November 4, 2024

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AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana – a comprehensive review of this newly-built Punta Cana hotel

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Punta Cana is dominated by all-inclusive resorts, but if you’re tired of resorts, don’t need the daily entertainment or simply want to relax in style, options besides Punta Canas’ traditional resorts might come in handy. One of them is AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana, which has two significant advantages: it is newly built (only opened in 2021) and its location is right in the center of Bavaro and Punta Cana, where you can experience some of the best local restaurants, different shopping and authentic nightlife. But there are more advantages than that, which is why you should continue reading this comprehensive Marriott Punta Cana review.

Where is AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana?

Before we’re starting with this extensive hotel review about AC by Mariott Punta Cana, let’s talk about the location of this hotel, as it differs from most other accommodation options in Punta Cana.

Marriott Punta Cana is located in Downtown Punta Cana (even though it is actually part of Bavaro), one of the upscale epicenters of local life in Punta Cana. You can find two shopping centers, supermarkets, local nightlife, plenty of restaurants, different banks (incl. ATMs), rental car offices, laboratories (for Covid-19 tests), the famous Coco Bongo, a large cinema and much more here in this area, everything in 2-10 minutes walking distance. There is also a KFC, Burger King and Hard Rock Café around the corner in case you’re looking for international food brands. This being said, Downtown Punta Cana is one of the most important commercial centers of Punta Cana, but it is still lively enough that you’ll also find local shops and daily life.

 The area is also perfectly safe hence you can walk to all of these places without a problem. For your way from the airport to AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana, you can simply book a private airport transfer* or one of the shared airport shuttles*. You can find more information about the transfers from Punta Cana International Airport here. Coming from the airport, it is just a quick 15-minutes drive to AC Hotel.

Another advantage of AC Marriott Punta Cana’s location is that you can also use Uber when you want to get from the hotel to anywhere in the Punta Cana area. Contrary to all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, Uber drivers can pick you up without a problem right at the lobby of AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana.

Overview of AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana

As you can see, the location is already a big plus for AC Hotel Punta Cana, especially if you want to experience Punta Cana instead of just being the whole day at the pool or one of Punta Canas’ beaches.

But let’s have a look at how the hotel is doing in this comprehensive AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana review.

First of all, the most important thing to note is that AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana is NOT an all-inclusive resort. This means all drinks and meals have to be paid on spot (except for those you have paid upfront, for example when booking a room rate with breakfast), as long as you consume in the hotel. On the other hand, you are absolutely flexible to eat, dine and drink in public restaurants, hence it is not mandatory to consume at AC Hotel Punta Cana. Obviously, the rates at AC Hotel Punta Cana are much lower than in an all-inclusive resort, as you can see from the extensive price comparison further below in this hotel review.

Not being an all-inclusive resort, Marriott Punta Cana is also much smaller than a typical Punta Cana resort. While this means that there is less entertainment and fewer activities (however, see further details about activities and entertainment in the sections below of this AC Hotel Punta Cana review), this also means that everything is much closer, much easier and much more personal. From the lobby to your room you won’t walk more than one minute (which sometimes can be 10 or 15 minutes in some of the bigger all-inclusive resorts like Hard Rock Punta Cana or Melia Punta Cana), you will most likely see the same staff throughout your stay (which means that if there is a problem, it usually can be handled immediately by the same person) and if there is anything you need, there is just a really short way to get it.

The lobby at AC Hotel by Marriott in Punta Cana

 Therefore, the setup of AC Punta Cana is explained pretty quickly. When entering the hotel from the large parking lot, you are directly in the lobby with 2 check-in desks, a little counter with grab & go food items, a working area with 2 public computers including internet and a couple of lounge areas and a sofa. As a newly-built hotel, which was just opened in 2021, everything is brand-new and thoroughly designed, offering a vibe between a business hotel and a leisure hotel.

The lobby at AC Hotel by Marriott in Punta Cana

Next to the lobby, seamlessly connecting, you find the restaurant and bar of AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana, which is open throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It also has a terrace with outside seating available.

The bar at AC by Marriott Punta Cana

 Next to the terrace, you’ll find the spacious and quiet pool with several Bali beds as well as sun and water loungers. The pool is perfect if you’re looking for an area to relax, as it is usually not frequented by as many people as in the all-inclusive resorts of Punta Cana. There is also no loud party music played, guaranteeing the perfect atmosphere to chill out. Pool towels are included in your stay, waiter service for drinks is available.

