Melia Caribe Tropical - Dominican Republic

Melia Caribe Tropical, Dominican Republic hotel review Visited: January 2010

Posted by WoodDragon

If anyone had a problem with this resort it would have been very specific and related to their room or an event like check-in or a bad employee. I have traveled all over the world and stayed in many classes of hotels and resorts, but this one tops them all.

There are very few things wrong with this resort, and these people should look past these issues and describe the resort for what it is. Any problems can be resolved quickly as customer service very responsive. I did not hear any complaints from the people we spoke with (and that was a lot) from all classes of rooms - regular to RS (Royal Service).

If you run across criticism, take things into perspective. You can get private villas on the ocean with extreme luxury for $20,000/week or more. For what you pay here, even in Royal Service (RS), this resort is amazing. I went next door to the Paridisus (which is owned by the same company). In my opinion, the resort was not as lush as Melia Caribe, and there was a row of villas on your left when going to the beach from RS beach area that were the exact same construction as the Villas in RS.

Flying into the airport was a treat. The terminals have thatched roofs and look like a resort not an airport. Customs is quick and friendly, and they take your picture which you can get on the way back if you wish. The ride to the resort is short, about 20 minutes.

When you arrive at the resort, you are overwhelmed by the landscaping and greenery. There are peacocks wandering everywhere, flamingos in some areas, and tropical vegetation of all varieties. The front lobby was beautiful, with not too much concrete (as in some posh resorts). It blended well with the vegetation.

We had booked RS and upon arrival we were brought to a separate area for RS check-in. We arrived at about 12:30 in the afternoon, about 2.5 hours prior to check-in time.

I had emailed ahead and explained that we would be there early and would appreciate a room to be ready at that time. I also included a list of requests - from pillows to bar contents. To my surprise, it was all was taken care of.

The RS lounge was relaxing and elegant. We were served a beer right away (we're not into the sweet drinks), and the kids got a drink of their choice. Even the bracelets they put on for RS where more like jewelry than resort bracelets. They were so nice, we wanted to keep them at the end of our trip. However, we were told that it was against hotel policy.

We were located in Villa #49 on the second floor directly across from the Gabi pool and restaurant. I recommend any of the villas across from the pool highly. We could see the Gabi bar at night light up in blue, and when the kids fell asleep we could even go for a drink at the bar. If there was a problem, all my ten-year-old would need to do is call us from the balcony.

The room was beautiful. It was a one-bedroom suite with two entrances to the balcony. There were two separate living areas. One was the kitchen and living room. The second was the bedroom with a king size bed, large flat screen, a two-person Jacuzzi and a double sink. There was also a separate washroom with a shower and double sink.

We have two kids, and they slept on the pullout couch in the living room. The whole place was marble. We had a full size fridge that was stocked with pop, water and beer. Plus, there was a bottle of rum on the counter.

Room service was included from 8 am to 11 pm. If you like to get pampered get this room!

I cannot understand some of the negative reviews regarding the restaurants and food. These people must be chronic complainers or are use to some kind of unrealistic standards.

The food was awesome. I am not going to break down the restaurants because we ate mostly at the Gabi breakfast and dinner. We went to the Japanese and Capri (seafood) and they were fine. The Gabi had it all. They had great beef, chicken and seafood on the buffet. Or, you could order off the menu.

My kids are five and ten. They loved the desserts, pasta and seafood at the Gabi. My last night I ordered five lobster tails, three grilled and two fried. The restaurant was all open air under a thatched palm roof with incense going in the back ground and a glow of candles and soft lighting everywhere.

On my way to the beach one day I got a ride by the Food Services Manager and he gave me a bit of a run down on the food coming into the resort. All of the food comes in frozen (for safety reasons). They do not spare anything for quality and order Black Angus beef from Argentina. This beef is hormone free as there is a ban on using hormones in Argentina. Unlike poison US and Canadian beef that is so full of who knows how many hormones and has lost its true natural taste, this beef melts in your mouth … even the regular cuts.

