Vista Sol Punta Cana Beach Resort & Spa

Adriano R

Let’s start with the positives, the beach was stunning and could walk for miles in either direction, water perfect blue. The gardens at the hotel were nice. They did a coconut party one day which was nice, fresh coconuts to drink for free. The location is great, on the beach there are lots of beautiful nature spots and also a few cool bars etc. Now, onto the negatives. The food was quite simply abysmal. Easily the worst food I’ve ever experienced. The buffet: All meat overcooked to oblivion, so dry it hurt the mouth to chew. Everything else bland and flavourless. Breakfast was the only time you could eat okay, the omelette station was our salvation. Scrambled eggs, and boiled, forget it. The ‘a la carte’ restaurants, where do I begin? Service was shocking. Rude, miserable and lack of attention. Food was even worse (please see photo of beef carpaccio in Italian restaurant, as an Italian, this was borderline offensive) and slimy, I thought I’d get sick if I ate it. The food from all restaurants is just the same as the buffet food, but put on a plate for you. The staff, sadly were all very miserable. I wonder if their working conditions were poor or bad management made it this way, but no smiles, no greetings, and it seemed like they were doing you a massive favour every time you order a drink, some I would go as far as saying they were rude. Peacocks were quite cool to see around, but they shouldn’t be allowed in food areas, I once saw one on a table eating off a temporarily unattended plate, and pooing on the table. The room: Dated, old, and lacking love, no well thought out decor. We also had to battle to get our room made up every day, even going 3 days without despite asking reception several times. The shower, I could dribble harder than the pressure that came out of it. Wasn’t so clean in general either, mould and deep grime in some places. If you’re looking for a stunning beach, budget friendly, this might be okay, but you’ll definitely want to eat out every night, and avoid interactions with staff, then you may find a slice of paradise 😊

Vishal

We stayed at Vista Sol Resort Punta Cana as a family of four with two children and had a good overall experience. We mainly used the buffet, which offered a nice variety of food. Drink service there was sometimes inconsistent, and at times we had to get our own water or drinks from the vending machines, as well as coffee during breakfast. However, staff were quick to clear plates and keep tables clean. We also dined at the Mexican and Italian à la carte restaurants, where both the food and service were very good. Our room was modern, clean, and comfortable overall; however, the thermostat did not allow us to properly control the temperature, and the room became quite cold at night. The front desk advised us to open the balcony door to turn off the air conditioning, which did work, though it felt unusual not being able to adjust the thermostat directly. Room service met expectations. The pool was clean and well maintained, although some guests reserved sunbeds despite resort rules. The beach was nice, though there was some sargassum. Staff at the bars and restaurants were attentive, and the local drinks were standard for an all-inclusive resort. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and would recommend this resort.

Elma T

We recently stayed at this resort and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience. The WiFi barely worked. The rooms are old, smell bad, and even after cleaning they still felt dirty. The water pressure in the shower was extremely weak. The pillows were horrible and very uncomfortable, making it hard to sleep. The biggest issue was the food. Buffet options were very limited and most food tasted bad. The meat often tasted old, dry, and very hard. We basically survived on waffles, bacon, and fruit for breakfast. The American BBQ restaurant was so bad that all five of us ordered different meals and none of us could eat any plates. The Mexican restaurant was amazing the first night (fresh chips, guacamole, margaritas, good fajitas), but the second night everything was terrible — soggy chips, no margaritas (they said they ran out), no shots like the night before, and very dry, black, overcooked meat that tasted reused. The hibachi restaurant was very good and one of the only meals we truly enjoyed. Drinks at the bars were weak with barely any alcohol, and bartenders often didn’t know the drinks we asked for. Bars and the beach food truck always had long lines (burger and fries there were good though). Definitely needs more employees there. Staff were not friendly, especially at the front desk. Many were rude when asked simple questions. Most employees did not speak English and did not try to communicate. They would actually be rude with you if you don’t understand spanish. (One time I asked for beer with lemon or lime, the girl had no idea what i was asking for) The pool water was dirty every day and not clear. Ducks were constantly leaving droppings around the pool area and no one cleaned it. Sometimes there was also a sour/pipe smell around the resort. The beach is nice, but there are not enough chairs. If you don’t wake up early, you’ll end up sitting on the sand. Vendors constantly approach you trying to sell braids or excursions all day. No baby changing tables in the women’s bathrooms — I had to change my baby on the floor. Restaurant reservations are very hard to get for groups of 4–5. Many people end up at the buffet, which is unorganized. Tables are hard to find, utensils are missing, and you must wait for staff to bring them while your food is getting more cold) The resort looks nice outside and has good lighting and landscaping. Night entertainment was fun. The location and layout have potential. Before coming, I read reviews about the food, beds and rooms and thought people were just being picky. After staying five days, I realized they were absolutely right. Guests are not asking for luxury — just the minimum a resort should provide. I honestly don’t understand how this resort has such high ratings. It has potential, but it needs renovation and new management to improve organization and food quality. We would not return. It’s better to spend a little more and stay somewhere you can truly enjoy your vacation.

Dean Baumeister

Vista Sol I found it a budget freindly resort with a great beach and many things to offer. The nightly entertainment was usually good, there were several pools, so if you want music and activities, or lounging, you could do either. Not enough lounge chairs, so if you're not an early riser, you won't get one. The beach was fantastic. Lots of lounge chairs, good proximity to the resort sports bar and restaurant. You can walk the beach in either direction for miles, and it's beautiful. Resort food good for the most part. I'm not complaining because as mentioned the stay was budget freindly and the food options reflected that. Fruit and vegetables were fresh and good quality at every meal but the meat options were usual bland and often tough. The a la carte restaurants offered good options and everyone in our group found dinnertime they enjoyed. The rooms were clean and comfortable, though a couple of our rooms had grief with the air conditioning, and the staff were mostly very friendly. Maria, who was a bar tender at the pool bars stole our hearts with her contagious smile and great attitude. She was freindly and remembered what people drank. She had onlt been working at Vista Sol for 4 months but was exceptional. When we first arrived, I said I'd likely not return, but as we learned to get around the resort and met regular staff...we would stay there again.

Kristin Karson

I am a very picky eater BUT I was always able to find something to eat at the buffet, the food was quite good and variety was also nice. The staff were always keeping the grounds and the hotel clean, however the pillows were terrible and the rooms did not look how they did in the pictures even a little bit. Everyone was very friendly and happy to see you. The people on the beach trying to sell excursions and hair braiding are relentless and just dont take no for an answer, kinda annoying. But overall for the price I cant complain too much. My son is 9 and he had a great time.