Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa

Traveled May 30 - June 5, 2014 Note: There is a rooftop terrace in at least one building by the beach - standing at the lobby looking towards the beach it's the building closest to the beach, on the right. Hike up to the 4th floor and you'll find a great spot to take in the views of the entire beach - it's gorgeous! There was never anyone up there, and no indication that it was even there (that I noticed anyways)... just something we stumbled upon one day... I booked the Seas the Deal package and ended up with Breathless. It was a little disappointing at first, as I had my heart set on Iberostar Grand... but I ended up being perfectly happy at Breathless. It's a bit far from the airport, so I recommend private transportation instead of shared - definitely worth the extra money. That way you're not stopping at a bunch of resorts on the way, wasting more time. I've booked through CheapCaribbean.com 3 times now and have never had any issues with anything, including the transportation they arrange for you. It's great to know everything is setup and ready to go upon your arrival. This is the first time I did private transportation and will continue to do so in the future - you get the same van, but you don't have to worry about being packed in and stopping all over the place. The resort - it's great, not too big, not too small, and brand new. You can walk from the lobby to the beach in 5 minutes or less. At night, all of the pathways are lit up with neat color changing lights - a nice touch, I thought. The rooms are nice, nothing fancy or different from other places I've been, but most definitely good enough. I will say that upon checking in, we did upgrade to the xhale club with a swimup room... not sure I can recommend it. I've always wanted to try a swimup room, so that part was cool... but the cost (just shy of $500 US) wasn't worth it. I would have been just as happy in another room without the xhale upgrades, which really didn't seem to be anything at all (in my opinion). There was a private portion of the beach and a special restaurant available to xhale members only - the beach was nice, but no better than the "regular" part. The restaurant, Strip Grill (I believe), wasn't something I tried, so can't comment about it. The pool right outside our room was private as well, and there was another one closer to the beach. My advice - try out the regular rooms/services before upgrading to xhale, you may find that it's not a necessary expenditure. Beach - lovely! The beach sort of curves in and out instead of just a straight shot, which I liked. The sand is not white like closer to the airport (Bavaro beach, I believe), but gorgeous anyways. During our stay there were plenty of chairs to choose from. It was a bit breezy out there, so most days we were posted up at one of the pools... but no complaints about the beach. We also borrowed one of the kayaks for a bit, which was fun (and free). Pools - awesome! There are several pools to choose from and my favorite was the "party pool" towards the front. It had a second, elevated pool with clear side and bottom, which was really cool. Most of the time they had some music playing or the E-team was there doing some kind of event. Service - not bad at all! My friend and I are tippers, so maybe this affected service. There was always someone getting you drinks no matter where you were - beach, pools - even sometimes sitting out on our balcony at our room (may have been because of xhale/swimup room). They always seemed happy, which is a miracle considering they're there from sun up to sun down just about every day. Restaurant service was good as well, no complaints. The bottom line - these people work hard and were a pleasure to be around - they deserve some tips here and there!! I will say that housekeeping seemed to be on an odd schedule... they didn't come at all one day, and usually late afternoon/evening on the other days, but always different. It wasn't a huge deal, just odd. We had a towel issue a few times, but a quick call to the appropriate department and someone was always there to rectify the issue. Entertainment - magnifico! We only got to catch a couple of the nightly shows, but they are definitely worth it. World-class? No... but pretty darn good! The circus one was my favorite. The E-team folks really do a great job, throughout the resort. I recommend the shows to everyone - they are a great way to unwind in the late evening, with drink service, of course! The E-team does activities at the beach/pools throughout the day, but they were never in your face or over the top trying to get people to participate... they had fun with it, left you alone if you wanted, and kept everyone entertained. Great job! Food - delicious! We are not foodies, but the food was pretty darn good. The breakfast buffet is pretty standard and has plenty to offer, no complaints. We had lunch at the hamburger place at the beach and that was good as well. Dinner at Spumante (Italian) was our favorite. We tried Coquette (French) and while I'm sure it wasn't bad, it just wasn't our style. Silk City hibachi was good, but not much of a show like I'm used to at other hibachi places... he kind of just stood back there and cooked (note - you do need reservations for hibachi, but nothing else). I really enjoyed the sushi they served prior to dinner. The dinner buffet was like breakfast - pretty standard, not bad. Drinks - good, most of the time. My friend and I enjoy our cocktails, and we're not lightweights. If you order a drink off the menu or simply ask them to make you something, it will most likely taste fine but it will be weak... and they'll use cheap liquor. BUT... specify a liquor, drink, etc., and they will be happy to make it for you. People that complain about the drinks are nuts... all you have to do is politely ask for what you want. Want it strong? "Fuerte". We sipped on Absolut, Stoli, among others all week. I will say that the bar at the pool closest to the beach was the toughest one to get a "top shelf" drink.... I don't know if they just didn't have the good stuff or what... but any other bar it wasn't a problem. Overall this trip was fabulous. Our second time to Punta Cana, and Breathless didn't disappoint. Sure there will be little things here and there that could improve, but when you're in paradise it's hard to worry about it. I would have no problem returning to Breathless and/or recommending it to others. *****If you have any issues or are not happy with something there, just let them know!! They are more than happy to take care of you, and work hard to please!*****

