Hideaway at Royalton Punta Cana

If you follow me, you already know I don’t settle for the typical catalogue “all-inclusive”; I look for places with something special, where the service is real and the food doesn’t look like it came off an assembly line. Well, that’s what I always try to do; you’ll have to read on a bit if you want to know whether this hotel is a hidden gem or simply not for you.

After my stay, it’s clear to me that it’s ideal for those of us who want the silence of a private pool in the morning, but don’t want a boring, monotonous hotel in the afternoon. Is it worth paying extra for this “resort within a resort” concept? After trying what is possibly the best Rib Eye of my life, I have a lot to tell you. My final score is 8.7/10, and here I’ll explain why.

The Hideaway is very versatile for couples or groups of friends (it’s adults-only with a twist). Unlike other “Adults Only” hotels that are too quiet or too boring, here there’s life.

You can have a knockout Rib Eye for dinner in an elegant restaurant and, the next day, go throw yourself down the slides like a kid. It’s the perfect balance. That said, you pay extra for that exclusivity, and in my opinion it’s worth it just for the step up in the food and the comfort of the room.

✅ The best:

• Next-level food: I’m not exaggerating. The Rib Eye is a 10/10 (the best of my whole trip) and the serrano ham at the buffet is the real thing. I also recommend trying “Jade” and “Under the Sea”, the restaurant at the hotel next door.
• The beds and the pillows: the best I’ve tried. They have a pillow menu and the mattress swallows you up. A proper night’s sleep is guaranteed.
• The “Jonathan” factor: the staff are very friendly, but Jonathan was a star. He saw that we needed an extra bed and, without us having to ask for it, he got moving and had it set up in 5 minutes. That kind of initiative is rare to see.
• Full access: you have the whole complex at your disposal, including the water park at the Royalton Splash, about 5 minutes away by shuttle.

❌ The worst:

• The butler (Diamond Club): in our experience, it wasn’t worth it. He didn’t solve much and we ended up handling everything ourselves. That’s an extra I would skip.
• The look of the beach: although the water is turquoise, the sand area has a retaining wall (to stop erosion) that takes away that “endless beach for Instagram” look and cuts down the space.
• Shared shows: because the theatre is shared with the family hotel, some of the evening shows feel a bit childish for an adults-only crowd.

If at the Splash the food was “fine”, here it’s spectacular. You can tell the ingredients are a step up.

• Dorado restaurant (seafood & grill): exclusive to Royalton Punta Cana and Hideaway guests. Here we tried some seafood starters, like the grilled octopus. And keep an eye on the cuts of meat: the Rib Eye here is unbeatable, tender and cooked exactly right.
• The buffet: the quality of the produce surprised me. They have freshly carved serrano ham (a luxury in the Caribbean), fresh seafood and a dessert area that, as well as tasting good, is low in sugar. Lots of live cooking stations with meats, fish and king prawns. They also have a stand for the little ones and a pasta section I recommend trying.

The rooms are enormous and you can tell it’s a 5-star category.

• The sleep: I have to insist on this: the pillows and the mattress are incredible. If you suffer with your back or you’re demanding about sleep, this hotel is a safe bet.
• The bathroom: perhaps the one place where you notice the years a little compared with other newer hotels, but it’s still big and functional.

The good thing about this hotel is that you can switch the vibe whenever you feel like it:

• Hideaway zone (relax and adults-only VIP): you have an exclusive pool surrounded by walls and greenery that isolates you from the rest of the hotel. There’s chill-out music, double Balinese sun beds and a bar with premium drinks. It’s the place to read and switch off with your partner.
• Royalton Punta Cana zone (social and lively): if you want more going on, you walk a few metres and you’re at the main beach-entry pool, with a volleyball net, activities and livelier music.
• Access to the Royalton Splash: and if you get bored of so much peace, you take the cart (or walk) and in 5 minutes you’re screaming on the slides at the Royalton Splash.

If you’re looking to switch off completely, the spa is, without doubt, one of the most successful parts of the hotel.

• Design and privacy: it has intimate, very carefully done decor that mixes indoor and outdoor areas, achieving a purely Caribbean look.
• Hydrotherapy: the standout is its open-air hydrotherapy area, where you can relax surrounded by nature.
• For couples: it has massage cabins designed specifically for couples that include their own private jacuzzi, ideal for a romantic and exclusive moment.

The gym is a space shared between the Hideaway and the Royalton Splash.

• Equipment: although it isn’t a giant high-performance centre, it’s a decent size and has all the basics to keep you in shape on holiday.
• Atmosphere: we found a very healthy, comfortable atmosphere for both men and women.

For those after a livelier scene after dinner, the Sport Bar is the place to go.

• Quality and style: it’s a very good quality bar where you can follow sports events or just have a drink in a more casual setting.
• The evening switch: an interesting detail is that the adult entertainment and the nightclub start exactly when the programme for kids finishes, making sure the “Adults Only” atmosphere is respected at the key hours.

It’s for you if:

• You’re a foodie: you care about eating a good steak, fresh seafood and quality ham on your holiday.
• You’re travelling as a couple and want romantic moments (spa, quiet dinners), but you don’t want to be shut inside a boring hotel.
• Sleep is sacred: you need a good mattress and quality pillows.

It’s NOT for you if:

• You expect the butler service to sort your life out (here it failed).
• You’re after an untouched, endless beach with no visual barriers (the retaining wall can disappoint beach purists).