Sanctuary Cap Cana

We had a wonderful stay at Sanctuary Cap Cana, and the service truly stands out. The staff is attentive, professional, and genuinely caring. A special thank you to our butler Hector, who was absolutely amazing and made our stay seamless with his constant attention and thoughtfulness. He truly made this trip exceptional. Juan, our repeat server at the Blue Marlin and Wok Restaurant and Oscar, our pool server, also provided friendly and attentive service. The resort is beautiful and relaxing. As a small suggestion, the food (other than Wok) could be elevated a bit more to match the luxury feel of the property. Additionally, the music at the main pool felt somewhat outdated; a refreshed playlist with more island-inspired music would better complement the atmosphere. Overall, an excellent experience and a resort we would happily return to.

This property was great! They are not joking when they say it is all inclusive. Of course there are some things you pay out of pocket at your discretion, but overall, there is no need to spend extra money unless you absolutely feel the need to. The entire staff on property was welcoming and always had a smile on their face. Huge shoutout to Maria and Yery from the buffet restaurant, our butler Hector, and the two bartenders from the pool (can’t believe I don’t remember their names). Definitely recommend this property to anyone interested in staying here.

Hector and Camacho were wonderful, very attentive and kind. The spa and housecleaning service were also exceptional, including Sophia.

This is NOT an inclusive resort! In fine print your booking it says that sanctuary town is no longer included. Nowhere else on the website does it mention this. This is very deceptive marketing. Shame on you, Marriott….. when we checked in no one even told us… apparently this Change Took Place October 31st. We found out when we were eating at one of the restaurants down there and they said it wasn’t included…. I went and talked to management and they said sorry it says on the website…. The only place they could find it is when you go to book in the very fine print on the bottom that literally nobody reads.

This resort had the vibe of an events, venue. It is not a destination for a personal retreat. I will not rebook to come and relax with my love or friends. Overall feel • Stunning, spotless property… but the experience felt more like a polished event venue than a true luxury retreat. • As a guest, not part of an event, I often felt like “filler” between weddings and private groups. What worked well • Exceptionally clean and well maintained throughout. Bed and pillows were comfortable. • Beautiful Castle-style architecture and manicured grounds. The taller buildings looked like they could use a little care, but clean nonetheless. • Staff and butlers were genuinely kind, hardworking, and helpful. • Very secure, controlled environment • Long stretches of public beach on both sides of the resort—perfect for walking. Take the walk to the edges of the property. It’s worth it. The beach on property itself is not good. What didn’t match a relaxing luxury adults-only retreat • The resort felt “event-first” in how it operates, and that shows up in the guest experience. • One example, We had to leave the Castle Pool area starting at 2:00 PM Friday due to a private event (as paying guests, this felt frustrating and dismissive). There were plenty of other venues that could have hosted a private event instead of one that paying guests were using. • Loud DJ bass from private events was common and could be heard in the room at night, which made it hard to fully relax. Dining experience (limited + repetitive) • Restaurant availability was inconsistent due to low occupancy and private events. Not one day we were here for a week. All restaurants were open for us for dinner. • Blue Marlin was only open for dinner one night during our 1-week stay. • Food quality was good, but overall variety felt repetitive across the week. • Our favorite place was the Italian restaurant. Small portions but very well done. The WOK was in fact our least favorite contrary to many other reviewers, which very well could’ve just been individual taste. • The resort is very restrictive about where food can be eaten (you can’t take food out of where it is served), which made everything feel tightly controlled instead of “vacation-easy.” Activities (underwhelming for the price) • Activities felt like an afterthought and didn’t match what I expected at this price point. • No water sports offered. • No pickleball. • Minimal casual games: one set of cornhole boards near the volleyball court (and sometimes after 6 PM in Sanctuary Town). • Yoga/fitness were hit or miss: • One instructor pushed an overly intense class that didn’t fit the vacation crowd. • Another class was excellent and exactly what you want on a relaxing trip. • “Epicurean demos” felt more like “come grab a treat” than a real experience, and you’re expected to eat it there due to food restrictions. trip. • The pools are cool in temperature in January so be warned. There is one area that looks like a hot tub that bubbles but it’s actually the same temperature as the pool, there is no public hot tub. The in room suites have jetted tubs. I don’t partake in jetted tubs due to potential cleanliness issues. All-inclusive… with added fees and friction • Room service has a $10 USD delivery fee every time, despite being advertised as all-inclusive (it felt like convenience was treated as an upcharge). • Breakfast is inconvenient if you’re staying in the Castle: • Either pay the delivery fee or take a long walk to the buffet/lobby coffee bar. • No easy grab-and-go or a la carte morning option in the Castle area beyond the in-room Nespresso. • Menus are digital and it’s expected you use the Marriott app. There are one page menus that could easily be printed and posted. • Pool chair etiquette isn’t enforced—if you don’t save a chair early (around 8:30 AM), you may not have a seat for the day. • Expect markups and extra charges (example: $20 for tampons; top-shelf liquor costs extra). • Sanctuary Town is cute, but not included—burgers/tacos/pizza (great casual lunch food) were only available at night for an extra charge. Bottom line • If you’re attending a wedding or large event, this resort makes sense. • If you’re coming for a peaceful, personalized adults-only retreat with strong activities and flexibility, this is not it. • I will not rebook to come and relax.