My boyfriend and I visited Breathless 4/18-23. I was a bit reluctant to try, but did the Sea's the deal thru CheapCarribean.com - not knowing which of the three hotels offered I would get prior to the week before I was to leave. I was left with Breathless and was very pleased after arriving and getting to our room. The rooms are very spotless! The grounds are very well kept. I witnessed a worker almost each morning from my balcony manicure the grounds with very little tools - they use their hands and a knife to cut grass and weeds - who does that these days? I never heard a blower or mower in the 6 days there. They respect their guest! I read the reviews on the food - People, please.... This place has 11 restaurants on its grounds. Can all the restaurants be that bad? I'm a foodie and I do travel often - There isn't anything wrong with their food. They do a good job giving their guest variety in food choices and the food ain't bad! You're going all inclusive..... I believe their breakfast buffet blows most all inclusive places I've been to out the water. They offer a variety of breakfast items including a few omelet stations where you're able to create your own. The property does a great job entertaining its guest - they go all out to entertain as well as having various theme nights. The day parties by the pool are a hoot! I can't say enough about their staff.... They do go out of their way to help with any request or needs you may have. I highly recommend this hotel and I know it will go up the chain (still new) for being the top 10 resorts in Punta Cana. Don’t sleep on this property! The downside complaint is the language barrier.... English is not their 1st language so have patience with the workers and staff as they try to understand your needs (can be frustrating but you're on vacation - and time isn't as important - have patience with them - they try)! I’d come back again in a heartbeat! Oh, please do the romatic dinner (cost is extra). If you're traveling with that someone special this presentation of dinner on the sand at the edge of the water under the stars will leave you BREATHLESS!!!!!!

As a solo traveler to Punta Cana, I was nervous in the months leading to my trip. This was my first time traveling solo out of the country and I was unsure what I should expect. I arrived at the airport with my passport and travel voucher in hand and my reservation was confirmed and ready to go. The flight to Punta Cana was slightly bumpy but nothing too dramatic. The arrival to Punta Cana was so beautiful. The airport looks nothing like you would ever see in the US. The roof of the airport is made of thatch, which are dried palm tree leaves. And the humidity is real! It hits you as soon as you step foot off the plane. There is a bus that takes you to the actual airport arrival terminal. The flight attendants did not have any customs forms for travelers so we had to fill them out once we unloaded and arrived to the terminal. After this, I paid a mandatory $10 entry fee, got my passport stamped and proceeded to pick up my luggage.There are people (not sure what the technical term for them is) who are standing and walking around asking you for assitance. You can either accept or reject their help. I decided to accept their help because quite simply, thats how they make their money. The worst part of my trip was the unanticipated $70 taxi ride to the hotel. There is a book/board that displays the cab fares for the different hotels but I did not know this before hand. The breathless hotel and resort is about 30 minutes away from the airport and is actually in a city called Uvera Alto, Dominican Republic. If you dont mind a scenic route, stay there especially if you have no intention on leaving the resort. Its a good way to see some of the culture and surroundings of the island. THE RESORT WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. And if your frugal like me and only purchased the international text plan for your phone, there is great news, the WIFI is FREE! And you stay connected throughout the resort, even on the beach. While at the bar I would FaceTime friends and family. The beach is beautiful and the resort has a lot of options and amenities. Nightly live entertainment. The drinks were weak but hey, the alcohol is free and you can always ask them for an extra shot or two and mix it in. The pools are fabulous. I think there are about 6 pools on the resport. The resort is absolute paradise. There are swim up pools, a main pool and an "party pool" where there is a swim up bar. Oh, the staff is very friendly and nice. EVERYONE is ready to accomodate your every need. When I arrived, I wanted a king bed instead of two queens and I asked the concierge if I can get my room switched and his response was "anything is possible". Also the unlimited free mini bar service AND THE JACUZZI ON THE BALCONY was amazing. The room was clean with a shower and a separate toilent & baday, double sinks and nice decor. I spent my first night in the room ordering free room service, sipping on some dominican rum and soaking in the jacuzzi on the balcony. Absolute bliss. One thing that I will caution travelors should know basic spanish, even if its just to name things. Some people speak better English there then others. Some can be fluent and others speak very broken English. I must say that those who had heavy dealings with customers were pretty good at speaking english. Also most of the TV channels are in Spanish. The worst part of my trip was the line at the airport to get back home. I flew with Frontier airlines and the lines were extrodinarily long. They were operating flights to Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia and I also believe New York. Every one of those flights were full flights, which means long lines. As a result the flight was delayed an hour. It was good & bad. Good for those who were arriving late (the recommendation is to get to the airport 3 hours early for international flights) but bad for those who thought they would be home at a certain hour but arrived an hour later. If anything frontier should have had more representatives at the ticket counter. Lastly, in order to get to your gate, you must walk through different stores. I guess this is their way of catching the eye of travelors and buying things on the way to their departing gate. Overall, I would certainly go back. It was a great experience. Next time I will take someone with me.

