Ocean Blue & Sand, Punta Cana

My mother and me do annual trips together and this year Ocean Blue & Sand did not disappoint. CheckIn and Privilege accommodations were perfect for the two of us. Our Butler Tomas greeted us and showed us around the Privilege exclusive areas to I use the full self service lol ge with all top shelf accompaniments. He notified us daily of meal options and activities at the resort daily during our entire stay. The foam party, parasailing, photos on beach with birds and beach from cabanas were top service. Only downside was I usually choose resorts that are adult only. But that was my oversight. The overall atmosphere, location and multiple restaurants were better than expected for all-inclusive resort. Thank you Tomas for making our stay a true Privilege experience.

It was a wonderful experience especially if your butler is Thomas. He made our vacation amazing and unforgettable. I would recommend to get the privilege stay. The room is clean and food was great! Plus the beach. The activities everyday were so fun. Well definitely come back.

Overall, this is a great resort! The setting is beautiful. The beach is gorgeous. The service is good. There are plenty of fun activities all day long my teenage boys were happy! The food is also very good including the buffet! Theres an extra buffet open for lunch that has amazing outdoor seating right by the ocean. I only have two things I wish were different: 1. It is impossible to eat at most of the ala carte restaurants if you arent privilege. We did use the app to get reservations at the steakhouse and hibachi restaurants (which are the only 2 restaurants non-privilege guests can reserve), but otherwise we had to eat at the buffet. Thankfully the food there is good. 2. If you want chairs on the beach with a palapa you have to have your towels on them by 6:30am. Im not kidding. And if you want chairs at the pool you have to claim them by 8:30. But overall, its been a great stay and we hope to come back!!

Ocean Blue & Sand 5-Star Experience You can always find imperfections if you look for them, but if you focus on whats great, youll have an amazing time - like we did. The Vibe Day & Night The resort feels completely different from day to night. During the day, its lively with poolside entertainment, beachgoers, and bustling bars. In the evening the whole place is beautifully lit up in a tasteful, calming way. It feels safe, relaxed, and serene, making it perfect for an evening walk or winding down after a day in the sun. Staff & Service The staff work incredibly hard and are always polite, friendly, and respectful. Their warmth and effort really made our stay. You get back what you put in. Tipping We werent entirely sure how tips get distributed, but its definitely appreciated. Some guests tipped regularly, others didnt - its really down to what you feel comfortable with. The Beach Absolutely Stunning! The beach here is breathtaking - soft white sand, turquoise waters and very little seaweed. It's beautifully maintained and never felt overcrowded. Top Tip: Go at sunrise or sunset for the most spectacular photos - the light is magical. Loungers & Shade: Getting a lounger with shade at the beach can be tricky. Many chairs sit empty for hours with towels reserving them. It would be tempting to use one and move if someone returned - many stayed vacant all day. Be Cautious: Be wary of slick chaps waving parrots and iguanas - theyll offer to take a photo, then charge a hefty price. Negotiate first if youre interested or politely decline. We only had one occasion on the beach where someone tried to sell us drugs - this happened when we wandered away from the hotel. Beach Safety: Flags indicate water conditions - black, red, orange, green. It can get rough with strong currents. Theres a lifeguard stationed, and they are rightly strict, especially at night. Food & Drinks We mainly ate at the buffet, so I cant comment much on the la carte restaurants. Breakfast was excellent, with the usual spread - eggs, bacon, hash browns, fruit, cheeses, salads, bagels, waffles, pastries, and more. Top tip: Sit by the windows for a more restaurant-like, personal feel. We loved taking our coffees outside to relax and read afterwards. Drinks: Great selection, but no 0% alcohol beersthis would be a much-appreciated addition as my partner doesnt drink. Privilege Upgrade? Dont bother. From what we saw and heard, its not worth it. The only noticeable perk was access to the beach café for breakfast and dinnerbut you can still have lunch there and sit after 10:30 am. You do also get sun loungers and branded drinks. Only downside? I love eating outside, and the buffet didnt offer this, though some specialty restaurants did. Beach & Pool Life The sunbed situation was amusing - lots of empty loungers with towels reserved on them. Since we werent keen on baking in the sun for hours, we based ourselves at the beach café area - shaded, peaceful and empty until midday when people started arriving for lunch. By then we had our spot perfectly chosen, with the bar right on hand. The pools are large, inviting. They even had ducks swimming about occasionally, which was surreal but entertaining. Key Info: Quiet pool bar closes at 6 pm, main pool bar at 7 pm but no one rushes you out. Towel hut closes at 5 pm (some reviews say earlier) and is not obvious on the map - situated on beach front). Worth returning towels the day before departure to avoid any last-minute hassle. Walk inside the apartment buildings for a mostly shaded route across the resort - a real bonus in the heat. Rooms & Facilities We stayed in Block 7, third floor - very quiet, despite the view being of a road and trees. Close to the dining area and a short 5-minute walk to the beach. Things to Note: No lifts - so if mobility is an issue, request a ground-floor room. Room service: Drinks were always topped up. You start with a big water bottle, then get smaller ones on room service days (we had ours cleaned 3 times in 2 weeks). Extra bottles available at bars. Safe: No issues. Mosquitoes: They are definitely around. We got a couple of bites despite precautions and we lathered up with mosquito spray before trips and in the evenings. Keeping the balcony door shut no doubt helped. Getting Around Check-in isnt fastexpect 40 minutes (we waited 15 mins for a golf cart to take us to our room). You could walk yourself, but they insist you wait. Golf carts constantly zip around - handy for a lift but also something to dodge when walking! Wildlife & Atmosphere The birdlife was a lovely surprise - flamingos, white herons, woodpeckers and plenty of little birds chirping and waiting for crumbs. A few friendly kittens hung around the beach bar and buffet area too. Sales Pitches & Shopping Timeshare reps camp near the buffet, offering "free stuff" that leads to a hard sell - politely declining worked fine. Pop-up stalls selling goods appear a couple of times a week. The sales approach is strong, but if youre not interested, walking away is easy. The Coffee Shop A Hidden Gem Loved it! A relaxed space with seating outside and amazing coffee. The banana bread and carrot cake were excellent. WiFi Generally good, but not secure - the network is called Feel The Ocean. Trips Out - Experiences Saona Island We loved it so much we went twice! Pay extra for a smaller group experience - its worth it. Coco Bongo A nightclub-meets-acrobatic-show with lots of audience participation. We got the Gold Ticket (good if you want seating). Its a 7 pm to 2:30 am night out! Wouldnt go again, but great for photos. Evening Buggy Ride Fun, but the cenote turned into a loud disco, and there wasnt much time to get changed for dinner. A bit of a hard sell on products, and the "open bar" wasnt really offered until we were leaving. Tour Tips generally: Expect to be picked up hours before the actual tour starts, as they collect guests from multiple hotels. You still arrive on time - they factor this in and often wait up to 20 mins for guests running late. Final Tips If your departure time is after 12MD checkout time we negotiate to stay on and use the facilities until transfer arrived although had to leave the room. Airport Check-in: Online check-in isnt always an option, via TUI anyway but dont stress - you need a physical boarding pass and its easy to sort. Re TUI rep - use WhatsApp if you need to reach out as presence in the hotel variable. The Cow: You must get a picture on the cow. No explanation needed! Final Verdict A fantastic stay - warm, welcoming, and truly enjoyable. The beach alone is worth the trip! If you embrace the experience and dont sweat the small stuff, youll love it here. Would absolutely recommend!