The Bad Definitely Outweighed the Good at Hyatt’s Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana [Review]

I recently spent 3 nights at the Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, an all-inclusive property that gave me extra perks as a Hyatt Globalist.

My first impression of the property was great, but I liked it less each day. By the time of checkout, I was excited to leave. I like this resort even less after leaving, based on the management’s response to my survey (which they sent me after departure).

I enjoyed my swim-up room and the resort’s accommodation of dietary restrictions, but those positives didn’t outweigh the multiple negatives. Those included a super noisy atmosphere, constant sales pitches and promotions, and people smoking literally everywhere at the property.

Here’s a look at my stay and why I wouldn’t return to the Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana.

Booking Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana

After Hyatt acquired the Apple Leisure Group in 2021, Secrets joined the World of Hyatt program. Guests can earn and redeem Hyatt points here and use perks from any Hyatt elite status they hold.

Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana opened in 2010 and underwent a renovation in 2020. It’s currently a Category C all-inclusive, with nights starting at 21,000 points on off-peak dates. For my 3-night stay during spring break travel in April 2026, the resort used peak pricing (29,000 points per night), and upgraded preferred rooms ran 37,000 points per night. Paid rates started at $466 to $685 for preferred rooms.

I redeemed points, receiving a 1.6 cents-per-point redemption value. That’s slightly above our average valuation of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents each.

All Secrets properties are adults-only, and all reservations are all-inclusive, including meals, drinks, some activities, and lodging.

Hot Tip:

Through Hyatt’s Milestone Rewards program, you can earn free night awards and other perks. One of those is a free night award valid at Category 1-7 hotels and at Category A-D all-inclusive properties. That means you can use one of these for a night at the Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana.

Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana Location

Secrets Royal Beach is in the Bávaro area, about 25 minutes by car from the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). It’s surrounded by multiple resorts, walkable to some local shops, and easily reachable by airport taxi.

Much of the beach area is public property. The beach was popular with weddings, but the public beach aspect meant people constantly walked into the background of a wedding in progress.

Pros of My Stay at Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana

The Preferred Club Area Was Great

This was my favorite area of the resort. Timeshare owners and those booked in Preferred Club rooms — which Hyatt Globalists are upgraded to — stay on a side of the resort separated from the main resort area by a wall of plants and a security checkpoint.

This area had its own pool with multiple sections. Passing it on arrival at my room was a good start.

There was a swim-up bar at the largest section of the Preferred Club pool.

There were lounge chairs and umbrellas set around the largest section of the pool, as well as seating on the pool’s upper deck and daybeds between the pool and the beach.

There was also a dedicated beach area for Preferred Club guests. There were chairs and palapas available here, as well as 2-tier cabanas for rent.

Behind the swim-up bar, there was a Preferred Club lounge with seating, a concierge desk, a full-service bar, a small buffet, and restrooms. Oddly, the chips and salsa were kept inside a warming station, which seemed gross.

The highlight of the Preferred Club area was the so-called “lazy river.” There wasn’t actually a current, but this canal ran along multiple swim-up suites and was very popular with guests. It fed into the Preferred Club pool at one end and had a waterfall on the other side.

Cabanas lined one side of the lazy river, while there were in-water loungers at the other side — the side closest to guest rooms. A few footbridges passed over the canal.

Drifters Bar sat near the cabanas, exclusively accessible to Preferred Club guests.

There was also a soaking tub near the bar, but it was just pool temperature — not a hot tub.

The Preferred Club Junior Suite Swim Up Room Was Super Cool

I have Hyatt’s top-tier Globalist status and was upgraded to the Preferred Club section of the resort, a Preferred Club Junior Suite Swim Up room. The bedroom had a comfortable king bed and dual nightstands. The only outlets near the bed were occupied by the clock and phone, so that could be improved. The thermostat’s location was also strange.

The bathroom was spacious with a nice marble design. There were dual sinks, lots of mirrors, and a vanity. Frosted doors led to a toilet space and a shower.

Near the room’s entry, the closet had shelves, hangers, robes, a safe, and a steamer.

There was a TV opposite the bed, a minibar between the TV and the closet, lots of counter space, and a sofa at the far end.

My suite had a terrace with armchairs, lounge chairs, a small table, and a private hot tub. I also had direct access to the lazy river.

Hot Tip:

Guests in Preferred Club rooms also have a butler who can book dinner reservations and activities, answer questions, share the resort’s daily agenda, and more.

Restaurant Options Were Abundant (Though Some Were ‘Meh’)

Secrets Royal Beach had multiple dining outlets, and the variety was nice. That said, the quality varied widely.

Oceana, next to the main pool, offered lunch only for Preferred Club members. My quinoa dish was good, but the chips were soggy, and the guacamole had no flavor.

La Riviera was the hotel’s main buffet, set in the middle of the property and offering 3 meals a day. I had breakfast here daily. Options were abundant, ranging from pancakes and waffles to made-to-order eggs, Dominican fare, fruits, smoothies, and a coffee station.

El Patio was the hotel’s Mexican restaurant, found near the entertainment plaza. Quality and service here felt elevated compared to some other restaurants.

