Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana – a comprehensive review for this Punta Cana all-inclusive resort

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana is massive! With 1775 rooms, it is the biggest stand-alone resort in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic, offering one of the best entertainment programs among all all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana and endless choices of bars, restaurants and pools, making it impossible to get to know the entire hotel in a few days. We have visited Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana several times and with each visit, we are discovering new experiences and adventures, which is not a big surprise, considering they have 23 bars and 13 pools! Be prepared for a super extensive hotel review of Hard Rock’s all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, with all the details (including the best promotions and some tips and tricks about Hard Rock) you need to know before booking your stay at this unique hotel in Punta Cana. 

This is an extensive review of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana. If you’d like to know some general information about accommodation in Punta Cana, you can continue reading all the insider tips on how to find the best all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana and my recommendation on how to save money during an all-inclusive holiday in Punta Cana.
If you are looking for other family-friendly hotels in Punta Cana, you can see our hand-picked list of Punta Cana all-inclusive family resorts.

Completely UPDATED: September 2023

Quick link: the best prices for Hard Rock Punta Cana

 Before we start this extensive Hard Rock Punta Cana review where you’re going to learn all the tips and tricks you need to know for an unforgettable vacation in the Dominican Republic, I’d like to share with you the ultimate link if you’re just after finding the best prices for Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana. You can use this link here* to compare dozens of travel sites and find the best deal and latest promotion for Hard Rock Punta Cana Resort.

Where is Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana?

 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, also referred to as Hard Rock Resort Punta Cana or just Hard Rock Punta Cana (even there is a Hard Rock Café existing in Punta Cana in a different location), is located north of the major hotel zone in Punta Cana. It can be found in the northern part of the Arena Gorda Beach at a particularly beautiful stretch (see below for more information about Hard Rock Punta Cana’s beach). Hard Rock just has a neighboring resort to the Southeast (RIU República), to the Northwest you can find a large section of pristine beach and untouched coconut groves for a few miles – even though this might change in 2024 or 2025, as a new resort is being built in this area: Moon Palace Punta Cana.

 Even Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana is considered to be part of the Punta Cana region, it is located between Arena Gorda and Macao. It is a 30-minute drive from Punta Cana International Airport. As the airport taxis in Punta Cana are not 100% reliable and charge a pretty high price to get to Hard Rock Resort, it is recommended to book your airport transfer before your trip. You can check out some further information and recommendations for airport transportation in Punta Cana here or simply book this safe and reliable airport transfer to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana*. 

Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana is surrounded by a golf course and a huge area of apartments and condominiums. There is absolutely nothing around which you can reach in walking distance, not even a single shop or supermarket. If you’d like to leave Hard Rock Resort Punta Cana, you need a taxi, a pre-arranged transfer or a rental car. There is a public bus passing the hotel at the front entrance, but it is a 1-mile walk from the hotel entrance to the front gate at the highway. 

There are only three specific public spots you can reach by walking:
– Cana Bay Beach Club, right next to Hard Rock Punta Cana
– Hard Rock Casino, located right on the premises
– Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay, the golf course of Hard Rock, open to the public

If you are interested in the exact location of Hard Rock Punta Cana, you can check out its location and all the neighboring hotels on this map with all Punta Cana resorts.

Overview of Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana

 As mentioned in the introduction, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana is the biggest stand-alone all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic. While there are properties such as Bahía Resort, Iberostar or Palladium, which have well over 2000 rooms but distributed over 4 or 5 hotels (or up to 7 at Grand Bahía Resort), Hard Rock Punta Cana All-Inclusive is the only one with this amount of rooms in one single hotel – 1775 rooms. 

 But Hard Rock Punta Cana is not only big in terms of the room count, it is also a huge all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana concerning the size of the property. From the lobby of the resort to the beach it is a whopping 2000 feet as the crow flies and a bit less than 2500 feet walking. Luckily there is a small train running through the resort which easily helps you covering the distance if you don’t want to walk. The large size of the resort also comes with endless amenities like in no other all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. You definitely won’t get bored at Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana as there is so much to explore.

However, if you have severe problems walking even short distances, a smaller all-inclusive resort might be a better option for you. You can check out Sanctuary Cap Cana* or Secrets Royal Beach for example.

Let’s have a look at the different areas of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana.

