Punta Cana Advice - Wheel Chair Accessibility and Gluten-Free Diet

Good morning!

I'm currently planning a trip to Punta Cana with my family and I'm seeking some advice from those who have been there recently.

My nephew is handicapped and we will be bringing him along. My sister has a special stroller for him which works like a wheel chair. So, we are seeking a resort that isn't too large....one that is mostly flat will work best since we need to push him everywhere. Restaurants must be on the ground level and we will book hotel rooms on the ground level too. Any advice? We would prefer a 4 star hotel.

In addition to his physical challenges, he must also follow a gluten-free diet. My sister will bring food down with her but it would be nice to give him some food from the restaurants too. I figured that if I just talk to the hotel when I get there, they might allow me to talk to the chefs. I'm sure he will be safe eating the fruit and veggies from the buffet as long as they are far enough away from the breads. How do I explain gluten-free in Spanish?

I've reached out to some old friends (locals) who are living in the area but they are no longer working in the hotels. And they have lost their contacts too (people move around so much these days). But I'm hoping someone on this forum might be able to help us out.

Thanks.....it'll be good to get back to the DR! My family and I have missed it very much!

Maryanne

It's definitely an allergy (not intollerance). We're used to travelling with him here in Canada (he's actually an American...hehehehe) and we usually just bring everything for him. He likes his milk at room temperature and it's easy to prepare (just add water). I think my sister was hoping to add more fruits and veggies to his diet while in Punta Cana. I'm sure we will just look for items that are just left in their natural state or simply boiled. And if there are any doubts, we will ask the staff.

With regards to ice cream....my nephew hates it. It's too cold for him. hahahaha

I think the resort layout will be the deciding factor for us. My nephew loves to be outside so we will be pushing him around ALOT!

Thanks Mike.

I've been to Dominican Beach before (when it was formerly known as Ocean Bavaro). A close friend of the family used to work there at the time but he's moved on to teaching now. I had some other contacts there but when I called a friend in the DR last night, I found out that perhaps only one of them is still working there. I knew the manager when it was Ocean Bavaro, but that was years ago and I have no idea where he is now. I'll check out the other hotels you listed. Which ever one we book, I'd call ahead and try to get all 3 rooms near each, on the ground floor.

Thanks again!

Awesome....thanks for the connection Mike!

Have a great day,
Maryanne