Sanctuary Cap Cana

Our nightmare at Sanctuary Cap Cana began the second we arrived. Check-in took an agonizing two hours, during which my wife and I were continuously harassed for more money. It was clear from the start that their only priority was aggressively upselling us at every single step, not hospitality. While the physical resort looks nice at a glance, the reality is severely lacking. The beach was foul-smelling and completely choked with algae. Both the food and the drinks were thoroughly mediocre and nowhere near the standard of a luxury collection property. Furthermore, safety and service are completely absent. I slipped and injured myself in the shower due to a faulty door that wouldn't close properly. When I called for help, it took the staff 40 minutes just to bring me ice. The absolute worst and most appalling behavior happened on Saturday morning. After breakfast, we returned to find that the property manager had intentionally locked us out of our room. This was a purely manipulative tactic designed to force us down to the office. Once there, they blindsided us with extortionate charges for a room "upgrade" we were never informed would cost extra. To make matters worse, we were explicitly told we could not leave the property until we paid this surprise fee. The managers are obnoxious, and their business practices are an absolute scam. Shame, shame, shame on this resort. Save your money and go anywhere else.

I rarely leave negative reviews, but after our experience in July 2026, I feel it's important to share. We first stayed at Sanctuary Cap Cana in 2021, and it was one of the best vacations we've ever taken. We loved it so much that we couldn't wait to come back. Unfortunately, this visit was nothing like our first. The most upsetting part of our trip was that my Burberry perfume was stolen from our room. I reported it immediately, but absolutely nothing was done. There was no investigation, no follow-up, and no concern shown by management. For a resort that markets itself as a luxury property, this was incredibly disappointing and unacceptable. To make matters worse, we paid nearly double what we paid in 2021, yet the overall experience was significantly worse. The food quality had declined so much that we found ourselves leaving the resort to pay for meals elsewhere. What's the point of paying thousands of dollars for an all-inclusive vacation if you have to spend even more money just to get a decent meal? The entertainment was almost nonexistent. The only daytime activity at the pool was about 30 minutes of water aerobics. Other than that, there was nothing. Even worse, the same Justin Bieber album played on repeat for six straight days with only a few Spanish songs mixed in. It became repetitive and took away from what should have been a fun vacation atmosphere. The resort itself is absolutely beautiful and very clean. The grounds are well maintained, and that hasn't changed. I also want to recognize the amazing pool staff. Felix, Omar, and Luis Mario went above and beyond every single day to make sure guests were taken care of. They were friendly, attentive, and truly the best part of our stay. Unfortunately, the drinks were another disappointment. The liquor being served was clearly bottom-shelf, which is surprising for a resort in this price range. It's heartbreaking because we have such incredible memories from our 2021 trip. We expected the same level of quality, especially after paying so much more, but instead we left feeling disappointed and frustrated. Sanctuary Cap Cana is still a beautiful resort, but beauty alone isn't enough. Between the theft, the lack of response from management, poor food, weak entertainment, and low-quality drinks, it simply isn't worth the premium price anymore. Sadly, this will be our last visit. We will not be returning, and I can no longer recommend this resort to anyone looking for a true luxury all-inclusive experience.

Sanctuary Cap Cana is unlike other luxury all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic. If you value seclusion, spacious and gorgeous surroundings, a relaxed atmosphere, and personalized attention, this is the resort for you. Our Suite – 5/5 Our swim-up suite was exceptional. We had a corner suite conveniently located near the beach, and we often had the pool entirely to ourselves. The room and bathroom were impeccably clean, and the signature scent throughout the resort was absolutely captivating. (I would love to know what fragrance they use!) Cuisine – 5/5 The food was outstanding! We celebrated our anniversary with a romantic beachfront dinner, and the Surf & Turf was delicious. We also thoroughly enjoyed the buffet's wide variety of offerings and appreciated the added hygiene of having the food served by the attendants rather than self-serve. We ordered room service twice, and both meals were excellent. Our favorite restaurant was The Wok—we loved it so much that we ate dinner there every evening. The menu offers plenty of variety, so we never grew tired of it. Service – 11/10 This is not a typo. The service was, without question, the highlight of our stay. The attention to detail and genuine hospitality were unmatched. A special thank you to waiters Luis, Levis, and Neftalí, as well as our butler, JT, who all went above and beyond to make our stay unforgettable. One Area for Improvement If I had one criticism, it would be the bathroom. While it was spotless, it didn't match the luxury level of the rest of the resort. It felt small and lacked the upscale finishes, décor, and premium amenities I expected. Unfortunately, the beach was not accessible during our stay due to the heavy sargassum. That was a bit disappointing, but the private swim-up pool, exceptional service, peaceful and elegant ambiance, and incredible food more than made up for it. Overall, we absolutely loved our stay and, Lord willing, look forward to returning again soon. Thank you Sanctuary for a memorable anniversary celebration.

Amazing resort with very accommodating staff!

Excellent property and amenities. Our butler, Juan Camacho was excellent and provided all the information and support to make our stay relaxing and restorative.