Right when you enter the main lobby of Hard Rock Punta Cana All Inclusive, you can hear and feel the omnipresent theme of your upcoming vacation in Punta Cana: this is Hard Rock! Music, the history of Rock and famous soundtracks are everywhere. The lobby is already dotted with musical exhibits such as famous guitars and is completely different than the usual tropical all-inclusive lobby in Punta Cana. Hard Rock Resort welcomes you into its own (rock) world with its dark, air-conditioned and musical-themed world.

 Adjacent to the lobby you can find “The Boulevard”, which is home to most things to do at Hard Rock Punta Cana: most restaurants, various shops, many entertainment venues and all kinds of other amenities such as the ice cream shop, the Escape Game room or the bowling alley. The Boulevard will be your daily base (especially at night) to explore all the entertainment options Hard Rock has to offer, as there is so much going on here at night that it won’t get boring at any time. 

 Later on in this Hard Rock Punta Cana review, you’ll find more information about The Boulevard in the sections about the restaurants and the entertainment. The gym and the spa are located adjacent to this area. The Boulevard also features two large terraces, which are used for events and nightly entertainment. From here, you can also enjoy a good overview of this huge Punta Cana all-inclusive resort.

Leaving the Boulevard, you have three options of walking down towards the beach (or taking the trolley) – using the left-wing, walking through the middle of the resort or taking the right exit. They will all pass several of the accommodation buildings, which are all located between The Boulevard (incl. the lobby) and the beach. Here you will find all of Hard Rock Punta Canas’ rooms.

The furthest your room can be away from the beach is 1500 feet. However, the further away your room is from the beach, the closer you are to the majority of the restaurants and entertainment options. 🙂

 Halfway from the lobby to the beach of Hard Rock Punta Cana All Inclusive Resort, you will pass a natural lake that spans once across the entire property. The lake is also surrounded by three pools, among them one infinity pool and one topless adults-only pool. 

 Walking further down to Hard Rock Punta Cana’s beach you’ll reach a huge area where most of the action takes place during the day: the various pools next to the beach. Here most people mingle during the day, enjoying the pool and beach activities, having drinks from the several pool bars, grab food from varying food trucks, have a dip into the numerous pools or visit the Hard Rock Punta Cana water park with their kids. There is also a lazy river, three restaurants (mostly for dinner, but usually one of them is open for lunch as well) and the Legendary Hard Rock Punta Cana members-only area.

 Once passing those array of pools, you have reached the end of this all-inclusive resort, the Hard Rock Punta Cana beach.

The beach at Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana

The beach at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana is one of the widest and most beautiful beach sections in the entire region of Punta Cana. Just the section right at Hard Rock Punta Cana Resort is 2300 feet long and up to 330 feet wide, some of the most impressive dimensions when it comes to resort beaches in Punta Cana. Only the section of Bavaro Beach around Melia Punta Cana Beach Resort, Dreams Royal Beach and Secrets Royal Beach is comparable to these dimensions in terms of width AND length.

 Besides a beach bar and waiter service, Hard Rock Punta Cana’s beach features several lounge areas, sunchairs and (for an extra charge) dozens of Bali beds. There is also a huge “Made to Rock” sign, which allows for some different photo opportunities, especially those loving the music theme of Hard Rock Resort.

If you love to go swimming, the Hard Rock Punta Cana beach is very suitable. If you are traveling to Punta Cana as a family and your kids want to take a dip into the ocean, check the waves and the current flags before entering, as sometimes this part of Arena Gorda Beach can be a bit choppy. 

But that’s not everything the beach at Hard Rock Punta Cana has to offer, there are two more things to consider. First of all, the Hard Rock beach is not as prone to seaweed as other areas in Punta Cana, giving you a more pleasant experience during times of intensive seaweed alluvial (usually during summer months, but there are years without seaweed as well). Plus they have a very good team working on the seaweed removal as well. To learn about this topic, you can read the extensive Punta Cana sargassum guide.

 Second, if you want to have a long beach walk you have two options: 
– you can walk southeast for more than 8 miles, passing all the other hotels, seeing different areas of Punta Canas’ all-inclusive resorts.
– you can walk northwest, exploring an absolutely pristine beach with virgin coconut groves (and a lot of natural flotsam). This is because Hard Rock Punta Cana is the last resort for a couple of miles before reaching Macao Beach, another one of Punta Canas’ very beautiful beaches.

The rooms at Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana

 As mentioned earlier, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana offers 1775 rooms, all of them spacious, with balcony and terrace and following the music-themed design of Hard Rock Hotel. Most of the rooms have been renovated in the last 3-4 years. Unique features include rock-style wall designs and paintings, the “Sound of Your Stay” program allowing you to enjoy a personal audio experience right in your room or the selection of Fender guitars delivered right into your room. Rock fans definitely will have a blast at Hard Rock Punta Cana All Inclusive. 