Preface – this resort officially opened the day we arrived. Although we were not informed that this was a brand new resort (there were already reviews about the resort…apparently written by the resort staff) we understood there would probably be a few systems they needed to work through and that we needed to be patient. What this resort does really well:. You cannot beat the genuine sincerity of the Dominican people. Everyone was incredibly gracious and helpful. Having traveled in the Caribbean extensively, it is rare to find locals who act like they want you in their country and go out of their way to ensure you feel welcomed. The resort grounds are beautiful and well maintained. The pools are extravagant and numerous. Our room was a decent size, very clean, had modern furnishings and the shower was 4’x6’. There was also a 2 person ‘hot tub’ on our balcony. The breakfast buffet (The Spoon) is extensive and clearly your best option for expedient service. The poolside attendants are typically attentive and ensure you have a beverage. The entertainment staff does a good job with planning events and engaging guests. The beach has a beautiful view and the resort provides comfortable lounge chairs, yoga platforms and watersports. Opportunities where the resort can clearly improve: Food service. On a scale of 1-10, I would rate it a 2. I am 6 months pregnant and this was the most important amenity for me. The first day, we were impressed with how attentive the staff was and how prompt the food arrived. Since it was the first day, very few guests were on the resort grounds and the wait staff handled everything beautifully. Each day, as the number of guests at the resort increased, the food service unraveled a little more. The food is regularly undercooked (a major health concern for me right now), the wait time for your food is unacceptable and many times you do not receive what was ordered. Once we waited 45 minutes for our appetizer before we walked out of the Tapas Restaurant. The Strip Grill sat us right away and then we waited 20 minutes before a server came by to take our order. It was 35 minutes before my omelet arrived and the eggs were raw on the inside, nor was it the omelet I ordered. While the website boasts of 14 places to eat, 7 of which are sit down restaurants, only a few (tonight there were 4) are open for dinner. The most infuriating part is that the resort has elected to ‘slow things down in the kitchen’ because service has been so poor. So only a small number of tables could be seated at each restaurant. With the exception of Kibbeh, we were told that each restaurant had at least an hour wait and to just come back. If the resort wants to slow the kitchen down so that their wait staff can keep up with demand, they at least need to provide a buffet option as an alternative. Tonight we decided to eat at Kibbeh. It is the exact same menu they have had each night, consisting of 1 starter, 2 appetizers and 2 entrees. You would assume the staff would know the menu and what each item is – they don’t. The starter never arrived, the appetizers we received were not what we ordered. After we finished those, the same waiter brought us another round of the exact same incorrect appetizers. I broke open one of the little wraps and asked the waiter was it was. The waiter shrugged and said he didn’t know what was plated. The entrée arrived 45 minutes after the order was taken. We had to request that our dessert be brought and the waitress forgot what was ordered. Our experience at the Japanese Restaurant 2 nights ago was the worst service we’ve received thus far… I’m hoping you see the pattern. Bottom line, the wait staff has not been trained and they are overwhelmed. They look incredibly busy but are not productive. The resort has not set their people up to be successful. All orders are taken by hand, no systems are in place to track orders and it appears that the staff has no concept of zones and what is expected of them. Buffett Suggestions – Currently, flies run rampant anywhere there is a buffet with the worst being at the open air buffet, Sofrita. They literally cover everything. The resort needs to look at options to trap the flies or provide a better technique for covering their food. Room Service – We ordered a cheese cake and a crème brulee. Both were not fresh or made to order (so it should have been a quick delivery). We were to told it would take 30 minutes, over an hour later, it showed up. Other guests we have spoken with all indicate that the wait time has been about 2 hours and the food is always cold. Other notes about traveling to the Dominican Republic: RE: PUJ....There is nowhere to eat after you get off your plane. You must go to where you check in if you’re looking for food. I bring this up because it’s about a 45 minute drive to the resort from the airport. There is a $10 entrance fee when you arrive. Not a lot of money but good to know so you can have cash ready. Hire a shuttle service to get you to the resort and back to the airport! Bring lots of $1 bills for tipping The Dominican is a Spanish speaking country - do not assume the locals know your native language. Be patient if you run into a language barrier situation...chances are they are frustrated too and would like for you to make an effort to speak their native language since you're in their country.