Someone posted earlier that there is nowhere to get food after 11 pm. Actually, the Dominican Restaurant (off the front Caribe side lobby) was open from 11 pm to 6 am. They will grill you up a small, cheap looking steak (at 2 am if you wish) that will melt in your mouth! I'm sure there are a lot of other items on the buffet.

We also had lunch at the beach side buffets (there were two). We enjoyed dinner at the Market Place buffet on the Tropical side. All was very good.

There was a disco in the Tropical lobby. All welcome from 9-11 and 11-2 for adults only. The music was great. They also had a disco on the beach Wednesday nights (that was fun). Ask the front desk for the schedule.

Also, you don't want to miss the great party and show on Friday nights at the side lobby bar. They had fire breathing, a guy roller skating all lit up with LED lights and entertainers dancing to get everyone in the mood.

There is also a kids' disco in the Caribe main lobby from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Start at 10:00 in the main lobby of the Caribe. Be careful or you will probably end up on stage as one of the performers. There are all kinds of stuff ranging from comedy to acrobatics. It's not bad. The kids liked it and we had a good laugh most of the time. I even made it up on stage for the Mr. Caribe contest. Luckily, did not make it to the finals.

There are nice mattresses in the lobby are that you can hang-out on and watch people. We had fun doing that one night for an hour or so.

There were three pools. Two were by the beach and were identical. One was on the Caribe side, and one is on the Tropical side.

The Tropical side pool was the kids' pool adjacent to Flintstone Village. The pool was massive and had a swim-up bar and a kiddie pool. It was close to the beach and beach side restaurant.

The Caribe side pool was identical without the kid theme.

The Gabi pool was in the RS service area. This was the one we spent the most time at. It was close to the front of the resort and was right in front of our Villa. There was sand on the sides making you feel like you were at the beach.

The design of the pool and attached restaurant was amazing. They even had a little snack bar that is opened all day and served great chicken, burgers, ice crèam, pizza, french fries, and other stuff. This was a big hit with the kids, and some days we didn't even really need to go for lunch.

At the Gabi pool bar and restaurant you can get all brands of liquor - even Canadian Whiskey, Baileys, Stolichnaya, etc. That made my day.

This was definitely a family resort and there were things for the kids to do day and night.

As I mentioned above, there was a kids' pool on the Tropical side by the beach. Beside that pool was a kids' area called Flintstone Village with - you guessed it - a Flintstone theme. Here you will find activities for kids from toddlers to 13 years of age. They have different programs every day to suit the age group. My ten-year-old spent one day at the camp. He went rock climbing and horseback riding, and enjoyed other activities. We were there at a time when a lot of the older kids were at school, and my five-year-old wanted to hang-out with us, so we never really took full advantage of the village.

To make one thing clear, kids are allowed in all areas of the resort - including RS pools and facilities.

There were also babysitting services offered at $15 an hour if you wish. You need to reserve one day in advance if will require babysitting. We did not take advantage of this service.

The resort is on “Playas de Bávaro” which is one of the best beaches in the Dominican. The sand is almost pure white. The only downer - if you want to look at it that way, was that you could not find shells. They were all caught up by the reef that was only one km out and the reason for this pristine beach.

There was always room in the RS area of the beach and I did not see any problems with room anywhere else along the beach. On the RS beach area you have a private bar and a waiter who serves drinks. The beach front of this property stretches for about one km and is all beautiful, with palm trees naturally blending with the beach front.

The grounds contained every kind of tropical vegetation you could imagine, all meticulously groomed. Peacocks, flamingos, wild turkeys, and fish in the lagoons. This was more like being in a well kept jungle. That is why this huge resort did not feel so huge.

All the standard activities are included like kayaks, catamarans, etc. These are located in the center area of the beach.

There are local shops to the right of the resort (when looking at the ocean). Again, there are some complainers on this site that have posted negative things about locals trying to rip them off or “beware of these areas, they are dangerous”. All I can say is "buyer beware". Use your head, ask questions and barter, and you'll have fun!

