We were a party of 17 spread across 7 rooms. While the property location and aesthetic is great, the challenges are:
1) They do not have hotel shuttle from the airport so you have to haggle for taxi fairs as soon as you get off after a long journey.
2) Please expect a sub par experience if you have not booked directly with them. Thats also a great marketing strategy to get you in thousands of dollars worth of membership. Might suggest you to finance that.
3) While the restaurants have great 5 star aesthetics, food is not of the greatest quality. It is much worse if you are big group size as they will not give you the option of a la carte for "maximum efficiency". Even though this entire group had to individually pay for their room and not under one group discounted deal.
4) they did try to make up for their ineffeciencies after repeated complaining by bringing the menu of one of their Italian theme restaurant but serving in the general buffet place which is outdoor and now my kids who are allergic to mosquitoes are left with huge swellings on their body.
5) Finally, please expect a very sub par drink quality with very limited option. For example, if you are a beer drinker, you wont even get a corona and similar for any alcohol of choice. Again a great marketing strategy to get you in for the expensive membership.
While I look forward to visit Punta Cana again, I am not keen to re book to this property or any other hotels under the Melia group. Discl# These are my personal op