Live Aqua is one of the new kids on the block in Punta Cana, just recently opened in May 2021. With the high price tag, we had high expectations for this self-proclaimed 5-star hotel and it, frankly, did not live up to our hopes. While the hard product (facilities, infrastructure, decor) all met the mark, the arguably-more-important soft product (service, food and beverage) left a lot to be desired. Before you book this property, here’s everything you need to know.
In the review, we’ll tell you everything you need to know:
00:00​​ - Live Aqua Intro
00:36 - Live Aqua Location
01:22 - Live Aqua Lobby & Check in
02:57​ - Live Aqua Rooms
06:27​ - Live Aqua Service
09:29 - Live Aqua Dining
11:53​ - Live Aqua Facilities
14:17​ - Live Aqua Style
For the full written review, check it out here:
www.voyagerguru.com/hotel-rev...
Located in Uvero Alto, on the north end of the Punta Cana region, Live Aqua sits on a gorgeous bay, approximately 45 minutes from the airport in Punta Cana. It’s surrounded by Now Onyx to the left and Dreams on the right. While the majority of the rooms face into the property, the low buildings give it a small-property feel with an openness that many resorts simply don’t have. From the buildings closes to the beach, you have a slight ocean view from the second and third floors.
We arrived to the lobby at 3pm and when you pull up, there is a large automated door that gives the hotel a very exclusive vibe. Whereas many lobbies in the area feature expansive views immediately upon pulling up, Live Aqua hides what’s inside with a modern entry. The lobby itself is quite impressive, with water features and a two-story area complete with the majority of the restaurants and bars on property.
We booked a Premium Pool View king, which is the second lowest room type. You can book the standard (Garden view), but you will face away from the property. We actually really appreciate being able to book the property-facing rooms versus exterior facing, because that’s not often an option at hotels in the DR. The pool view rooms are excellent as you get a gorgeous view of the property’s many gardens and pools. Rooms that face away from the property face the cart path and the next door hotels, which I believe is not an ideal experience, particularly on the swim out rooms (where you are watching staff walk or drive by all day and night).
The room itself is spacious, at 592 square feet. The modern design and simple lines do make the room feel clean, comfortable and very spacious. There is an open concept bathroom with a double vanity, frosted-glass toilet room and a shower with two shower heads. The bathroom amenities are Molton Brown, which is a very nice touch.
As alluded to in the check-in and lobby section, service is quite a disappointment for this caliber of property. There are a number of issues that really boil down to lack of management oversight and lack of expertise in luxury experience at the management level. There are so many wonderful, friendly staff on property that try their hardest to please you and make you happy, but ultimately many of them are not trained to the level a 5-star hotel requires.
Live Aqua has 8 dining outlets, including the breakfast buffet. There are three additional bars, one in the lobby, a sports bar and the Moonada on the 3rd floor of the secondary dining building near the beach. We tried a large variety of restaurants during our 4 night stay as well as room service.
Overall, we are disappointed to say that we didn’t fall in love with this hotel. We were so excited to try this new, modern 5-star property, but it simply did not stand up to what it promises. It has all the potential in the world to be a 5-star property, thanks to the stunning location, architecture and rooms. However, they need a complete management overhaul to dig itself out of this 3.8 star hole it finds itself in. We hope in the future that the brand implements a brand new management team to truly make Live Aqua a 5-star experience for guests.
If you're looking for our Destination Guide on the Dominican Republic, check it out here:
www.voyagerguru.com/destinati...
So check it out and let us know what you think in the comments below!
Have you been to the Dominican Republic? What was your favorite hotel?
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