My boyfriend and I, both in our early 20s, just came back from having spent a week at Sunscape Punta Cana. While the location is very convenient, only 20 minutes away from the airport, the rooms could use a lot of improvement!!! Our air conditioner worked fine, however the room was humid at all times and mould was definitely “in the air”. Luckily we’re both healthy; however for someone with respiratory problems or allergies I think it would be pretty unbearable to stay in one of those rooms. Having washed all our clothes upon our return, we can still smell the mould. Aside from that, everything else in the room could use some upgrading.

The main buffet was OK for breakfast however we did not eat lunch there and we only had dinner there once. We had lunch on the beach every day, there was a restaurant right on the beach and in addition they had somebody barbequing outside the restaurant daily. Dinner at the main buffet consisted of mostly fried foods: chicken, fish, even the zucchini was fried. On the other hand, the specialty restaurants (there are 4) were all excellent for dinner the only thing is you have to get there around the time they open otherwise they fill up quickly (they do not take reservations in advance).

When you call the front desk to request anything (fresh towels, soap, toilet paper etc) be prepared to wait for some time, or if you want something right away you are better off looking for a maid in the hallway and getting it yourself. On our last day we checked out at 12 and we were told that at 3:20pm we could have a room to shower before getting on the bus and heading to the airport at 4pm. When we went to pick up the key we showed up 10 minutes early and ended up getting the room key at 3:25, before leaving the front desk I asked the front desk agent if there would be towels, soap and shampoo in the room and sure enough we got there and there was nothing, not even toilet paper! We called for stuff but 20 minutes later I was still waiting; my boyfriend had walked over to the desk in the meantime but they insisted that they would send the stuff to the room. I was finally able to take a shower and while my boyfriend was in the shower I was getting dressed and somebody, who was scheduled to use the room after us, walked in the room. I wasn’t too impressed, but didn’t have any time to say anything to the front desk agent because our bus was there.

The highlight of our stay was probably the Wednesday night dinner. They set up the food stations outside and the tables by the pool. Lots of good food and a great atmosphere, we really enjoyed it. The bartenders and the waiters/waitresses were all very nice, at least to us, some people said that they felt some staff was expecting tips in exchange for good service. We always tipped anyway and you could tell that they were very appreciative.

Overall we had a good stay, but that’s because we refused to let certain things get in the way of enjoying ourselves.

We just returned from the Sunscape, Punta Cana,on April 20, 2008. Our week vacation was quite enjoyable. The Lobby, Grounds, Pool and Beach are spotless. The staff were friendly and accommodating. We found the specality restaurants to be excellent, the no reservation rule was confusing as there were empty tables but you were put on a waiting list. The entertainment staff were a hoot and great dancers. My biggest complaint would be the rooms. Although the hallways are clean, the rooms are in need of a facelift. The TV barely brought in a reception, the curtains and bedspreads are antique in style, and the walls are paper thin as you could hear every conversation between rooms. Good thing you don't spend a lot of time in them.
On the whole, we had put in the worst winter in years and were happy to be in the heat and sunshine and the Sunscape did the trick.
We were told at check-out that the hotel was to be re-modelled within the next two years and will be under the Dreams name.
Brenda & Ron
Ottawa

My wife and I booked a week long trip with Apple Vacations on a lark because the price was so appealing. From the moment we stepped foot on the USA3000 flight from Philadelphia it seemed that everything was going to be just perfect, and it was.

We were met at the airport by a friendly representative of Apple Vacations wearing a flowered shirt. He got us quickly to our resort where we were met in the lobby by greeters offering cold drinks. Check in was a snap and we went off to our room that was in a building just steps away from a beautiful beach.

The room was large and the furniture a bit dated, but all in all, we were extremely comfortable. That evening we were invited to a orientation session which was very helpful and where we met the management of the Sunscape.

We could not have been more pleased with our stay. The beach area is beautiful and so is the large pool. There were plenty of chairs although getting a chair early in the morning was a must. Boat rentals were included in the price of the vacation and I learned how to sail a hobie cat - what fun.

The food was ample and tasty, the drinks kept flowing, the entertainment was fun. The young performers worked all day and night making sure that guests were enjoying their stay. The service people at the hotel were extremely helpful and friendly.

