Hotel Casa Don Luis Cap Cana by Faranda Boutique

We spent a week here for our birthdays and had an amazing time. The 11-room boutique hotel made for a quiet, peaceful getaway, while restaurants, shops, and a beautiful marina were all within walking distance. The beach was close too, and staff would drive us there in a golf cart whenever we asked. Jonel and the rest of the staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. When I had a stomach bug on our second day, they gave me excellent advice. We’d love to come back. It was an excellent stay!

The setting beside the beautiful marina was lovely, especially for sunrise and sunset. Inside Cap Cana it felt safe, and security was top notch. Our check-in was seamless, and the hotel’s atmosphere was serene and relaxing. We booked for the tropical look, which was even nicer in person. There’s a small, intimate pool in the middle of the hotel, a mini-market nearby, and a couple of cafes and restaurants close by if you don’t want to go far. As a boutique hotel, it felt private and exclusive. The staff were pleasant, especially receptionist Jonel, who speaks seven languages and goes above and beyond to make guests’ stays wonderful. My friend and I had the best time a week ago. We highly recommend it and will book again when we’re back in Punta Cana.

The weekend noise is the main thing to know if you’re sensitive to it. On Saturday, loud music from a nearby bar or pool party went on until about 2 AM. The staff at the front desk were fantastic, and my wife and I enjoyed access to a nice pool area above the hotel. Don Luis Cap Cana was an affordable Cap Cana option for me since I don’t drink and usually don’t like all-inclusive resorts. The rooms are rustic because the property was converted from a church, which gives it character. The shower had hot water and good pressure. The TV only works with your own streaming logins. I liked the location near good restaurants, where expect to pay around 75 to 150 USD for a couple. I rented a golf cart for the day to explore Cap Cana for 105 USD, and thought it was worth it. The front desk let us recharge it at the hotel. USD seemed to be the preferred payment method everywhere we went, so there was no need to get pesos. A taxi to and from the airport cost 35 USD. We didn’t see many people swimming at the beaches, most likely because of the yellow-flag weather conditions. Exploring in the cart, we found Azul Lago, a cool little place with free entry and a tiny, calm freshwater lagoon for swimming. There’s also a trail for birdwatching.

The ocean, scenery, and golf are spectacular, but there are better places to stay. I’m hard-pressed to believe the reviews of this “hotel,” at least those from people assigned to room 11 in this glorified bed and breakfast with 11 rooms. Room 11 is extremely small, with one little window in the corner, hidden behind heavy shutters and curtains. At check-in there were no towels, no working lamps, and no working TV. The shower floods the bathroom because there’s a gap under the door, and there was a persistent moldy smell. A connecting room brought noise and light under the door around the clock, right by the head of the bed. The front desk attendant also works as waiter, barista, and bartender. Aside from the manager, staff understood and spoke very little English, which was unfortunate since nearly all the guests during my stay didn’t speak Spanish. They were kind and pleasant, but not equipped for customer-facing work. And the “pool” was about the size of a cold plunge tub. I thought it was some kind of fountain or birdbath.