If you don't like to deal with people or are not able to barter, you should stay in your room and hide. But if you like people (and they are just people like you and me), enjoy interaction and the adventure of finding new things, these places are great.

I bought a great large painting for around $25 US (they originally wanted $80 US). We also went on a fishing trip with my son for $50 US (1.5 hours along the reef in a smaller fishing boat we caught some nice fish including 1 barracuda).

You can go on more expensive deep sea fishing for $300-$500 US, but I just wanted to hang out on the reef with my son and avoid getting sea sick out on the ocean. We both loved that little adventure. You can find guys with store fronts for the fishing, but the guy we used came up to us. We didn't pay him until we finished the trip. Make it clear that what you catch is yours, or apparently they want to charge you for taking the fish sometimes. If you don't want the fish, every local will take them off you gladly, as all the fish are edible.

There are also shops about a 20-30 minute walk to the left. I ran every day along the beach about 10 k so I visited all these places easily. These shops are more like the front of a shopping village and when you go deeper into them, you will find stores that the locals shop at.

I bought some different beer here (they only serve President beer at the hotel). They were called Bohemians; price $3/1 liter bottle, and the beer wasn't too bad.

There was a lot to explore. The locals are trying to make a living, like you and me. If you don't want something, just ignore them or say no thanks, and that usually works. However, don't get annoyed every time some says “come look at my stuff”. They say that a lot, but are not out to harm you.

You will also find the time sharing people at the Caribe beach side restaurant entrance. They are not annoying as everyone seems to mention. If you say no, they leave you alone. And they seem to be in this location only, and maybe in the lobby. They are not as noticeable as people who've posted on this site lead you to believe.

I really did love this resort and was curious about the time sharing, so one day I turned the tables on them, hounded the salesmen down to give me a quick overview of their marketing scheme. In short, the first guy I talked to was from New Jersey and was working there as a salesman. I don't think he was expecting someone like me. I told him straight out, before all the fluff, I need to see a contract and if there is a possibility that I like their program, my lawyer needs to review all the contracts. He stopped the presentation and told me that he cannot give me contracts for the lawyer to review…and I said goodbye. He was very rude.

On my way out of their marketing office (nice set-up, looks like a North American marketing center), a manager approached me and apologized for the salesperson. He finally did give me a breakdown and when all was said and done, they wanted a minimum of $32,000 for 50 years and a maintenance fee of $700-$900 /year. When he worked it out we would have saved $700 on our trip. No thanks, I can think of better ways to invest my money and I can save $700 by booking this hotel more creatively next time. No offense to the people who bought into the program…the Melia is a great chain with amazing resorts all over the world.

There was transportation everywhere. A train went around like a bus every five to ten minutes. The roads were stamped concrete and circled around the resort with intersecting roads through the middle. We had our bearings on the resort after one day and I wouldn't see a problem getting around unless you have not sense of direction. Even my ten-year-old made it to the arcade on the other side of the resort first shot with no problem.

Also, in the royal service area there were guys with golf carts buzzing by constantly and they usually give you a lift.

We did not find a problem with mosquitoes. There were a few around, but nothing that was out of the ordinary. Take some mosquito repellent just in case you may be extremely sensitive.

The weather was great. There were hot days and warm nights, just what we expected. Even on a partly cloudy day it was hot and the clouds were a refreshing break from the blazing sun.

They had forecast rain for a couple of days when we were there. However, with Punta Cana weather, it changes by the hour. We had one rain storm later at night and it was kind of nice. Even though it was the middle of the night, in an hour or so, everything was dry.

The staff all seemed to be quite friendly and helpful. You can always find one or two people who are not perfect, but with this many staff it is bound to happen. We left a tip for the morning cleaning lady and the evening cleaning lady. Everything was usually perfect, and the fridge was full of beer to boot.

Take a hundred or so $1 bills for tipping. You should always leave a tip after meals and sporadically when getting drinks. They do appreciate it, but the service does not decrease if you don't tip.

