Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Luxury Collection Resort, Dominican Republic, Adult All-Inclusive

The main pool chairs are all claimed by 8:30 a.m., and the beach is tiny, about the size of the Castle pool. If you want to swim in the ocean, this isn't the place, and goggles and snorkels aren't available to rent. Food was uneven: Casa Bella was solid for breakfast and lunch, the Steakhouse was average at 3/5, and other restaurants opened sporadically. The nicer restaurants didn't enforce dress codes, and disruptive, loud guests were left alone, which hurt the atmosphere. The onsite market is extremely overpriced, though that's somewhat expected at resorts. In the Castle, our swim-up suite pool was freezing in late February and effectively unusable. I regularly swim in alpine lakes and the Puget Sound, so this wasn't just me being unused to cold water. The property gave no warning. The supposed butler service didn't feel personal or prompt, and a handful of butlers seemed to cover 100+ guests across several buildings. It didn't feel VIP. Housekeeping was slow and inconsistent: our room was skipped several times, and on the third day nobody came until we contacted the butler. We could also hear loud music from the neighboring resort late into the night. The TV had about five channels, four of them sports, no streaming, and casting or screen mirroring was blocked. There were no drawers for clothes, an odd inconvenience at this price. This felt like a three-star stay dressed up as a four-star hotel. It wasn't worth the premium price, and I wouldn't stay here again. I thought I'd researched well, but my money would go much farther elsewhere, or I'd spend a little more for a real four-star experience.

The Wok closed the day we arrived and stayed closed for nearly our whole visit. Since Sanctuary has relatively few restaurants to begin with, we felt the loss. We were also surprised to learn only after arrival that the poolside food and bar area ran on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. It would have helped to know ahead of time or have more weekday food choices. We appreciated the dinner at a restaurant in Sanctuary Town on our last night, but the resort could have offered that to affected guests earlier given how long Wok was shut. The staff were the best part of our stay. Glory at Casa Bella always greeted us warmly and prepared a lovely fruit platter with mangoes, which she knew we loved. Juan was kind, attentive, and professional at breakfast. By our second day, Sheyla at the pool had our towels and lounge chairs ready each morning, which made us feel welcome. Franyer from entertainment was energetic and kind, and our butler Joan handled room issues attentively and professionally, making sure they were addressed quickly. We can't remember everyone, but each person we met treated us with kindness, respect, and a smile. The team made up for areas where the resort fell short, and we made wonderful memories thanks to them. We left with mixed feelings. The people at Sanctuary Cap Cana deserve five stars for their dedication and service, and they're the true heart of the place. We hope management finds better alternatives when a main dining option is unavailable for so long.

The only thing I'd tell future visitors is to think about when they travel, since seasonal seaweed can affect the shoreline. It's a natural occurrence in the region. My stay at Sanctuary at Cap Cana felt easy and relaxing, with a calm, upscale atmosphere from arrival. My room was very nice, comfortable, and well kept. The food looked as good as it tasted, and the people throughout the resort were friendly and welcoming. A lovely place for a relaxing getaway.

The PM pub's nightly shows and dancing were a highlight. We enjoyed both the independent show and the ABBA tribute, and the daytime mixology class with Gigi and Bryan was fun too. Spots are limited, so being on time matters. We ate at Casa Bella, Steakhouse, and Wok, and the food was good with plenty of variety. We couldn't get a booking at the Italian restaurant, a common resort problem since reservations can't be made before arrival. We were at the Castle for a friend's 40th birthday, booked through Costco travel. The resort isn't new, but it's maintained well. Our room came with a wonderful butler, Alexander. The Castle has its own pool, which was nice, though rude guests left chairs reserved all day without using them. The same chair problem came up at the other pools and the beach.