Moon Palace The Grand Punta Cana Review: Is the Biggest NEW Resort in Punta Cana Worth It? Best Suites + What's Still Unfinished
The 30-Second Version
- Best for
- Families and groups who want restaurants, a water park and a spa in one place.
- Suite to book
- Grand Family Suite · Grand Swim-Up Suite · Luxury Grand Superior Ocean View.
- Heads-up before you book
- Areas under construction, restaurants that sell out, and service still settling in.
Rates change with weeks of notice. Checking availability takes less than a minute.
Contents
- What to know before you book
- What guests say
- Location and getting there
- Which suite should you book?
- Beach and pools
- When to go
- Water park, Playroom and Wired
- A new resort: construction and service
- Where to eat
- Spa, nightlife and activities
- Excursions from Macao
- What's not included
- Pros and cons
- Who is it for?
- Quick answers
- How to book without surprises
- Final verdict
What to know before you book
The practical details guests ask about most before they pay, taken from the resort's official website, Booking.com and its Google listing.
What guests say
The resort holds a 4.6 out of 5 on Google (945 reviews) and a 7.9 out of 10 on Booking.com, although that last score rests on only 32 reviews because the resort opened recently. Booking.com breaks its score down by category (October 2026):
Booking.com category scores (out of 10, 32 reviews)
The category scores are the ones Booking.com shows, based on a small sample, and they change over time. Google does not show counted topics for this resort, so praise and complaints (below) are summarized from the most recent Google reviews and carry no percentages.
✓ Most praised
- The specialty restaurants, above all Nikos and Jade
- Friendly, attentive staff
- Spacious, clean rooms
- The spa, the beach and the third-floor infinity pool
✗ Most criticized
- Parts of the resort still under construction or closed
- Specialty restaurants that are hard to book (one guest could not get a table at Nikos in 7 nights)
- Service still slow: servers who take a while and rooms cleaned late
Location and getting there
The resort is in Macao, north of Punta Cana, on the Boulevard Turístico del Este. It is about 19 miles from the airport; published drive times vary with traffic, so plan on roughly 30 to 45 minutes. Booking.com rates the location 8.3.
Two things to sort out before you land: according to the official website, stays of 4 nights or more include round-trip transfers, and if you stay fewer nights or book another way, it's worth confirming or booking one ahead. And if you'd rather rent a car, parking is free. Check-in starts at 3:00 p.m.
Check the transfer options available for your dates, number of passengers and luggage, and organize your arrival at the resort.
Which suite should you book?
The decision that matters most before you book. These are the three options that fit best depending on who's traveling, with the official names and sizes:
Pick Your Suite in 10 Seconds
Option 1 · Families with young kids or grandparents
Grand Family Suite (1,290 to 1,980 sq ft)
Everyone gets their own door without being separated.
Two connected bedrooms, a living area and two bathrooms, with an ocean or golf-course view. In the 1,290 sq ft version, Booking.com lists one king-size bed in one bedroom and two double beds in the other, with a whirlpool tub.
Sleeps up to 7, per the resort.
Tip: if you travel with a baby, ask the resort about cribs; the official website does not detail their availability.
Option 2 · Couples
Grand Swim-Up Suite (635 to 810 sq ft)
Step from your terrace straight into the pool.
Direct pool access from the terrace and a double Jacuzzi, with an ocean view according to Booking.com. It's the suite couples ask for most.
Sleeps 2 adults (per Booking.com).
Heads-up: one guest said on Google that no swim-up was available when she arrived; request it when you book.
Option 3 · Ocean view without paying for a big suite
Luxury Grand Superior Ocean View (635 to 710 sq ft)
Wake up facing the Caribbean for the lowest spend.
Whirlpool tub and an ocean-view balcony. Booking.com lists it as the Grand Deluxe with ocean view, at about 635 sq ft.
Sleeps 2 adults (per Booking.com).
Tip: golf-view rooms are usually the most affordable at the resort, and range from about 635 to 840 sq ft.
