Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ): Approximate driving time is 20 minutes and distance is 13 miles (21 km.)

Driving directions from Punta Cana International Airport: Turn right onto the main road out of the airport and continue on it, following the signs to the Barcelo Hotel. After the Barcelo, follow signs for the Melia Caribe on the right side of the road.

Getting there: The best way is by taxi which costs $16–$25. Rental cars are more than $36 and are available online. Fees subject to change without notice.

Getting around: This enclave of resorts also features a shopping plaza but to get farther out, use public buses which stop in front of the hotel with fares to the town of Higüey for less than $5. Fees subject to change without notice. Otherwise, taxis or rental cars can be arranged.

All-Inclusive Plan - Price includes the following:

Not included: motorized water sports; golf fees; in-room safe; laundry (no dry cleaning available); medical services; telephone calls; Internet, fax, and copying services; child care; massage; and health-and-beauty spa services.

Agora Grill - Like Turey Grill, Agora Grill is located on the beach and serves breakfast and lunch buffets and grilled foods such as burgers and chicken. In the evenings, it becomes an à la carte, Western-style barbecue and steak destination, with terrace seating and no dress code.

La Gondola - This popular spot plays four roles, offering an Italian buffet for lunch, Italian à la carte selections at dinner (when men are requested to wear long pants), fast foods from 11 PM until 5 AM, and Continental breakfast.

Hokkaido - The resort's only reservations-required restaurant, this lovely Japanese place features teppanyaki dinners, with guests seated around grills while chefs cook to order. Men are requested to wear long pants.

La Pagoda - This Chinese dinner restaurant specializes in popular à la carte choices such as Peking duck and wonton soup. Men are requested to wear long pants.

Le Gourmet - Serving international favorites such as tuna in dill sauce and duck in orange sauce, Le Gourmet is a fine-dining, à la carte restaurant. Men are requested to wear long pants.

Ma Maison - This à la carte dinner house specializes in dishes such as lobster thermidor and beef filet in sour cream and cognac. Men are requested to wear long pants.

Capri - Food from the sea such as seafood crepes and grilled shellfish is the attraction here. Men are requested to wear long pants.

Alhambra - Offering a Spanish buffet nightly, this casual restaurant has no dress code.

Los Panchos - Like Alhambra, this Mexican restaurant has no dress code for its dinner buffet and made-to-order taco grill.

Atabales - This place serves a breakfast buffet and an international dinner buffet six nights a week with no dress code.

The resort includes 10 bars, including one in each lobby (Caribe and Tropical), swim-up bars in both large pools, and a bar serving the casino and adjoining sports bar/disco that remains open until 3 AM.

Room service is not available.

Amenity highlights: Two of everything is the rule: two giant, free-form pools containing 12-person, cool-water spas and swim-up bars; two activity pools; two children's pools; two health spas—one containing a beauty shop and the other a fitness center—and both offering men's and women's saunas, steam rooms, and hot-water spas; two discos; and two theaters presenting nightly shows featuring the resort's exceptionally talented dancers.

Insider tip: Not long after sunrise, savvy guests claim poolside, thatch-roof palapas shading platforms upon which rest foot-thick, bed-like pads wide enough to accommodate a family. (Dozens of smaller palapas around the pools and on the beach are a consolation to latecomers.)