arrived 14th apr 08 booked into grand oasis punta cana (or so we thought) told oasis was overbooked - a regular occurance apparently- and we were moved to sunscape hotel virtually next door to grand oasis against our wishes, told that sunscape was a 5 star hotel but was actually a 3.5 star property! not happy at all as you can imagine as paid for 5* . after endless arguments with the grand oasis staff who were condesending to say the least , not to mention had a bad attitude and no social skills we eventually settled into the sunscape after demanding a beach view room as compensation for our downgrade!! went back to g.oasis next day and told no possibility of a transfer there as no rooms would be vacated until the sat 19th... another british couple on a 2 wk holiday also told that they would have to spend 1st week at sunscape but could transfer to grand oasis for 2nd week. (we were only there for 1 week so didnt apply to me and my friend-we were 2 girls sharing)HOWEVER WE WERE ALLOWED TO USE BOTH HOTEL FACILITIES which sounded ok but the oasis used a wristband identity for guests and they wouldnt give us wristbands. this caused a problem trying to get onto resort when security guards asked us to prove we were guests. after several attempts to speak to a manager at the oasis but never achieving it due to the staff at reception being extremly unhelpful and rude we monitored the guests leaving on coaches going to the airport on a daily basis and concluded that staff had lied about rooms being unavailable during our stay ...so as the week went on we started to appreciate what the sunscape had to offer and realised quite quickly that the service at sunscape was in fact far better than at the 5*grand oasis. the staff we much friendlier and better manered than oasis staff..the service at the restaurants and quality of food was superior than the supposidly 5*HOTEL in fact we were begining to think that it was a good thing that we were sent to sunscape after all,and we were not the only ones.speaking with guests at sunscape who had been put there instead of oasis it seemed that people had noticed that the oasis looked a lovely place but had no atmosphere about it...it was rather clinical and in fact boring,wheras the sunscape was friendly and fun and full of good atmosphere and you could feel it when you walked into the place. it felt good. in fact the british couple who were supposed to go to the grand oasis for the 2nd week of their holiday refused to go and stayed at sunscape instead as they were having a good time there. we went to the beach party on the fri nite at sunscape and it was amazing...the organisation put into it was incredible in fact it was a fantastic night and the staff were brilliant. we danced all night and suffered the hangover next day but definately worth it!!! this holiday was getting better and better and when we ventured onto the oasis complex from time to time we didnt regret being moved to the sunscape at all. so we would like to say thanks to the grand oasis for moving us away from your boring hotel and giving us a far better experience with nicer people than yourselves and if we do decide to come back next year it will be at the sunscape hotel we will be staying rather than yours! thankyou to everyone at sunscape. (from the 2 scottish girls with the scottish knickers showing the flag!)

My boyfriend and I, both in our early 20s, just came back from having spent a week at Sunscape Punta Cana. While the location is very convenient, only 20 minutes away from the airport, the rooms could use a lot of improvement!!! Our air conditioner worked fine, however the room was humid at all times and mould was definitely “in the air”. Luckily we’re both healthy; however for someone with respiratory problems or allergies I think it would be pretty unbearable to stay in one of those rooms. Having washed all our clothes upon our return, we can still smell the mould. Aside from that, everything else in the room could use some upgrading.

The main buffet was OK for breakfast however we did not eat lunch there and we only had dinner there once. We had lunch on the beach every day, there was a restaurant right on the beach and in addition they had somebody barbequing outside the restaurant daily. Dinner at the main buffet consisted of mostly fried foods: chicken, fish, even the zucchini was fried. On the other hand, the specialty restaurants (there are 4) were all excellent for dinner the only thing is you have to get there around the time they open otherwise they fill up quickly (they do not take reservations in advance).