 In general, Hard Rock Punta Canas’ rooms offer a high-quality stay at quality rooms appropriate for a 5-star luxury resort. You’ll find everything you need plus some interesting extra twists such as the bathtub in the middle of the room or design elements according to the musical theme. Hard Rocks rooms are not representing the most luxurious rooms, but the rooms are definitely in the top 30% when it comes to comfort, design and modernity.

 When booking one of Hard Rock Punta Cana’s rooms, you have the choice between the following room categories for your 2023 or 2024 bookings:

• Caribbean Suite (Double Beds / King Bed)
• Islander Junior Suite (Double Beds / King Bed)
• Caribbean Sand Suite (Double Beds / King Bed)
• Caribbean Diamond Suite (Double Beds / King Bed)
• Pure® Wellness Caribbean Suite (Double Beds / King Bed)
• Rock Royalty Caribbean Sand Suite
• Rock Family One-Bedroom Suite
• Rock Suite One-Bedroom Suite
• Rock Suite Two-Bedroom Suite

 All rooms at Hard Rock Punta Cana come – among other amenities – with a double hydro spa tub, furnished balcony or terrace, free wireless internet, 24-hour room service, a daily refilled minibar, a laptop-sized digital safe and unlimited phone calls to continental US & Canada. 

 You can find a good overview of Hard Rock Punta Canas’ rooms here*, including all the differences between the room categories.

Booking and Prices at Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana

 Once you have chosen which of Hard Rock Punta Canas’ rooms you’d like to stay at, it is time to book your vacation. You shall definitely prebook your holiday at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana as the walk-in rates are pretty high.

 When checking the prices for Hard Rock in Punta Cana, make sure to check various sources as they can vary. Furthermore, each booking website comes with its own advantages as listed below:

Website	Your Advantage	Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana
Agoda	Hidden champion among the OTAs with (sometimes) astonishing offers
Booking	Get up to 10% Genius discount on the already discounted rates
Expedia	Online travel agency with great deals, personal service and good reputation
Hotelscombined	Powerful hotel search engine by Kayak
JetBlue Vacations	Great package deals and interesting promotions for US travelers
Travala	Get 2% cashback + additional (crypto) rewards
Trip.com	Collect reward points at flights and hotels with this NYSE listed online travel agency
Tripadvisor	Compare prices and reviews on one site

 Contrary to most other Punta Cana all-inclusive resorts, Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana didn’t raise their prices too much for 2024, even though inflation has not stopped at the border of the Dominican Republic.

 Currently, low season rates start at 330 USD per night per double room, high season rates at a bit of over 400 USD. Interestingly enough, the differences between the high season and the low season at Hard Rock Punta Cana are extremely low, with just a bit more than 80 USD per room. This is one of the lowest differences among all Punta Cana resorts and makes Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana an excellent deal during the months between January and April.

 To give you a better overview, here is a list of the current prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana sorted by month. Of course, these prices can vary from day to day and also depends on your dates of travel, when you book, if you’re traveling with children or not and how long you stay, but they are great indication if you want to find out the cheapest months to travel. Check this article here to find out when is the best time to travel to Punta Cana. Click on the prices below to see the lowest prices for your travel dates.

 All prices stated are per room in double occupancy.

• Prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana in October 2023: starting from 330 USD*
• Prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana in November 2023: starting from 330 USD*
• Prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana in December 2023: starting from 330 USD* (Christmas starting from 630 USD)
• Prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana in January 2024: starting from 430 USD*
• Prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana in February 2024: starting from 440 USD*
• Prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana in March 2024: starting from 420 USD*
• Prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana in April 2024: starting from 390 USD*
• Prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana in May 2024: starting from 390 USD*
• Prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana in June 2024: starting from 390 USD*
• Prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana in July 2024: starting from 420 USD*
• Prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana in August 2024: starting from 430 USD*
• Prices at Hard Rock Punta Cana in September 2024: starting from 400 USD*

 Please note that those prices are all indicative and can vary depending on many factors (see explanation above).

If you’re looking for promotions, Hard Rock Punta Cana is also a very suitable option for families (especially as Punta Cana is a perfect holiday destination for families as those exciting things to do in Punta Cana with kids are proving). Not only because they have spacious family suites for up to 6 guests and lots of family activities, but depending on the offer kids and teens up to the age of 17 stay free or just pay a minimal fee.