The pool at AC Punta Cana Hotel

The pool is surrounded by a huge green garden, which probably gets more tropical in the future.

If you want to get active, there is a gym at Marriott Hotel Punta Cana. It is located on the second floor.

The gym at Marriott Punta Cana Hotel

The beach at AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana

AC Hotel Punta Cana is not located on the beach. The closest beach access points are Bibijagua, Jellyfish and Corales, which are part of Bavaro Beach and count several public restaurants and beach clubs. Taking an Uber in Punta Cana to these beach areas is easy and cheap. It takes only 10-15 minutes and costs around 4 to 6 US-Dollar.

The rooms at AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana

When it comes to Marriott Punta Canas’ rooms, those are what you would expect from a hotel belonging to an international chain focusing on business and leisure travelers likewise. You’ll find everything you need in your hotel room, including comfy beds, a minibar (with bottled drinking water included), smart TV, a working desk, tea- and coffee-making facilities (with tea and coffee included), hangers, an ironing board and iron, perfectly working WiFi and a bathroom with toilet, sink and shower as well as upgraded bathroom amenities.

One of the AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana rooms

When booking one of the rooms at AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana, you have the choice between the following room categories:

  • AC Deluxe Garden View Room with King Bed
  • AC Deluxe Pool View Room with King Bed
  • AC Deluxe Pool View Room with 2 Queen Beds
  • AC Executive Garden View with 1 King Bed and 1 Sofa Bed
  • AC Poolside Room with Terrace, Pool View, 1 King Bed, Sofa Bed

The room categories are listed top to bottom from the cheapest option to the most expensive room.

One of the AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana rooms

In general, the facilities of all the rooms are pretty similar. One of the most important differences is the view, as the Pool View Rooms offer a much more attractive view than the Garden View Rooms, do you agree?

The pool at AC Punta Cana Hotel

The Deluxe Pool Queen Rooms come with an added advantage as they feature appealing floor-to-ceiling windows. But also some of the Deluxe Pool King Rooms do have those large windows. The other rooms feature regular windows, except for the Poolside Rooms with Terrace, which have a terrace to step out and sit.

Another difference between the rooms is the size. While the Deluxe King Rooms feature 247 square feet, the Deluxe Queen Room has an additional seating area, totaling the room size to 334 square feet. The Executive Room and Poolside Room are even more spacious (387 sqft), as they feature a sofa bed and lounge area.

Booking and Prices at AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana

As with all the other hotels in Punta Cana, AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana can also be booked through several booking channels, such as meta-search engines, travel agencies or online tour operators. To compare the prices of Marriott Punta Cana, you can check out the following websites:

Prices at AC Hotel Punta Cana are starting at 95 USD + tax in low season and approximately 110 USD + tax in high season – add a couple of dollars if you are looking for refundable rates. Children just pay a very small surcharge of around 15 USD per night, the second child is even free with some rates.

To give you a better overview of the pricing of Marriott Punta Cana, we have checked three different scenarios and various booking websites to give you an idea of where you can get the best rates:
Scenario 1: couple looking for a Punta Cana vacation in low season, lowest room category, 1 December – 8 December
Scenario 2: couple looking for a Punta Cana holiday during high season, lowest room category, 15 February – 22 February
Scenario 3: family (2 adults, 2 children 8 and 14 years) looking for a family holiday during summer, 15 July – 22 July

(mobile users: please turn your device to landscape mode to enjoy the best view of these tables)

refundable rates

non-refundable rates

All prices were taken on the 10th of June 2022.

As you can see, there is usually a price parity between most of the major booking websites, including the Marriott Punta Cana website, particularly for the non-refundable rates. All of these websites are also usually offering refundable rates, which are a bit cheaper.

However, there is a significant trick on how to save a few bucks when booking AC Punta Cana: you shall register (for free) for Marriott’s Bonvoy loyalty program, which gives you usually a 3-4% extra discount on the rates (when booked through the Marriott website). This being said, the cheapest option, particularly for the non-refundable rates, to book Mariott Punta Cana is usually through their own website*. For refundable rates, Expedia* and Booking* sometimes offer better conditions, but you shall thoroughly check the conditions as they can vary for each request.

