We stayed at Finest Punta Cana in a swim-up suite on the Finest side for our anniversary, traveling with a group of three parties and our one-and-a-half-year-old son. The resort has some undeniable strengths: the swim-up suite was spacious, clean, and modern, with a large bathroom featuring a walk-in shower, jet tub, and ample closet space. The resort itself is impeccably clean, and the swim-up pool was a highlight, preferred over smaller private pools and ideal for groups (though only if rooms are adjacent). The beach was beautiful, and the family-friendly perks, like kids’ lounges at Market Kitchen and Brass, plus dedicated play areas, were a lifesaver for dining and entertaining our toddler. The cocktails were also a standout—consistently well-made and a bright spot throughout our stay.
Unfortunately, logistical and service issues significantly impacted our experience. Despite pre-selecting and confirming adjacent rooms for our group, we were placed far apart in the same building, requiring us to swim past 5-6 rooms to hang out, which was inconvenient and influenced our room type choice. For our anniversary, my husband and I were disappointed to get two double beds instead of a king, with no alternative offered except downgrading, despite the front desk claiming a sold-out resort while staff noted it was a slow season. The backyard deck and swim-up pool also needed maintenance, with missing tiles and worn areas detracting from the premium feel.
Most frustrating was the staff, particularly male front desk, bellboy, and bartender teams, who were consistently disinterested, slow, and made us feel like an inconvenience. Check-in was unwelcoming and time consuming, with front desk staff needing serious customer service training, and a dinner reservation error (booking us at the wrong restaurant) led to a 30-minute wait, strict dress code enforcement (pants and collared shirts required at Gusto and Domo), and our group being split up to dine elsewhere. Staff lacked empowerment to resolve issues, and managers were rarely available, making problem-solving a major hassle.
Dining was another mixed bag. Market Kitchen was our preferred dining option—large, clean, and offering diverse options for breakfast and lunch, with a kids’ area that made meals enjoyable. Brass was our second favorite restaurant. However, Domo, billed as the top restaurant, was a letdown beyond its excellent Tomahawk steak, with the rest of the menu nearly inedible. Insieme was even worse, with no basic pasta dishes, fishy seafood, and five Caesar salads served with rotten lettuce that staff tried to conceal. These dining disappointments, especially at supposedly premium restaurants, left us nervous about food quality early on.
Despite these issues, three staff members stood out positively: Wilfredo, the lobby greeter and champagne guy, was always smiling and welcoming, and Lelena, a Market Kitchen server, was consistently cheerful, making a point to greet every child, which our son loved. And the third was a young female bartender at Oasis Club Bar - she was always so sweet and cheerful. These bright spots, along with the resort’s cleanliness, family-friendly amenities, and great cocktails, kept things from being a total loss. However, the cumulative effect of poor staff service, dining inconsistencies, room assignment errors, and lack of management support made this a frustrating stay for our anniversary and group trip. We expected the warm, vibrant hospitality typical of an island resort but found it lacking here. The staff might just be a reflection of the general culture in the DR. Finest Punta Cana has potential, but it needs to address staff training, food quality, and problem resolution to truly shine. We’d give it 3/5 stars and suggest future guests confirm room assignments and stick to Market Kitchen or the tomahawk steak at Dommo.