When planning a vacation to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, it is also worth checking the price for vacation packages to Punta Cana. Sometimes it might be cheaper to book one of Hard Rock Punta Canas’ rooms together with a flight, especially if promotions are running.

Restaurants and bars at Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana

 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana features 13 different specialty restaurants (among them 2 for an extra charge and 4 quick food restaurants), one coffee shop and one ice cream shop:

• The Market – International buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Bistro Med – Mediterranean bistro for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
• Ciao Trattoria – Brick-oven style pizza from noon to 10pm
• Los Gallos – Mexican cuisine a la carte (open for dinner)
• Zen – Asian a la carte + Teppanyaki tables & sushi menu (open for dinner)
• Ciao – Italian fine dining a la carte (international food for breakfast if open)
• Ipanema – Rodizio – Brazilian Grill, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Isla – Caribbean cuisine (closed until further notice)
• Toro – American-style steakhouse for dinner
• The Split – premium sandwiches made-to-order, open from 11am to 11pm
• Stacked – burger restaurant (incl. vegetarian options), open from 11:30am to 11pm

 Additionally, you can book a table at Montserrat Manor and splurge into some exquisite gourmet food for an additional charge. Since 2023, you can also find Youyu (Asian Pacific cuisine) among Hard Rock Punta Canas’ restaurants, which is another option not included in the all-inclusive program.

The Split, a “fast-food” restaurant specializing in premium sandwiches and “Stacked” with Angus beef, chicken and vegetarian burger options are also new among Hard Rock Punta Canas’ restaurants.

 But let’s have a closer look at some of the restaurants as there are some unique options at Hard Rock Punta Cana you don’t find in any other all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana.

 First of all, the buffet – called “The Market”. 

 The Market was closed for more than 2 years due to renovations (and Covid-19 in Punta Cana) but has reopened in 2021 with a new, outstanding and refreshing concept. Actually, it is not a buffet even more and therefore stands apart from the typical all-inclusive buffet of other hotels in Punta Cana.

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 For breakfast and lunch, it resembles a market concept where you can head to the different stations to get your food. But it is not simply taking the typical all-inclusive food from the buffet, you get your Italian bread (with delicious homemade spreads), Mexican tacos (made to order), international omelets or Dominican meats prepared and served fresh on your plate. This is not only super compliant with current safety regulation to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in Punta Cana, but it is also so much more delicious than a meal which is already simmering since an hour in the usual chafing dish. The only little downturn is that it takes much longer than the typical buffet food, but hey, quality needs its time.

 For dinner, you can also visit The Market which has adapted the food truck style concept from the outside world and brought it into Hard Rock Punta Cana All Inclusive. You can choose between 5 different countries (USA, Mexico, Spain, Italy and Thailand) and have an à-la-carte menu for each world. And no, the dishes are not just a cheap version of a typical international meal, they are well elaborated with deep knowledge of the local cuisine, taking into consideration the traditions and flavors of the individual markets. It is a spectacular journey through the different kitchens of the world. With The Market, Hard Rock Resort is setting new standards when it comes to dining at all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana. Check out the following impressions from Hard Rock Punta Cana’s “The Market”, which just opened in 2021.

 Besides The Market, you can find 5 other à la carte restaurants at The Boulevard, the huge (and air-conditioned) entertainment area of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino close to the lobby. With “Bistro Med” there is another unique restaurant option at Hard Rock Punta Cana All Inclusive. Bistro Med is a Lebanese restaurant, which you can hardly find at any other all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, serving delicious Falafel and Kibbeh, local sandwiches and burgers and some of the best Hummus (a spread made out of chickpeas) and Babaganoush (a creamy eggplant spread). It is also standing apart as you can eat here from 11 am to 11 pm, meaning it is an additional à-la-carte option for lunch, where most Punta Cana all-inclusive resorts only send you to their corresponding buffet. 

 The other restaurants at the Boulevard are Pizzeto (you can get fresh brick-oven style pizzas here from 11 am to 2 am), Los Gallos (Mexican à la carte), Ciao (Italien à la carte) and Zen, which offers a large sushi menu, various Asian dishes as well a Teppanyaki show cooking.

 If you prefer to dine close to Hard Rock Punta Cana’s beach, you have three further restaurant options with plenty of capacity: Ipanema (the Brazilian grill), Toro (an American-style steakhouse) and Isla with its Caribbean cuisine (even though Isla is currently closed due to extensive renovations). Sometimes, but not always (depending on the occupancy), those restaurants also offer outdoor dining, one of the few options at Hard Rock Punta Cana where you can sit outside.

