Royalton Splash Punta Cana, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort & Casino
Royalton Splash Punta Cana, the former Memories Splash, built its whole identity around one thing: the water park. The Splash Water Park, with its wave pool, seven big slides and two kid-sized ones, is one of the largest at any Caribbean resort, and families with kids roughly 6 to 14 treat the place like a theme park where the hotel happens to have 525 rooms and suites. It sits at Playa Arena Gorda at the north end of the Bavaro strip, about 25 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport, right beside its sister Royalton Punta Cana.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +The Splash Water Park is one of the largest resort water parks in the Caribbean, with a wave pool, seven big slides, two kid-sized slides and splash zones, and kids happily spend whole days there
- +Built for families from the ground up: supervised Kids and Teens Clubs with crafts, video games and themed parties, plus the Turbo the Turtle program for the little ones
- +One child and one teen stay free in select family suites such as the Family, Presidential and Chairman categories, which makes the math work for bigger groups
- +Stay at 1, Play at 2 adds the beach area, selected specialty restaurants and premium bars at Royalton Punta Cana next door, linked by a 24-hour shuttle
- +Plenty to eat and drink without leaving the property: the Selections buffet, Mexicana Cantina, Bella Cucina, Under the Sea, an Asian restaurant, Bites, Score Sports Bar and Scoops for ice cream and coffee, plus two swim-up bars
- +Part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, so Bonvoy members can earn and redeem points on the stay
- +Diamond Club upgrade brings butler service, priority check-in and dining reservations, a private lounge and its own pool and beach areas
- +Staff are accommodating and the service culture is generally praised
Cons
- −Phased exterior enhancement works run April 14 to December 23, 2026 in daytime hours; the operator says they are timed around occupancy and need no room access, but expect some visible work until just before Christmas
- −Not a true beachfront resort: Bavaro Beach is a short walk away, and many families use the beach area at Royalton Punta Cana next door instead
- −Buffet food quality draws complaints, including cold scrambled eggs, dried-out sausages and hot dishes served lukewarm
- −The casino and The Royal Spa are both at Royalton Punta Cana next door and cost extra, despite the Resort & Casino in this hotel's name
- −Not enough pool umbrellas at the water park, and guests report sunburns from the lack of shade
- −Room cleanliness is inconsistent, with some guests reporting beds left unmade and rooms skipped during their stay
- −Drinks described as watered down by multiple reviewers, with premium brands at the pool bar costing extra outside Diamond Club
Outside the water park the picture is more mixed. The beach is a short walk away rather than at the door, so plenty of guests take the 24-hour shuttle and use the beach area at Royalton Punta Cana under the Stay at 1, Play at 2 program, which also opens up selected specialty restaurants, premium bars, the Genesis Casino and The Royal Spa there (casino and spa at extra cost). On site you get the Selections buffet, Mexicana Cantina, Bella Cucina, Under the Sea, an Asian restaurant, a snack bar, a sports bar and an ice cream cafe, with Royalton's reservation-free a la carte dining and 24/7 room service. Buffet quality, drink strength and room cleaning are the recurring complaints. In 2026 the resort is in a phased exterior refresh running April 14 to December 23, and the Selections buffet was closed August 17 to October 14, 2026, with the Gourmet Marché buffet and Grazie kept open for all three meals in the meantime.
Book it for the water park and the kids' clubs, not for gourmet food or a beach-first holiday, and it delivers good value for the size of the fun. Kids stay free in select family suites, Diamond Club adds a butler and private pool and beach areas, and Royalton Fit classes, tennis, basketball, beach volleyball and the Temple of Secrets Escape Room (extra charge) fill the gaps. Families who want the sand right outside the room are better served by Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana or a beachfront Bavaro family resort, while catamaran trips, ATV tours and snorkeling excursions are easy to book from here.
Common Questions
How far is the beach from the resort?
Is the water park worth it for families?
Is there a casino and spa on site?
Can I use Marriott Bonvoy points here?
Do I need to pay for or reserve the restaurants?
How will the 2026 renovation affect my stay?
Restaurants (8)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | Selections |
| Mexican | Mexicana Cantina |
| Italian | Bella Cucina, Grazie Italian Trattoria (at Royalton Punta Cana) |
| Asian | Jade (at Royalton Punta Cana) |
| Seafood | Under the Sea |
| Pub | SCORE Sports Bar & Lounge |
| International & fusion | C/X Culinary Experience (extra charge, at Royalton Punta Cana) |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. Venues marked "extra charge" are not covered by the all-inclusive rate; the others are, per the resort.
What's nearby
Bávaro Beach30 min drive · 9.8 mi
Macao Beach20 min drive · 8.6 mi
Cap Cana Marina40 min drive · 21 mi
More things to do (22)
- Playa Blanca · beach35 min drive · 19 mi
- Juanillo Beach · beach40 min drive · 21 mi
- Scape Park · adventure park50 min drive · 25 mi
- Punta Espada Golf Club · golf45 min drive · 24 mi
- Higüey · town55 min drive · 23 mi
- Arena Gorda Beach · beach20 min drive · 5.2 mi
- Hoyo Azul · cenote50 min drive · 25 mi
- Los Corales · town20 min drive · 7.0 mi
- Cana Bay Golf Club · golf13 min drive · 2.5 mi
- Iberostar Bávaro Golf Club · golf15 min drive · 4.3 mi
- White Sands Golf Course · golf20 min drive · 4.8 mi
- Cocotal Golf & Country Club · golf20 min drive · 8.3 mi
- Vista Cana Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 10 mi
- Catalonia Caribe Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 13 mi
- Dolphin Explorer · adventure park30 min drive · 15 mi
- Barceló Bávaro Golf · golf35 min drive · 10 mi
- Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park · nature40 min drive · 20 mi
- Dolphin Island Park · adventure park40 min drive · 11 mi
- Deep-sea fishing charter · excursion40 min drive · 21 mi
- Hoyo Claro · cenote50 min drive · 25 mi
- Cabo Engaño Beach · beach55 min drive · 17 mi
- Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia, Higüey · historic site55 min drive · 23 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★ 3.9 · 5,753 reviews
“This was our first all-inclusive resort, as we normally travel 3–4 times a year on cruise ships, so we weren’t sure what to expect. After four nights at Royalton Splash Punta Cana, we were pleasantly surprised and honestly wished we had booked a long...”
“Royalton Splash Punta Cana is a fun and lively resort with a great atmosphere, especially for guests looking to enjoy water parks, pools, and a high-energy vacation experience. The property is well maintained, visually impressive, and offers plenty o...”
“This place was great. Upon arrival your are treated to a beverage. Check-in takes some time, but they are nice. Several bars in the resort. Bartenders appreciate tips, so bring ones. Rooms are spacious and clean. Soap provided. Gift shops are a littl...”
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