The resort has several theme restaurants beside the large buffet dining area. We liked Oceana and the Italian Bistro Da Mario's. At no time did we have to wait in line to get a table.

The Sunscape is under new management and it became very clear to me that they are serious about upgrading the resort and teaching good service skills to all employees. I heard from one manager that plans were being made to upgrade all the rooms.

In the middle of the week, we decided to explore the Island and rented a car arranged by the concierge. Many people told us that driving would be a challenge and they were right, but we would still do it again the next time we visit. The roads had few signs, so you really need a good sense of direction or have facility with Spanish. Pot holes where everywhere which required a great deal of attention so as not to tear up a tire. Most of the towns were not set up for tourism but were very interesting nonetheless.

On our last evening, we were invited, along with other Apple Vacation guests to a wonderful beach barbeque. There, we once again met the management of the hotel. They sure were available throughout our stay.

We returned home relaxed and happy with the quality and value of our stay at the Sunscape Resort. We were also pleased with the attention to detail that Rosenbluth Travel and Apple Vacation representatives provided us throughout our trip.

Now this was our first trip out of the country for my family but for the others not. [i dont think]
-Now what we experienced getting out of that airport was hell. We got in one bus which contained ANTS! it was disgusting.
then they put us on the wrong bus and moved us to another one.
then of course that one wasnt right. so we had to get off and wait in the hot beating sun for 20 minutes for our bus to come. being that we had to get up early we were all cranky. We get on the bus and sit down. Our bus driver seemed to be on drugs. He drove insanly fast that i was soo scared. It took us a good 45+ minutes to get there.
-When we did it was wonderful. They greeted us with cool towels and a delicious drink for all ages. Check in was soso. Our group was all spread apart we finally got all into one buliding on the ground floor. NO we refused lizards were every where and i could not take it and another lady freaking out over it in our group we finaly got switched to the second floor. due to that fact our room was not ready soo we took our time looking for our buliding. hard ass hell they all look alike. we got lost one to many times. finaly our room was ready we went in and my father pulled down a "pillow" when it was a pillow case with beer bottles filled with it. Another familys room had a coffee bag shoved into the vent in there room.
-Pool. the pool was 3 feet deep. I wasnt soo thrilled with that because the beach, well it was filled with coral in the water. The beach had little "fish eggs" till we found out THEY WERE POSIN. The beach sand was soso. Seawead was okay. The banana boat was exciting i loved it. It is when you sit on a inflated banana and its attachd to a boat and they go out towards sea and the hit waves and you go flying off then once everyone has fell off they stop you get back on and do it agian. They had a water trampoline that i went on. Well while we were on the words SHARK were screamed. I almost died. I was on with all my groups kids. We all jumped as far and as hard ass we could as close to shore as possible and the trampoline wasnt that close. It was scarey. Now back to the pool. It was nice the tile was old and fell off most of the time. They had 2 pools. The pool my group stayed in the most was the one with the swim up bar. Not the best service they gave my younger brother a bahama mama and my mother freaked. I must say it was very good. IF you like banana drink a dirty monkey. There is a section with a fake iceberg its for children to climb up on oneside and slide down the other boring to me probley cause i couldnt get on it but it was decent.
-Staff nice. but seemed to always wanted a tip. One of the staff members that we were "friends" with was usher. He was a very nice guy. We got to no him because my father [note hes not the smallest man around] entered the sexiest man on the beach contest. god...he WON. if you ask usher if he remebers big papi from july i garentee he will if you do ask bratzsweetie@yahoo.com i would love to hear.
-rooms. soso. The shower i hated sooooo much. The glass only covered half of the shower and the rest was wide open NOT fun. at all. my brother took the shower head off [cuz u can] and decides to soak the whole bathroom and then some. The floor is tile sooo very slippey. beds? can complain thats really it balcony if i wanted to i could climb off!
-food. After every meal..you need to go to the bathroom. food. not so great. italian...HORRIBLE....chinese...HORIBBLE....mexican...SOSO.....buffet...STICK WITH THAT....the bbq place....EEKK.....go with room servce its yummm.
-the bus back amazingly nice t was a coach bus with a better driver

overall ill say its SOSO. not the best not horrible okay i guess. =/