Punta Cana’s pool lounge everyone posts about sits in Terminal B
Sala VIP in Terminal B is the Priority Pass lounge you see in all the Punta Cana pool photos, and it really is airside, past security. It’s used by multiple tour and card programs, so access with Priority Pass can get tight on heavy departure banks. The entrance sits upstairs above the main B concourse, a few minutes’ walk from most B gates.
The pool is outside on the terrace, with planes parked only a few hundred feet away on the apron. This is not a lap pool; think more quick dip before a 16:00 departure than serious swimming. There are some loungers and small tables around the deck, but in peak hours they fill fast and shade is limited in the midday sun.
Sala VIP usually tracks terminal operating hours and tends to open in the late morning and run into the early evening, aligning with the North American bank of departures between roughly 11:00 and 18:00. Morning flyers on 06:00–09:00 departures often report the lounge closed, so don’t plan breakfast here if you’re on an early flight out of B.
Food runs closer to snack bar than full restaurant, with finger foods, chips, some basic hot trays, and desserts laid out on a small buffet. Think wings, pasta, and similar simple bites rather than a full meal you’d pay US$25 for in town. Drinks generally include local beer, house wine, and well liquor; premium bottles usually cost extra, and tipping in US dollars or pesos changes the pour.
Seating inside breaks down into small two-top tables, a few couches, and bar stools near the self-serve area. Power outlets are scattered, not at every seat, and you’ll compete with other Priority Pass cardholders when the big US flights to Atlanta, New York, and Toronto bank out in the afternoon. Wi‑Fi is included and typically faster than the public airport network, good enough for a quick VPN session or a 1080p stream.
Access with Priority Pass in Terminal B works on a space-available basis, and they do sometimes cap entry when charter flights dump passengers all at once. Families from the resorts come in straight from transfers along the Corredor Turístico, so expect kids in the pool and noise. Staff call boarding updates for some carriers, but you still need to watch your own time for, say, a 14:30 boarding at gate B6.
Tip: Pack swimwear and flip‑flops in your cabin bag, change in the lounge restroom, and head toward your gate about 40 minutes before departure since some B gates require a short bus ride from the terminal.
How to get in
- 01 Terminal B
- 02 Priority Pass