The Level at Melia Caribe Beach

Melia Caribe Tropical and The Level Melia Caribe Tropical might deserve an award for Punta Cana’s most confusing properties. Marketed as two separate resorts, the two hotels share one massive property, where Level guests have access to everything and non-Level guests are denied access to amenities around every corner. The problem here is that there is no observable division between Level and non-Level areas of the hotel, and amenities are mixed throughout the property. For example, Level guests arrive at the standard Melia Tropical lobby only to be whisked away to a private check-in area at the center of the resort. Yet, this private lobby lounge is nowhere near The Level’s rooms, so guests must take another shuttle before reaching their final destination. But shuttle riding is something guests will get used to, as Level restaurants, pools, and amenities are scattered around the confusing grounds of the larger Melia property.   Thanks to adult-only and family-friendly sections of The Level, the hotel sees guests of all ages — from honeymooners to screaming toddlers to groups of 70-somethings. The crowd is mostly American and Canadian, with a smattering of Europeans as well.  

The Level is a hotel, located within a hotel, located within a gated hotel complex — the property shares an entrance with sister resorts Paradisus Palma Real and The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real. It is situated within a tourist-friendly hub of Punta Cana, directly across the street from an upscale American-style mall, 10 minutes from the restaurants and bars in downtown Bavaro, and 25 minutes from the airport. The property itself is naturally divided into two parts by a swath of mangrove forest and swamp. This is a common feature of beachside resorts in the Dominican Republic, as the government forbids the cutting of mangroves and the draining of their ponds. Shuttle buses are constantly winding their way up and down these boulevards, ferrying guests to their rooms or out to the beach. Past the mangrove thicket, the paths start curling up on themselves and shooting out branches in seemingly random trajectories. The street signs and maps don't quite match up to the reality on the ground, and once the sun sets, you can almost guarantee getting lost. Grounds aren’t well lit at night, and it can sometimes feel as though you are walking in circles.  

Rooms at The Level are spacious and modern. The standard Level Junior Suites start at 450 square feet and have small sitting areas and large balconies. Understated beige tones, white walls, and dark brown furniture create a neutral palette, but contemporary artwork and light fixtures keep things interesting. Bathrooms are on the smaller side, but are nicely finished with beige tile and large shower stalls. Some adult-only rooms have two-person whirlpool tubs. In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, free fully stocked minibars, and plush bathrobes. Family-friendly Master Suites have, as the name implies, separate master bedrooms, as well as pull-out sofas and kitchenettes. The extra space appeals to families and those traveling in groups.  While all rooms and suites have large, beautiful balconies or patios, none have ocean views. 

Guests of The Level have access to all kinds of exclusive amenities across Melia Caribe Tropical. At check-in, Level guests are whisked away to a private lobby and reception area. Though it’s in the middle of the property and surrounded by non-Level guests rooms, The Level lobby is a chic space with its own bar. Off the lobby is the Level’s adult-only buffet restaurant, and a small adult-only pool. The larger adult-only Level pool is a few feet away. It is freeform in shape and is a mirror image of Melia Caribe Tropical’s main pool. There are a swim-up bar, a volleyball net, and a few scattered hot tubs. The lounge chairs are also slightly nicer than Melia Caribe Tropical’s. GABI Club is The Level’s exclusive restaurant, pool, and bar experience. The restaurant, which serves both buffet and a la carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner, is known to be one of the best all-inclusive restaurants in all of Punta Cana. We’d recommend sticking to the a la carte menus though, as we didn’t find the buffets to be particularly impressive. GABI Club has its own outdoor bar, which has a sand-bottom floor, white daybeds, and space-age globular furniture. It’s a cool spot at night to sit with a few drinks, but couples may find the spot a bit too family-friendly. Plenty of children run amok in the sand as their parents sit by the bar. Adjacent to the restaurant and bar, the GABI Club pool is the family-friendly pool for Level guests. The GABI pool looks a lot like its adult-only counterpart, but it’s smaller and has nicer amenities such as rentable cabanas and built-in water lounge chairs.   The Level has its own private section on Melia Caribe Tropical’s large beach. The exclusive area is filled lounge chairs and palapa-style umbrellas, and plenty of staffers are on hand to take and deliver drink orders. The beach itself is calm and quiet. It’s longer than many of Punta Cana’s narrow beaches, but its sandy shores can’t escape the area’s notorious seaweed problem.    YHI Spa and YHI Moves are the spa and fitness center shared by both The Level and the Melia Caribe Tropical properties. The spa is modern, with white walls and contemporary furnishings. Thatched-roofed treatment huts surround the main building, and there’s a small relaxation pool with private cabanas. YHI Moves is a fitness center with indoor and outdoor components. Outside, there is a semi-covered bike and weight room, while inside there are more cardio machines. While modern, the fitness center is small for a resort of this size.   Along with their own exclusive restaurants and amenities, Level guests have access to all of the pools, restaurants, and entertainment options at Melia Caribe Tropical. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, but can be horribly spotty.