The resort is one of the best I have seen for a long time. I definitely plan to return with another family or two, to share this wonderful experience. There is something for everyone at this resort. If you can, book Royal Service, it's worth it for the Gabi restaurant and pool alone.

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Melia Caribe Tropical, Dominican Republic hotel review Visited: July 2008

Posted by crysteena

My husband and I visited this resort last week to celebrate our honeymoon. I have stayed at many different resorts in the Caribbean, and I have to say this is the best resort I have ever stayed at.

I was extremely impressed with the staff. Everyone we dealt with was so friendly and helpful. We were very well taken care of. Every request we had was addressed immediately. The staff was extremely competent.

The resort was very well maintained. The landscaping was gorgeous, and the pools were beautiful. The rooms were a good size and very clean. The maids put fresh flowers in our room every day, too.

The food was fantastic. They had many different restaurants, and each one featured a different ethnic cuisine. We ate at a different restaurant every night, and we always left satisfied. We found La Pagoda to be our favorite - although it was very hard to choose.

There were so many different bars and lounges at which to have a drink. Many places had couches to just sit and relax on. This resort had such a laid back atmosphere. At night, there was always something to do - whether it be a show, the casino, or a beach party.

The beach was beautiful and clean. There were plenty of chaise lounges, so we never had a problem finding a chair.

This resort had everything you would ever need for a vacation. For the seven days we were here, my husband and I never left the resort - there was no need to!

I highly recommend this resort for your next vacation!

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Melia Caribe Tropical, Dominican Republic hotel review Visited: September 2007

Posted by tkellat

Let me start by saying that the grounds were the most beautiful and intricately manicured, the rooms were amazingly furnished with high end furniture, and bathrooms were lovely with marble and glass. All that rates a total five-star resort. It was one the the best I've visited in my very extensive travels around the world.

However, as far as the security personnel went - they were like prison guards! My husband was down with the "rum flu" one evening. I let him to sleep it off, and went to take the trolley into the main restaurant area to find a meal.

On my wait for the trolley, I was approached by two of the security personnel and was questioned about where I was going, where was my husband, and how late was I staying out. It was a very, very uncomfortable encounter. I was quite shaken.

The trolley came, and I went ahead with my plans. On my return home, the same thing happened. Now, I don't mind people inquiring whether or not I need help when I'm in a resort that commands more than $600 per night, but being questioned about my plans...no!

One afternoon, during a nap, a security guard helped himself into my room to view the pool area from my balcony. When it was reported (and after confirming with my husband!), the management said they could determine who he was, and take care of it. That was the last I heard. They never got back to me. It was very violating, and very creepy.

I will never stay in this or any other Melia resort - ever! I will relate this problem to every travel blog out there!

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Melia Caribe Tropical, Dominican Republic hotel review Visited: July 2007

Posted by ralphfers

This was probably the most enjoyable place we stayed in recent years.

There were two sides to the resort, the Tropical side and the Carib side. We stayed at the Carib side. This was an older resort (maybe ten + years - just a guess), but it was well looked after.

The beach and pool were great and fun. Bring your family here. If you like beaches and pools, you'll probably like it here.

There was no supermarket nearby, so I don't know why the rooms come with kitchens. You're going to stay on site, and probably not leave until you head back to the airport.

Go with the all-inclusive meal plan. It was worth it. We were very impressed with the restaurants. There were several of them, and all were good (except the American Steakhouse - you can skip that one - nothing special there).

An upgraded resort was next door and within walking distance (Paradisus Palma Real). Take a trip over there a look around. The Melia Caribe Tropical was a three-star resort, and the Paradisus was a four-star (maybe five) resort. The restaurants in the Caribe Tropical were four-star.

One bad thing was that we got hasseled on the beach by vendors. Some actually yelled at us if we didn't buy what they were selling (like Cuban cigars). Hopefully, the hotel got rid of these people.

Other then that, it was great! We would go back.

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