Serenade All Suites, Adults Only Resort — Hotel in Higüey

Long post alert - REVIEW My family and I spent a week here. (Serenade Beach Spa and Resort) We had a total of 7 rooms in building 4 Preferred. The first night myself and BF had to spend the night in building 1 because the air was out in our original room. So we sucked it up, things happen. But that was not really the case. The room was not locked and we went in. (I have pics and a video.) They had no intentions of getting that room ready for us and it should have never been available to choose. (We paid extra so we could ensure that we would all be together.) Management was a little shocked by my video and pics. Not sure how they didn’t know but whatever. We were refunded for the extra fee to choose the room and put into a new room Sunday afternoon above the others. At least we were near our group but every morning at 9am, they would start moving the chairs around at the rooftop bar so we were up|Ready or not. . We lost a whole day going back and forth with management so we were not able to spend time with the family and missed out on some fun. That same night, we tried to use the jacuzzi. We turned the water off and you could hear water running over the balcony. A hose was disconnected so the water was running out. Maintenance was called at 1130pm to check things out. The water was going over the electrical stuff so I was concerned. Luckily we travel with a small flashlight because the guy was not equipped with anything. He connected the hose with a zip tie and that stopped the leak. (No coupling) 😳 luckily my sister was below me so I was able to let her know about the water. |That was just the beginning of our issues. 2 different rooms were overcharged approximately $2400 all together. Management offered them a free bottle of wine or lobster dinner if they would sign off basically saying that they would not post any negative reviews. They declined. As of today, they are waiting for the refunds to hit their accounts. Management claims that they have been refunded though. |2 rooms had their AC go out. One was addressed quickly and the other was marked complete. It had to be reported again. |A fridge was leaking in another room, it was addressed. |Multiple rooms had their key cards deactivated for no reason. So we would have to go back to the front desk and get them reactivated multiple times. |The beverage service at the preferred pool was not great. It didn’t matter if you tipped or not. Most of the time we would just go get our drinks ourselves. |We ate at The Cut and our service and food was terrible. However other family members ate there and it was good for them. I guess it was just an off day for them when we went. After that, we only ate at the main Buffett for dinner. For breakfast and lunch, we ate at the preferred buffet. Only ate at the Mexican buffet once. Overall, I’d say the food was ok but nothing special. |We ate at the sports bar a couple times and the service was slow. However we hung out there a few evenings and the waiter was fabulous. He kept the drinks coming. |We watched the Michael Jackson show and it was good. Definitely not a Vegas show but entertaining. The screen is broke so you can’t see what’s up there well and there is no air here. Only big fans. |Karaoke was ok but mainly because it was mostly in Spanish. (I speak a little but not fluent.) We couldn’t really follow along. |The Silent party and Beach party were a lot of fun. I’d recommend both of these. |Housekeeping and the beverage guy was great! |We left the resort a few times. |We had lunch at Onno’s and as a family we went to Jellyfish. Both were good but nothing special if I’m being honest. |Also did some souvenir shopping and got some larimar at Chez Nicole. Highly recommend. |Overall, the rooms were clean. Most of staff were great that we encountered! Most would smile and interact with you. However, I would not recommend this place. The overall experience is less than desired. Happy to share pics or answer any questions...

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Dream Vacation – The Best Resort I’ve Ever Stayed At!

I’ve traveled all over the world—Europe, Asia, South America, the Caribbean—and I can confidently say that Serenade Punta Cana is the best resort experience I’ve ever had, period.

From the second we arrived, everything felt perfect. We had originally booked a garden view room, but Michael at the front desk went above and beyond by offering us a gorgeous upgrade to a pool view room near the beach—room 3124—for a small additional fee. The view, the location, the vibe—it made the entire stay even more special.

The food? Unreal. Every restaurant—Italian, steakhouse, sushi, buffet—served fresh, delicious, beautifully presented meals. Not one average dish the whole trip. This is luxury dining through and through.

Our room was spotless, super comfortable, and in the perfect location. Room service was fast, friendly, and always got the order right. Everything ran smoothly.

