Overview
Pros
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Beautiful lobby area -- great for pre-dinner drinks
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Fewer rooms means fewer crowds
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Picturesque grounds with gardens, lakes and flamingoes
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Prime beach spot with plenty of space and lounge chairs
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Three nice pools (one with swim-up bar) and chic daybeds
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Five bars, four a la carte restaurants and a gourmet buffet
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Sophisticated rooms with minibars and 24-hour room service
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Marble bathrooms, bathrobes/slippers, and jetted tubs with views
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Nightly entertainment and late-night drinks in an authentic ship
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A two-floor spa, and a fitness center with views
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Water sports, salsa classes, tennis courts and an on-site golf course
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A masculine business center with both pool and poker tables
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Free Wi-Fi throughout
Cons
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Daybeds and palapas are likely to get snagged early in the morning
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Partiers may find the scene too subdued and nightlife dull
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Restaurant reservations can be a nuisance and difficult to secure
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Pools in the swim-up rooms do not connect to any of the the main pools
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Premium brand liquors in the bars (included) are not always offered or visible
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The (free) butler service is inconsistent
Bottom Line
This 274-room, adults-only all-inclusive resort with photogenic Greco-Roman design is part of the Iberostar brand's Grand Collection, and is the most luxurious of four Iberostar options in Punta Cana. Prices are understandably higher, though they're not that much higher than at sister property Bavaro Suites. There's a ton of space for relaxing, especially at one of three pools and an extra wide stretch of beach. The four room types are equipped with spacious balconies, enclosed foyers with large closets, and a hidden delivery area for 24-hour room service. Butlers are available at no extra cost, though they might only prove valuable for restaurant reservations, which are notoriously difficult. After dinner, guests can enjoy a performance in the Milanese-inspired theater, La Scala; for drinks, a three-mast ship serves as a late-night watering hole, though few actually use it.