Sanctuary Cap Cana Rating: 4.5 Pearls

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

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Sanctuary Cap Cana Golf & Spa

Located near the Cap Cana Marina -- touted as the Caribbean's most modern marina -- the Sanctuary is in an indisputably beautiful location. The sprawling resort complex, with a fortress on one end and cottages on the other, looks like a charming Spanish village -- except that everything was built in 2009. At the time of my stay, it had three restaurants up and running, but the hotel has since introduced two additional world-class restaurants to the mix. Out by the beach, much of the land accommodates the marina and a small township of time-shares, condos, and summer homes shares the Sanctuary's property. Development of the marina itself is ongoing as the area has a ten-twelve year master plan.

Like the great majority of resorts in Punta Cana, the Sanctuary is all-inclusive (as of January 2010). The hotel's five restaurants provide guests with a wide array dining options, from Chinese fare at Wok to a David Crockett steakhouse, but there are no nearby off-site restaurants.

While the nearby Casa de Campo is one of the most family-focused resorts in the D.R., the Sanctuary does not welcome children under 18. The resort is couple-oriented, and is suitable for a romantic getaway -- not a family vacation.

Staffers make guests feel at home

Despite the resort's posh gloss, the staff does its utmost to make you feel at home. I arrived a day later than I should have -- insert classically frustrating story here -- but they happily honored my reservation and gave me a great ocean junior suite. While I was checking out, I watched the desk staff carefully explain the difference between a security deposit and a full payment to an obviously befuddled Russian guest. Despite his frustration and the language barrier, the staff members maintained their cool and were warm and helpful.

Housekeeping slipped a letter under my door when they weren't able to turn down my room. (I had a "do not disturb" sign hanging on my door knob). The letter apologized for not having been able to clean the room and turn down the bed, and told me to call reception to reserve an alternate time if I wanted. This uniformly exceptional level of concern isn't common anywhere.

The staff's uniform, however, might throw you off. The light, cream pajama bottoms and loose-fitting tunics paired with white headbands made the staff look like they were working either in a spa or in the background of Oliver Stone's Alexander. It's designed to look Moroccan. Why? I have no idea.

View on a Larger Map

The Sanctuary is in Punta Cana, near the million dollar Cap Cana Marina -- due to be a major tourist attraction upon its full completetion. The area also contains Punta Espada, a par 72, 18-hole golf course.

Tip: Learn from my mistake and call for a cab a half-hour before you actually need it. Because the hotel is so far from any neighboring towns or hotels, it takes a while for cabs to get here.

The beach

The Sanctuary has a wide white-sand beach that gently slopes into the clear ocean. There are lounge chairs, cabanas, and even a swing, along with a couple huts with massage tables. Unfortunatey, these huts come with a prime view of the volleyball net.

The beach is pretty short and ends abruptly at the Blue Marlin outpost. Currently, the Cap Cana Marina is completing development in the area. .

Porch of the Ocean Junior Suite

The Fortress, the hotel's main building, is geographically separated from the bungalows and villas at the other end of the cliff. Staying inside the Fortress is closer to what it's like in an urban hotel -- one large building with rooms stacked one on top of the other around a central space that includes the lobby, conference rooms, Love Piano Bar, and Le Divellec restaurant. But these rooms are far from boring. After all, it has a moat that doubles as a swimming pool for guests on the ground floor, another pool inside, and a solemn pool in the very center that looks like the interior of some long-forgotten temple. Wok, the hotel's Chinese restaurant, is also housed in this building. Plus, due to the elevation, rooms at the Fortress have a bird's-eye view of the cliff all the way to the shore.

I stayed in an ocean junior suite, in a bungalow at the bottom of the cliff. These rooms open out to the beach. Besides the neighboring rooms in this bungalow, there are also several other cottages closer to the beach with only a couple of rooms to each building, more space, and an even better view.

But back to my digs. Instead of swiping a card to get into my room, all I had to do was hold it up to the door. Once inside, a long hallway with an elaborate valet -- with a mirror, hooks for coats, and a space for umbrellas -- runs the length of the corridor. To the left is a walk-in closet with warm wood paneling, an electronic safe, actual padded hangers, two silky robes with lavish batik-inspired prints, and a shoe-shine kit. How's that for comprehensive?

The bedroom itself is large, with either a king-size or two double beds; all beds have four metal posts and a canopy overhang. The beds are very comfortable, and the smooth, high-end linens are a substantial improvement on the majority of beds at Dominican resorts. There's no iPod docking system (or anything like it) to play music, which is a bit surprising for a self-proclaimed "elite" hotel.

A latticed archway partially separates the bedroom from a sitting area with a rattan loveseat and chair facing a media and entertainment center containing a large flat-screen Sharp TV and a Phillips DVD player. On the bottom shelf of the cabinet is a Nespresso coffee machine -- a high-end product with grounds in vacuum-sealed pellets.

The mini-fridge right by the entertainment center has some Presidente beer, soda, Gatorade, and a bottle of Perrier.

While the rest of the room has romantic (dim) lighting, the large bathroom is brilliantly lit. The rough, unfinished natural stone tiles add to the room's rustic air. The huge tub, however, is unequivocally luxe, with more than enough space for this six-foot-tall reporter to dunk his knees. The shower stall, however, is a little too narrow and the ordinary showerhead is a bit disappointing for the price of the resort. The toilet and bidet are in a closet to the right of the shower.