 While those restaurants are not as spectacular as the ones mentioned first (especially The Market and Bistro Med), all of them offer high-quality food adequate for a luxury resort in Punta Cana. Everything is super fresh, there are always delights that are exceeding your taste buds’ expectations and we hardly had any dish at the entire Hard Rock Punta Cana where we have been disappointed. 

 While most all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana have a reservation only or reservation-free policy with their à-la-carte restaurants, Hard Rock Resort Punta Cana has a mixed policy with regards to their dining options. While reservations are possible and recommended, you can also visit all of the restaurants without reservations as much as you want. Just be prepared that you might have to wait a bit without reservations or choose another restaurant, especially if you visit during peak dining hours.

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 Can you see why Hard Rock is one of the leading all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, especially when it comes to variety?

 And if this is not enough, you can delight your sweet tooth with one of the best ice-cream and smoothie shops you will find in any all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. Ok, most Punta Cana Resorts do have an ice cream shop with a couple of flavors, but have you seen a whole inventory with various creative ice cream flavors, endless smoothie options and around a dozen of different handmade popsicles? Look for yourself, the selection was so huge that I couldn’t get it in one photo.

 And if you would like to accompany your ice cream with freshly brewed coffee, there is also a coffee shop next door with various coffee creations and cookies – all included of course.

 Not only the selection of food is massive, but the bars also don’t fall short when it comes to choices. When visiting Hard Rock Punta Cana All Inclusive, you can choose between 23 (!) bars. Of course, not every bar has an individual menu, so the drink selection is repeating, but still, your next drink is never far away and there are some pretty interesting bars among those 23 with creative cocktail creations. 

 For example, a couple of pool bars at Hard Rock Punta Cana offer an extensive hand-crafted drink menu with cocktails you don’t find anywhere else. Fresh juices, cinnamon syrup, lavender, basil or hibiscus are just some of the ingredients they are using. The only downside of these cocktails is that the mixers are already premixed, so you can’t adjust them to your preferences. They just add the alcohol from the bottle. But still, it is a nice change from your typical mojito or Cuba libre.

 Some of the restaurants at Hard Rock Resort also have daily cocktail specials, prepared freshly and with love. Especially at Bistro Med we always find interesting creations, which “forced” us to already start drinking for lunch. 😉

 Hard Rock Punta Cana also sets up varying show bars depending on the day and the topic. The last time we have been there, there was a well-designed tequila bar with handcrafted (and delicious) tequila cocktails at The Boulevard.

 In general, you can expect a very good drink quality at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana. They have lots of premium spirits incl. some good aged Dominican rums available, so you shall find something which suits your taste. However, make sure to ask for your favorite brand when ordering cocktails as some bars are using no-name brands (which is not bad at all, it just tastes better with premium brands) when not specifying. Thanks to the very well-designed bars especially at The Boulevard, you also don’t have the feeling of sitting in a random all-inclusive bar. It rather feels like you are somewhere at a busy place enjoying professionally crafted drinks with friends.

 As already mentioned, there is an enormously large drink menu at Hard Rock Punta Cana, especially due to the dozens of bars. But also if you’re looking for premium alcohol brands, you won’t be disappointed. Among others, the Hard Rock Punta Cana liquor list includes Barcelo Imperial, Canadian Mist, Jim Bean, Jack Daniels, Chivas Regal 12 years, Dewars, Johnny Walker, Grey Goose, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Absolut Vodka, Stolichnaya, Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray Gin, La Herradura, El Jimador, Disaronno, Frangelico, Liquor 43, Campari, Martini and Fernet-Branca.

Entertainment and Service at Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana

 As you can see in this Hard Rock Punta Cana review, food and drinks are a big thing at Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana. But the show is not stopping once you leave your dining table as there is so much to explore in the evening (and during the day as well). In fact, Hard Rock Resort Punta Cana is one of the few all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic where you can always expect a lot of nightly entertainment, live acts and shows. That’s what makes Hard Rock the first choice for those who are looking to get constantly entertained, even though you won’t find the most massive parties there. For the best party resorts in Punta Cana, continue reading here. The good thing is that most of the action is serious quality entertainment, it is not simply some loud music or dumb show acts.

