Iberostar Punta Cana Review [All-Inclusive Resort]

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Pool view from our room

The Iberostar Punta Cana is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort located in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

It’s located next to its 3 sister properties — Iberostar Dominicana, Iberostar Bavaro Suites, and Iberostar Grand Bavaro Hotel

In this Iberostar Punta Cana review, I’ll go over everything you need to know about this resort to decide if it’s right for your next vacation.

  • Airport transfers
  • Check-In process
  • Rooms
  • Amenities including pools and beach
  • Restaurants
  • Customer service
Iberostar Punta Cana Review | Bavaro Beach
The beaches in Punta Cana are some of the best in the Caribbean!

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Iberostar Punta Cana Resort: At a Glance

Location: Punta Cana is on the eastern side of the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola. Haiti is located on the western portion of the island.

Type of Resort: Budget, all-inclusive, family-friendly

Price Range: $180-$300 per night

Amenities: Beachfront, 2 pools, casino, night club, shops, nightly entertainment, kids club for ages 4 and up, on-site PADI dive shop

Dining: 6 themed restaurants and 3 buffets

Distance to Punta Cana Airport: 25 minutes

Distance to Santo Domingo: 2.5 hours

Contact: 855-378-9011 or website

distance from the airport to Iberostar Punta CanaThe Iberostar Punta Cana Resort is located on the eastern side of the Dominican Republic, a short 25-minute drive from the airport.

Airport Transportation

If you have ever flown into the Punta Cana airport (or any Caribbean airport for that matter) you know that it can be a bit crazy. You’ll be approached by countless people trying to help you with your luggage (aka get a tip) or arrange transportation for you.

It’s because of this I recommend booking your airport transfers ahead of time. This ensures you don’t have to get mixed up in the airport transfer hellscape once you arrive.

I booked my transportation through Dominican Plus and I couldn’t have been happier. They had the best prices and the service was great. There was even free wifi on our 25-minute ride to the resort. They also have great options if you are traveling with a group including accommodations for 6, 9, 13, or 24 passengers.

In addition to airport transfers, Dominican Plus also offers a day trip to visit Santo Domingo.

Iberostar Punta Cana Review: A family-friendly all inclusive resort in Punta Cana
Iberostar Punta Cana is a great resort for families on a budget.

>>Not sure what to pack? Use this family beach vacation packing list printable for some guidance.


Check-In at Iberostar Punta Cana

I always find checking in at Caribbean all-inclusive resorts a bit harried and this was no exception. Maybe it’s because of the language barrier, maybe it’s because everyone in the Caribbean seems to operate a level below efficient… I don’t know.

It’s always a little sketchy that you have to leave your bags sitting in a big pile in the lobby while you go check-in. After we checked in, we were forced encouraged to ride to our room on the little golf cart. While this isn’t a big problem on its own, the whole operation takes about 15x longer than it should.

Checking in at Iberostar Punta Cana all-inclusive resort
Grab a drink in the open-air lobby while you wait to check-in.

Iberostar Punta Cana Rooms

There are 7 types of rooms at the Iberostar Punta Cana

  • Double: Sleeps 3 adults
  • Double Panoramic View: Sleeps 3 adults
  • Double Garden View: Sleeps 3 adults
  • Double Ocean View: Sleeps 3 adults
  • Romantic Junior Suite: Sleeps 3 adults
  • Family Master Suite: Sleeps 5 adults
  • Family (2 bedrooms): Sleeps 6 adults

We stayed in an oceanview room and while it did have a view of the ocean, it wasn’t a great view. The building is only 4 stories tall and set back from the beach a bit, so it’s more of a pool view with a glance of the ocean.

The balcony was spacious and had a small table and 2 chairs. Because the buildings are only 4 stories tall, it could get quite loud if you were sitting outside. However, the room itself was very quiet.

Rooms at the Iberostar Punta Cana all-inclusive resort
The standard oceanview room at the Iberostar Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort.

The room was large with a sofa bed and King bed, so it could easily accommodate a family with 1 or 2 children. The bathroom was a tad small, but it was functional.

There’s a mini-bar in the room that’s restocked daily with bottled water, soda, and beer.


Activities for your Vacation:  Things To Do In Punta Cana


Pools at Iberostar Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort

The Iberostar Punta Cana all-inclusive has 2 huge pools on the property plus access to the pool at the Iberostar Bavaro Suites located next door.

The pools had varying depths with plenty of shallow areas for kids. There was also a small, separate kiddie pool.

I am a big baby when it comes to cold pool water and “heated pool” is one of my top searches on TripAdvisor when I am looking at a resort. This one did not disappoint! Some of my family members actually mentioned that the pool was “too hot”. Nonsense, I say!  Bathwater is where it’s at.