If you want to upgrade: the Governor and Presidential Grand Suites (up to about 2,640 sq ft) often come with resort-credit promotions from the brand; read the fine print, because that credit has conditions and is not refunded if you don't use it. In every room, room service runs 24 hours a day.
Check Options for Your Dates →Beach and pools
Down below, the beach is waiting, one of the most praised in Google reviews: white sand, palm trees and calm water. Booking.com lists it as a private beach right in front of the property. Non-motorized water sports are part of the all-inclusive; private beach and pool cabanas, on the other hand, cost extra.
The resort grows upward, in two 18-story towers, which leaves about two out of every three rooms with an ocean view. To cool off there are 9 pools according to the resort, including the third-floor infinity pool, which several guests recommend for sunset. The Unique Day Club, the adults' pool, is for guests 18 and older only.
When to go: weather, rain and sargassum
December through April is usually the dry season and the most popular, and also the priciest. From June to November come the rains, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs June to November, peaking between August and October; the rainy months tend to be the lowest-demand months.
Sargassum can reach the Dominican Caribbean coast and varies a lot from year to year, mostly between spring and summer. At a resort with areas still being finished, the month also affects what will be open: ask before you pay.
Water park, Playroom and Wired
For kids, the big draw is the water park: water slides, a lazy river and a surf simulator, the FlowRider. And if it rains, there's an indoor plan: a two-story Playroom with a pirate fort where kids play with virtual reality. Teens get their own space, Wired, with game consoles and video games.
A new resort: construction and service still settling in
Moon Palace The Grand Punta Cana opened on June 1, 2026, and it shows that it is still growing. Recent reviews agree on three things worth knowing before you book.
The construction. Some areas are still closed or open later. A tour operator (British Airways Holidays) says the casino, the tennis courts, the outdoor kids' play areas and some beach bars and restaurants would open on December 1, 2026, subject to change. Before you pay, message the resort and ask which areas will be open on your dates.
Restaurant reservations. The specialty restaurants sell out days in advance. Book as soon as you arrive, or you'll end up at the buffet more than you wanted.
The service. Several reviews mention slow servers, rooms cleaned late and room service that doesn't always arrive. If something goes wrong, guests' advice is to go straight to Guest Relations, where one guest found the solution.
Where to eat
It's the resort's biggest promise: 16 specialty restaurants included, plus the main buffet. Casa Macao is the buffet, and at night, the whole world. The tip is to make your reservations on day one, first thing in the morning, starting with Nikos and Jade.
Nikos
Greek cuisine from chef Athinagoras Kostakos. The most named in reviews and the hardest to book.
Jade
Japanese izakaya. Another guest favorite.
Teppan by Momo
The chef cooks right in front of you, show included.
Carvao
Brazilian rodizio.
Le Jiraf
French cuisine.
Casa Macao
The resort's main buffet.
Spa, nightlife and activities
The space that surprises the most is the O Spa: more than 64,000 square feet and a hydrotherapy circuit, and one guest said it's the biggest spa she's ever seen in the Caribbean. That said, some treatments cost extra, so ask the price before you book your massage.
When night falls, the resort changes pace: karaoke at Kassette, the League's sports bar, the Unique nightclub (adults only) and a casino, where whatever you bet isn't part of the plan; confirm whether it's already open on your dates. The surprise nobody expects is The Ninth Pin, a bowling alley inside the resort that is among the activities guests mention most.
For golfers, the resort has a Greg Norman Eco Signature 18-hole golf course. Ask the resort about rates and conditions before you book.
Excursions from Macao
Excursions outside the resort are not part of the all-inclusive, and from Macao the best ones are really close. If you leave them for the front desk, you'll pay more, lose your morning standing in line, and find out that in high season the best ones are already sold out. Before you book, check what each activity includes, whether it offers pickup, its cancellation policy and whether there's space on your dates.
Buggy tour with cave swim and Macao Beach
A half-day buggy or ATV ride with a stop at a water cave and Macao Beach; pickup is available.
Saona Island, full day
The natural pool in the middle of the sea and a catamaran with a snorkel stop on the most booked excursion from Punta Cana.