But what truly makes Serenade unforgettable is the staff—these are the people who turn a vacation into a memory for life: • At the Palapa Bar, the energy was unmatched. Junior Vasquez is a total legend—fast, friendly, and just an incredible person to be around. • Yakaira Segura, who served us both at the Palapa and in the à la carte restaurants, was amazing—so kind and attentive. • Martha Encarnación was pure warmth, welcoming us with genuine Dominican hospitality every day. • Pebels, the incredible hostess, helped us book our dinner reservations. Her energy, positivity, and guest-focused attitude stood out in the best way. She truly went above and beyond for us.

Now let’s talk about Pina Colada, the absolute heart of Serenade’s entertainment team.

I’ve never seen anything like her in my life. She should be competing in world dance competitions. Her energy is explosive, her moves are unreal, and the way she brings people together—including shy guests or those who “don’t dance”—is nothing short of amazing. Not even on TV have I seen someone light up a crowd like she does. She’s a superstar.

The entire entertainment crew deserves praise: • Tomas – hilarious, engaging, and full of charm. • Jeffrey – laid-back and always smiling. • Chola – funny, uplifting, and unforgettable.

Every show was alive, joyful, and immersive. These people love what they do, and it shines through.

And just so it’s clear: I was not paid, offered perks, or given special treatment for this review. This is 100% from the heart—because Serenade Punta Cana truly earned it.

One real-life tip: Don’t be cheap. Tipping goes a long way. The amazing people who work here pour their heart into what they do, and most rely on tips to support their families. It’s not required—but when you give as much as they give you, it shows, and it matters.

In fact, I’m trying to extend my stay for another four days—that’s how incredible this place is. I don’t want to leave.

And yes—if you come here and don’t have the time of your life, I will personally reimburse you. That’s how strongly I stand behind this place.

To the entire Serenade family—Michael, Jose, Junior Vasquez, Yakaira Segura, Martha Encarnación, Pebels, Pina Colada, Tomas, Jeffrey, Chola, and every single staff member—thank you from the bottom of my heart.

You made this the trip of a lifetime.

—...

We were genuinely shocked by the poor quality of this resort, especially considering its high ratings. While the weather and beaches were beautiful — truly the only redeeming part of our stay — the overall experience was frustrating, disappointing, and far below the standard expected from a supposedly top-tier destination.

From the moment we arrived, the issues began. We didn’t get to our room until 12:30am, only to find we were given the wrong bed type, the AC wasn’t on, and the room was in unacceptable condition — dirty sheets, a wet bed, and a bathroom door that wouldn’t even close. Water from the shower leaked all the way out to the main door.

We spent the next several days dealing with service failures. Staff were largely unhelpful and dismissive, and maintenance requests took hours or were outright ignored. We had to fight for a room change, which only came after showing “proof” of our complaints and involving multiple staff members. Housekeeping repeatedly failed to clean properly — towels were left on the floor, and surfaces were not cleaned.

Room service was consistently terrible — food always arrived cold and tasteless. Despite informing them of pork and ham allergies, we were served dishes containing pork multiple times. Breakfast meats were mislabeled (ham labeled as turkey), and at one point we were served a pork dish after specifically ordering salmon. If someone had a life-threatening allergy, the consequences could have been severe.

We were eventually offered a room upgrade and a beachside dinner to make up for the issues — but only in exchange for signing a form agreeing not to post negative feedback or take further action. When we asked about it, we were told we could still leave an “honest” review as long as we acknowledged the resort’s attempts to make things right. Seeing a stack of these forms at the front desk told us this wasn’t an isolated incident.

The “romantic” dinner itself was another letdown. Due to high winds, everyone was moved to the terrace — where we sat near loud groups, including children. The food was once again terrible, and my wife even found a hair in her dish. The only mild positive was that the service that evening was better than usual.

Across the rest of the resort, service was wildly inconsistent. Staff at many restaurants barely acknowledged us. Drinks like orange juice and soda tasted different every day — either flat, diluted, or just off. Meals ranged from cold and inedible (like the lamb at Gourmet) to undercooked and unsafe (a rare burger after requesting well done).

To top it all off, housekeeping never showed up when we requested service, even after multiple hours.

In conclusion, the food was a 4/10 at best, and the service was worse. A serious language barrier combined with a lack of care or attention from staff made this stay feel more like a chore than a vacation. If you’re someone who values good food, service, and attention to detail, this is not the place for you.

The weather was perfect, and the beaches were beautiful — but that’s not nearly enough to make up for everything else. We won’t be returning, and we strongly caution others to...