Serenade Punta Cana Beach & Spa

First time in DR and I do not feel compelled to come here again… Upon arrival this hotel feels quite nice and dare I say grand? The aesthetics are there on a large scale but you’ll definitely notice its faults when looking just a step down. I can say that I’ve notice similar if not the same issues as those with negative reviews. So here is my comprehensive breakdown of our 7 Day Stay at Serenade. ROOM: My partner and I purchased the Jr. Master Suite. It was a good sized room, very big for two people, but let’s just say having two washrooms definitely came in handy during our stay… The only issues we really found about the room itself was one of the patio sliding doors didn’t lock and the way the shower was levelled, water would escape from the shower area in-front of the sink like crazy. There wasn’t nearly enough towels to dry up the mess. From a security perspective with the door, someone in the neighboring room/terrace could easily hop over the railing and come inside your room. But besides those two things we had no issues with mold in the room and always kept the fans on, circulating air. CLEANING SERVICES: Cleaning services are a hit or miss. I can attest that there is not really an urgency on getting clean towels or new bedding, which is a standard in North America. I also can say that if there is a tip involved the cleaning will be better. No tip, you will get the bare minimum (aka the room swept and bed made, counter wiped? But no toilets cleaned). At the beginning of the trip the amount of towels available sufficed. However with the issues of the shower water escaping the designated area, we quickly ran out of towels and when I requested a fresh set of towels that was fulfilled a day and a half later. And PLEASE INSPECT YOUR TOWELS BEFORE USING. One of them did smell moldy or like dirty feet and one of our body towels had brown stains on them. At that point I didn’t even want to deal with complaining about this. We just made do. So bear that in mind if you want new towels or you might get stuck with the same towels for 3/4 days. MINI-FRIDGE RESTOCK: The guy that came around to restock the fridge was very pleasant, I would tip him for extra waters/drinks. He was great, but they do come to your rooms at different times of the day, so it’s hard to always catch them in person. The more water the better. POOL & BEACH: The main pool is where we found ourselves lounging the most. It’s deeper than the water at the beach and equally relaxing. The beach was okay, but I was getting very short with how many people pester you when you’re trying to relax. Whether it’s about excursions or souvenirs, it’s the same people always there and new people will weasel their way to you every time you step foot on the beach. If you are adventurous and want to do an excursion, stay away from the people on the beach… the area where you find these people are on public property and have no ties to the hotel, which could mean that they are not legitimately insured if something goes sideways. Stick to the hotel for something more safe. The beach at this time of year did have some sea weed but it was constantly being cleaned, once you hop over the initial seaweed bar there are lots of seaweed free spaces. Just note, you will not be able to swim properly, the deepest part of the ocean front is about 3.5ft, and you cannot go beyond the barricade. FOOD: Please make wise choices here. My partner and I didn’t go for anything crazy and still ended up getting sick. We were extremely mindful of the water situation so we’ve chalked it up to the poor food handling. The last 4 days of our trip we were on a BRAT diet, more so just bread and bananas + electrolytes. You’ll see that the food left out is not always cold even if it should be. This place is far too humid for how they have certain foods set up. The ice cream is always melted unless you go to the “gelato bar” by the pool, but I have no doubt in my mind that the ice cream is constantly melted and refrozen in the buffet. Stay away from the salad bars, cheese and cold cuts. Unless the food is actually being heated or adequately cold, don’t even try it. These are not the same safe food handling practices in North America, THEY will get you sick. If not right away, it will catch up to you. That being said, there are safe options to eat here, but keep it very simple if you want to enjoy your stay. And bring hand sanitizer if you are going to eat anything with your hands. Main points, stay away from things that might be washed with municipal water (salad or fruits like apples), only eat things that are adequately heated or properly cooled. Be weary about things containing milk, as I see that they’re not always refrigerated and left on the counter after being opened. No cold cuts or cheeses from the salad bars. BRING HAND SANITIZER OR WIPES. A LA CARTE, BAR, FOOD TRUCK: Unfortunately, we could only attend the Greek option as far as the main course as we had gotten sick from the previous food (from the buffet) leading up to our reservation and had to leave. That being said, I’m not sure how the other places were as we had to cancel the future reservation we had planned like “the cut” and the Italian place. The Greek place was okay, the octopus was done nicely. The win bar (by the main pool), I’d avoid unless you are in dire need of a late night snack. It smells dirty and the bar staff are very unfriendly. My partner and I initially went because we needed a quick bite and they were very annoyed when we asked about food. The waiter was much more pleasant than the men behind the bar. The tacos were okay but the smell alone of the bar was a turn off. The food truck was a saving grace the last few days. We were only able to eat the fries but the rest of the food there looked proper (burgers and such). I think the food truck had the cleanest frying oil because he only really cooks fries in there and the same types of food every day. That reason alone is probably why everyone raves about the food truck. SERVICE: You will definitely be treated better if you speak en Español. The majority of the demographic staying here this week was predominantly Spanish speaking. And that is favoured here. Even when it came to ordering drinks, the Spanish speaking people seemed to have no manners unless you were blocking a space for them to sneak in before you. It was rude especially because the bar tenders would often tend to them first even if they saw you waiting before them. And when it’s late and only two or 3 bars are open, you almost have no choice but to wait 5 mins or spend another 5 mins walking to the next place and waiting again. Luckily my partner and I were not bothered about the time share guy. But I feel like if you are 30+ and look like it or look like you have money, you will be bothered to do so. There are way more miserable people here than happy and unfortunately that does affect your stay to an extent. You kind of get to a point where you feel bad you even came in the first place, because it’s not very indicative of “hospitality”. If you can nail saying “gracias” or “estoy bien y tu?” It might put a little smile on their face, besides a tip of course! But I don’t even want to normalize the tipping culture here because most of the times I’ve tipped, it feels like an expectation and not a gracious thing. Not every worker is like this, but MOST… so don’t be surprised. And that alone is again, such a turn off. SHOPS/SOUVENIRS/MASSAGES: Everything here is in USD and boy… do they try to get you good. The prices here for things except maybe medical stuff is just so expensive. I was honestly insulted. Not sure if in the DR they think everyone who walks through their doors are multimillionaires or what… but everything is SO expensive. I’m talking $3 key chains being priced $9+, magnets worth a dollar for at least $5+, best value for t-shirts are 3 for $36, but there is nothing really worth purchasing here unless you’re in a pinch and made a promise to bring something back. Don’t even bother with the people on the beach either. One vendor tried to sell me an unmarked “silver” pendant with the national Dominican rock… “but for you my friend you can have it for $60 USD!!” It took everything in me not to blurt out “and that’s supposed to make me feel special?!” It’s a joke guys, don’t waste your time, you’re better off bagging your own sand and finding sea shells. Also do yourself a favour, do not get scammed into buying a massage as you walk into the buffet. $80 USD for 30 mins is astronomical. I’m sure the only people buying into that are drunk because in what world would I pay a non RMT masseuse that much for 30 mins PLUS a tip? ENTERTAINMENT: Another section we couldn’t really participate in because we were sick. We tried to see the Michael Jackson show, but I legitimately thought I was going to pass out in that theatre. Bring a cold drink if you’re going in and also, the visual screen is still broken from the other reviews that mentioned this. From afar the music sounded like a playlist on repeat for a lot of the nights. The saxophone gig I heard from the balcony I would’ve enjoyed if I was able to. TLDR; I genuinely feel there are much better resorts to visit that won’t make you feel bad for coming. I enjoyed the simple things when my partner and I weren’t sick. Make wise food decisions don’t expect 5 stars from this “5-star resort”. Bring snacks from home, electrolytes, Tylenol, Advil, Pepto/gravol and Imodium. It was an interesting experience but I would not recommend this place, maybe to someone I didn’t like😅

