Sanctuary Cap Cana Overview – The Factors Man

Rooms and suites at Sanctuary Cap Cana

The posh resort boasts 324 complete rooms and villas spanning 19 totally different classes, however the smallest junior suite nonetheless spans 646 sq. toes, making certain that every one visitors have loads of house to chill out. Sadly, 19 room varieties can create loads of confusion in the case of selecting one.

The very first thing to notice is that the resort is technically divided into three areas. The primary buildings are thought of the “Colonial” part, whereas there is a separate space referred to as the “Fortress” part that is meant to be a extra unique enclave inside the resort. Fortress rooms embrace a separate check-in space plus VIP companies upon arrival, together with a bottle of glowing wine within the room, butler service and help with unpacking and packing your baggage. Some even embrace swim-out entry to a pool that wraps across the Fortress part.

Lastly, there are roughly two dozen villas scattered throughout the property, providing much more house (they begin at over 1,100 sq. toes).

Because the wedding ceremony and reception have been taking place within the Fortress part, we opted to guide the oceanfront Fortress Junior Suite — and we have been glad we did.

Our 840-square-foot room was on the bottom ground and was break up roughly in half between the dwelling space and bed room. Fortunately, although, there wasn’t a wall between the 2 parts — only a TV shelf that jutted out from the wall, a vertical assist column on the other aspect and a darkish wooden horizontal beam (with recessed lighting) overhead.

I used to be instantly struck by the welcoming seashore vibes of white and cream with blue accents — but the darkish wooden trims added a contact of luxurious that was putting but understated on the similar time.

We have been grateful for the big sitting space, as we took our (complimentary) room service breakfast there on Saturday morning.

A calming bottle of glowing wine and a small field of candies have been ready for us — and the minifridge had additionally been stocked with water, sodas and Dominican beers forward of our arrival.

The lavatory was a good measurement, together with his-and-her sinks, a soaking tub and a separate bathe — which was stocked with toiletries (and replenished all through our keep).

However the actual deal with of the room was what ready simply outdoors the sliding glass doorways.

Ordinarily, I am not a fan of ground-floor lodging, preferring the views from rooms on greater flooring. Nevertheless, a ground-level junior suite within the Fortress part of Sanctuary Cap Cana meant a big terrace full with two chairs and a small desk plus two snug chaise loungers.

From there, a picket walkway successfully served as a bridge over some sandy water that might replenish at excessive tide, and past that, a large grassy space gave strategy to sweeping jap views of the Caribbean Sea.

It was the right “residence base” for our keep.

Meals and drinks at Sanctuary Cap Cana

As an all-inclusive property, all your meals and drinks throughout the property are included (with a few minor exceptions), and there’s a vary of choices from which to choose. The first restaurant was Casa Bella, the buffet possibility within the coronary heart of the Colonial part that served breakfast and lunch seven days per week (plus dinner on Fridays). I have to admit that I’ve by no means been a giant fan of buffets, however this one far exceeded expectations.

Our first meal there was lunch, which featured an enormous number of stations — together with a salad bar, a number of sorts of ceviche, made-to-order Asian stir fry, an array of desserts and even a gelato case.

For sure, we didn’t depart hungry.

We went again to Casa Bella on Sunday morning for breakfast earlier than leaving for the airport, and once more, we have been impressed by the choice. Past conventional gadgets like eggs, hash browns and sausage, you may get made-to-order omelets, construct your personal salad or carb-load with a wide range of breakfast pastries.

Simply outdoors was a mimosa bar with six totally different juice picks.

The massive factor to notice about Casa Bella is that many of the meals wasn’t assist your self; as an alternative, it was behind a glass partition and served upon request by Sanctuary employees members. Within the aftermath of the pandemic, that was a refreshing possibility.

Past Casa Bella, there are 4 specialty eating places:

• Blue Marlin — a seafood restaurant open for lunch and dinner
• Wok — an Asian restaurant serving sushi and teppanyaki-style meals for dinner (closed Tuesdays)
• Capriccio — an Italian restaurant open for dinner
• The Steak Home — an American steakhouse serving dinner (closed Fridays)

Sadly, we solely have been capable of attempt Blue Marlin throughout our two-night keep, as the opposite dinner was served on the wedding ceremony reception. However, we loved our meal on the open-air deck over the water, together with the fried calamari and grilled octopus — together with a serenade from the native band.

It is value noting that every one 4 of those eating places have a “Informal-Elegant” gown code; extra on that beneath.