Check the tours and activities available for your dates.
What's not included
So there are no surprises when you arrive, this is what falls outside the rate, according to the resort:
- Airport transfer on stays shorter than 4 nights or booked another way (confirm it)
- Private beach and pool cabanas
- Certain spa treatments
- Casino games
- Some à la carte extras
- Excursions outside the resort
- Golf extras such as cart, balls, clubs and shoes in packages (per a tour operator)
Pros and cons
✓ What works really well
- 16 specialty restaurants included, with Nikos and Jade as favorites
- Water park, Playroom and Wired for kids of every age
- A suite for every traveler, from swim-up to family suites for up to 7
- Gratuities, a daily minibar and 24-hour room service included
✗ What to know first
- Areas still under construction or opening later
- Specialty restaurants that sell out days in advance
- Service still settling in: slow servers and late housekeeping
Who is this resort for?
✓ Great for
- Families and groups who want everything in one place
- Anyone who enjoys specialty restaurants and books ahead
- Couples who want a swim-up suite and a big spa
✗ Skip it if...
- You want a 100% finished resort with every service at full strength from day one
- You get frustrated waiting for a server or planning dinners ahead
- You're traveling with a pet
Quick Answers Before You Book
Is Moon Palace The Grand Punta Cana only for families?
No. It is built for families and groups, but it also welcomes couples: it has adults-only areas such as the Unique Day Club and the Unique nightclub, and the spa does not admit anyone under 18.
Which suite should I book?
For larger families, the Grand Family Suite, with two connected bedrooms and room for up to 7 guests according to the resort. For couples, the Grand Swim-Up Suite, with direct pool access and a double Jacuzzi. And to wake up facing the ocean without paying for a big suite, the Luxury Grand Superior Ocean View.
What time are check-in and check-out?
Check-in starts at 3:00 p.m. and check-out is until noon. If you need to arrive earlier or leave later, ask the resort before you travel.
Is the airport transfer included?
According to the official website, stays of 4 nights or more include round-trip transfers. If you stay fewer nights or book another way, confirm it before you land. Punta Cana airport is about 19 miles away.
Is there parking?
Yes, the resort's own parking is free. A rental car is on you.
Are pets allowed?
No, except for service animals.
Do I need to reserve the restaurants?
You should. Reservations for the specialty restaurants sell out days in advance, and Nikos is the hardest to get. The advice guests repeat is to book on day one, first thing in the morning.
What is there for kids and teens?
A water park with water slides, a lazy river and the FlowRider surf simulator; a two-story Playroom with a pirate fort and virtual reality games; and Wired, a teen space with game consoles and video games.
Are tips and the minibar included?
Yes. According to the official website, the rate includes gratuities, a minibar stocked every day, and 24-hour room service, which you order through the Palace app.
Is the whole resort finished?
Not entirely. The resort opened on June 1, 2026, and several reviews mention areas under construction or opening later. Before you pay, message the resort and ask which areas will be open on your dates.
What costs extra?
According to the resort, certain spa treatments, casino games and some à la carte extras. Private beach and pool cabanas and excursions outside the resort also cost extra.
When is the best time to go?
December through April is usually the dry season and the most popular. From June to November come the rains and the Atlantic hurricane season, and sargassum changes by year and by week. Check the forecast before you leave.
How to book without surprises
- Message the resort before you pay and ask which areas will be open on your dates: it's still under construction.
- Book the specialty restaurants on day one, first thing in the morning, starting with Nikos and Jade.
- Check the cancellation policy of the rate before you pay, especially if you travel during rainy or hurricane season.
- Line up your transfer and excursions: the transfer is only included from 4 nights per the official website, and excursions sell out in high season.
Final verdict
The resort holds a 4.6 out of 5 on Google (945 reviews) and a 7.9 out of 10 on Booking.com (32 reviews), checked in October 2026. It's not the perfect resort, and the points to check are laid out above, but for families and groups who want everything in one place and who travel with patience while it finishes growing, it's one of the most complete options in Punta Cana today.
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