Not your padre’s theme park hotel
Falcon’s Resort by Meliá launches in the Dominican Republic
Yes, there is a theme park at the first-ever Falcon’s Beyond Destination, which opened earlier this year in the Dominican Republic town of Punta Cana. However, unlike the destination resorts operated by Disney, Universal, and others, where the theme parks are the focal point, Katmandu Park is more of an adjunct to the overall guest experience.
The micro park features high-end attractions and, as I wrote in a previous article, is unique in its own right. But it’s the extraordinary hotel, Falcon’s Resort by Meliá, that takes center stage. Falcon’s Creative Group, which has been designing attractions for third-party clients, recently expanded and is now also developing and operating its own parks and hotels in partnership with Meliá Hotels International. It dubs what it is offering as “resortainment.” There’s a reason why “resort” comes first in the catchy portmanteau.
How luxe is the all-inclusive, all-suite hotel? It’s the kind of place where the staff not only provides turn-down service (with a requisite piece of chocolate on the pillows), but also neatly lays its own cushy slippers atop bedside towels for each of its ultra-pampered guests.
“To put Falcon’s name on a hotel, it has to deliver on our promise–world-class immersive experiences that are truly unforgettable,” says Simon Philips, president of Falcon’s Beyond. “The hotel is an experience unto itself.”
Recently, my gang and I were cushy-slippered, ultra-pampered guests at Falcon’s Resort by Meliá. We stayed in a Master Swim-Up suite. Of the hotel’s 432 rooms, 108 of them are swim-ups. As the name implies, we were able to plunge into a refreshing pool at the edge of our sundeck. When there was a hint of a chill, or when the spirit otherwise moved us, we could swim back and lounge in the sun on comfy canopy beds or retreat to the private hot tub on our deck. When even that was too chilly, or we wanted more privacy, there was a second standalone tub in the suite’s bathroom (which also included a separate rain shower).
The generous, 1,700-square-foot layout also included a lounge with a pullout sofa bed and a large dining area. Not that we did much dining there. The restaurants, which are all included in the room rates, were uniformly wonderful (which isn’t always the case at all-inclusive resorts). Among the choices are the steakhouse, Karnica, where my flank steak was cooked to medium-rare perfection and served with a yummy chimichuri sauce. A side of grilled vegetables was to die for.
The other featured restaurant, Tori, offers pan-Asian fare, including sushi, Chinese cuisine, and teppanyaki tables. While the teppanyaki chef was entertaining, he overcooked some of the items. On a second visit, we ordered á la carte from the menu, and the noodle and other dishes were scrumptious. Origen, the resort’s large buffet, was overflowing with delightful choices for breakfast, including made-to-order smoothies; mofongo, the mashed plantain dish that is a Caribbean specialty; and an incredible array of local fruits such as pineapple, soursop, and passion fruit. The buffet was also a great place to score some late-night treats.
I would have expected the poolside and beachside restaurants to feature casual fare like sandwiches and fries. While those items were on the menu, the table-service eateries also offered surprising choices such as chilled shellfish salad and gazpacho that was brightly flavored with deliciously ripe tomatoes.
We didn’t get to try the ceviche or any of the other dishes at Machu, the hotel’s Peruvian restaurant. Nor did we sample the Tex-Mex fare at the sports bar, Rubi Rocks. But we ate and drank to our hearts’ and stomachs’ content throughout our stay. When it comes to dining out, my family and I can be brutally tough critics. Skewering restaurants, which we’ve honed to a fine art, is something of a beloved pastime for us. Uncharacteristically, we were left with virtually nothing to skewer at Falcon’s.
The grounds are lushly landscaped, and the design of the buildings is inspired. I was constantly surprised and dazzled by elements such as the varied light fixtures throughout the property. But it was the hotel staff that truly made the visit unforgettable. The level of service and individualized, doting attention were remarkable.
About that beachside restaurant: It’s about a mile away from the hotel. Unlike most high-end resorts in Punta Cana, Falcon’s is not located directly on the beach. But there is a lovely walking path as well as frequent shuttles. The path winds through other hotels that are part of an enormous Meliá campus. The approximately 300-acre complex includes five hotels with a total of 2,271 rooms. (A sixth hotel is being renovated and will be joining its sister properties.) Falcon’s is the most exclusive of the properties, with prices starting at $466 (US) per person, per night.
With its gloriously turquoise water, gentle surf, soft sand, and swaying palm trees, the seaside haven is everything you’d want from a Punta Cana beach. Although, as is the case with most of the town’s beaches, the vendors hawking everything from cheap jewelry to day trip excursions can be aggressive and annoying. Thankfully, there are no pesky vendors at the hotel’s Olympic-sized pool, which just might be the most beautiful, and certainly the largest, hotel pool I’ve ever seen. It includes a swim-up bar and serves as a gathering spot for many of the hotel’s activities, such as water aerobics and poolside yoga.
All Falcon’s guests receive passes to Katmandu Park, which is also part of the Meliá campus and located a couple of miles away. There is a complimentary shuttle to and from the park. The park shuttle also stops at the other Meliá hotels, although those guests have to purchase park passes separately. Next year, Falcon’s Central, a dining, shopping, and entertainment complex, will open adjacent to Katmandu Park.
In addition to the park and the under-construction Falcon’s Central, there are resortainment features at the hotel itself. Guests can careen down the water sides at the mini Blast! waterpark located at the adjacent Garden Suites (which is a short walk from the Falcon’s Resort pool). In a later phase, plans call for transforming the Garden Suites as well and making it part of a larger Falcon’s Resort.
There is also nightly entertainment, including live bands. We were treated to an amazing troupe of aerialists and other performers one evening that was on the level of Cirque du Soleil. One downside to the shows: The music continued to midnight and we early-to-bedders could hear the thumping bass in our room.
The Meliá hotel actually opened in 2018, but was modified and rebranded as the first Falcon’s Resort earlier this year. Falcon’s is looking at other properties across Meliá’s portfolio of about 400 hotels worldwide to introduce its "resortainment" hospitality concept. Future sites will include Playa Del Carmen, Mexico and the Canary Islands.
Have you been to an all-inclusive resort? Might you plan a visit to Falcon’s Resort by Meliá and Katmandu Park in Punta Cana?
I have nothing to comment on your amazing vacation. But I wanted to thank you for letting me know about Anakeesta, Astra Lumina, and Skyfly in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. My family and I took a vacation to that area a few weeks ago and really enjoyed partaking in these experiences. I would have never known about these three things without reading your About Theme Parks articles.
The hotel sounds incredible. It's a little different than Disney’s All Star resort. 😏