When you call the front desk to request anything (fresh towels, soap, toilet paper etc) be prepared to wait for some time, or if you want something right away you are better off looking for a maid in the hallway and getting it yourself. On our last day we checked out at 12 and we were told that at 3:20pm we could have a room to shower before getting on the bus and heading to the airport at 4pm. When we went to pick up the key we showed up 10 minutes early and ended up getting the room key at 3:25, before leaving the front desk I asked the front desk agent if there would be towels, soap and shampoo in the room and sure enough we got there and there was nothing, not even toilet paper! We called for stuff but 20 minutes later I was still waiting; my boyfriend had walked over to the desk in the meantime but they insisted that they would send the stuff to the room. I was finally able to take a shower and while my boyfriend was in the shower I was getting dressed and somebody, who was scheduled to use the room after us, walked in the room. I wasn’t too impressed, but didn’t have any time to say anything to the front desk agent because our bus was there.

The highlight of our stay was probably the Wednesday night dinner. They set up the food stations outside and the tables by the pool. Lots of good food and a great atmosphere, we really enjoyed it. The bartenders and the waiters/waitresses were all very nice, at least to us, some people said that they felt some staff was expecting tips in exchange for good service. We always tipped anyway and you could tell that they were very appreciative.

Overall we had a good stay, but that’s because we refused to let certain things get in the way of enjoying ourselves.

We just returned from the Sunscape, Punta Cana,on April 20, 2008. Our week vacation was quite enjoyable. The Lobby, Grounds, Pool and Beach are spotless. The staff were friendly and accommodating. We found the specality restaurants to be excellent, the no reservation rule was confusing as there were empty tables but you were put on a waiting list. The entertainment staff were a hoot and great dancers. My biggest complaint would be the rooms. Although the hallways are clean, the rooms are in need of a facelift. The TV barely brought in a reception, the curtains and bedspreads are antique in style, and the walls are paper thin as you could hear every conversation between rooms. Good thing you don't spend a lot of time in them.
On the whole, we had put in the worst winter in years and were happy to be in the heat and sunshine and the Sunscape did the trick.
We were told at check-out that the hotel was to be re-modelled within the next two years and will be under the Dreams name.
Brenda & Ron
Ottawa

My wife and I booked a week long trip with Apple Vacations on a lark because the price was so appealing. From the moment we stepped foot on the USA3000 flight from Philadelphia it seemed that everything was going to be just perfect, and it was.

We were met at the airport by a friendly representative of Apple Vacations wearing a flowered shirt. He got us quickly to our resort where we were met in the lobby by greeters offering cold drinks. Check in was a snap and we went off to our room that was in a building just steps away from a beautiful beach.

The room was large and the furniture a bit dated, but all in all, we were extremely comfortable. That evening we were invited to a orientation session which was very helpful and where we met the management of the Sunscape.

We could not have been more pleased with our stay. The beach area is beautiful and so is the large pool. There were plenty of chairs although getting a chair early in the morning was a must. Boat rentals were included in the price of the vacation and I learned how to sail a hobie cat - what fun.

The food was ample and tasty, the drinks kept flowing, the entertainment was fun. The young performers worked all day and night making sure that guests were enjoying their stay. The service people at the hotel were extremely helpful and friendly.

The resort has several theme restaurants beside the large buffet dining area. We liked Oceana and the Italian Bistro Da Mario's. At no time did we have to wait in line to get a table.

The Sunscape is under new management and it became very clear to me that they are serious about upgrading the resort and teaching good service skills to all employees. I heard from one manager that plans were being made to upgrade all the rooms.

In the middle of the week, we decided to explore the Island and rented a car arranged by the concierge. Many people told us that driving would be a challenge and they were right, but we would still do it again the next time we visit. The roads had few signs, so you really need a good sense of direction or have facility with Spanish. Pot holes where everywhere which required a great deal of attention so as not to tear up a tire. Most of the towns were not set up for tourism but were very interesting nonetheless.

On our last evening, we were invited, along with other Apple Vacation guests to a wonderful beach barbeque. There, we once again met the management of the hotel. They sure were available throughout our stay.

We returned home relaxed and happy with the quality and value of our stay at the Sunscape Resort. We were also pleased with the attention to detail that Rosenbluth Travel and Apple Vacation representatives provided us throughout our trip.