Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana

The resort's not-so-subtle Nickelodeon messaging: animated character silhouettes painted on buildings, bold pathway signage, and an orange blimp footstool on every balcony/terrace -- reminds guests that they're fully immersed in Nick's world. But, the accents aren’t cheesy or heavy-handed. The aesthetic is upscale, modern, and tasteful. For instance, the chic lobby features marble floors and modular living room furniture with punches of neon and black. Plants and flowers bring some greenery to the space. Guests are usually greeted with cold towels, Champagne for the adults, and green slime frosties for the kids. Most of the guests here are American and Canadian families on vacation, but some young-at-heart couples stay here, too.
Outside, the grounds are well-maintained and include flat paths that are easy to push a stroller across -- but distances can be long for little legs, so golf carts are available on demand. Also note that the resort shares some of its features with the neighboring Sensatori Resort Punta Cana, an adult-only hotel. However, Nickelodeon guests tend to have to the run of both resorts.

Nickelodeon Hotels is situated in Punta Cana's slowly developing Uvero Alto, a mostly quiet and safe area with resorts and beaches. There’s nothing of interest within walking distance, although most guests spend all their time on-property anyway. Guests looking to check out other beaches farther afield will find numerous tour and outdoor activity providers for kayaking, zip-lining, and Jet Skiing within a 10-minute taxi ride. Expect a 45-minute drive to Punta Cana International Airport. The hotel does not offer free airport transportation. Taxi and shuttle service are reasonably priced and easy to arrange.

Every room is bright, crisp, and modern. The decor is upscale and contemporary with high-end materials like frosted glass, laminate wood flooring, and recessed lighting. Quirky accents -- bright orange blimp sculptures, Sponge Bob-printed window shades, and stuffed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toys -- are all fun reminders that this is a Nickelodeon hotel.
Room layouts and amenities vary widely by category, but all are spacious. Entry-level Nest Suites feature studio floor plans with ample room to spread out. These rooms have a king-size bed for parents, and a pull-out couch for little ones. First-floor Swim-Up Suites add semi-private swim-up access to the lazy rivers that flow through each guest room complex. Plunge Pool Suites on upper floors offer balconies with sizable plunge pools. Every room is well-appointed with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, refrigerated mini-bars, and touch-screen climate controls. Gotcha Covered amenities are designed for little ones and include baby food, strollers, cribs, kids’ spa robes, baby bottle warmers, and safety gates on every balcony. Prestige Members get special extras like butler service and reserved cabanas.
Marble bathrooms are beautifully designed with dual sinks, freestanding soak tubs, and frosted glass shower stalls. Calais branded bath products are standard.
The highlight of the property is the [Pineapple](). SpongeBob fans will recognize the Bikini-Bottom inspired decor, done with a luxurious twist that includes two bedrooms, three baths, a private pool, and butler service. The villa sleeps up to six guests.

The resort’s centerpiece is the large Aqua Nick water park which includes waterslides, fun water features, interconnected pools, and the Aqua Bite snack shack to ensure families can spend the whole day playing. The adjacent building houses a fun kids’ club, Just Kidding, which is stocked with a ball pit and tons of Nickelodeon toys. Staff supervises and provides activities. There's also a nearby character meet-and-greet area, and a theater where SpongeBob and friends make frequent daily appearances. Families get a daily chance to be slimed (and photographed) via a daily raffle drawing. Daily activities include Spanish lessons, cooking classes, and nightly entertainment like beach dance parties and character meet-and-greets. Some of Nick's character line-up includes the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora the Explorer, and PAW Patrol pups.
The beach is almost entirely private as it’s rare to see non-guests on the sand in Uvero Alto. It’s wide, beautiful, and well-maintained; there are plenty of lounge chairs and sunbeds. The Atlantic waters this far north are frequently choppy, however, making them less than ideal for young swimmers. Outside of the water park, the best bet for swimming is the beautiful infinity pool with lovely views of the beach. Ample shaded seating is available via rows of lounge chairs and umbrellas. An adjacent bar provides drink and snack service throughout the day. There's also a second adult-only pool with a swim-up bar. The fitness center, tennis courts, spa, and salon at the neighboring resort, Sensatori Resort, are available for Nickelodeon adult guests to use, as well.
There's fast, free Wi-Fi in every common area, including the beach. Free parking is provided in a secure lot. NICK kNACKS sells Nickelodeon swag like clothing, toys, DVDs, and souvenirs.

The all-inclusive rates cover all food and beverages (including premium alcohol) but weekend character breakfasts and Kitchen 23 do cost extra. Most of the restaurants -- including specialty cuisines like Asian fusion, Sicilian, a coffee shop, and a gourmet burger bar -- are centered in the Gourmet Village which is shared with the neighboring Sensatori Resort Punta Cana. Some guests complain that reservations fill up quickly, so those who arrive late for dinner might be out of luck. Room service is available 24 hours.

• Sugarcane serves buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with an emphasis on healthy choices and Caribbean fare -- it has one of the largest and best selections we've seen in Punta Cana.
• Verdello is a Sicilian-themed restaurant open for dinner six nights a week. It specializes in pizza and pasta, plus housemade Limoncello.
• Spacewalker provides a fun astronaut theme for dinner.
• Zest is only open on weekend mornings for character breakfasts (costs extra). The cast of characters includes SpongeBob, Patrick, Dora, Boots, Paw Patrol, and the Fairly Odd Parents. Pajamas are encouraged.
• Wok Wok serves Asian fare for dinner, and feels a bit more grownup -- though kids are definitely allowed.
• BRGRS.PH is a food truck open for lunch. There are several burgers to choose from, but the highlight is an enormous cheeseburger meant to feed an entire family.
• Kitchen 23 by Le Chique – Cuisine D’auteur serves contemporary, gourmet cuisine for dinner. The restaurant is the most upscale at the resort, costs extra, and is only for adults. Sleeveless shirts and caps are not permitted.
• Fresco provides food and drinks by the pool from late morning to late afternoon. There's a ceviche of the day and casual fare.
• Aqua Bite is located in the water park, and serves fast casual fare in a fun environment that includes bright orange swings.
• Jazmin is the swim-up bar with cocktails, wines, beers, and mocktails.
• Doppio provides speciality coffees, teas, and gourmet sweets all day long.
• Vino Vino is an indoor wine bar that specializes in sangria. Kids are welcome most of the time, but it's just for adults after 10 p.m.