Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana

The Hard Rock Punta Cana all-inclusive resort is not subtle. The lobby has a rock-star-on-vacation vibe, with a sky-high thatched-roof ceiling, sand-dollar chandeliers, and plenty of rock-n-roll artifacts such as guitars from The Monkees and a Brian Wilson-autographed piano. 
Many travelers assume that the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana is a hard-boozing, party-all-night, spring break gone wild type of place. But in reality, the Hard Rock is a luxury property where expensive nightly rates tend to deter the college-age crowd. This all-inclusive hotel appeals to romancing couples and groups of friends as much as it does to families with young children—and the hotel’s massive size means different groups can peacefully coexist. Relax-minded adults can spend their days at the stellar spa, beautiful beach lined with sunbeds, or the adults-only pool; families can use the kids' club and waterpark; gamblers can spend all night at the casino; music lovers can catch a concert at the on-site theater; and partiers may head to Oro nightclub in the wee hours.
Another family-friendly all-inclusive resort worth checking out is the Majestic Colonial Punta Cana. Couples seeking a more tranquil all-inclusive getaway should consider Zoetry Agua Punta Cana, which has just 96 rooms and no real kid-centric amenities.
In 2019, the Hard Rock and Punta Cana in general were under scrutiny due to the deaths of multiple tourists. While initial reporting turned blame toward in-room minibars and liquor dispensers, an F.B.I. investigation ruled out tainted alcohol. This backs up the Dominican authorities’ earlier investigation that ruled out foul play and said the deaths were due to natural causes. Still, the Hard Rock Punta Cana has since removed all of the in-room liquor dispensers.

Thanks to its massive size, the Hard Rock Punta Cana occupies a large stretch of sand in the northern part of Bavaro, a touristy section of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Far from any neighboring hotels, the Hard Rock doesn’t feel cramped or congested. Instead, wide open spaces are the name of the game here. The pitfall of the property’s mega sprawl is the amount of time it takes to get from point A to point B. We’re not kidding when we tell you it might take 20 minutes to walk from your room to the nearest pool or restaurant. The hotel has a shuttle system in place, but you may find leisurely strolls along the property’s wide landscaped paths more enjoyable.  The hotel is about a 35-minute drive from the Punta Cana International Airport.

Not surprisingly, Hard Rock Punta Cana rooms are quite large, starting at over 781 square feet. Aside from some pops of vibrant red, blue, or gold, and occasionally music-themed artwork, the decor is subtler than one might expect. Expect beige tile floors, simple wooden furniture, and big glass windows and doors leading to furnished balconies or terraces. Unfortunately, most rooms don’t have ocean views. Rooms are equipped with complimentary coffeemakers and mini-fridges. Laptop-sized safes, Bluetooth-enabled alarm clocks, and free Wi-Fi are also provided. Note that in-room liquor dispensers were removed in 2019. Unfortunately, some past guests have complained of thin walls.
Bathrooms have marble finishes and double sinks, as well as separate showers. They’re fully stocked with Rock Spa toiletries, hairdryers, bathrobes, slippers, and handy travel essentials like shoe mitts and sewing kits.

The Hard Rock Punta Cana beach is longer and wider than most in the area. Many of Bavaro’s beaches are short and narrow, but the Hard Rock’s is massive and gorgeous. The water is warm but sometimes a bit too rough for swimming, and the sand is occasionally plagued by mounds of washed-up seaweed. Workers do tirelessly clean up seaweed. The beach has many lounge chairs, palapa-style umbrellas, and a few beach volleyball courts.

Hotels often exaggerate the number of pools they have by including tiny hot tubs or insignificant kiddy splash zones in their pool count. This isn’t true at the Hard Rock Punta Cana, though. Each of the hotel’s 13 pools is deserving of the title, and each feels like its own separate space, with a different vibe and clientele. The adults-only Eden pool is a quiet oasis with a swim-up bar and daybed hammocks. The Eclipse and neighboring Central pools are lively spots where loud Dominican music keeps the atmosphere upbeat and energetic. The quiet Isla and Sax pools are an ideal place for reading and relaxing, while the Kids' pool is filled with the happy shrieks of children on vacation. The nice thing about the Hard Rock’s pools is that guests generally respect the pools’ atmosphere. So it’s unlikely that you’ll find boozing bachelor parties at the quieter pools where guests are trying to catch a snooze in the sun. However, certain pools (Isla and Sun) are exclusive to timeshare owners. 

