Occidental Punta Cana
Occidental Punta Cana is the resort to reach for when the budget is real but the Punta Cana week still has to be the proper version. It sits beachfront on El Cortecito in Bavaro, carries about 860 rooms built in 2001 and renovated in late 2016, and it does not pretend to be a luxury property. What it does have is scale: 11 restaurants split into 2 buffets, 7 a la carte venues and 2 snack spots, 10 bars, a casino, the Mangu nightclub, a spa and a gym, all for a rate that opens at $138 a night.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Eleven dining venues for a property of roughly 860 rooms: 2 buffets, 7 a la carte restaurants and 2 snack spots, backed by 10 bars, which is a lot of variety for the bottom of the Bavaro price range
- +Royal Level is a real tier rather than a badge. Its 52 rooms come with a private reception for arrival and departure, a private beach area with its own bar and premium drinks included, and preferential reservations at the a la carte restaurants
- +Beachfront on El Cortecito, one of the better kept stretches of Bavaro, with the fishing village and its beach bars walkable along the sand
- +Rates start at $138 a night for a Superior room and most categories sit between $150 and $260, which puts a resort with a casino, a spa and 11 restaurants at the price of far thinner properties
- +The rooms have been through the late 2016 renovation and Barcelo still describes the Superior, Family Junior Suite, Oceanfront and Suite categories as fully refurbished. Family Junior Suites run 72 square meters with 2 separate sleeping spaces
- +Evenings do not require leaving: a casino, the Mangu nightclub with live music and shows, free Wi-Fi throughout, and 2 tennis courts, a basketball court and an indoor soccer court for the daytime
Cons
- −The a la carte restaurants fill fast, and Royal Level guests hold preferential reservations, which tells you exactly who you are competing against. Book your specialty nights on arrival day or plan on the buffet
- −Three freshwater pools serve the whole resort, so loungers around the best of them go early in high season
- −The property was built in 2001 and last renovated in late 2016. It is comfortable and well maintained rather than new, and nothing about it photographs as a design hotel
- −The spa is 18 and over and carries an additional cost for hotel guests, as do several of the premium services
- −Entertainment is modest beside the Riu and Barcelo megaresorts further along the Bavaro strip, which is part of why it is cheaper
- −Dominican tourism taxes and fees are not always folded into an online quote, so compare the final total rather than the nightly headline before booking
- −It is easy to confuse with Occidental Caribe, a separate and more mixed Barcelo property in the same area. Check which one a review is actually about before you let it decide your booking
The practical week looks like this. The buffets carry most meals and the a la carte restaurants are the better food, which is why reservations go fast and why Royal Level sells preferential booking as a perk. Three freshwater pools serve everyone, so the good loungers are claimed early. Rooms across the Superior, Oceanfront and Family Junior Suite categories were fully refurbished in the 2016 work, with Family Junior Suites at 72 square meters and 2 separate spaces for families. Wi-Fi is free for all guests. Through 2026, guests have been consistent in praising the staff and the beach upkeep, with the beach repeatedly called one of the cleanest and best maintained in the area.
This is the right pick for first timers to Punta Cana, families watching the total, and anyone who wants the beach and the all-inclusive basics done properly without paying for a scene. If you want premium dining, butler service or an adults-only atmosphere, Dreams Macao, Secrets Cap Cana and Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana are the steps up, and Riu Republica and Barcelo Bavaro Beach are the direct price competitors along the same strip. Royal Level is worth the premium mainly for the private beach area with its own bar and for the restaurant reservations. Punta Cana airport is about 15 miles away, roughly a 25 minute drive, with Hoyo Azul, Scape Park, Saona Island day trips and the Cocotal and Punta Blanca golf courses all within easy reach.
Common Questions
Is Occidental Punta Cana the same thing as Occidental Caribe?
Is the Royal Level upgrade worth paying for?
How hard is it to get into the a la carte restaurants?
What costs extra on top of the all-inclusive rate?
How does it compare with other Bavaro resorts at the same price?
Restaurants (9)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | El Alcázar Buffet |
| Mexican | La Hacienda, La Taquería |
| Italian | Via Veneto |
| Asian | D’Oriental |
| Steakhouse | Las Reses |
| Seafood | Caracolas |
| International & fusion | Beach Club, Royal Level |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Bávaro Beach20 min drive · 5.0 mi
Macao Beach25 min drive · 12 mi
Cap Cana Marina35 min drive · 19 mi
45 min drive · 22 mi
More things to do (20)
- Playa Blanca · beach30 min drive · 16 mi
- Juanillo Beach · beach35 min drive · 19 mi
- Scape Park · adventure park45 min drive · 22 mi
- Punta Espada Golf Club · golf40 min drive · 22 mi
- Higüey · town55 min drive · 26 mi
- Arena Gorda Beach · beach13 min drive · 3.2 mi
- Los Corales · town8 min drive · 2.2 mi
- White Sands Golf Course · golf8 min drive · 2.1 mi
- Iberostar Bávaro Golf Club · golf12 min drive · 4.3 mi
- Cocotal Golf & Country Club · golf13 min drive · 3.8 mi
- Cana Bay Golf Club · golf15 min drive · 5.9 mi
- Vista Cana Golf Club · golf20 min drive · 7.8 mi
- Catalonia Caribe Golf Club · golf20 min drive · 10 mi
- Barceló Bávaro Golf · golf25 min drive · 5.5 mi
- Dolphin Explorer · adventure park25 min drive · 12 mi
- Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park · nature35 min drive · 17 mi
- Deep-sea fishing charter · excursion35 min drive · 19 mi
- Hoyo Claro · cenote45 min drive · 22 mi
- Cabo Engaño Beach · beach50 min drive · 14 mi
- Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia, Higüey · historic site55 min drive · 27 mi
Amenities
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Seaweed & sargassum
Punta Cana gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.6 · 37,038 reviews
“Experience was wonderful. Idelis in the First Club Lounge was amazing. Great staff and atmosphere. Will be going back. Buffets were great. I went to 3 a la carte restaurant. Mexican, Steakhouse and Italian. All were fantastic 😊”
“We had a great experience at Occidental Punta Cana! The staff was welcoming and helpful from the moment we arrived. The resort is beautiful, clean, and full of tropical charm. The beach is stunning with soft white sand and clear water, and there were...”
