Relaxing and stress free are two words which I would use to describe the Whala! Urban Punta Cana. My boyfriend and I ventured here for a last minute trip to DR during the Labor Day holiday weekend. This was our first time in Punta Cana and being that it was a last minute trip, we wanted a clean space with good service and a great value. This establishment gave us so much of that! Firstly, we flew into Santo Domingo and hired a transportation service to drive us to the hotel. It is about a 2 hour drive and honestly not a terrible journey. We booked our reservation about 4-5 weeks in advance via cheaptickets and secured a standard 1-bedroom suite without issues. We both traveled late in the evening from different origins. Unfortunately, my boyfriend missed his flight and we were worried that I would not be able to check-in since the reservation was under his name and credit card. I must say, it was almost impossible to reach anyone at the hotel using at least 4 numbers we found. Eventually we managed to reach someone by the name of Michael. He was very helpful and I was able to check-in without any issues. In regards to my experience, below are a some things I’d like to highlight: Pros: - The hotel grounds are small but charming and relaxing. Everything looked exactly as it did online. From the pool to the rooms, there weren’t any surprises. The sun would shine beautifully on the pool area during the day and at night, the lights were cozy alongside the island breeze. - Travel around the hotel is relatively easy. There are only a few restaurants within walking distance however, a Uber ride downtown is only about 11 minutes and less than $10 roundtrip. I went a little further out by the beaches in Bavaro and it cost me about $12 roundtrip. Be mindful, the costs I am noting are via Uber. I tried to hire a cab thru the hotel to go to Bavaro and they wanted to charge me $25 one-way plus 10% fee to use my card. One of our tour guides made us aware that the cab drivers will try to take advantage, so be aware. - Cleanliness seems to be key here. The grounds were spotless and I always saw a staff member sweeping or mopping the areas. In addition, our room was squeaky clean. From the floors to the furniture, everything was spotless. I still did my own cleaning and disinfecting in certain areas but I have to give it to the staff for the impeccable job of keeping things in order. We did not try out the pool during our stay, but the seating area and bar around it were nice. - Our room was 121, located on the ground level and just steps away from the dining area. Despite the location, we never experienced any loud noises or disruptions. Granted we were out most of the day, but at night and early mornings, not a peep was heard. There was absolutely no view from our room though. It seemed to be at the side of the hotel, so it was just some bushes, a wall, and a walkway. At times, staff would walk along the side which would startle me because there is gravel on the pathway but if you keep your curtains close, you likely won’t notice it. - The suite is very basic but plentiful for a short stay. It was a one-bedroom suite including a living room, small dining section, and kitchenette. There is a mini fridge in the room and we were provided with bottle water throughout our stay. - The bed was firm but comfy as we prefer this level of comfort. The hotel offers a menu of pillows. Yes, a menu lol. You can choose your level of comfort from the menu and they will provide it. I never had to do this as my pillows were perfect but I thought it was a cute touch. - There are flat screen TVs in both the living room and bedroom. The TV in the bedroom is much better in terms of quality and channels. - The room has a fan and AC that you can adjust to your comfort with no issues. - Breakfast was included in our stay and the food was GREAT! As someone of Caribbean heritage, the food spoke to my heart. Breakfast starts at 7am and is self-serve. It features a variety of pastries, cereals, traditional Dominican sausage dishes, eggs, fresh fruits and some prepared starches like yuca and sweet potato. There was also cold cuts, coffee, hot cocoa, and fresh passion fruit juice. In addition, everything is labeled in English, Spanish, and Russian. I have to admit that I had low expectations on the food but it was delicious! I also appreciate that it wasn’t American focused because when I travel out the U.S. I want to experience the local flavors. - We did not drive but there appeared to be plenty of parking on the premises. - Lastly, staff were wonderful! We were greeted with a kind greeting and a smile each and every day. Most of the staff speak English but if they don’t, most are honest to let you know and they will find someone who can assist more efficiently. Two things that I want to especially point out – 1) I had an issue with the safe in my room at 11pm on the day of my arrival. Staff were so patient in helping me even though I called them twice about it. Thank you! - 2) Staff are very attentive. If I ever had a question, I could simply walk to the front desk or dial them from the room phone and always received a timely response. Cons: - The hotel is located in somewhat of an off-beaten path. It looks like an area very much under development. I think in another few years, it may be a lot busier than it is now. With that said however, there is not much to do close by, at least not within walking distance. There is a small shopping mall next door with a delicious Argentinian restaurant. There are also a bar, some small restaurants, and convenience store close by, but that was about it. No beach close by either however, transfer to their sister property (Whala! Bavaro) where there is a beach is available. This was a bit of a bummer for me. Punta Cana seems like a very hotel driven area. By this, I mean, if you are not on a resort or have excursions planned, there doesn’t seem like anything to do. In many cities, there is usually a strip with multiple places to visit, I didn’t get that idea from Punta Cana. And since there aren’t any daily activities at this property, you’ll likely find yourself bored if you don’t plan wisely. - The kitchen closes at 9:30pm. Keep this in mind if you are a late arriver. There was a small pizza shop open next door, when I arrived after 10pm but I did not bother. - We genuinely liked our room however, some of the concept does not make sense. There is a kitchenette but absolutely no dishes, cooking utensils, cutlery, or pots and pans. The stove made a sound when turned on, but did not light. Not sure what the goal was in this concept if there is nothing available to use the amenities, but I digress. I would highly suggest they make the stove electric and offer eating and cooking utensils. It would give more of a homely stay. - Couch in living room is hard. - Lighting in the rooms are too dim. It was hard to see the quality of things at night. Not that we couldn’t recognize it but a little more brightness would’ve been helpful. - We liked the bathroom however, I disliked the half shower door. I know this is the trend but it makes no sense to me. - If you are someone who prefers to use a washcloth during your showers, they are not provided. - Finally, check-out is easy but give yourself extra time as the front desk person did a quick inspection before we were cleared to leave. Overall, we had good experience! We likely would not return unless it was a short stay. In addition, we would like to experience the resort/all-inclusive route however, I would highly recommend it to others. Furthermore, I would like to send a very BIG thank you to Michael at the front desk for his kindness and assistance throughout our stay. Also, a very big thank you to the remaining staff including those in the dining area, housekeeping, and front desk for their kindness and service. We enjoyed our time at Whala! Urban Punta Cana. …
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.