CHIC by Royalton Luxury Resorts

From its all-white entrance with silver sparkling letters that spell out CHIC, it’s clear that the hotel is the epitome of its name. Guests are greeted by a lobby filled with abstract sculptures, adult-size hanging swings, and mod furniture with lots of curvy edges. Walls are painted in shades of bright green and dark navy, and magenta accents bring a playful pop to the already colorful room. The lobby opens onto a large deck, where the upbeat pool area and gorgeous beach come into view.   CHIC is an adult-only hotel that attracts twenty- and thirtysomething couples looking to have a good time. Families with adult children are certainly welcome, but may feel out of place amongst honeymooners and anniversary celebrants. In terms of activity level, typical CHIC guests fall somewhere between spring breakers and solitude seekers. During the day, the pool scene is lively, with loud music, dance competitions, and zumba instruction, but it’s not a place for all-out drunken debauchery. At night, most people go to dinner and have a few drinks at the lobby bar, but that’s about it. There’s no on-site disco or entertainment that continues into the wee hours.  

CHIC is located in Uvero Alto, a Punta Cana neighborhood that’s a little quieter and more secluded than neighboring Bavaro. It’s also nearly twice as far from the airport — 40 minutes versus Bavaro’s 25. But the extra distance does have its benefits. For starters, Uvero Alto’s beach is much larger than Bavaro’s narrow stretch of sand. There also isn’t as much seaweed here, while there can be heaping piles found on Bavaro’s shores. Uvero Alto isn’t as built up as Bavaro, which means hotels aren’t crammed on top of one another fighting for space. From the entrance, to the grounds, to the beach, CHIC feels entirely secluded.   

With bright whites, sleek design, and purple LED backlighting, rooms at CHIC are downright trendy. A large white headboard anchors the white bed in the center of the room, while bold black and white feather artwork serves as the focal point. Bulbous black lighting hangs above the white bedside tables, which come equipped with iHomes and USB charging stations. A white console holds a flat-screen TV and other amenities such as a coffeemaker, stocked minibar, and a liquor dispenser. Provocative black and white photos of nearly naked women, and open concept bathrooms, are another reason CHIC is better suited to couples than for families. In some rooms, bathrooms are completely open to the bedroom space. White standard Luxury Rooms only have mosaic tile walk-in showers, all suites have large whirlpool tubs, with more purple LED under-lighting for effect. Suites generally have separate seating areas, and some have private plunge pools. It should be noted that most rooms do not have ocean or pool views. Even if a room is advertised as having an ocean view, chances are it’ll be obstructed by neighboring buildings. Guests who upgrade to the Diamond Club receive extra in-room amenities, including premium liquor and Nespresso machines. For guests who really want to live large, the 11,500-square-foot CHIC Mansion has six bedrooms and its own private pool. Mansion guests are treated to a bevy of awesome amenities and services, including 24-hour butler service, private pool and beach cabanas with a personal attendant, a free 30-minute spa treatment for each guest, private transportation to and from the airport, and an in-house culinary experience in the Mansion’s dining room (that has its own wine cellar).    

CHIC has three pools located in one central pool area. The pools are are tiled in dark blue mosaic squares, which creates a sparkling, shimmery look when hit by the sun. The largest of the three pools is freeform and has long, shallow ledges where guests can partially submerge their lounge chairs. It also has private water cabanas that guests can rent for an extra fee. Next to the main pool is a smaller oblong pool with a swim-up bar. This pool has larger private cabanas with private hot tubs and lounge chairs that are also available for daily rentals. The smallest pool has a volleyball net, where guests can play on their own or during a hotel organized tournament. Munchies, the poolside snack bar, serves quick eats like hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizza. Diamond Club members have access to the private Mermaid Pool, which overlooks the main aquatic area. It’s small, and sort of lame, and since it’s located on an elevated deck, it can get really windy. 

The beach at CHIC is large and nicely maintained. There are tons of cushioned daybeds and palapa-style umbrellas; and Diamond Club members have access to a private bar and lounge area. Some guests complain that the beach is too windy, but this wind is strong no matter where you are in Punta Cana. Because of the wind, the water tends to be pretty rough. The spa and fitness center are housed together in a single building toward the rear of the property. The fitness center has modern Matrix and LifeFitness equipment, but feels small and cramped with machines. The spa, on the other hand, is large and spacious. It has multiple treatment rooms including ones for brides, couples, and solo spa goers. There is an incredible hydrotherapy room, and a separate hair and nail salon.  As far as freebies go, parking and Wi-Fi are free for all guests. The Wi-Fi signal is strong, and works well throughout the hotel — which can definitely not be said for most Punta Cana resorts.  

All-inclusive dining in general is often bland or even bad. Yet CHIC, with its six distinct restaurants, has managed to provide diverse choices and serves food that’s actually pretty good. Elements, the hotel’s only buffet, is an open-air beachfront restaurant with a modern feel. Food is served in small portions, which ensures freshness and keeps the displays from looking sloppy and unappetizing. Elements is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but many guests choose to eat at the a la carte restaurants at dinnertime. Many all-inclusives advertise that they have multiple a la carte options but really have one large room divided into several smaller “restaurants.” This is not the case at CHIC, where each restaurant is uniquely and thoughtfully designed, and feels like a standalone establishment. A la carte options include Italian, Middle Eastern, steak, and sushi. Reservations are not required, and wait times are typically pretty short. Guests looking for a quick pick-me-up can check out Insomnia, the hotel’s cafe and coffee bar. It’s likely the only place in Punta Cana where you can find iced coffee -- just don’t expect it to be served in American-size mega-cups. One dining option not included in the hotel’s all-inclusive package is the much talked about Culinary Experience. The Culinary Experience is a multi-course food and wine tasting at a private chef’s table for 12 guests. This highly sought-after experience is usually booked well in advance, so it’s wise to make reservations when booking your room.