We’d argue that the Hard Rock has better amenities than any other all-inclusive in Punta Cana. With 13 pools, dozens of restaurants and bars, an incredible casino, and awesome nightlife entertainment options, it’s hard to beat what this mega-resort offers, and its premium nightly rates reflect this.
Rock Spa and Body Rock are the hotel’s spa and fitness centers. Rock Spa has 52 treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy center with lagoons, two whirlpools, a steam room, a sauna, food hydro-reflexology, a sensory expertise pool, and an ice room. Treatments run the gamut, from massages to facials, but perhaps the most interesting is the Rhythm and Motion treatment, a synchronized massage that follows the rhythms and motions of an individually curated playlist. 
Body Rock, the Hard Rock’s gym, is adjacent to the spa. It’s a large space, with cardio machines and strength-training equipment. Free daily classes are available, as is Rock Om, yoga set to specific music.
Posh Salon, the hotel’s full-service salon, offers an extensive hair and beauty menu to help get guests ready for everything from a night out to a wedding. 
The Hard Rock Punta Cana is a popular choice for destination weddings, meetings, and events thanks to its 65,000 square feet of event space. The property has multiple wedding locations and packages available. 

The Hard Rock Punta Cana's nine restaurants and eateries across the property ensure no guests go hungry at this all-inclusive resort. Dining options range from all-you-can-eat buffets to international a la carte options to grab-and-go places like coffee shops and ice cream parlors. However, the food tends to be the mediocre quality which can plague many all-inclusive resorts. Note that while most restaurants are included in the all-inclusive plan, Yongu and Montserrat are not.
 
Some dining tips: 

• A standout option is Bistro Med’s Mediterranean-inspired fare, which is a welcome and high-quality break from the run-of-the-mill buffets. It’s great for lunch or walk-in dinner. 
• Avoid Los Gallos Mexican restaurant, which served inedible rice. 
• Ipanema and Toro’s meat based dinners are solid choices for carnivores. 
• Ask for the cinnamon grilled pineapple at Ipanema.
• Fresh fruit is amazing in quality everywhere and at all times.
   
  The Hard Rock offers a unique Awaken Your Senses dining experience, a “multi-sensory, gastronomic performance” that incorporates video, scent, and sound elements into your meal. The multi-course meal was hit or miss, and the paired drinks were too sweet for our taste (but they were plentiful). Overall, this experience was an interesting idea but was roughly executed. 
   
  The Hard Rock should also be lauded for the distinct design, decor, and menu offerings at each restaurant. Many all-inclusives have multiple restaurants that look and feel the same and serve strangely similar dishes—but this is not the case at the Hard Rock. Here, restaurants have individualized menus and custom decor, so the Mexican restaurant doesn’t resemble the Japanese restaurant, which doesn’t resemble the steakhouse.
  In addition to the numerous restaurants, there are five bars and lounges at the Hard Rock Punta Cana, all of which are included in the nightly room rate. Be aware that drinks at the casino bars are not included—however, free drinks are provided to gamblers playing a certain amount. 
  Shows and concerts are all great quality but do get quite loud though, in the “Hard Rock” spirit, so be forewarned and bring some earplugs if you have sensitive hearing.

There are plenty of options for gaming available, including 440 slot and video poker machines and 25 table games. Be warned that smoking is allowed, and the casino can get very smoky in the late evening. 
Inside the casino, Oro nightclub is a fun spot with plenty of room for walk-ins or reserved tables with bottle service. Platform dancers in fun, creative outfits and plenty of lights and mirrors make for a lively time even if you aren’t big on the dance floor scene yourself. Admission and drinks are not included. 

The Hard Rock has a lot of nice amenities for families with kids. The kids' club has lots of toys and a schedule of live shows and daily activities to keep the little ones interested. Activities may include Spanish lessons, face painting, and cooking classes. For older kids, the arcade room is right next door to the kids' club.

The Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay is the Hard Rock’s Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole golf course. Although golf course prices are not included in nightly rates, guests can sign up for a free 20-minute program with one of the course’s pros. The short session is meant to be an introduction to the game and teaches basic swing techniques and course etiquette.