Royal Decameron Punta Sal

“Generally pleasant but not excellent”

Pros: 1. Night shows were well-done. 2. Excellent, large beach. Beautiful and well-kept pools. 3. Breakfasts and Peruvian dinner restaurant food was excellent. Cons: 1. There was virtually no English-speaking staff. This is hard to understand given that this is an international resort. 2. The sl… more

Pros: 1. Night shows were well-done. 2. Excellent, large beach. Beautiful and well-kept pools. 3. Breakfasts and Peruvian dinner restaurant food was excellent. Cons: 1. There was virtually no English-speaking staff. This is hard to understand given that this is an international resort. 2. The sleeping room was a little worn. There were also a couple of dead insects. 3. Except as noted above, the buffet meals were plain, repetitive, and unremarkable. I have stayed at Royal Decameron properties in Panama and Colombia, and the diversity of food choices at those properties' buffets was much greater than was the case at the Punta Sal in Peru. 4. The exercise facility didn't open until a little after 8am. It's not clear why it could not have opened earlier, and the relatively late opening time affects/limits when one can "start one's day" in other respects. 5. While it was great that there was ice cream at lunch, there was apparently a rule that one must have the ice cream served in an ice cream cone and not in a cup. There seems to be no reason for such a rule.

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“5 star hotel prices, 3 star underwhelming experience.”

I have been to several resorts in the past, however this is the first time where it felt underwhelming, yet overpriced for what it has to offer. PROs: - location is actually really nice, isolated from urban areas but close enough within a short taxi ride. - entertainment is all day and night l… more

I have been to several resorts in the past, however this is the first time where it felt underwhelming, yet overpriced for what it has to offer. PROs: - location is actually really nice, isolated from urban areas but close enough within a short taxi ride. - entertainment is all day and night long, it felt like there was always something to do. - food: plenty of options, even if a bit repetitive. The bar booths and coffee stands were fantastic in terms of drink and beverage quality. The bartenders do not get enough praise for the amount of hard work and speed while preparing drinks, they were fascinating to look at. Beverages/drinks are unlimited. - Rooms are spacious and have air conditioning, not to be taken for granted in Peru. CONs: - the check in process was absolutely AWFUL. Upon arrival, security wouldn’t let me and my wife in because apparently the reservation couldn’t be found. Instead of doing the right thing and escorting us to the reception with a shuttle or something, they had us wait under the hot Peruvian desert sun for 20 minutes. No water, no seats, nothing. After numerous complaints, they made my wife and I walk a “20 minutes distance” for 40 minutes until we got the lobby, which brings me to the following section. - the actual entrance looks terrible and it can be easily missed if it wasn’t for a small sign located by the gate. It actually looks more like an entrance to a quarry than a 5 star resort, it looks both creepy and out of place. After you pass the gate, there is a 10 minute unpaved driveway which takes you to the actual resort — mind you this driveway wouldn’t look out of place in a war zone or a horror movie. Pot holes, gravel and patches of asphalt under the scorching sun. Absolutely no night illumination or sidewalks. - Our room was nice, certain details make it seem like a 2-3 star hotel room than a so called luxury establishment. For example, the shower was really basic with cheap soap and an ugly shower head. The door locks belonged to the 1980s, with a flimsy knob and keys which barely worked. The room also had an ant infestation in the bathroom. - although the buffet had plenty of options, the food was bland and repetitive. Service was hit and miss,depending at what time you got served.

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“Not Quite Worth the All-Inclusive”

For a place known for its fresh seafood, the buffet was underwhelming. A la carte restaurants were all closed due to low season, and the one that stayed open felt like an extension of the buffet. We found it much better (and cheaper) to eat at local restaurants in town—fresh, traditional, and delic… more

For a place known for its fresh seafood, the buffet was underwhelming. A la carte restaurants were all closed due to low season, and the one that stayed open felt like an extension of the buffet. We found it much better (and cheaper) to eat at local restaurants in town—fresh, traditional, and delicious. The pool bar closed early at 6pm, and there was no fresh coffee available until 9am—not ideal with a young baby up early. Drinks were limited to a preset menu—no substitutions or custom orders, even with a full bar behind the counter. In hindsight, a non–all inclusive stay with meals out would’ve offered better value and a more authentic experience.

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