Occidental Grand Punta Cana - Good Value

The Occidental Grand Punta Cana (formerly the Grand Flamenco) is a 4* beachfront resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. It attracts mostly families, but also couples and singles.

Located 30 minutes from the Punta Cana airport, the Occidental Grand is one of the larger properties on Bavaro Beach with nearly 900 rooms. There were renovations done in 2007 - mostly to the rooms - which has increased it's popularity. Guests have the choice of Junior Suites and Royal Club Suites, which include the following: private check in/check out, personal concierge service, room service, preferrred seating at the a la carte restaurants, exclusive pool and whirlpool, exclusive beach area, free high-speed internet access, and premium brand drinks.

Dining options are good with 5 a la carte restaurants - Mexican, Italian, Asian, Pizzeria and Steakhouse/Grill. The Mexian and the Pizzeria (with world class famous chef - in the Guiness Book of World Records) get the best reviews. Other than those two, the food is fairly mediocre, but there is lots of selection. The breakfast buffet also gets rave reviews and includes almost everything you can imagine (with one exception - bacon, which seems to included sometimes and not others).

The Occidental Grand is one of the few resorts in Punta Cana any nightlife. The Mangu disco is located right outside of the front gates - about a 1 minute walk, and it goes until 5 or 6 am each night. This club offers two sections: downstairs for Latin music, and upstairs for Techo, and has a good mix of vacationers and locals. If you are staying at the Occidental Grand admission is free, otherwise, it is $6 USD. Drinks are not included in either case.

The beach is absolutely stunning, and is well kept with staff out early each day to rake up any seaweed. As well, throughout the day, staff are constantly cleaning up in order to keep it as pristine as possible (ie guests leaving cups and dishes under the beach chairs and also the tons of cigarette butts). However, the beach is definitely the main attraction of this resort.

Here are the pros and cons of the Occidental Grand Punta Cana:

Pros:

*On a great stretch of Bavaro Beach which is well maintained
*Only 30 minutes from Punta Cana Airport
*5 a la carte restaurants
*One of the few resorts with a good disco - Mangu
*Rooms are newly renovated
*Offers low rates making it a good value

Cons:

*Showers have poor pressure and hot water is inconsistent
*Can be challenging to get reservations at the a la carte restaurants
*Service can be slow at the buffet and at the a la cartes
*Beach and pool chairs are claimed very early in the morning and there
isn't always enough for everyone
*Lots of sales people on the resort trying to sell time shares
*Safe isn't included - it is $25 USD for the week

This is a great resort option on a beautiful beach in Punta Cana. There are some low rates available right now, making it a very good value. This is a 4 star resort - not a 5 star resort; as long as you're not expecting the Ritz, you will have a wonderful vacation at this resort.