Very important: Prices can vary from one day to another, they might also be different depending on the country where you are located. Make sure to check booking, payment and cancellation conditions, as they might vary widely. It pays off to compare different platforms, but it is also worth to skip some of the cheapest offers if you don’t know and/or trust the company. If booking directly with the hotel or with renowned platforms like Booking or Expedia, you are usually making a good decision.

Restaurants and bars at AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana

AC Marriott Hotel Punta Cana does have one restaurant and one bar, but this doesn’t mean that your stay gets gastronomically boring after 2 days as you have plenty of excellent public restaurants within walking distance.

Let’s start with the restaurant in the hotel, AC Kitchen & Lounge, a Spanish-influenced restaurant with an elegant vibe, where you can eat and dine Tapas-style or have a European breakfast.

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The breakfast at AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana, which is included in some of the room rates (but not in all of them) and otherwise can be additionally booked for 10 USD, is an extended continental breakfast buffet served throughout the morning (usually from 06.30 am until 11 am). Being a continental option, it offers a decent selection of high-quality food, among them fresh fruits, different kinds of bread, cheese and ham, two or three hot items, natural juices, baked goods and a few items more. It is by far not comparable with the breakfast buffets of the large all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, but this is also what you shouldn’t expect from a continental breakfast buffet. It is a great start for the day, especially considering the relaxed and elegant atmosphere. There is also the option to order à-la-carte for an additional surcharge if you don’t like the buffet or would like to eat something else.

For lunch at AC Hotel Punta Cana – which you can have poolside, in the lobby or on the terrace – you can choose between snacks, tapas or lunchtime favorites.

For dinner at Marriott Hotel Punta Cana, be prepared for a delicious tapas-style menu. Most of the smaller items, such as an Asparagus Cheese Risotto, Portobello Mushrooms or Andalusian Chicken Moorish, range around 5-6 USD and some of the bigger plates – which serve as a main dish as well – range between 9 and 20 USD. There is a decent selection of vegetarian items as well, for those who don’t eat fish or meat, such as Veggie Sandwich, Strawberry and Goat Cheese Salad, Pumpkin Cream or Spanish Tortilla.

 We decided on two tapas – delicious gambas and a well-cooked risotto – and two main dishes, a super huge and soft grilled salmon and a heavenly tuna bowl. The quality was outstanding with some minor room for improvement. Compared to a tapas meal we had recently at an all-inclusive resort (Catalonia Punta Cana), it was better. In general, I would rate the quality of the meals at AC Punta Cana similar to à-la-carte restaurants of premium and high-end all-inclusive resorts (those in the price range of 400-600 USD per double room per night).

The price for those four plates (without drinks) was around 55 USD incl. tax. Later in this AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana review I’ll show you a comparison of prices with all-inclusive resorts so you can see if it is worth considering Marriott Hotel Punta Cana as an alternative for your vacation in Punta Cana in case you want to save a few bucks.

The same quality as for the food can also be expected for the drinks. They have a selection of 6-7 signature cocktails, which are a little bit more expensive (around 10 USD per drink), but are well-crafted and carefully mixed with high-quality ingredients. We tried two of them including the Rosa Sangria and the The Signature Gin Tonic and they were indeed top-notch.

A cocktail at AC Hotel Marriotts bar in Punta Cana

We also had another Mojito (regular cocktails are priced around 7 USD). The taste was not spectacular, but obviously, the presentation is much better than when you get them in a plastic cup in some of the all-inclusive resorts. 😉

A cocktail at AC Hotel Marriotts bar in Punta Cana

But the bar, restaurant and lounge of AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana are not everything you can experience in terms of gastronomy here. Right on your doorstep, you’ll find some of the best restaurants in Punta Cana, which you can visit particularly for lunch and/or dinner.

One of them is Noah, which is regularly voted into the Top 10 out of 200 restaurants in Punta Cana. But also Punto Italia, 4 Jacks, Fusion Bistro Bar or Samoa Punta Cana are recommended if you want to dine out. All those places are reachable in 10 minutes of walking. Hard Rock Café Punta Cana is also only 10 minutes walking away.

Some of these places can also be visited if you’re looking for bars. Further options include the famous Congo Bar (visit here from Friday to Sunday if you’re looking for local nightlife) right next to Coco Bongo, Tommy2 or The Pub.

Entertainment, nightlife and service at AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana

Local nightlife is also one of the reasons why AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana is overly interesting compared to other Punta Cana hotels, particularly when compared with some remote all-inclusive resorts.