WARNING: A Five-Star Nightmare – Guests Left Unprotected by Serious Management Failures and Health Risks Do not book this hotel. You might as well throw your hard-earned money straight down the toilet. You will not leave this resort relaxed; you will leave entirely drained, stressed, and feeling completely unprotected, like you have been trapped there for six months rather than enjoying a two-week holiday. TUI is fully aware of the ongoing complaints regarding this hotel but continues to send unsuspecting guests there, despite historical reviews dating back to November 2025 referring to guests allegedly being relocated due to severe hygiene concerns including blood stains, urine, and black mould on bedding. The severe problems throughout this resort appeared to stem from extremely poor hotel management and a complete breakdown of leadership that left paying guests exposed to repeated safety and hygiene concerns. 1. Disgusting Room Conditions, Broken Lifts & Abysmal Public Toilets - 9 Days Without a Change: There was a visible mark on the bedding from the start, and for around 9 days, the bedding was never changed. I was forced to explicitly request to get it changed when going to bed that evening. - Completely Unprotected Bedding: The quilt was exposed directly to my body with absolutely no quilt cover on it and no top sheet on the bed, leaving me sleeping against a bare duvet. - No Way to Contact Staff: This happened because there was absolutely no one available to contact or help the next day, leaving us entirely stranded. - Replaced with a Blood-Stained Pillowcase: When they finally came to replace the bedding, I got into bed that evening and removed the two top pillows, only to find what appeared to be an old blood stain right on the bottom pillowcase. - Constant Lift Breakdowns: The main guest lifts were constantly breaking down. Because of this, guests were forced to use the service lift just to get around, which was swarming with mosquitoes. - Vandalized Public Restrooms: Two separate sets of toilets in the main reception areas were missing toilet seats and had smashed, broken toilet roll holders. - Severe Supply Deficit: For an advertised five-star luxury establishment, the resort appeared to suffer from a chronic shortage of basic clean bedding. 2. Chaotic Dining Room, Severe Food Shortages & Dangerous Hygiene - The Buffet Scramble: Guests were forced to run around the dining room just to find basic necessities like knives, forks, cups, and glasses. - Severe Food Shortages: The buffet suffered repeated food shortages, leaving guests waiting long periods for basic food to be cooked. - Melted and Refrozen Ice Cream: The ice cream repeatedly appeared melted and then refrozen. - Broken Crockery: The restaurants frequently served meals on broken and chipped crockery, creating both hygiene and safety concerns. - The Beachside Grill: Burgers served here appeared undercooked, creating concerns about food safety. - Gross Cross-Contamination: The server wore a single pair of rubber gloves to touch everything, wiping his hands on a paper kitchen towel instead of washing them. There was no visible sink or running water present at the stall to wash hands or sanitize utensils. - The Beach Bar: This area was regularly overrun with long queues and a lack of clean glasses, meaning guests waited extended periods for drinks. Staff also attempted to serve unbottled tap water. 3. Filthy, Hazardous Beach & Security Failures - Disgusting Beach Conditions: During the second week, the beach was neglected and left filthy. It was littered with broken glass, dirty bottles, dirty plastic cups left over from the previous day, and discarded cigarette ends. - Security Concerns: Despite the presence of security guards and security cameras, concerning activity appeared to go unchecked. A beach vendor selling cigars was openly approaching guests in a manner that raised serious concerns regarding possible illegal activity and overall resort security. 4. Housekeeping & Tipping Concerns - Tips Expected for Cleaning: It appeared widely understood among guests that rooms were not cleaned properly unless tips were given. During a complaint made to the concierge, this issue was discussed in front of the TUI representative. 5. Management Conduct & Complaint Handling - Difficulty Locating the TUI Representative: The concierge manager repeatedly redirected us and stated that the TUI representative was not at his desk. A male staff member then intercepted us stating he was “just around the corner.” When we eventually located the TUI representative, his desk had been moved out of direct view. - Blood-Stained Pillowcase Incident: I took the blood-stained pillowcase to reception to show the concierge manager and the TUI representative. The front office manager refused to show the TUI representative the pillowcase and took it from me. He then tried to say the stain was coffee rather than blood, while still refusing to show it to the TUI representative. The manager stated that some stains are difficult to remove, but because the pillowcase had been laundered, he considered it acceptable to be placed back onto a guest bed. Overall, this hotel fell far below the standards expected of a five-star resort. The combination of poor hygiene, maintenance failures, food safety concerns, ineffective management, and lack of accountability completely ruined the experience.