When you’re feeling snackish outdoors of regular meal instances, there are a number of choices:

• Seize a chew at La Yola Snack Grill, simply off the principle pool. We stopped by there shortly after arrival since we have been hungry, and we loved a few Dominican Yaniqueques — that are served extra like smooth tacos at Sanctuary.
• Head as much as Ocean Bar within the Fortress part, serving a small menu of snacks together with cocktails subsequent to the small Fortress pool.
• Go to the espresso store within the foyer for a caffeinated beverage and/or pastry of your selection.
• Order room service, obtainable 24-7.

We took benefit of room service our first morning, having fun with an omelet and a Dominican breakfast alongside tea and occasional, all from the consolation and privateness of our room.

After all, one large attraction of all-inclusive properties is the truth that alcoholic drinks are included, and at Sanctuary Cap Cana, there is not any scarcity of libations — whether or not swimming as much as Freshco Bar on the most important pool, ordering a frozen drink or smoothie on the beachside Vacation spot bar or grabbing a pre-dinner cocktail at Love Bar, a piano bar in the principle foyer.

Lastly, if the above choices (in some way) depart you wanting extra, think about a jaunt to Sanctuary City, the on-property village that options a number of further eating retailers — together with a burger joint, an Italian spot, a sushi restaurant and a sweet store. Solely Rincon de Paco, the Spanish restaurant, requires a further cost for visitors.

These institutions are solely open for dinner, and whereas we did not get an opportunity to attempt any of them, it is nice to have extra informal choices for these not in search of a proper, sit-down dinner.

Past the room and eating choices, many different issues stood out throughout our keep.

The property itself is beautiful

If the appear and feel of a resort is vital to you, Sanctuary Cap Cana has you coated. We have been amazed at how beautiful the grounds have been, and the employees clearly took satisfaction in sustaining that magnificence.

From the foyer to the pool areas to the walkways, simply strolling across the resort put us in trip mode — earlier than we even turned into our bathing fits or put a chilly beverage in our arms.

I will let the images converse for themselves right here.

Past the decor, I cherished the actual fact that there have been six swimming swimming pools — and regardless of what appeared to be comparatively excessive occupancy, I by no means noticed any of them even near full.

We cherished our time within the Fortress part

Staying within the Fortress part was a beautiful expertise for us, ranging from the second we arrived and have been whisked away in a golf cart to the personal check-in space.

Do not be fooled by the unassuming exterior. Simply inside was a double-ceilinged foyer with greenery accents that added to the texture of being in a real-life fortress.

After checking in, we have been handed frozen coconut-and-lime drinks at Ocean Bar, which we loved within the air-con.

The primary pool on this space of the resort is elevated, offering sweeping views of the ocean. We visited twice and located it to be a haven from the extra get together ambiance of the principle pool space.

Our assigned butler — Eric — confirmed us to our room, and he insisted that I program his quantity into WhatsApp, as that is what we used all through our keep for requests like further bottles of water and selecting up our luggage earlier than checkout.

And whereas we did not have a personal plunge pool, the placement of our Fortress junior suite was spectacular, because it was separated sufficient from the remainder of the resort to really feel personal — although additionally a brief stroll of simply 5-7 minutes to succeed in the remainder of the motion.

Do not skip the spa (and hydrotherapy circuit)

My spouse loves a superb spa, and I am a prepared accomplice in crime, so we booked the 90-minute “Higher Collectively” bundle. This included an 80-minute therapeutic massage for every of us but in addition gave us an hour to benefit from the hydrotherapy circuit.

This was a brand new expertise for me, however the facility featured a sauna, scorching tub, steam room, chilly pool and dynamic pool, permitting you to energise your physique by exposing it to totally different environments and temperatures.

I’ve no clue if I did them within the optimum order and even obtained to all of them, nevertheless it was an effective way to destress. It additionally helped that the whole spa facility was beautiful.

You may keep as busy (or as laid again) as you need

One other wonderful thing about Sanctuary Cap Cana is that you would be able to pack your day filled with issues to do, lay round doing nothing or discover a mixture of the 2. In addition to indulging in scrumptious meals and drinks throughout your keep, the property affords many actions as a part of its all-inclusive bundle — together with yoga lessons, bike excursions, seashore volleyball, water aerobics and extra. There was even nightly leisure, although our wedding ceremony festivities prevented us from participating in any of those.

Shortly earlier than our keep, we have been despatched a QR code to obtain the resort’s digital concierge, which, when added to your cell phone’s residence display screen, basically features as an app to assessment the whole lot the resort has to supply.

In case you have an upcoming keep, be happy to discover what’s on faucet earlier than your arrival.