Pools at Iberostar Punta Cana all inclusive
View of one of the pools from a standard balcony room.

The thing I didn’t like about the pool is something that might be a positive to other people. I like a quiet, calm pool. The activity level at this pool varied by the day and some days it was just too loud for me.

There would be workout classes or afternoon “shows” that included loud music…and that’s just not my style.

There was lots of shade available all around the pools which is a huge plus (but you’ll still want to bring plenty of sunscreen)! It was also relatively easy to get chairs in the morning. However, if you wanted a certain spot you still had to play the ol’ reserve a chair with a towel game.

If you have kids, be sure to check out the kids’ “water park” pool next door at the Iberostar Bavaro Suites. It’s a cool little area that has a big play structure that sprays water and has a few small slides.

Pools at Iberostar Punta Cana all inclusive resort
The Iberostar Punta Cana has 2 very large pools.

The Iberostar resorts have an on-site PADI dive shop so you can do some scuba diving without having to worry about transportation to a dock.


Bavaro Beach

An Iberostar Punta Cana review wouldn’t be complete without talking about the beach — Bavaro Beach to be exact. To put it bluntly, it’s simply stunning. This section of the beach has super fine white sand that seems to stretch on for miles.

There were enough waves to make it fun but they weren’t too rough for swimming. It’s easy to see why Punta Cana is known to have some of the best beaches in the Caribbean!

The water was a perfect temperature. You can go snorkeling right off the beach to see some colorful fish and coral. Kayaks and snorkeling equipment are available free of charge for an hour a day.

Iberostar Punta Cana Review - Bavaro Beach
Beach at Iberostar Punta Cana…it doesn’t get much better than this!

Iberostar Punta Cana Restaurants

You won’t go hungry at the Iberostar Punta Cana! The resort has a main buffet that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as a beach buffet for snacks throughout the day. There are 6 specialty restaurants available for dinner as well. These restaurants require reservations which can be limited, so arrange your dining times at the beginning of your vacation.

Overall the food was okay, not great.

Iberostar Punta Cana restaurants
There were beautiful gardens outside the open-air buffets.

Customer Service

This was one area where the Iberostar Punta Cana shined. Overall, the service was great. The waitstaff at the buffet and the bartenders at the lobby bar were especially wonderful. (We loved Vanessa at the breakfast buffet too)!  The front desk staff was also friendly and helpful.

Now, with that said, remember that this is a tropical island so things don’t get done as fast as they do at home. Be prepared to wait around a little.


Beach Style Files: Looking for the perfect bag for your all-inclusive resort vacay? Check out these fun, beach-worthy purses.


Final Thoughts

Punta Cana is a popular tourist destination for people all over the world for good reason — the weather is hot and you’ll find some of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic there.

If you are looking for an inexpensive way to take the family on vacation, the Iberostar Punta Cana could work for you. The value you get at this resort is great — all of your food and drinks are included in the price and the price is easy on the budget.

If you are a foodie or looking for a luxury retreat, I would look elsewhere. If a spectacular ocean view is what you are looking for, this isn’t the place for you. However, if you just want an inexpensive getaway on a fantastic beach the Iberostar Punta Cana fits the bill.

Iberostar Punta Cana Review | Dominican Republic | Caribbean Travel | Family Travel | All Inclusive Resort
These are my people! My whole family was able to be together for my cousin’s wedding.

Everyone is looking for something a little different in a vacation. Some want adventure, others want relaxation. Some want to party, others are looking for tranquility. Anytime you read a hotel review, try to focus on what is important to you.

For me, the people I was with made this a vacation to remember!  Happy Travels.

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Iberostar Punta Cana Review: This family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic is great if you're looking for a budget-friendly vacation.

 

 

 

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This Post Has 7 Comments

  1. Lara Dunning

    This is a very thorough review and very helpful. I’ve never stayed at an all-inclusive resort, but I do want to try it at least once. We have some similarities as I like a quiet pool too and am not really into buffets. The check-in process sure sounded laborious and to top it off had to wait to get the room you reserved the next day. Not a great way to do business.

  2. Carol Colborn

    You got me at inexpensive…with all those great facilities and ambiance!

  3. Jennifer

    I’m never a fan of the complicated check-in dance either. And like you, I need a quiet serene pool experience… no entertainment needed!

  4. Evelyne CulturEatz

    My day job is managing a hotel review website….kinda of funny for me to read a full review like that lol. It is definitely a better resort and a good chain. Good of you on getting the transfer ahead of time. Check-in and service and reception is always the biggest complaint of the entire Caribbean. Love the snorkeling shot!

  5. Francesca

    I appreciate the honest, thorough review. We’ve never done an all-inclusive but I imagine it has its pros and cons. One pro for me would be free use of the kayaks!

Comments are closed.