Bring Your Bathing Suit to This Amazing Priority Pass Lounge in Punta Cana
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Unless you are flying international first class, airport lounges today are pretty routine.
There are some snacks and cheese cubes, free drinks and a place to escape the madness of the terminal.
Then there is the VIP Lounge in Punta Cana Airport's Terminal B. It's one of the nicest Priority Pass lounges I've ever been to.
It has an outdoor deck overlooking the tarmac and runway -- clearly an AvGeek heaven -- but the real highlight is the outdoor pool with views of the jets. Yes, you read that correctly: an outdoor pool, post-security at the airport, a last chance to soak in the sun and take a dip while you're still on vacation.
Our party of nine got into the lounge thanks to the Priority Pass Select membership we all have from The Platinum Card® from American Express. (Four family members have the card or are authorized users with their own Priority Pass membership.) For those who want more information on how Priority Pass works and what other credit cards will get you in for free, check out our full guide here. Enrollment required for select benefits.
Before you get too excited about the pool, make sure you are flying out of the correct terminal.
The newer Terminal B (it opened in 2014) is home to the VIP Lounge with the pool. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Allegiant Air are the US carriers flying out of that terminal. Other airlines there include Copa, British Airways and Air France.
JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines fly out of the older Terminal A that has bus gates. Sorry, that means no pool for you.
Related: The Best Credit Cards for Airline Lounge Access
The VIP Lounge in Terminal B is after security and after the passport control. It's about halfway down the concourse. An elevator or stairs lead you up a flight.
Once inside, there is a pretty standard spread of small sandwiches, snacks and treats. The hot food isn't worth noting but the sandwiches are good enough and there are plenty of options.
Soft drinks, coffee, basic liquor and beer (limit of two per person) are included in your visit. The bartenders were friendly and helpful.
There is plenty of seating and the furniture is modern and clean. Our large party of six adults and three kids found a corner with space to spread out.
The bathrooms are clean, modern-looking and had plenty of space. This is the exact opposite of the horrible Wingtips Lounge at JFK's Terminal 4.
Now, let's get to the exciting part -- the pool.
It's an outdoor rooftop pool with views of airplanes and the runway. And it's close to the bar. Do I need to say more?
Most flyers were just dipping their toes into the water, but you could go for a real swim here. Not an Olympic-sized lap, but at least splashing around with the kids. One side has an "infinity edge" for unobstructed planespotting while swimming above the terminal.
There is a separate set of bathrooms and showers so that you can rinse off after you swim before boarding that jet home. Knowing this now, I would have gotten to the airport earlier so we could have all gone for a pre-flight swim.
At the end of the day, this was far from the best lounge I've ever been to. However, the unique nature of the outdoor deck and the pool plus the clean, well-maintained space make this one of my favorites, especially for Priority Pass.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.