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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
10297 reviews
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Mar 29, 2025Would definitely rebook for next year
This resort is small, quiet and beautiful. We did have a few hiccups and feel this may have been due to being a fairly new concept resort. Most of the staff were friendly and very helpful. We especially liked Jani who would bring us our morning coffee and pastries through room service. Always so cheerful and polite.
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Mar 27, 2025
Fantastic stay at Zel amongst beautiful well manicured tropical gardens!
Surpassed Expectations! Zel is such a beautiful resort! My family thoroughly enjoyed our weeklong stay and I would highly recommend a swim out suite. The food was delicious at each restaurant and there were no issues reserving a table for 4 at any of the a la carte options. We especially enjoyed dinner at Volkan - the steak was served just as ordered and I recommend the smoked old fashioned (drink) for a tasty little treat. Every one of the staff members were so friendly and extremely attentive! Special shout out to our fantastic concierge butler - Wascar who checked in each day and even surprised my daughter with balloons in our room to celebrate her 7th birthday! One neat little thing we discovered - we stayed in block 2 and each morning we crosser the street/path behind our resort area to visit a pond that was filled with aquatic life! I highly recommend Zel if you’re looking for a serene, relaxing getaway that is not crowded at all.
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Mar 27, 2025Not worth the money.
Hotel is beautiful but food is super super basic (I served the army for few years and I have to say food was same level as army food) and service is not good to say the least. Could not get hold of the hotel prior to arrival (tried via email, phone and social media) - no answer ANYWHERE (others on Facebook share they had same experience). The rep who checked us in did not finish the process apparently, so room was not registered properly on my name and we got locked out side the room after first night. Basic services are not offered and generally speaking - it felt like the staff didn't really cared (example: orders drinks, and the person just disappeared and never showed up. Happened few times). I almost checked out mid through my vacation and moved myself to Pardisus. NOT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE OR QUALITY OF FOOD I WOULD EXPECT FROM MELIA HOTEL. Would not come back and won't recommend.
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Mar 26, 2025DO NOT BOOK – Bait-and-Switch Scam & Terrible Service
I originally booked a stay at Melia Beach and Wellness (adults-only) from February 26 to March 2, expecting a relaxing and high-quality experience. However, when I arrived, I was inexplicably switched to Zel Punta Cana without my consent. The staff falsely claimed I had selected a “Surprise Me” option (which does not exist on Hotels.com), and despite having proof of my original booking, they refused to honor it. I was forced to stay at a resort I never wanted, making this a blatant case of misrepresentation and deceit. Unfortunately, the problems didn’t stop there. The entire stay was a disaster from start to finish: Check-in took nearly 1.5 hours due to disorganized staff and long wait times. There was no proper check-in desk, and not enough staff to assist guests. I was charged twice due to a confusing hotel policy regarding Apple Pay bookings. Since my physical card does not display numbers, it took 30 minutes for staff to explain the issue, leaving me with duplicate charges. The "butler service" was nonexistent. Despite multiple follow-ups, I never once saw or heard from my assigned butler. My room had multiple maintenance issues: The hot tub leaked all over the balcony and wouldn’t hold water. The ceiling fan malfunctioned, randomly turning on and off. The air conditioning shut off constantly due to a faulty system that incorrectly detected the balcony door as open. No guidance or resort information was provided. Staff was unhelpful when asked about restaurant reservations, and the resort portal listed incorrect restaurant hours—one was listed as open until 10 PM, but it actually closed at 6 PM. The check-out process was just as slow and inefficient as check-in, capping off an already frustrating stay. This was, without a doubt, the worst resort experience I have ever had. The level of incompetence, lack of professionalism, and complete disregard for guests was shocking. I will never stay at a Melia or Zel property again, and I strongly urge others to avoid this resort at all costs. This was nowhere near a 5-star experience—not even 4-star. If you’re considering booking here, don’t risk it.
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Mar 26, 2025
You cannot beat the service!
Where do I start? The moment we entered it was clear that the resort was newly renovated - beautiful Mediterranean decor and open air lobby. We were taken to our room which smelled fresh and was very large. My partner and I love to just sit back, relax, and drink by the pool and this resort was perfect for that. The resort was a more mature crowd for the most part, 30+ and up which was pleasant. The food was actually good for DR, and I liked how the majority of the buffet food was inside a separate air conditioned room which protected it from flies. The bar tenders went above and beyond to make us smile and whip us up our favourite drinks as soon as they saw one finishing. Props to Ulese for his hilarious and fun energy. I would like to give a big shout out to Tatiana who works in the Voltaje club - a small air conditioned bar attached to the lobby. She was so attentive and made us feel so special - remembering our faces every day with a huge smile and a drink. Embarrassingly a big thanks to Tatiana and the strong bartenders for getting us to our room one night (watch out for those Mamajuana shots haha). I would highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a relaxing time with attentive service, we will definitely be back!