Carry first rate apparel for dinner

As famous beforehand, the upscale eating places all have a “Informal-Elegant” gown code. This implies slacks, a collared shirt and closed-toed footwear for males. Ladies have some added flexibility, although the property nonetheless requires gown sandals or closed footwear.

Sadly, we did not know this forward of time. In consequence, when the Friday night time seashore reception wrapped up, many wedding ceremony visitors have been hungry and headed towards Blue Marlin (the property’s seafood restaurant). Nevertheless, given our apparel, we have been informed they could not accommodate us. Fortunately, the employees in the end acquiesced and allowed us to take a seat, nevertheless it was admittedly fairly irritating to need to struggle that battle in any respect.

The property does an awesome job with weddings

Past simply visiting the property for trip, I might extremely advocate Sanctuary Cap Cana as a vacation spot wedding ceremony spot primarily based on our expertise.

Friday night time was a welcome reception on the seashore — no footwear allowed. The drinks flowed freely, and the resort had even arrange a customized “canoe” of beers for the grooms.

It was so peaceable to attach with mates whereas the mild Caribbean waves crashed on the seashore behind us.

The ceremony on Saturday was held in a lobby within the Fortress part, making for a particular backdrop as Tyler and Bradon tied the knot.

Cocktail hour was upstairs on the Ocean Bar, which supplied phenomenal views over the water.

Then the principle occasion was again downstairs in a big ballroom, full with a buffet that rivaled any wedding ceremony we might been to.

All through all of it, the employees took nice care of not simply the grooms and the marriage get together however all the visitors, making for a memorable celebration.

Solely burn your Marriott factors in particular conditions

As famous beforehand, free nights at Sanctuary Cap Cana are persistently 120,000 factors per night time. And this worth holds whether or not you have got one grownup, two adults or three adults within the room (something extra and also you’re pressured into a bigger room that is not obtainable as a redemption). With paid charges that usually hover within the $500-700 vary, this is not an awesome use of factors.

Nevertheless, paid charges at Sanctuary Cap Cana enhance as you add a second after which a 3rd grownup to the room — so this could make it a greater possibility. And whenever you layer in Marriott’s fifth-night-free profit on award stays, it’s possible you’ll come out forward.

For instance, a five-night keep from Sunday, March 31, by way of Friday, April 5, would set you again $4,479 for 3 adults in an oceanview junior suite.

That very same room can be 480,000 factors — supplying you with a redemption worth of 0.93 cents per level.

Not solely is that this above our valuation of Marriott factors; however you are additionally getting all your meals, drinks and lots of actions included.

I might solely advocate utilizing Marriott factors when the paid charges are excessive, and you have got a minimum of two adults within the room. In any other case, I might strongly think about reserving the room as a paid keep and banking your Marriott factors for a future redemption.

You want greater than two nights

In case it wasn’t clear, we missed out on a lot throughout our keep. We solely obtained to attempt one of many specialty eating places, and we did not partake in any of the on-property actions. I walked by way of Sanctuary City however did not pattern any of the meals. A part of this was due to the marriage festivities, however we have been additionally on the resort grounds for lower than 48 hours.

Merely put, it wasn’t sufficient time.

When you’re contemplating a visit to Sanctuary Cap Cana, I might counsel an absolute minimal of three nights, however 4 or 5 can be even higher. The overwhelming majority of the marriage visitors had carved out extra time for his or her journeys, however as a result of work commitments and childcare limitations, we could not. And we remorse it.

Accessibility

From an accessibility standpoint, we have been fairly impressed with Sanctuary Cap Cana. The bottom ground of the Fortress constructing led out to a stone walkway (no stairs concerned) that took you proper to the principle space of the resort, together with Casa Bella, Blue Marlin, the seashore and the principle pool space. Two of the swimming pools have been additionally zero entry, and there have been intensive wheelchair-friendly elevators throughout the property — although they have been smaller within the Fortress space.

The property affords a number of ground-floor suites which are totally geared up for visitors with particular bodily wants. Options embrace bathtub grab-rails, roll-in showers, alarm clock and phone ring signalers, lowered door deadbolts and lowered retailers. Service animals are welcome at Sanctuary Cap Cana.

Testing of Sanctuary Cap Cana

Our time at Sanctuary Cap Cana got here to an finish means too quickly, and like our arrival, we had organized for shared transportation again to the airport by way of the grooms’ journey advisor. The pleasant resort employees picked up our baggage at 10:15 a.m. forward of our 10:30 departure, and after settling our invoice (for the spa therapy), we have been on our means.

As we pulled out of the resort, we tried not to consider the opposite visitors, lots of whom have been simply beginning their days and looking out ahead to hours of leisure. However that simply means we’ll must plan a return journey — this time for for much longer.

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