Hotel Review: Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana

As seen in Travel Age West

My 4-year-old son was vibrating with excitement as Marshall, the fire pup from “PAW Patrol,” walked toward us across the courtyard. His cheeks were flushed with excitement, and when Marshall opened his giant arms for a hug, my son’s elation overflowed — I don’t think I’ve ever seen him happier.

I saw this expression of pure joy again and again throughout our time at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana, one of two Nickelodeon properties from Karisma Hotels & Resorts. 

This property was the perfect getaway for my three sons (ages 2, 4 and 6) — whether they were splashing in the waterpark, making cookies at Club Nick or blowing kisses to Dora the Explorer — but, just as important, it was the perfect getaway for me. 

The All-Inclusive Food

I believe food is what truly separates a good all-inclusive vacation from a bad one. And when you have a picky 6-year-old, finding accessible but tasty family-friendly fare is tricky business. Luckily, Nickelodeon Punta Cana’s dining options had our entire family looking forward to every mealtime. Although the kids’ choices were the same at every venue, each themed restaurant offered a unique experience. All the eateries were located in Gourmet Village, a cobbled town square with a European feel (there’s also a quaint Italian cafe here from which I conveniently grabbed my morning lattes).

At Sicilian kitchen Verdello, we were served pasta cooked exactly how each of us liked it (a skill I am still trying to master), while at BRGRS.PH, we seriously debated ordering the Machete Burger — a family-size creation so big it needs to be cut with a machete.

Spaceship-turned-restaurant Spacewalker not only made a baingan ka bharta (smoky eggplant curry) to write home about, but it also has a virtual reality experience that took my boys on a prehistoric dinosaur adventure between courses. Even the buffet spread at Sugarcane was full of delicious variety, with a host of quality, inspired options and fresh ingredients.

Accommodations

The world often feels like it is made for a family of four, but at Nickelodeon Punta Cana, my brood of five fit in perfectly. We stayed in the Nest Suite, which features a king bed, a pull-out sofa, a smart television and a marble bathroom with both a rain shower for me and a large freestanding tub perfect for bathing my littles. It was cozy and modern, while also giving us the space we needed when crashing at the end of the day. One of my sons dubbed it “our Nickelodeon home.”

We also had a spacious balcony, which was ideal for lounging on during the evening while we waited for the kids to fall asleep. Our outdoor space looked across the lush green resort and also faced the Swank Wraparound Swim-Up Suite and the Connecting Swank Plunge Pool Suite, accommodations with private wraparound terraces and fun pool features. When my kids are better swimmers, I’ll definitely explore those accommodation options.

Kids’ Activities

This resort was built for younger kids, the ones who still adore “Dora the Explorer,” want to drink frozen green “slime slushies” and still believe that the person in the Chase costume is, in fact, the pup from “PAW Patrol” himself. So, we spent most of our day at Nickelodeon Place, the colorfully branded outdoor waterpark and snack bar where guests can meet TV characters, float down the lazy river, get slimed with green goo and explore Nick Club. For hours, my boys zoomed down waterslides, practiced swimming in the shallow pool and played with waterspouts, buckets and fountains. 

From noon until 2 p.m., it’s “family time” inside the air-conditioned Nick Club, an indoor play space with a ball pit, a slide and, of course, a TV playing Nickelodeon shows on a loop. After 2 p.m., the club is for ages 4 through 12 only, which meant I could leave my two older boys to make crafts, go on scavenger hunts and sing with licensed caregivers for a few hours while I took some quiet time of my own. 

There is also a paid babysitting service for kids under 4 in the nearby Baby Club, which features an adorable splash pad made just for little ones.

Offerings for Parents

After every dinner, my kids rushed to the giant (supervised) bouncy castle in the square to burn off their remaining energy. Armed with balloon animals, they jumped for joy while I was able to enjoy live music and peruse the nearby cocktail stations. There were top-quality tequila, rum and vodka mobile bars, all ready to craft a favorite adult beverage. 

Some nights, there were dancers or singers as entertainment, while some nights we saw clowns and trick cyclists. But, like clockwork, every night brought a chance to relax, connect with my children and celebrate the magic of Nickelodeon with the people I love most.