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The author Chris in the Dominican Republic

As mentioned, you have a couple of bars in the immediate surrounding, including some very local options such as liquor stores, the gas station (yes, gas stations in the Dominican Republic often turn into drinking reunions with loud music on weekends’ nights) or local Colmados. These options are all VERY “local” – while it isn’t dangerous at all (particularly in Punta Cana), visit with caution and let your valuables at home if you go (find more about these authentic options in my soon-to-be-published nightlife guide of Punta Cana).

Another unique nightlife option – a bit more upscale than the options mentioned before – is Congo Bar, right next to Coco Bongo Punta Cana. It is particularly popular among resort workers in Punta Cana and offers a unique combination of local vibe and international music.

All of these options mentioned are within walking distance.

But also if you’re looking for activities and entertainment during the day, the surrounding of AC Hotel Punta Cana offers plenty of things to do in Punta Cana. There is a cinema, a gym and the so-called Caribbean Lake Park, where you can do wakeboarding, water skiing or ziplining (even though it is just 1 cable).

If you’re looking for entertainment and activities within AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana, you should know that it is – in general – a quiet hotel. However, they have occasional live music, particularly at the weekend. When we have been there, they had a live band for breakfast and a DJ at the pool for one day. On another day, there was a big screen set up to watch the Champions League final. Additionally, every Thursday, there are Tapas & Wine nights at Marriott Punta Cana.

Entertainment with live music at AC Hotel Punta Cana

Further amenities: is Marriott Punta Cana a business hotel or a leisure hotel?

As you can see, especially due to the location, Marriott Punta Cana is an interesting hotel with a selected choice of entertainment within the hotel and lots of activities, restaurants and nightlife options outside of the Marriott resort. But is AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana a suitable accommodation for leisure travelers spending their vacation in the Dominican Republic or is it just a business hotel?

In my opinion, it is both. Business travelers will be happy at AC Hotel Punta Cana. Check-in and the way to the room are super quick, the restaurant and pool are just a stone’s throw away and it is only a 15-minute drive from Punta Cana International Airport. There isn’t any loud entertainment, the WiFi works well and you have a working desk in your office.

But there are further amenities at Marriott Punta Cana if you’re looking for a workation, a business hotel or a place for a meeting. As a guest, you can enjoy one of the smaller conference rooms (not the one pictured below) for around an hour for free (depending on availability) in case you have to do a Zoom call or a business meeting. This is not an official service (and therefore not guaranteed), but you can ask for it as a courtesy on the reception. During the day, the lobby also gets visited by local digital nomads, making it a great hub to connect and work from.

Conference room at this leisure and business hotel in Punta Cana, AC by Marriott

But this doesn’t mean that you can’t spend your Punta Cana holidays at AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana. While it should be clearly noted that – and I hope this Marriott Punta Cana review showed the difference – this hotel is not an all-inclusive resort, it might come particularly handy when looking for a relaxing vacation. If you don’t like to walk 5 or 10 minutes from your room to the buffet, if you’d like to explore local life right at your doorstep or if you want to have a super relaxed pool without party music or groups making noise, AC Punta Cana is a great option, especially if a beach right at your room is not necessary for you.

Furthermore, Marriott Punta Cana is also a great option if you’d like to move around a lot in Punta Cana, as Ubers in Punta Cana can easily access the lobby of the hotel, which is not the case in many of the all-inclusive resorts.

Price comparison: AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana vs. all-inclusive resort

When looking for a holiday in Punta Cana, AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana might also be a great choice if the all-inclusive resorts seem too expensive for you, which might be the case especially in the peak season when many Punta Cana resorts are charging 400 USD or more per double room. To indicate if a stay at Marriott Punta Cana can be cheaper, let’s have a head-to-head comparison between Marriott Punta Cana and an all-inclusive resort.

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Let’s imagine a couple spends 3 nights in Punta Cana. While you have everything included in an all-inclusive resort, most of the services have to be paid extra when staying at Marriott Punta Cana, which is not all-inclusive. For a way to compare the prices, let’s calculate 25 USD for breakfast (the price including tax for the continental breakfast buffet at AC Hotel Punta Cana), 40 USD for lunch and 65 USD for dinner (that’s the approximate price for starter, main course and dessert at AC Kitchen, the restaurant of Marriott Punta Cana, but 65 USD would also go a long way in the public restaurants in Punta Cana). Furthermore let’s assume you are having (per person) 3 beers (12 USD), 2 soft drinks (6 USD) and 2 fancy cocktails (20 USD) throughout the day, for example at the pool and at night at the bar (or at any public bar around). Instead of the typical all-inclusive resort entertainment, you’re visiting the closeby cinema (8 USD per person), the gym (10 USD per person) and we’re also including an Uber ride to one of Punta Cana’s beaches back and forth (10 USD), where you can eat and drink well with the budget calculated.

