Sanctuary Cap Cana

I’ll start by saying that I loved that Sanctuary Cap Cana is very close to the airport. Our ride was only about 20 minutes if that. The atmosphere there was very relaxing, not much of a party scene which my husband and I love. We found the rooms to be very spacious however, I will say that the shower didn’t have many compartments to put our stuff on like toiletries, etc. In the shower itself there is only one small little basket. That’s fine. I can deal with that. Also, another thing that I had to deal with was that the hairdryer was not working, so I called and received another one which was only blowing out cold air. I called again and I got a good hairdryer finally! At one point, we could not get a hold of room service or the front desk or the concierge desk. We kept calling and nobody answered their phone. The ladies at the concierge are very serious, not too friendly. Other than the staff, there was pretty amazing and very kind and catered to our every need. My husband and I really liked the food, we thought it was excellent, lots of choices at the buffet, everything was delicious. The steakhouse was also very good. We loved the Woke the most. Blue Marlin had great seafood. The Italian restaurant was our second best, the food there was amazing. . You just have to make sure you make reservations at the Italian or Woke or have a plan B. We didn’t go to any of the sanctuary town restaurants because we didn’t want to pay. I think it is a shame that those are not included now. We thought that the resort overall was very clean and well kept. The architecture and landscape were beautiful. The beach was small yes but the sands was white and the water was crystal clear. Also, you can walk the beach next-door which is about a mile long. All you have to do is tell the security guard by the castle tower that you are going for a walk on the beach and you can access the other side with no issue at all. We never had any issues finding a spot to lounge whether a cabana or lounge chairs; pool or beach side, there were always plenty of options available. Now I would like to recognize Carlos, Niersin, Maria, and Natanael at the buffet. Also, Ezequeil and Yeissy. They were simply amazing, always so smiley, they made our mornings so special with the way they treated us! Luis Saurys at the Blue Marlin also treated us so wonderful! Carlos was there too, he was at all the restaurants we went to and always went out of his way to greet and treated us special. Shout out to Eduardo and Yoleidy at the Italian restaurant; Jensy and our waiter at the Woke restaurant I forget his name but he was an older gentleman who’s been there ever since the restaurant opened! From the cocktail/waiters staff at the pool and the beach, I would like to send a shout out to Manuel, Yery, Luis Mario, Leandro, Cristian, Charly, and our wonderful friend at the towel hut, Kayla. Kudos to Antonio, Abel, GiGi and Leslie with the entertainment crew. Brillis at the cafe shop was always super friendly and kind. Antonio’s aqua fit class was awesome! Miguel at the Palapa did a fantastic job with the Yoga and Stretching. We are planning our next vacation here again!

Our stay at Sanctuary Cap Cana was nothing short of spectacular. If you are looking for a destination that perfectly balances luxury, culture, and relaxation, this is it. The Atmosphere The resort is set in a truly beautiful and relaxing environment. The architecture is stunning, and the grounds are impeccably maintained, providing a serene backdrop that makes it easy to disconnect from the world and recharge. The Service What really sets this resort apart is the people. The staff was incredibly kind and attentive throughout our entire stay. From the moment we arrived, we felt genuinely welcomed; every request was met with a smile, and the level of personalized care was impressive. Dining & Activities The culinary experience was another highlight. We found the food to be very good, with a great variety of flavors and high-quality ingredients across the different onsite restaurants. Beyond just lounging by the water, the resort offers plenty of interesting and authentic activities. We loved that the programming felt unique to the location rather than "cookie-cutter" tourist activities, allowing us to engage with the local culture in a meaningful way. Bottom Line: A world-class experience with a heart. We cannot recommend Sanctuary Cap Cana enough for anyone seeking a high-end, peaceful getaway.

The setting is beautiful and quiet. We loved the laid back vibe. Concierge: 3 We tried to book reservations in advance for 2 restaurants. Found out that there were no reservations available upon arrival. The Assistant Concierge was helpful in securing the reservations. The concierges we worked with originally could not have been less interested in helping. Felix at the main pool was the most helpful and welcoming person we met during our stay. Here at the ratings as follows: Arrival: 3 Long waits. Head Bellman had to help. Guest Room: 4 Electricity switches were “glitchy” and we had to find a master switch. Surprised there were no snacks in room like other resorts we have stayed at in DR. Spa: 5 worth every penny but an hour of hydration therapy would be nicer if it was for all day. Masseuse was incredible. Pools: 5 stunning and plentiful. I wished they did not let chairs be reserved for the whole day. Did not effect us but kinda creates tension while on vacay. Food: 2 Uninspired and bland, even in the signature restaurants. The best food was at outdoor grille-the chef there is Not paid enough but she is killing it! The restaurant service is slooooooow. Sanctuary Town: 2 Weird. A move by the “all-inclusive” to generate other revenue. Pizzas, tacos, ice cream, multiple brand beers, etc. All for extra charge. Bars and Pool Bars- 4 Make sure to ask for brands or you will get the well brands. Not awesome. Bartenders are pleasant and efficient. Beach: 3 They do t have a lot to work with in terms of real estate. Short beach that is almost completely gone at high tide.“Sargassum” Buoys ruin the view and lower the ambiance. Other resorts have removal crews and or tractors to remove. Maid service: 4 stayed four nights. No service on one full day and turn down was not until late. Room was tidy and well stocked. Entertainment: 3 We loved the setting and the laid back vibe during the day. No real night activities except music in the lobby bar. Overall Service:4 Friendly people generally. No hard selling like at Secrets or Dreams. Loved that. Would stay here again ONLY if there was significant improvement in food quality.

I had a hard time with the smells at this resort. The reception area smelled strongly of incense (patchouli) and we saw incense burning in other locations throughout the resort. It was overpowering. It might have been used to cover the smell of smoke. Cigars were pushed hard on the property and vape cartridges were sold in two locations. We asked to move out of our room the first day because we could not enjoy our balcony- too much cigarette and cigar smoke coming from other balconies. Thankfully, the second room had less smoking nearby, but it was impossible to avoid. One guy got on the elevator with a lit cigar. The point is if you do not like smelling cigarettes, cigars, and incense this is not your location. On a positive note, we rented Bali beds on the beach and Elvie the gentleman who brought us drinks and food was fantastic! So nice and he remembered us from day to day- what we drank and what foods we liked. An all around great guy!! Also, Luis Saurys, a waiter at the Blue Marlin, was exceptional. We tried to eat dinner there on one of the nights it was closed and he literally walked us up to the Steakhouse and seated us there (as his way if apologizing they were closed!!!) We went back to the Blue Marlin for dinner the next two nights specifically to sit in Luis' section because he was so attentive and nice. Elvie and Luis were the best parts of our trip (aside from the sun and beach!)

Great ambience. Great staff!! We got an unexpected upgrade to the Castle with our amazing butler, Alex. Our first night the shower wasn’t working and they moved us to another room. Lots of upsides: pools, beach, staff, gym, drinks, music. Downsides: Food was limited to two for breakfast, two for lunch and four for dinner with reservations required at most and closed shoes at all. Long pants and closed shoes were worn every day for dinner. I’d have preferred shorts and nice sandals. Sanctuary Town was a pay as you go experience for food. Wok has some “upgrades” which were free at most other resorts. Overall, good resort. Not great but good. The staff and ambience of a European look made it worth while.