 The majority of the nightly activities takes place at The Boulevard, which is the epicenter of Hard Rock’s entertainment. As most of the restaurants are located here as well, you always have a busy atmosphere and will easily find like-minded people who are willing to chat or share a drink. Besides the restaurant, The Boulevard features two large bars, a bowling alley (which is not included and comes with a pretty steep extra charge), two outdoor terraces with occasional live music, the lobbies with further live performances at night, the ice cream and coffee shop and much more. There are also several shops at The Boulevard, including the famous Rock Shop.

 As mentioned, there is always something going on at Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana. If you pass The Boulevard towards the casino, you will see a lot of historical music exhibits, for example, the guitar of Lenny Kravitz or the limousine of Madonna.

And, if you need some further entertainment, the Casino at Hard Rock is the biggest one in Punta Cana, so be prepared for some serious gambling.

 If you are a night owl and don’t want to stop partying, Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana is also home to one of the biggest (and most famous) nightclubs in Punta Cana – Oro. Admission to Oro is not included for all-inclusive guests of Hard Rock Punta Cana, but you enjoy a special rate to enter and for the open bar as well.

 Even Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana is heaven for dinner, drinks and never-ending nightly entertainment, you can enjoy some daytime activities as well. Especially when it comes to pool activities, you might find your heaven at Hard Rock Punta Cana. The hotel comes with 13 pools, among them some infinity pools, an adults-only topless pool, a water park for the kids (Hard Rock is included in the list of the best Punta Cana resorts with water parks) and a lazy river with tubes. There are daily pool and beach activities with the entertainment staff. Just note that Hard Rock is one of the few all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana not offering kayaks, Hobie cats or paddleboards as the ocean occasionally is a bit rough for these activities.

 Since summer 2022, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana is also home to a water park, one of the newest water parks in Punta Cana. It is called Rockaway Bay Water Park and is in addition to the smaller water park which is described above and has always been close to the beach.

 Rockaway Bay Water Park is home to 26 slides, even though some of them are counted multiple times – for example, the 4-way speed slide is counted as 4 slides.

 The 26 slides include:
– 9 high-speed slides for teens and adults
– 9 family-friendly slides for kids and children
– 8 smaller slides for children

 Depending on how you count it, there are among 4-5 huge high-trill water slides at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana. Hard Rock Punta Cana’s water park can be compared with some of the other huge water parks in Punta Cana.

 However, there are other activities you can join. If you want to be active, you can play beach volleyball, beach soccer or tennis. Furthermore, there are many other sports activities for an additional charge, such as playing golf at Hard Rock Golf Club, playing minigolf or try your surfing skills at the Flowrider. There are also several entertainment options for an extra charge to make sure you never get bored, such as a Laser Tag game or the Escape Room.

 When it comes to entertainment, there are not only the typical all-inclusive daytime activities or Hard Rock’s comprehensive evening and night entertainment, you can also enjoy some special personal music entertainment which lets Hard Rock Punta Cana truly live up to its name:

• Music Lab: try a guitar and play live on stage, guided by a real Rock instructor
• The Sound of your stay – tracks: hear your personal music and enjoy Hard Rocks’ curated playlists
• The Sound of your stay – picks: be a rock star in your own room with one of 20 Fender guitars
• The Sound of your stay – wax: order a Crosley turntable to your room and be your own DJ with Hard Rocks collection of iconic records

 When talking about “entertainment and service” at Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana, there is so much to explain about the entertainment part, that the service is nearly going by the board. But don’t worry, the service attitude at Hard Rock Punta Cana All Inclusive is perfectly fine. As in most other resorts in Punta Cana, patience and understanding for a different culture and attitude go a long way for a worry-free vacation.

 While I don’t have a particular example of how great or satisfying the service and staff at Hard Rock is, I also don’t have any example where we were treated subpar, which is just what you need from an all-inclusive resort: unintrusive and satisfying service with a smile – that’s exactly what you can expect at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana.

Rock Royalty Level (VIP Level) at Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana

 The Rock Royalty Level is the VIP tier with additional services when booking one of Hard Rock Punta Canas’ rooms. Compared to other all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, it comes with more personal services instead of particular VIP lounges or restaurants. Furthermore, Hard Rock doesn’t have a ton of rooms or room categories in their premium level, it is just the Caribbean Sand Suite that can be booked with the Rock Royalty Level privileges. 