I don't usually leave reviews but always read them before we go, this is definitely not a 5star hotel compared to the royalton bavaro where we stayed last time. The rooms were ok but the room service was not the best , we were not left any clean towels on a few occasions but they took the dirty ones away so we were left with none , I noticed the room maids in the room next door so I asked them for some and they just said no and then started mocking me shouting "towels" and laughing loudly. RUDE. Also the mini bar was notbre stocked daily. Had to call reception for towels and they came about 30 minutes later. Found a lot of the staff rude in the buffet restaurant also . The buffet was not great , the speciality restraunts were poor apart from the teppanyaki which was very good and entertaining, we ate there 4 times during our stay.we did the steak restaurant and got pork instead of steak. My wife had food poisoning and was bed ridden for 2 days. There are only 2 bars in the seranade family resort , the sports bar and the terraza bar so got a bit repetitive over 11 days . The sports bar was poor and lacking atmosphere so we used to go to terraza bar. Beer was not great and spirits seemed weak. It was clean all around the resort on a positive and the animation staff were very good and entertaining around the pool. Also got the feeling if you didn't speak Spanish you got treated differently. Was ok but as I say not 5 star and I wouldn't return again or recommend tbh. I'm not picky but had to leave an honest review so people don't have the same experience. Its actually put me off going back to the DR.

Overall good experience. Hotel not too far from the airport. This hotel should not be considered a 5 star hotel though. A lot of the bathrooms had no lock on the stalls or the doors didn’t close properly. One major turnoff was that there were no AC in the a la carte restaurants. We don’t think we would return to this hotel.

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at Serenade Punta Cana Beach & Spa Resort, and from the moment we arrived until the day we left, everything exceeded our expectations. The hotel itself is stunning, with beautiful architecture, clean and spacious rooms, and amazing views that made our vacation feel truly special. The facilities were excellent, including the pools, beach area, restaurants, and entertainment spaces, all of which were very well maintained. The food was delicious, with a wide variety of options available every day, and we loved being able to try different restaurants during our stay. The drinks were great, and the service throughout the resort was outstanding. Every staff member we encountered was kind, professional, and always ready to help with a smile, which made us feel very welcome and comfortable. We would especially like to thank Maria from the entertainment team for making our experience even more memorable. She brought so much positive energy every day and always made sure guests were having fun. The beach activities she organized were exciting, interactive, and a great way to enjoy the beautiful beach while meeting new people. One of our favorite parts of the trip was her yoga class—it was incredibly relaxing, peaceful, and the perfect way to start the morning while listening to the sound of the ocean. She was very friendly, motivating, and truly passionate about what she does. Thanks to Maria and the entire team at Serenade Punta Cana Beach & Spa Resort, we created unforgettable memories and had one of the best vacations we’ve ever had. We highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a fun, relaxing, and enjoyable getaway in Punta Cana, and we cannot wait to come back again in the future!