Bordeaux served French fare near the entertainment plaza, with a fine-dining atmosphere and a really cool look. The food concierge (discussed below) hooked me up with a great vegan menu for the evening.

Coco Café was the resort’s coffee shop, found near reception and the entertainment plaza. The staff here were really friendly and offered everything from sandwiches and donuts to coffee, tea, and espresso drinks.

Other options included burgers and hot dogs near the beach, Asian and Italian cuisine, and dining access at Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana next door.

Dietary Restrictions Were Welcome

At check-in, guests were asked about allergies and dietary restrictions. Since I’m vegan, I received a card to present at meals. The card could be customized for each guest’s needs. This made it easy for the staff to help me find suitable options at each restaurant.

The resort also offered a food concierge who worked as the go-between for the restaurants and guests with dietary restrictions. She messaged me on WhatsApp each morning to ask where I planned to have dinner and what time, then found options that worked for me. She also checked on me during some meals to ensure everything went well.

Nightly Entertainment Was Really Good

The center of the property had a stage with outdoor seating, and shows here range from Beyoncé tributes to disco themes. During my stay, I watched a “The Greatest Showman” event, complete with circus performers, and a Queen tribute that was really high-quality. I enjoyed both shows I went to.

Cons of My Stay at Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana

Elite Check-In Was Intentionally Disorganized

Upon arrival, the bellhop found my name on the arrivals list and directed me to the main hotel desk. Across the lobby, I saw an elite check-in lounge and assumed I was supposed to go there. I definitely wanted to, since the line at the reception desk was long. There wasn’t anyone at the desk with a World of Hyatt elite sign.

I asked the bellhop if I could just go straight to the elite lounge to save time, and he said I couldn’t. Why? The process was this: I needed to wait in the normal line, then have someone walk me to the elite lounge if I was deemed eligible to use it for check-in. That meant waiting in line twice. That’s a bad setup.

I spent over 20 minutes checking in. It felt very nonelite.

People Hogged Beach and Pool Chairs

Want a pool chair or cabana? Claim it at sunrise — seriously.

While the resort’s official policy was for employees to clear unattended chairs at 8 a.m. daily, that never happened. Instead, guests threw their towels and belongings onto the chairs as soon as they woke up, then returned hours later to use them. By 8 a.m., nearly every seat was claimed.

Finding an available pool chair, beach chair, or cabana in the Preferred Club section was very difficult.

The Main Pool Was Noisy

DJs pumped music at the main pool for dance parties and water aerobics at multiple times of the day every day. The wall of plants between the main pool and the Preferred Club area didn’t block the music, so the Preferred Club pool became seminoisy by extension during these periods.

Behind the Oceana restaurant was a quiet pool, but it wasn’t far from the main pool’s DJ, so the “quiet” claim wasn’t always true.

For those really seeking a quiet pool experience, the furthest pool from the can’t-talk-to-your-friend volume levels was the rear pool — set closer to the buffet restaurant.

Sales Pitches Were Constant

I was asked to attend a timeshare sales presentation every day during my stay. I also had sales flyers slid under my door each day. Employees who were pitching paid water activities approached me multiple times a day at the beach. The constant sales pitches lessened the experience.

It Could Use a Facelift

My positive first impression of the resort’s appearance didn’t last.

The doorframe and door to my room had obvious signs of wear and tear.

Buildings showed patchwork paint jobs and stains — though not prominent, blemishes were visible in some walkways between buildings.

Along with cracks and chips in the tiled floors, things have settled unevenly over time. That created opportunities for serious puddles around the resort on rainy days. Evening out the walkways and improving drainage systems could help.

People Smoked Everywhere

My least favorite thing about this property was the smoking. Cigarettes, cigars, vapes, and marijuana were smoked everywhere — including my neighbors smoking in their room, which supposedly wasn’t allowed and wafted under the connecting door into my room.

Other guests smoked in the hallway of my building, people would plop down next to you at the beach or entertainment show and light up, and all outdoor seating at the main buffet restaurant (La Riviera) was designated as a smoking area.

I was not a fan of this at all. This was a smokers’ resort; if I had known that in advance, I would not have stayed here.

I left with clothes smelling like cigarettes and a nagging cough for a few days, because I’m really sensitive to cigarette smoke.

Management Was Rude After I Completed a Survey

After my stay, I completed a survey sent by Hyatt. I was honest about the good and the bad. I praised the lazy river. I complained about the smoking and the check-in process.

Management from the resort’s customer care team emailed me afterward, claiming I lied about the smoking and talking down to me like I didn’t understand that my room wasn’t ready when I arrived — an immaterial point to my complaint about having to wait in 2 lines for check-in. The fact that I killed time at a restaurant wasn’t part of the equation, and his dismissive, patronizing email made me like the hotel even less than before.

Final Thoughts

I wanted to like Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana. I really did. First impressions were great.

The Preferred Club area was awesome, I liked my butler, and some of my dining experiences were good. What really killed the experience was the widespread smoking, and the final nail was the resort’s condescending email in response to my survey feedback.

I won’t be returning to this resort.