Honest Review of Royalton CHIC Punta Cana
6th Annual Tropical Getaway (Adult-Only Group Trip)
We recently hosted our 6th Annual Tropical Getaway at Royalton CHIC Punta Cana, and I want to give a real, transparent review based on our group experience.
Overall First Impressions
The resort itself is on the smaller side, which actually worked well for our group—especially for those with mobility concerns. The grounds were clean and well maintained, and everything felt easy to navigate.
Rooms & Housekeeping
We stayed in the Presidential 1 Bedroom Oceanfront Swim-Up, which already includes Diamond Club benefits by default.
I’ll say this clearly—this was one of the best swim-up setups we’ve experienced. Being on a corner made a big difference, and the layout worked really well for both relaxing and hosting.
A few things to note:
Bathroom lighting could be better
No full-length mirror
The half bath had no sink, which made things inconvenient when guests came by
That said, housekeeping was excellent. Rooms were consistently spotless and well maintained daily.
Food & Dining
Food overall was average—not bad, but not standout across the board.
The highlights:
Tandori (Indian) – easily one of the best meals we had
Vespa (Italian) – solid and enjoyable
The disappointment:
Hunter Steakhouse – typically a reliable option at Royalton properties, but this time the steak was rubbery and underwhelming
Diamond Club à la carte breakfast:
Food was decent
Service was extremely slow, which made mornings frustrating
Entertainment & Activities
This was one of the weaker areas.
Entertainment overall was underwhelming
Seating was not properly set up, making it hard to actually enjoy the shows
One of the biggest letdowns:
Our butler promised karaoke at 10 PM on our final night—something our group really looks forward to. By 10:30, nothing had started, and we eventually left.
Diamond Club & Butler Service
Since our room category already included Diamond Club, we were able to experience this level of service firsthand—and it did not meet expectations.
Butler service was not attentive
Simple requests (like steamers/irons) took up to 2 days
Communication and follow-through were lacking
Some of our guests never saw their butler at all during their entire stay
Bottom line:
The Diamond Club experience did not deliver the level of service we expect from this brand.
Spa & Amenities
The hydrotherapy experience was disappointing:
Water was room temperature
We were told it had been inoperable for 2 weeks, which should have been communicated upfront
Room Issues & Service Recovery
This was the most concerning part of the stay.
One room had a strong mildew issue that was reported—but nothing was done
Two Presidential 1 Bedroom Garden View rooms had:
Black mold
Broken furniture
Non-working door locks
No balcony seating
We requested room changes:
Initial response from butler: could not assist
After escalating to the groups department, our guests were finally moved—but it took 2 days
We also requested compensation (spa credit):
Response came on the last night
Offered a late checkout, which was not useful due to our early flight
Accessibility & Excursion Experience
One major issue for our group:
Our excursion transportation was not allowed inside the resort
Our group had to walk to the gate
There was no golf cart available for guests with mobility challenges
This created an unnecessary inconvenience and safety concern for some of our travelers.
Bright Spot
The beachside restaurant staff were the highlight of the trip. Because our swim-up room was so close, they came directly to our swim-up to serve drinks and food, which elevated the experience significantly. They were:
Attentive
Friendly
Consistent
Final Thoughts
Royalton CHIC Punta Cana has some strong elements, but based on our group experience:
Pros:
Compact, walkable resort
Clean grounds
Excellent housekeeping
Exceptional Presidential Swim-Up experience
Outstanding beachside service
Cons:
Inconsistent food quality
Slow service at restaurants
Weak entertainment setup
Diamond Club not delivering expected service levels
Serious room quality issues
Poor service recovery
Accessibility challenges
My Recommendation
If you choose to stay here, I would only recommend the Presidential 1 Bedroom Swim-Up room
Even with that room category, expect inconsistencies in service
And most importantly:
Due to the overall level of customer service and how issues were handled, I would not recommend this resort to my clients in the future.
