Overview
Zel is a collaborative lifestyle brand from Meliá Hotels International and tennis player Rafael Nadal that blends relaxation, sports & fitness, and social connection
Nestled amongst nature and from spectacular beaches, Zel Punta Cana welcomes guests from around the world with a unique hospitality experience that combines the Mediterranean lifestyle with the island charm of the Caribbean.
Check in
3:00 p.m.
Check out
12:00 p.m.
Inclusions
- Daily activities
- Round-trip airport transfers
Rooms
- 1 king bed, or 2 double beds
- No more than 4 guests in the room
- 1 king bed, or 2 double beds
- Minimum 1 adult, maximum 3 adults
- Maximum 2 children
- No more than 4 guests in the room
- Dining room
- Living room
- Terrace with whirlpool
- 1 king bed, and 1 sofa bed
- No more than 4 guests in the room
- 1 king bed, and 1 sofa bed
- Minimum 1 adult, maximum 3 adults
- Maximum 2 children
- No more than 4 guests in the room
- Dining room
- Living room
- Terrace with whirlpool
- 1 king bed
- No more than 4 guests in the room
- 1 king bed
- Minimum 1 adult, maximum 3 adults
- Maximum 2 children
- No more than 4 guests in the room
- Dining room
- Living room
- Whirlpool for two on the terrace
- Balinese bed in the garden
Direct access to the pool from the private garden area
- 1 king bed
- No more than 4 guests in the room
- 1 king bed
- Minimum 1 adult, maximum 3 adults
- Maximum 2 children
- No more than 4 guests in the room
- Dining room
- Living room
- Terrace with whirlpool
- 2 king beds, or 2 double beds
- No more than 6 guests in the room
- 2 king beds, or 2 double beds
- Minimum 2 adults, maximum 6 adults
- Maximum 2 children
- No more than 6 guests in the room
- Dining room
- Living room
- Large Terraces with two hydromassage bathtubs
- 2 king beds, or 2 double beds
- Pool view
- No more than 6 guests in the room
- 2 king beds, or 2 double beds
- Pool view
- Minimum 1 adult, maximum 6 adults
- Maximum 2 children
- No more than 6 guests in the room
- Dining room
- Living room
- Private garden
Amenities
Reception - artist rendering
Parda Buffet - artist rendering
Parda Buffet - artist rendering
Beso Beach restaurant - artist rendering
Nokyo restaurant - artist rendering
Volcan restaurant - artist rendering
Volcan restaurant - artist rendering
Voltaje bar - artist rendering
Voltaje bar - artist rendering
Silvestre Winery
Location
Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
10/10 experience
Maria Belen P on Jun 06, 2025
We did some classical Dominican dolls. The hotel has multiple little events throughout the day that make the experience all the better. After yoga paddle boarding we were taught by yovanny and Priscilla to craft these dolls. 10/10 experience :)
Extremely Disappointing Stay – Left After 2 Nights Due to Poor Service and Food Quality
Luis_Gonzalez_Mota (Spain) on Jun 06, 2025
I booked five nights at Zel Punta Cana, drawn in by its attractive concept, beachfront location, and the overwhelmingly positive reviews (which now, frankly, I find hard to understand). Unfortunately, I ended up checking out after just two nights due to the severely poor quality of service, food, and beverage offerings. What Went Wrong: Day 1: • Upon arrival, I was warmly greeted by my concierge, Álvaro, who enthusiastically introduced the hotel and its activities. Sadly, the experience that followed did not reflect what was promised. • At the Beach Club, I tried to order a mojito while waiting for my room, but was told they had no soda, no mint, and no lime. • After just four gin tonics, the bar ran out of Amsterdam gin, leaving only the generic house brand. (Worth noting: Amsterdam is one of the cheapest gins available in the country.) • The buffet at Parda had a shockingly limited selection — just tuna and mussels, no beef or chicken, and overall felt more like a poor breakfast than a proper lunch. • Dinner at the steakhouse was more promising in terms of food quality, but after two drinks, the Brugal Leyenda rum ran out — again, a basic local product. Day 2: • Breakfast lacked any real variety — no fresh fruit selection, no cold cuts, and only low-quality cheese and ham. • At Tacorini, there was no beer available (CO2 problem) and no Coca-Cola either. • The room service app didn’t work and the room phone was broken — I reported this three times, with no resolution. • I requested bottled water through the app — it never arrived. • The buffet featured substandard beef and a questionable sweet-and-sour pork dish. Again, no chicken or healthy options. • Back at Tacorini, I ordered a beef gyro and received four chunks of fatty, gristly meat — completely inedible. • The Asian restaurant served a mixed rice dish with only two shrimp and two tiny pieces of meat — this ended up being my first full meal of the day, which says a lot. • The sushi was made with regular rice overcooked into a paste — far from authentic. • I ordered an Aperol Spritz at Parda, only to be told they were making it with white wine because they didn’t have sparkling wine. No Room Service. No Food Availability. No Excuse. Although the hotel claims to offer room service, nothing on the menu was actually available. Staff later admitted this service is simply not enabled — a serious failure for any resort, let alone one under the Meliá brand. This hotel is, quite frankly, not ready to operate at the level its rates and branding suggest. Even the most basic all-inclusive hotels in Punta Cana manage to offer decent food, beverages, and consistent service. I have never gone hungry at a hotel in my life — until now. Management Follow-Up? None. At checkout, I was asked to fill out a form to request a refund for my unused nights. Over a week later, I have not received the refund, nor any meaningful follow-up. The Guest Services Manager reached out to ask why I had left early — I replied promptly on June 1st and never heard back. A Word to Mr. Nadal: This property opened with the pride and endorsement of Rafael Nadal in partnership with Meliá. I strongly urge Mr. Nadal to review the current state of this resort. As it stands, even the lowest-tier all-inclusives in the Dominican Republic offer better service, more food availability, and a basic sense of hospitality. Until significant improvements are made, I cannot recommend Zel Punta Cana to anyone — especially not at this price point. If you’re considering booking here, do yourself a favor and look elsewhere.
Vacation Offers
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Punta Cana, Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos
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