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 The Rock Royalty Level at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana comes with a lot of additional advantages. Some of the most important are:

• Dedicated telephone concierge
• Upgraded full-size Rock Spa bath products
• Aromatherapy and Pillow Menu
• Complimentary 25-minute couple’s massage
• Complimentary beach bag
• Plush Bathrobes & slippers
• Sleeping Mask
• Loofah Sponge and Bath Salts
• 24-hour room service
• Welcome Petit fours
• Rock Royalty Level Pin
• Selection of Guitars (Picks® program) and Crosley turntables (Wax® program)
• Priority Reservations to Picks® and Wax® program
• Espresso Machine with Premium coffee

 The most important advantage of the Rock Royalty Level at Hard Rock Punta Cana is concierge, which can assist you with any needs you have, among them dinner reservations, room deliveries, express check-out or any other queries you might have. You are connected to your Personal Assistant via cell phone (which can be called from your own phone or from the room phone).

 Even the Caribbean Sand Suite is the only room that can be booked with the full advantages of the Rock Royalty Level, you can also book the Rock Star Suites to take advantage of the Personal Assistant.

Past reviews for Hard Rock Punta Cana

 In case you’re considering a stay at this all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, it might also be interesting to know how the Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews have been in the past. After all, that’s an indicator if the service level of this hotel is constant or if there are frequent changes.

 Let’s have a look at Tripadvisor first – the No. 1 review platform for Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic, at least when it comes to quantity. Of course, you’re finding the best quality reviews of Punta Canas’ resorts here at Punta Cana Travel Blog. 😉

 When checking Hard Rock Punta Cana Resort at Tripadvisor*, it is impressive to see how constant and stable travelers’ experiences are. During recent years, Hard Rock Punta Canas’ reviews have hardly changed, even though there are thousands of reviews being added every year. You can see the review history of Hard Rock Resort Punta Cana in the following table:

• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Tripadvisor until June 2019: 4.43/5.00
• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Tripadvisor until February 2020: 4.43/5.00
• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Tripadvisor until November 2020: 4.43/5.00
• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Tripadvisor until June 2021: 4.43/5.00
• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Tripadvisor until May 2022: 4.41/5.00
• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Tripadvisor until May 2023: 4.39/5.00
• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Tripadvisor until September: 2023 4.39/5.00

 As you can see, the rating score of Hard Rock Resort in the Dominican Republic is just edging by nuances.

 We can also have a look at the review score of Booking.com*:

• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Booking. com until December 2017: 8.8/10
• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Booking. com until June 2019: 8.8/10
• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Booking. com until November 2020: 8.1/10
• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Booking. com until December 2021: 7.8/10
• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Booking. com until May 2023: 7.7/10
• Hard Rock Punta Cana reviews at Booking. com until September 2023: 7.8/10

 Interestingly enough, when checking Hard Rock Punta Canas’ reviews at Booking.com, you can see a pretty sharp decline in the review score. Being from the industry and always having my ear on Punta Cana’s tourism, I am pretty sure this decline came from the Post-Covid hiccups. Many resorts in Punta Cana had to release hundreds of staff members during and after Covid-19, especially when occupancy rates in 2020 and partially in 2021 were pretty low. Later, when demand suddenly picked up, there was a staff shortage and the resorts couldn’t find new (and qualified) staff that quickly – which led to some drastic restrictions in service and quality. Travelers were complaining. Those hiccups are ridden out, so you don’t have to fear any effects from this time. You can also see that the quality of Hard Rock Punta Canas’ reviews is slightly picking up again.

Excursions from Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana

 Ok, I can understand that you don’t want to leave Hard Rock Resort as there is so much entertainment, so many restaurants to try and so many activities to join. However, once you are coming to the Dominican Republic for your vacation, you definitely should explore the surrounding area of the resort as well, as there are so many things to do in Punta Cana.

 A lot of tours can be booked when looking for Hard Rock Punta Cana excursions. My top recommendation is Isla Saona, which is a speed boat and catamaran trip to paradise. You will experience some of the most beautiful beaches the Dominican Republic has to offer and can enjoy the true Caribbean feeling of cruising on a catamaran over the Caribbean Sea. There are private excursions available as well to Isla Saona.

 Due to the trip by bus to Bayahibe, where the Isla Saona tour is starting, this excursion from Hard Rock Punta Cana is a 10-12-hour full-day trip. If you prefer something shorter, you can also hop on a party boat right in Punta Cana. If you are looking for some thrilling excursions starting from Hard Rock Resort, you can check out the best ziplining excursions and the most exciting dune buggy adventures in Punta Cana.

