I've stayed at both Melia Tropical and Melia Caribe, and loved them both. They are on the same grounds so you can use both facilities. They are beautiful properties, very clean, staff was excellent, gorgeous beach, nightly entertainment, and both had there own dance clubs. I must say though Melia Tropical was more livelier, I guess at that time there were more guests since the disco was more crowded and so were the shows as opposed to Melia Caribe. But it was newer at the time, the last time I was there was June 2000, and Caribe had just opened up earlier that year.
We also used to take a cab to the Riu hotel where the large disco was (Pacha), so if you stay at one of the Riu hotels you would save yourself money in cab fare! The disco at the Melia hotels weren't all that great, it depended on the evening I guess.
Check out this website and you can probably look at some pictures of the properties in Punta Cana. I always hear good things i.e. Bavaro Princess, the Riu hotels, the Cantalonia...
www.debbiesdominicantravel.com
Enjoy.
