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Hotel overview
At Zel Punta Cana, your well-being is our priority. Under the Caribbean sun and just steps from the crystal-clear waters of Playa Bávaro, this all-inclusive resort is inspired by the energy of the Mediterranean lifestyle, in partnership with renowned Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal. With architecture designed around open spaces, the resort offers swim-up suites, pools, a beach club, a concept store and includes up to seven restaurants that blend the best of Mediterranean and Caribbean cuisine into your experience.
Run along the beach with friends, relax by the pool with a specialty coffee, join a HIT or energetic fitness class, or enjoy a sunset drink at our beach club. Here, everything flows: relax, activate your body, nourish your mind, and live to the rhythm of your own well-being, in your home in the Caribbean.
Property information
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Hotel details
General policies & fine print
Check-in Policy - Hotel requires a credit/debit card authorization or cash deposit upon check-in for incidentals; this will place a hold on your funds.
Convention Policy - Individuals attending a convention cannot book this property for their stay. If found attending a convention, guests may be subject to higher room rates upon arrival.
Hotel Spring Break Policy - This hotel cannot guarantee a spring break-free environment.
Transfer Policy - A price may display when children stay free, if your vacation includes transfer to your hotel.
General Information - Room taxes and service fees are included in vacation price. Minimum night stay restrictions may apply. Reservation changes may not be permitted unless authorized by the hotel.
Ratings & reviews
TripAdvisor traveler rating
10340 reviews
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Apr 23, 2025An honest review
I will start my review with the positive things I can highlight: Service staff in the Buffett and at the pool and wet bar was excellent Eladio at the beach Club is very personable, respectful, and professional. We also enjoyed the food there. They have nice options The room was always restocked with snacks and drinks and was well maintained The room is a good size and we love the jacuzzi, robes and slippers The shuttle staff is very friendly There are some areas for improvement: Since this is a kid friendly hotel they should have regular activities for kids so that they are entertained. We came with our 11 year old daughter and there wasn’t much for her to do in the resort. I found the instructors somewhat rude and not very engaging. They don’t provide enough incentive to stay in the exercise session. The lady who did the ice bucket challenge was great. Love her personality. At times there is no music at the pool so there is no motivation. They should also add nightly entertainment The breakfast buffet could use some improvement with a larger variety of options We had some issues with the room: the jacuzzi wasn’t working so we had to call maintenance In addition the air conditioner didn’t work on two separate days and again we had to call maintenance The resort has some good amenities but it could use some improvements to attract more guest especially that the neighboring resort have more options.
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Apr 23, 2025
Easter break 2025
We booked the biggest suite with concierge service. It was a major disappointment for the cost vs value. They were not prepared, no nightly engaging entertainment, staff seemed lost when we asked questions. Our suite made VERY loud banging sounds at night every 35mins and staff could not find the issue. Other guests complained about this too. The only positive was the food, the beach, breakfast staff at the buffet and the very quiet chill vibe during the day. We addressed our concerns multiple times with staff and manager. Thinking because we had the biggest suite we would be helped better. They failed!! Butler service at Sandals/Beaches cannot be compared. Wish they would honor the same room next time with better results. They had a real chance to win us over beaches/sandals. What a shame.
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Apr 22, 2025Nice resort
Absolutely beautiful resort, grounds are amazing. Rooms were spacious and lovely. Not on the beach, but only a short wait for the shuttle. Never had to wake early to save lounges or cabanas, which is a huge plus…plenty of space at both the pool and beach. Be aware there are only 3 restaurants on property (besides the buffet) and a beach club at the ocean, so not much choice when you’re there for an extended stay, but fine for shorter stays. Buffet was just okay, all room-temp food, but the made to order eggs during breakfast were delicious. They are still working out a few kinks since the rebranding, but it was a great resort and we would stay here again.
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Apr 20, 2025
Amazing Zel
We just arrived from a wonderful stay at Zel as a family. So much positive to say… I’ll try to be brief. Staff: From checking to checkout, all throughout our stay, ALL the staff were always very friendly, accommodating and efficient. We never had to wait for anything and we were always served with a smile! Jose, Aurora and Ricky helped us out a lot but other concierges too. Room: we had the Zel suite and it worked out well for us. 2 double beds and another bed was set up in the living room. The rooms have an amazing design which allows for a lot of space and storage. It has a huge private bathroom which we appreciated as a family with a teen. Rooms are kept very clean, and are well stocked. The property itself is above and beyond beautiful, a tropical paradise really, so lush and well designed. Lots of sun and shade inside/outside of the many pools. Lots of comfy daybeds and pool chairs, so it’s easy to find the perfect spot. Beach: The beach is breathtaking, very close by, a fun cart ride, has lots of chairs. Dining with a water view, your feet in the sand is super and bar is perfect! Food: we always found something good to eat, at the buffet or a la carte. We ate a lot of pizza, sooo delicious! The house wine was very good, we enjoyed it throughout the week. Our morning Lattes with almond milk at Finca was really good and we loved the friendly barista, Peace and quiet: that’s what we wanted and that’s what we got, 100%. We did participate in a few activities and enjoyed them but mostly, we did our own thing just relaxing. Other guests and the kids were respectful and quiet also, no big partying here which was great for us. We did visit the other resorts on the property at night but honestly, we were happy to come back home to Zel for it’s zen vibe… We met the guest manager and appreciated him wanting our feedback. Great job Zel, Muchas gracias!
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Apr 20, 2025
Relaxing.
This was the second time for us at this property. I love the lay out of this resort and the outdoor space in swim out is what makes this resort a stand out. The massages we received at this resort were so good we are still taking about them. Also the professional and upbeat personality of one particular bar staff member by the name of Entaro put us all in a great mood during our stay. I had nothing but a positive experience.