Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana, Gourmet All Inclusive by Karisma

Our family had a fantastic holiday at Nickelodeon in DR! The accommodations were clean and well maintained. The staff were friendly, accommodating, and incredibly hard working - a special shout-out to CAROLINA at the front desk for going above and beyond to make us feel welcome! Staff: First a word about the staff. Every single staff member we encountered was helpful and accommodating. The service was impeccable, front the front desk, to the bartenders, to the restaurant staff. Staff remembered our family from day to day. In many cases they even remembered our preferences (coffee with breakfast, sitting outside at restaurants, etc.) Everyone was very hard working. I can't say enough good things about the staff. Accommodations: We had two rooms throughout our stay. The first was a Pad Suite on the third floor. The room was very clean and nicely furnished. The mini bar was restocked each day. The pull out sofa was even half way comfortable because they put a pillow top cushion on it. (This made it difficult to put away into a sofa, but much more comfortable for sleeping.) Our second room was a swim-up suite and I HIGHLY recommend the upgrade. It is 100% worth it. The Resort: We traveled during spring break and the resort was fully booked and very busy. However, it is so well designed that we never really encountered crowds. There were always pool chairs or beach chairs available. The water park was busy, but no where near the crowds you encounter in water parks in the Wisconsin Dells. Food: This might be the one opportunity for improvement. The food was ok. It wasn't terrible. It wasn't great. We thoroughly enjoyed the coffee café each morning and the many bars, but the restaurants were probably average at best. Still, we never went hungry, and the service was always great. Beach: The surf was a little rough during our stay. It was fun to play in the big waves, but we didn't let our 10 year old (who is a strong swimmer) go in alone. However, about 1/4 mile west along the beach is a reef that creates a calm little swim area. We would grab a couple drinks and take the short stroll when we felt like bobbing in the calmer waves. Overall, I highly recommend this resort. The service is what makes it so special