Adventures by the Glass: Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana and WOW Wedding Specialist Program

Last week I had an amazing opportunity to experience the Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana while completing certification training for the Hard Rock WOW Weddings program. I must say that this hotel, this brand, and this destination are a true favorite for me and my clients.

Enjoying the gorgeous beach and weather in Punta Cana

The Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana is a huge all-inclusive resort with fantastic, luxurious rooms, a gorgeous beach, tons of activities, excellent restaurants, amazing nightlife, a great casino, and so much more! I was thoroughly impressed with the whole experience. Upon check-in we were greeted with a cocktail on the red carpet in a huge lobby surrounded by rock star paraphernalia. The welcoming staff made me feel at home immediately. My room was a Caribbean Sand Suite and featured a huge jacuzzi tub in the middle of the room, along with an enormous bathroom, lush robes, ultra-comfortable beds, and a bountiful welcome gift of champagne, fruit, and chocolate!

Our WOW classes were filled with travel agents eager to learn about the program to better serve their destination wedding couples. We heard first-hand from the wedding planners on site, the business development managers in the U.S., and even from Colin Cowie himself! Colin introduced us to his entire catalog of wedding collections from the complimentary package to the array of themes that follow a general look but are completely customizable.

Our WOW classroom

The hotel really WOWed us and showed us what they can do for wedding party and guests. We were entertained by fire breathers and fire dancers, bartenders who really put on a show, sax players, costumed dancers, and DJs who knew just what to play. Food and drink were also high quality and enjoyable. And the decor was perfectly elegant and fun. Any bride and groom who love music and fun would be thrilled with a Hard Rock WOW Wedding!

Recognize Madonna's limo?

Entertainment and dining at the Hard Rock Punta Cana are top-notch. We happened to be there during the Lady Antebellum Getaway featuring Lady A, and special guests Canaan Smith, and Scotty McCreery. I'm not a big country music fan, but I have to say they all did a great job! It was a very intimate experience for the fans, and I recommend trying to make it to a show at a destination whenever possible. Hard Rock has so many great concerts throughout the year at all their resorts.

So much sushi at Zen

My favorite restaurants at the hotel were Ipanema (Brazilian Steakhouse) and Los Gallos (Mexican). Room service was good, too, and staff was always friendly and personal. Be sure to try the local beverage Mama Juana -- a concoction of rum, honey, herbs, and bark at one of the many bars. You'll find DJs, live shows, karaoke, a full casino, and the world-class Oro nightclub (managed by Miami club promoters). Throw in the wonderful Fender guitar and DJ programs, and I don't see how anyone could be bored at this hotel!

I cannot forget to mention the wonderful Rock Spa! Here's the most recent spa menu (see photo below). I had the brand new treatment Body and Motion Synchronicity Massage. This is a massage with a soundtrack! The vibrations of the speakers pulsated through my body while the masseuse rubbed my back according to the melodies and beats of the songs. Afterwards, we enjoyed the many wonderful water treatments and rooms (one for clay, steam, and ice). Be sure to use some of your resort credit there!