For the comparison, I’ll take Serenade Punta Cana, a compact and affordable all-inclusive resort, which was also recently (at the end of 2020) newly opened and Royalton CHIC, which is, being an Autograph Collection Hotel, a Marriott All Inclusive Resort in Punta Cana.

As prices during the different seasons in Punta Cana are varying, the comparison of Marriott Punta Cana and the all-inclusive resorts includes one example in the low season (November) and one in the high season (February).

It is important to note that you can’t compare 100% the AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana with an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, but it shall give you an idea about the price ratios of both types of hotels. Please note that I have calculated very generously the extra costs at AC Hotel Punta Cana, particularly regarding drinks and food (more than 600 USD per couple for 3 nights), which is definitely and at least equal to what you would consume in an all-inclusive resort. However, it is not necessary to spend that much on drinks and food, you could live easily with 200 USD as well (or even less if traveling to Punta Cana on a budget).

Low Season (example dates: 1st-4th November)

AC Hotel by Marriott Royalton CHIC Serenade Punta Cana
3 nights in a double room 392 USD 1010 USD 689 USD
Punta Cana Airport Transfer 52 USD 100 USD 52 USD
Breakfast (3 days / 2 persons) 75 USD 0 USD 0 USD
Lunch (3 days / 2 persons) 120 USD 0 USD 0 USD
Dinner (3 days / 2 persons) 195 USD 0 USD 0 USD
Drinks (3 days / 2 persons) 228 USD 0 USD 0 USD
Activities 36 USD 0 USD 0 USD
Transfer to the beach (Uber) 12 USD 0 USD 0 USD
TOTAL 1110 USD 1110 USD 741 USD

 All rates are public rates, refundable and don’t require any registration. Cheaper rates are available if you register for Expedia’s member program or the Bonvoy loyalty program and if you accept non-refundable rates.

 As you can see, Serenade Punta Cana is the clear winner in this comparison, as it offers very attractive prices of below 250 USD per night per room all-inclusive.

High Season (example dates: 1st-4th February)

AC Hotel by Marriott Royalton CHIC Serenade Punta Cana
3 nights in a double room 494 USD 1190 USD 1063 USD
Punta Cana Airport Transfer 52 USD 100 USD 52 USD
Breakfast (3 days / 2 persons) 75 USD 0 USD 0 USD
Lunch (3 days / 2 persons) 120 USD 0 USD 0 USD
Dinner (3 days / 2 persons) 195 USD 0 USD 0 USD
Drinks (3 days / 2 persons) 228 USD 0 USD 0 USD
Activities 36 USD 0 USD 0 USD
Transfer to the beach (Uber) 12 USD 0 USD 0 USD
TOTAL 1212 USD 1290 USD 1115 USD

During the high season, the differences are much smaller and you can see that AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana has very competitive rates. Therefore, if you love personalized service, quiet surroundings, local life and a quick airport transfer in Punta Cana of just 15 minutes, Marriott Punta Cana can be enjoyed “all-inclusive style” as well without breaking the bank – and as an additional plus, you can choose among different public restaurants and bars compared to just being able to visit the resorts’ restaurants.

Bonvoy Status (VIP Level) at AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana

Marriott Hotel Punta Cana doesn’t have any Preferred Club or VIP Status where particular areas of the hotel are exclusively for a certain part of guests, as practiced in many of Punta Canas’ all-inclusive resorts. In other words, you have access to the entire hotel, it doesn’t matter the type of your booking.

However, you can register for Marriott’s Bonvoy membership to collect points with your Punta Cana stay. Even if you’re a new member and only register now, this brings you benefits like lower room rates and mobile check-in. Further perks, such as late check-out, welcome gifts or complimentary room upgrades, are being added the longer you stay at any Marriott resort worldwide.

