On Location: How to find your Zen at Zel – Meliá & Rafael Nadal’s hotel collab in Punta Cana

Game, set, match…relax.

Serving up the next vacation obsession, Zel, a fresh partnership between tennis legend Rafael Nadal and Meliá International, has stepped into the hospitality scene – on the court, by the pool, and along the sea – just as wellness and racket sports have their grand slam moment.

The brand’s newest addition, Zel Punta Cana—a 190-suite, nature-kissed, all-inclusive property in the Dominican Republic’s popular Bávaro Beach neighbourhood, 30 minutes from the airport—opened just over a year ago, ushering Nadal’s lifestyle concept into the Caribbean.

Geared toward adults (but still accepting of children), Zel pairs bohemian-chic design with fitness, social, and culinary experiences – all filtered through a relaxed Mediterranean sensibility.

The hotel concept first launched in Mallorca, Spain—the hometown of Rafael Nadal and Gabriel Escarrer, chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels—in 2023.

But the Punta Cana property, which PAX visited from Jan. 23–26, represented a key milestone, introducing the Zel concept to Canadian and American audiences, while coinciding with the opening of a brand-new Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre across the street.

“Wellness is the new luxury”

Speaking with PAX on location, Miguel Diaz, hotel manager at Zel Punta Cana, said the mission of Zel is to capture and translate the Mediterranean lifestyle into a resort experience. (It’s the first resort in Punta Cana to do such a thing, he said).

“It’s about enjoying life, and not only focusing on yourself, but sharing and caring with the people that you love,” he explained.

Zel Punta Cana – formally Garden Suites by Meliá – achieves just this by crafting different social ambiences.

At this vibrantly verdant, palm tree-filled property—what Diaz calls “a garden with a hotel, not a hotel with a garden”—the atmosphere shifts with the day, revealing different scenes.

Couples work through crosswords on sun loungers and cabanas, girl groups wade in winding pools, guests paint tiles or tote bags, while others set out to play pickleball or golf, attend yoga, or head to the oceanfront beach club for wine and passion fruit mojitos.

Because there are so many directions you can take, Zel Punta Cana—a resort that’s compact enough to fit in your pocket—never feels busy or chaotic.

Yet fostering human connections, through wellness, remains the guiding principle.

“It’s not just about going for a run – it’s about running with your friends,” said Diaz. “Or making new friends at a fitness class.”

That energy extends to the staff, whose service is professional yet warmly personal—especially when they greet you by your first name rather than formally with a last name and title.

Zel Punta Cana, above all, taps into one of travel’s fastest-growing trends: wellness-focused vacations that incorporate racket-oriented sports.

“Wellness is the new luxury,” said Diaz. “People enjoy taking care of themselves. It’s one of the most important behaviours we’re following.”

A cultural fusion  

So, what’s it like to zig-zag though Zel?

The resort, sandwiched in between Meliá Punta Cana Beach, Meliá Caribe Beach, Paradisus Palma Real and Paradisus Grand Cana, in a gated community, in a lush enclave, gives the impression of being whisked away to Spain – with a Dominican twist.

Zel’s main “lobby” isn’t a lobby in the traditional sense, but a living room with a soft, sectional sofa, a mini fridge, a record player, an amazing coffee shop (Barcelona-based Café de Finca), and a retail boutique selling Zel-branded clothing and decorative plates and pottery.

You won’t find a formal welcome desk here. Instead, at the House of Zel, guests are invited to step inside, open the fridge, and grab a Coke—just as they would at home.

The entrance is modelled off a Spanish patio, the heart of a home, where family meet.

That’s not to say the place is unstaffed—smiling team members, iPads in hand, are always roaming this homey space, ready to assist when needed.

It’s a personable vibe, a lively fusion of Dominican Republic and Spain, by Rafael Nadal’s design.

“He’s a celebrity who’s close to the people,” said Diaz, recounting Zel Punta Cana’s grand opening in March 2025, which the retired tennis star attended, “shook hands with everyone,” and gifted staff with signed memorabilia.

Sit, stay, relax

Further in, the leafy grounds, alive with birdsong and roaming iguanas, feel blissfully serene, anchored by two central pools, whimsical bridges, and winding lagoons on the sidelines that serve rows of swim-up suites.

My Zel Master Suite? Imagine manicured gardens, a generous terrace (a backyard, really, with private sun loungers and thatched-roof daybed), an outdoor whirlpool tub, a warm living room, a dining area, and a spacious bathroom.

Other comforts included a fully-stocked minibar, chocolate-oat bars and chips (restocked daily) and an espresso machine.

Calm doesn’t just happen at Zel—it’s built in, thanks to organic, spa-esque tones and décor elements.

The spacious accommodations, which are pet friendly, range from swim-up suites and two-bedroom master suites, to the Casa Zel Suite, complete with a full kitchen—perfect for families or longer stays.

The latter, that weekend, was a norm. A quick conversation with a few guests revealed a snapshot of the crowd: Canadians seeking refuge from Old Man Winter. Among them, a retired couple from Ottawa, trading their usual month in Florida for a full month in Punta Cana—openly in protest of U.S. tariff policies.

Another retired pair, from Chatham, had Zel-ified their cold Ontario routine with a two-week stay, savouring the suite life with sunshine and style.

