef Lofaso; she’s already created menus for Meliá Paradisus’ sister property in Mexico, and honed the Punta Cana culinary menu last November. Now, guests at Paradisus Palma Real can sample her cuisine on a menu that combines local Dominican ingredients with dishes inspired by her Italian-American roots.
Photo: Monte Matthews
During my visit, New York-based chef Alan Vargas worked with Lofaso to create a sumptuous eight-course meal that combined Lofaso’s Italian flair with Vargas’ Latin flavors (and don’t forget the Dominican rum served during cocktail hour).
In addition to a fantastic dinner at the resort’s Mina restaurant, both chefs performed a midday demonstration at the resort’s sushi bar, Tokimeku. Chef Vargas had people salivating as he butchered a freshly caught huachinango (sea bream) and created his specialty crudo, which was almost too beautiful to eat. The following day, Chef Lofaso demonstrated how to make spring pea ravioli for press and lucky guests.
But my visit to Paradisus Palma Real wasn’t just for a gourmet weekend. It was about setting the bar high when it comes to providing all-inclusive dining for every guest who visits. The resort understands that the culinary experience can make or break a vacation, and its dedication to serving the best cuisine doesn’t end with the weekend.
How to get to Paradisus Palma Real
Photo: Monte Matthews
There are many cities from which you can arrive in Punta Cana in time for an afternoon swim, including Philadelphia, New York, Montreal, Baltimore, Dulles, Orlando, Toronto, San Juan, Newark, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston and St. John’s in Canada.
OTIUM also provided transportation to and from Paradisus Palma Real, with a comfortable van completing the 10 mile round trip drive in 30 minutes. Finally, if you have lounge benefits, I recommend the VIP Lounge near Gate 30 at Punta Cana Airport (PUJ). It is the only VIP lounge I have ever come across that has an outdoor pool. It is located on the third floor overlooking the runway. 
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