Interchanging facilities between AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana and other Marriott Resorts in Punta Cana

In total, there are 7 Marriott resorts in Punta Cana:

  • Royalton CHIC Punta Cana – Adults Only
  • Royalton Splash Punta Cana
  • Royalton Punta Cana – Adults Only
  • Royalton Bavaro
  • The Westin Puntacana Resort & Club
  • Four Points by Sheraton Puntacana Village
  • AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana

4 out of those 7 properties (all Royalton Hotels) are Marriott All-Inclusive Resorts in Punta Cana. Even though they are all belonging to the Marriott chain, you don’t have access to other hotels when staying at AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana.

Safety Protocols and Hygiene Standards at AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana

Since February 2022, there are no Covid-19 regulations or restrictions anymore in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic.

While some of the hotels are still keeping up their sanitary protocols, there are no requirements for face coverings, vaccinations or Covid-19 tests when traveling in the Dominican Republic.

Still, AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana provides you with hydroalcoholic gel at the reception, the buffet and in your room. Deep cleaning and frequent sanitization are still in effect.

Excursions from AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana

Especially when booking a hotel like Mariott Punta Cana without all-inclusive, it might be even more worth booking some of the exciting Punta Cana excursions, as you’re not missing out on any of the meals or activities you have included in your resort. Therefore, make sure to check out this list of the best things to do in Punta Cana and the most exciting tours in Punta Cana. All excursions, which can be booked with a pick-up in Punta Canas’ all-inclusive resorts, can also be booked with pick-up at AC Hotel Punta Cana.

Assuming you’re visiting AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana because you’re interested in local life, culture and the country, I’d also love to recommend a few excursions that are perfectly suitable for this case. While usually Isla Saona, ziplining and catamaran tours respectively booze cruises are some of the most popular Punta Cana tours, in the case of AC Hotel Punta Cana I’d recommend the following excursions.

Culture & Countryside tour:
On this tour, you get to know everything about the Dominican Republic: the local fruits, plants and products such as sugar cane, coffee, cacao or tobacco and the processes on how to produce and use them. Most tours also include a visit to Macao Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Punta Cana.

Original Dominican coffee

Hiking in Punta Cana:
Do you love nature and would like to explore Punta Cana off-the-beaten-track? Then you shall check this introductory hike to the Anamuya Mountains, a smaller mountain range close to Punta Cana, but far away so that you won’t see any visitors here.

View of the Anamuya Mountains close to Punta Cana

Xtreme Buggy Tour:
Fancy some action & culture? In this case, this extreme buggy full-day tour is the perfect choice for you. While exploring the highlights of the Dominican countryside and some remote villages, you are also enjoying the fun of driving a real dune buggy with an original Volkswagen engine.

Buggy Excursion in Punta Cana with Xtreme Buggy Adventures

Summary

As you can see, AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana is a more than interesting accommodation option in Punta Cana. Particularly the location, the personalized approach in such a small hotel (for Punta Cana standards) and the quiet atmosphere make the hotel a perfect option for those who are either a bit sick of the hustle and bustle in an all-inclusive resort or who can’t chum up with the concept of all-inclusive, for whatever reason. But also if you’re a digital nomad, a business traveler or need to combine work and vacation, Marriott Punta Cana is a perfect home for a couple of days, particularly if you want to be close to everything as described above in this Marriott Hotel Punta Cana review.

Also pricewise the hotel is very reasonable, considering you’re getting a newly-built hotel with the elevated standards of a well-known international hotel chain. Even if you add the expenses for (optional) food, drinks or activities, AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana is a great option and can compete with an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana of a similar standard.

When considering a stay at Marriott Punta Cana, you should definitely register for the Bonvoy program, as this saves you a few bucks on your booking (sign up here* if you’re not a member yet). Furthermore, make sure, once you are there, to check out the surroundings to get a glimpse of local life.

Especially considering Marriott Punta Cana is one of the few resorts without all-inclusive, the hotel is a great choice if you’re looking for relaxed but stylish accommodation in Punta Cana. Considering the brand standards of Marriott, there is not much where you can go wrong with it.

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The face behind Punta Cana Travel Blog: Chris

CHRIS

Author, Travel Coach & Punta Cana based digital nomad

Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean Soul. Since 2011 I have been living in the Caribbean, among them 5 years in the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana is my home-base here in the country and I’d love to tell you more about how to experience Punta Cana off-the-beaten-track and give you all the advice you want to know for your vacation in Punta Cana.

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