You'll Feel Like Royalty at This Adults-only All-inclusive in the Dominican Republic — With Private Butlers and 6 Pools (2024)

After a flight filled with rollicking bachelorette parties and iPad-deprived toddlers, I was ready for a break — and luckily, I got it quickly.

After just a 15-minute car ride from the Punta Cana International Airport, I arrived at Sanctuary Cap Cana, an adults-only, all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic. Soon, I was whisked away via a golf cart to my room in “The Castle,” the Sanctuary’s exclusive section offering a VIP experience.

There, I was greeted by my butler for the duration of my stay, who helped me settle in and unpack and even gave me his phone number in case I needed anything while away from my room. This personal touch helped set the tone for my stay at Sanctuary, a resort that will make you feel like, well, king of the castle while you are here.

Even though it's been open for over a decade, Sanctuary became part of Marriott Bonvoy's All-Inclusive collection in the fall of 2022. Its re-opening was delayed until early 2023 due to the effects of Hurricane Fiona.

"Cap Cana is one of the Dominican Republic's most coveted areas, offering an inspiring getaway for our global explorers with a stretch of white sanded beaches, turquoise waters, and architecture resembling a storied colonial Spanish era," said Brian King, the president of Caribbean and Latin America for Marriott International.

"Sanctuary Cap Cana is proof of our commitment to provide discerning travelers with unique vacation retreats to continue collecting timeless memories, now in a convenient, luxurious, all-inclusive format."

Indeed, being at Sanctuary Cap Cana feels like walking around a Spanish village, with the property offering suites and villas designed in a Spanish colonial style with modern elements. Each space includes wood accents, rattan furniture, and luxurious coral bathrooms. Standard amenities include private balconies or terraces, minibars, espresso machines, and plush bathrobes.

Nestled in the heart of the DR, the resort is a private enclave in Punta Cana with 30,000 acres of flawless beaches. The property features plenty of exciting offerings, including the Punta Espada golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, a state-of-the-art marina with more than 150 slips accommodating yachts up to 150 feet, and even an equestrian center featuring two world-class polo fields designed by Alejandro Battro.

Fresh off its renovation, the 324-room resort has five a la carte restaurants, six bars and pools, and Sanctuary Town: the resort’s premier nightlife destination. The property also offers a spa with treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy circuit for rejuvenation.

Read on for a full review of the Sanctuary at Cap Cana and what to expect when you visit this serene property.

The Rooms

The suites and villas at Sanctuary Cap Cana blend Spanish colonial design with modern elements. Each space includes wooden accents, rattan furniture, and luxurious coral bathrooms. Amenities include private balconies, minibars, espresso machines, and plush bathrobes. Some rooms have swim-up access.

The resort is comprised of 324 rooms and villas with 19 different room sizes and configurations, the smallest of these, the junior suite, is a generous 646 square feet, so space is no issue here.

The property itself is divided into three areas: the “Colonial” section, the “Castle,” and the Villas. The heart of Sanctuary Cap Cana comprises the Colonial section, including all the resort's main buildings.

I stayed in the “Castle” section, a more exclusive resort area with full-time butler service, VIP services, packing and unpacking services, and even a chilled bottle of sparkling wine upon arrival. The butler service is a must for those looking for a personalized experience. Some ground-floor rooms in the Castle area are also connected to a private pool, only accessible to Castle guests, that wraps around the building.

Finally, scattered throughout the property are several villas, the smallest of which starts at just over 1,100 square feet for those who want a larger space or have traveled with a group.

Food and Drink

Sanctuary Cap Cana has five restaurants, each with indoor and outdoor seating. Enjoy breakfast at Casa Bella, which also offers lunch with a tropical twist; lunch or dinner at Blue Marlin for fresh seafood; Pan-Asian fusion at Wok; prime cuts at The Steakhouse; and Italian cuisine at Capricci. After dinner, head inside to the Love Bar, a piano bar with craft co*cktails, or outside to the Ocean Club to have a post-dinner drink with a soundtrack of crashing waves.

Elsewhere on the property, guests can have drinks at one of several other bars open during the day, including Destination Bar, serving up fresh-made smoothies and co*cktails, and Freshco Bar, a swim-up bar for replenishing your drinks while at the pool. Keep in mind that the resort maintains a dress code for certain restaurants, with most requiring men to wear long pants, a collared shirt, and closed-toe shoes.

Activities and Experiences

While you may want to flock to one of Sanctuary’s six pools and not move a muscle, the property has plenty of other activities you will want to check out.

The resort offers a range of activities with its all-inclusive package, such as yoga classes, bike tours, beach volleyball, water aerobics, and nightly entertainment. The resort also features a modern gym with plenty of space for working out and includes bikes, weights, and a full lineup of exercise equipment.

Golfers will relish the Punta Espada course designed by Jack Nicklaus, rated the number one golf course in the Caribbean and Mexico by Golfweek Magazine for eight years running.

The Spa

In addition to the treatments offered, the spa features a hydrotherapy circuit which includes a sauna, hot tub, steam room, cold pool, and dynamic pool to help reinvigorate your body through exposure to various environments and temperatures. The spa also includes a beauty salon as well as a snack bar should you require some fresh fruit or green tea before or after a treatment or soak in the hydrotherapy circuit.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Ground floor suites are fully ADA-compliant.

Sanctuary Cap Cana prioritizes sustainability and protecting the environment by using renewable energy sources, conserving local flora and fauna, and operating an on-site organic farm to supply fresh produce to its restaurants.

Location

Sanctuary Cap Cana is located nine miles from Punta Cana International Airport and is a 15-minute taxi ride. Transportation is not included in the all-inclusive package, but the resort can help arrange transportation services for an extra fee. Guest-only parking is available for those renting a car. Guests who choose to play at Punta Espada will have transportation to the greens directly from the resort.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Rooms start at $665 per night, but Sanctuary’s website offers frequent deal packages for multiple nights, which include discounts on spa treatments and other services. The resort is also part of Marriott Bonvoy's All-Inclusive collection, so members can earn and redeem loyalty points as part of their stay.