Sanctuary Cap Cana

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.

The resort is stunning, clean and well maintained. The view from the Castle rooms was incredible. We are so grateful for our butler, Camacho. He was extremely responsive and helpful. Always keeping us informed of events and made us reservations. Marriott is lucky to have such a positive representation for the company. All the staff was personable and kind. It made the stay that much more enjoyable. One bar tender in particular, Felipe, stood out as being someone who could and should certainly move up in to perhaps a butler role. He was welcoming and passionate about his career, putting his enjoyment for working at the resort into the care for guests and their experience. The location was prime! Absolutely remarkable, blue on blue on blue. We lucked out with beautiful sunny weather everyday. Sensational food. Could not have asked for a better vacation! Thank you to all the staff who made our stay so incredible.

The resort was clean and well-maintained, but overall the experience fell short of expectations. There weren’t enough beach chairs or umbrellas, which made it hard to relax by the water. The beach itself was small and not particularly impressive. Dining was also a challenge—restaurant seating was limited, reservations were difficult to secure, and even the non-reservation options came with long wait times. The food was average at best. That said, we still managed to have a good time by making the most of the situation. However, I wouldn’t recommend this resort based on the situation.