 If you are interested in the natural beauty and cultural heritage the Dominican Republic has to offer, I am highly recommending you the following three Punta Cana excursions, which are all available starting from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana:
– a guided trip to Santo Domingo to see the UNESCO awarded Colonial Zone (see the Santo Domingo excursion here*)
– an excursion to Los Haitises National Park to admire the diversity of the local wildlife (see the Los Haitises excursion here*)
– a countryside tour to local villages* to learn about the traditions, products and the daily life of the Dominican people

 If you are visiting Hard Rock Punta Cana All Inclusive from January to March, you shouldn’t miss the whale-watching excursions, especially as the transfer time is shorter than from other hotels further south. 

And, last but not least, if you are traveling as a family make sure to check out the best Punta Cana excursions for families.

 The Hard Rock Punta Cana excursions mentioned above are just a few of the things you can do at and from Hard Rock Punta Cana. You will also find excursion sellers right at Hard Rock Hotel, even though their tours and activities are usually much more expensive.

 Another option when looking for suitable Hard Rock Punta Cana excursions is to trust the best-rated tours and activities in Punta Cana. They come with a close to 100% satisfaction guarantee, as over 1000 people have rated most of these tours as excellent. Therefore, you can be sure to have a great time with trusted, safe and licensed tour operators, which is important, it doesn’t matter if you’re traveling as a family to Punta Cana or just as a couple or with friends.

 Therefore, make sure to check out the following list of the best Hard Rock Punta Cana excursions:

The best Punta Cana Excursion	Review Score (as of February 2024)	Duration	Price (as of February 2024)	Further information
Isla Saona Premium Tour*	4.95/5.0	9 hours	165 USD
Private Boat Snorkeling & Catamaran*	4.93/5.0	4 hours	800 USD (per group)
Small Group Snorkeling & Catamaran*	4.91/5.0	4 hours	89 USD
Jungle Buggies + Zipline Combo*	4.91/5.0	6 hours	184 USD
Lux Coral Nursery Snorkeling*	4.91/5.0	4 hours	109 USD
4×4 Dominican Experience*	4.88/5.0	4 hours	64 USD
Punta Cana Ziplining*	4.84/5.0	5 hours	90 USD
ATV & Snorkeling Combo*	4.81/5.0	8 hours	129 USD
Montana Redonda + Playa Esmeralda*	4.79/5.0	4 hours	95 USD
Snorkeling Cruise + Dune Buggy Adventure*	4.75/5.0	8 hours	129 USD

Summary

 This Hard Rock Punta Cana review might be the most extensive hotel guide here on Punta Cana Travel Blog. There are reasons for it!

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana is a one-of-a-kind resort in the Dominican Republic. Its focus on music, the endless entertainment options especially at night, the unique restaurant concepts and the huge property with its dozens of pools and bars are simply outstanding and unparalleled. Everyone who is looking for an active and social luxury all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana shall consider Hard Rock Punta Cana – you won’t regret it, especially as prices are more moderate than in recent years, particularly during the high season in Punta Cana.

However, Hard Rock is not for everyone. If you are looking for a small romantic all-inclusive resort, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana might not be your best choice. Furthermore, as the entire Boulevard and most restaurants are air-conditioned, it doesn’t have this tropical Caribbean vibe other hotels can count on. And if you don’t like walking, you should also book a much smaller resort (even if there is a trolley tram running through the hotel) and not one of the biggest all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana.

If an entertaining holiday with great dining, lots of music, an awesome beach section, endless pools and a little touch of Rock throughout your stay sounds like a good plan for your Punta Cana holiday, check out the latest promotions of Hard Rock Punta Cana here*. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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CHRIS

Author, Travel Coach & Industry Professional (Bachelor’s degree in tourism)

Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean soul, who has been living in the Dominican Republic for 6 years. I’d love to be your Punta Cana expert, as I have stayed at more than 45 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana and the country, visited more than 70 beaches, explored more than 40 waterfalls and have seen basically all the attractions Punta Cana has to offer. I have also studied tourism for 3 years and worked in the tourism industry my entire life, which is why I am not only giving you recommendations and tips as a traveler but also the best secrets and travel hacks as an industry professional.
Do you need more information? Read more at my About Me Page, send me a travel coaching request or Contact Me here.

ALSO WORTH READING:

Royalton Chic Punta Cana – a comprehensive review of this adults-only all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana

HM Alma de Bayahibe – a comprehensive review about one of the cheapest all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic

The best dune buggy adventure tours in Punta Cana (Tested and hand-picked)

The best all-inclusive adult resorts in Punta Cana for affordable luxury (mid-price segment)

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