Thirty-and forty-something couples and squads of girlfriends on getaway mode completed the picture.

And kids? There were a handful. But Zel leans toward a more grown-up crowd. There’s no dedicated kids’ space—no splash pad or club—though the team will arrange children’s programming, if needed.

For extra fun, Fun Republic amusement park is just a short trip away and free to visit.

(But truthfully, parents whose kids need non-stop activities might find Zel better suited for adult escapes than all-day child’s play).

As for its location in Melia’s compound, Zel Punta Cana favours greenery over sandy shores, delivering a garden-centered stay, framed by vivid-green lawns, natural vegetation, paved pathways, lakes and fountains. 

There’s an exclusive beach and sea-facing club for Zel guests, complete with attentive service and live DJs, but it’s not at your doorstep: it’s a 15–20-minute walk (or five-minute vehicle transfer) away.

This gentle separation actually disperses guests—who will never number more than 500—helping preserve Zel’s uncrowded, unhurried ambience.

Taste test 

As for dining, don’t let Zel’s pocket-size footprint fool you—there’s a good range of culinary options on site. 

Parda is an open-air buffet, filled with clay-coloured pottery, serving up Med-inspired, American and Dominican dishes; poolside Tacorini, a must-do lunch spot, fuses Mexican and Greek fare (the Greek salad, Baja-style fish tacos and chicken burrito were a hit); Nokyo serves up Japanese cuisine, like sushi, and fiery teppanyaki tables; Volcán is a steakhouse for meat and fish fans; while Neguri, the beach club, offers staples like fresh burgers, and snacks, like crispy calamari.

Bars include Silvestre wine bar (where we did a rum tasting one night) and Voltaje, a club for late-night dancing.

Wellness steals the spotlight

All of this sets the stage for Zel’s main course: wellness.

The hotel, with a brand-new gym and outdoor fitness studio (with a colourful ceiling, inspired by Spanish markets), offers a comprehensive program – yoga, aerial yoga, Pilates, HIIT class, to name a few – with private coaches available, on request. 

The complex is also home to the AUA Spa, featuring saunas, steam rooms, a hydrotherapy circuit—from bubbling jacuzzies to an invigorating cold plunge—and treatment cabins with outdoor showers.

For deep relaxation, there’s even a low-lit “siesta room,” where guests (for an added fee) can recline on plush loungers with headphones piping in ethereal soundscapes.

The spa’s foliage-rich grounds also host “Spa-tail” parties – cocktail parties, minus the booze – that serve up healthy drinks, food demos and music.

Fitness retreats are also big business here – Zel Punta Cana has dedicated spaces for meetings and events, including presentation rooms for groups of up to 50.

Make a racket

Then there’s the off-property action: notably, the state-of-the-art Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, which opened last October, directly across the road from Zel.

If you have clients who love to make a racket, this place is for them.

The modern facility, with Nadal-signed collectors’ items on display, has 15 (yes, 15) newly-built courts (five tennis, six pickleball and four padel), offering lessons for adults and younger players, and time for friendly competition.

Head coach Alex Moyá Moreno—selected for his experience at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca—gave us a tour, highlighting a high-tech tennis court equipped with built-in cameras that track player movement and metrics like ball speed.

The data is fed into an app for detailed performance analysis.

We later suited up for a private tennis lesson, where the academy’s pros had us volleying, smashing, and backhanding with newfound confidence. Rafal Nadal, I imagined, would have approved.

Lessons and court rentals are an additional cost, though Zel Punta Cana can build packages that include time at the tennis centre.

This offer comes at the right moment, too, especially as pickleball, for one, gains popularity among Canadians and as resorts refresh their tennis courts for enthusiasts.

As of early 2025, approximately 1.54 million Canadians were playing pickleball at least once per month, marking a 57 per cent increase in participation since 2022, according to Pickleball Canada, where membership surged to over 85,000 by the end of 2024.

Zel guests can also access the nearby Cocotal Golf & Country Club, where we spent a morning at a stunning driving range under the guidance of Kevin Laframboise, a golf instructor with 43 years of experience, who helped refine our swings with precision and flair.

Another wellness highlight? Exploring the 10 kilometres of paved pathways winding through Meliá’s hotel grounds.

Runners will love the beautifully-landscaped, traffic-free roads—occasional scooters and transfer buggies aside—that link all the Meliá properties. It's a runners’ paradise.

Zel’s gracious Guest Experience Manager, Alexis Lopez, even laced up his sneakers one early morning to guide me down the best running routes, bridging the staff-guest divide through shared fitness.

Sweat and smiles, the Zel way.

The Zen in Zel

Sunwing Vacations, which supported PAX’s visit, offers direct packages to Zel Punta Cana from across Canada, on board WestJet.

The packages include a free first checked bag and access to Sunwing’s in-destination partner, NexusTours, which provides seamless airport transfers. Vactioners can also opt for a private transfer for an extra touch of luxury.

Meanwhile, the Zel footprint is growing in the Americas, with new resorts on the horizon in Sayulita and Cozumel in Mexico.

Fitness, nature, relaxation. Amid constant noise in the world, a tranquil escape is the perfect remedy for mind, body, and soul.

Play your cards right at Zel, and you’ll have no trouble unlocking some serious Zen.

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