Finally, there's the room's serene porch. With two wicker chairs and matching ottomans, you can sit down and savor having the beach literally at your doorstep.

The spa

The Sanctuary has several pools, though you might have to hunt around to find them. The most obvious is the large, lagoon-shaped infinity pool overlooking the beach with hands down the cleanest and most sparkling water I'd seen in the D.R. Unlike at most all-inclusive resorts, there are typically very few guests who swarm the swim-up bar. Apart from the hot tub at the end of the pool, there's another small wading pool (and "small" is a relative concept here) around the corner with a fountain along one end and even more lounge chairs for sun worship.

The other pools are somewhat hidden. The moat around the Fortress is swimmable, but considering the leaves that had collected around the side and the fact that it curves around Wok, this is a less popular option. The Fortress does have a pool on the lobby level, though it too doesn't see too much guest traffic. The final pool is a rectangular, medium-size infinity pool right by Le Divellec restaurant.

The new fitness center (redone during summer 2010) offers guests a larger space than the old gym, with new machines and weights.

One of the Sanctuary's biggest assets is its own golf course. Punta Espada -- a par 72, 18-hole golf course -- is immaculately groomed. Fellow guests seemed to agree, spending huge chunks of time there. In fact, the hotel maintains a fleet of golf carts that constantly circulate around the property, picking up guests and dropping them off at the course. The Teeth of the Dog course at the similarly ritzy Casa de Campo has been hailed as one of the Caribbean's most famous golf courses, but the course at the Sanctuary and other new courses, like the one at the Punta Cana Hotel, could provide some real competition.

Hidden at the end of a hallway in the Fortress, the spa has beautiful, flower-laden treatment rooms, fantastic hot tubs, and a private island with stunning views -- it was like stepping into Narnia.

Rooms are large enough to fit a crib

The hotel is generally quiet and romantic, and does not welcome children under 18. The guest rooms are large enough to accommodate a rollaway bed, which the hotel provides for free, as long as the person sleeping in it is 18 or older.

Opened in 2009, the Sanctuary is very clean. Even the deliberately chipped walls at the David Crockett restaurant look modern.

Le Divellec restaurant

As of January 2010, the Sanctuary is an all-inclusive resort, and the cost of food and drinks is covered in the room charge. Guests can dine at any of the five on-site restaurants.

Most of the restaurants at the Sanctuary were either closed or under construction during my stay, but have since opened and are ready for business. The selection includes Wok, a Chinese restaurant in the Fortress floating over the castle's moat. The Blue Marlin Bar and Grill, composed of a series of huts that sit over the ocean, are stunning. When I asked several members of the staff which restaurant they preferred, Blue Fin's seafood cuisine won easily.

I was able to catch a couple of meals at the pseudo-French Le Divellec, where the extremely gracious staff served me the best lamb chops in recent memory. Later in the evening, I even saw a waiter serenade a couple by candlelight.

Breakfast at Le Divellec, however, was a bit of a letdown. There was only a selection of breads, fruit, and cereal.

David Crockett, the resort's steakhouse and a Dominican chain, is in a building by the lobby that had been deliberately chipped away to give it an aged, classically western look. The empanadas I had there were huge and tasty.

The Fortress Terrace, a popular reception spot

• Wedding Size: Up to 400 guests; max only two weddings per day

• Extra Fees: $500 fee for a priest or judge; fees to privatize space range from $200 to $3,000 (see below)

• Ceremony Locations: The beach (this space is public); in an Island Suite (max 50 people, $200 to privatize); or in the Ballroom (max 400 people, $3,000 to privatize). Children are only allowed in certain parts of the hotel -- must get approval for wedding locations.

• Reception Locations: The Ballroom, on the Capriccio or Fortress Terrace (max 100 people, $500 to privatize); on the Ocean Lounge Terrace (max 80 people, $500 to privatize); or in the Blue Marlin Restaurant ($3,000 to privatize).

• Photographers and Videographers: Packages range from $420 for basic photography prints to $4,950 for video footage and albums.

• Music Options: Guitarist and singer provided for the ceremony; may bring outside musicians (no fee) for the reception.

• Food and Drinks: There are two packages, ranging from $99 to $135 per person, which include hors d'oeuvres, three- or four-course or buffet dinners, standard or premium open bar for four hours, and a DJ for four hours. Kids' menu available; no vegetarian, kosher, or gluten-free menus, but specific menu items exist to accommodate vegetarian diets.

• Cakes: Cake prices range between $6 and $10 per person, depending on flavor and decoration.

• Spa Treatments: At one of the best spas in the Dominican Republic, the bridal treatments ($290) include a facial, hair and makeup consultation, and day-of hair and makeup.

• Honeymoon Suite: Newlyweds usually stay in the Luxury Suite, Ocean Villa, or Royal Villa, each with terraces, outdoor space, and direct beach access and views.

• Airport Transportation: Private transportation available for $65 one-way or $120 round-trip for groups of six; otherwise, the Punta Cana Airport is just a 15-minute ride away from the resort.