I’ll be honest.
I was not expecting to like the Dominican Republic. Growing up, everyone I knew either went to Florida, Cuba or the Dominican on vacation.
Those were the decently priced places to travel when I was a kid!
We can get real for a second here – at certain times of the year, some of us look for resorts with no kids.
Have you ever been to Disney World on March Break? I have not, but I imagine that it is loony.
This means that if I am looking for a spring break destination, I am probably looking for an adults-only all-inclusive.
Can I add in a decent price tag?
An adults-only all-inclusive in Punta Cana?
SOLD.
I had assumed that since the Dominican Republic was a popular destination, it would be busy, ugly, and crowded with tourists.
I will say it out loud. I WAS WRONG.
Already one of the top all-inclusive resorts for adults only in the Dominican, Secrets Cap Cana blew any expectations I had out of the water.
If you are looking for the best options for couples in Punta Cana, this resort is for you. Secrets Cap Cana is located on the more secluded Juanillo Beach, which is just around the corner from the main tourist strip.
You have the convenience of being close to the airport and attractions while also indulging in the peace and tranquility that a vacation should offer.
Read on to find out all the details on why Secrets Cap Cana is the all inclusive adults only you need to visit next.
Highlights of Secrets Cap Cana
#1 – The Pool
Normally Jojo and I are beach people, 150%.
The beach was beautiful– soft white sand, some waves but not rough, and shallow a long way out. Even though we were not on the main strip, the beach was fairly large.
Next door to the resort was an adventure park, and the beach extended even beyond that. We made a point of walking it every day…something I would recommend doing if you plan on having dessert every night!
Yet still, day after day, the shimmering infinity pool lured me into its irresistible waters instead.
Friends, imagine the most beautiful pool you’ve ever seen, and then add in the luscious greenery of the Dominican Republic in the background. A-mazing.
#2 – The Evening Entertainment
The other highlight of my stay was visiting the Lobby bar after dinner (I bet you’re thinking OF COURSE it was, but bear with me here!).
The biggest challenge for me on vacation is that “lull” time between dinner and a show because, embarrassingly enough, I often do not stay awake long enough to see the entertainment of the night.
Enter: the perfect solution.
Secrets Cap Cana, you exceeded my expectations in this department! You do a great job of entertaining guests at this tough time.
The lobby is beautiful, with comfy chairs, cozy nooks, and a river right down the middle. This was a gathering place when you could have a cup of tea or a mojito and snuggle in and listen to the evening star.
They had guitarists, songwriters, rum presentations and open mike nights. I loved sitting in the open air, chatting with our favorite waitress, and listening to whatever production was happening in the Lobby.
Don’t get me wrong. Their night shows (9 pm for all of you night owls) were also excellent. I did manage to stay awake for a total of two, and the Rock and Roll theme show (WE BUILT THIS CITY!) was my fave.
Food & Drinks
You don’t have to believe me, but…the best restaurant on the resort is the buffet!
Yes, that is correct. This is the only resort that we have been to where we thought the buffet was better than the restaurants.
Basically, you can get whatever you wanted to order in the restaurant at the buffet itself, without the wait times and with much more choice!
If you end up going, let me know if you agree or not in the comments below!
The best place for drinks on the resort is the Lobby Bar, otherwise known as Rendezvous.
With cute nooks for snuggling and daily evening entertainment, this place is always popular.
Hotel Rooms
As a self-described ‘cheapskate,’ my hotel rooms are never the fanciest or most expensive ones on the resort.
Did I mention that there is a bathtub on the balcony? Now is your time to live it up on vacation.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Like any other vacation, it is imperative that you come prepared.
Dominican Republic is no exception. Even a 5-star resort might not come with everything. In our case, we were in charge of finding a taxi from the airport to the resort.
Friends, book your transfer ahead of time.
My travel agent had booked our transfer from the airport to the hotel in advance, and WOW, was I ever thankful.
We entered the Punta Cana airport and it was a ZOO. No words can describe the chaos that greeted us.
Along with other masses of people, we descended the plane and entered immigration.
No one seemed interested in the paperwork, so we paid our $5USD at the desk and kept walking. There were crowds walking every which way as no one was certain where to go.
We continued to look for someone to take our forms, but there was no official or lineup that would suggest an appropriate place.
Since we had booked our transfer already, we kept walking and continued on to the organized tour room, where we located our guide company and met our driver.
We thought the inside of the airport was bad, but we were shocked when we walked outside.
Chaos greeted us. The parking lot was full of cars, bumper to bumper, with no one moving anywhere fast. Masses of people waiting outside at the gate for their loved ones, and even more operators tried their luck outside the airport as well.
There were some people in their cars, some people out of their cars, and people weaving through the pickup area with little concern that someone might hit them. I did not know who had the right-of-way or where someone might find a taxi.
If I went back to the Dominican Republic, I would ensure that I arranged transportation from the airport to my destination. Ask your travel agent if this is included in your price! I have found with other places that it often is.
If you are looking for an adults-only all-inclusive in Punta Cana, put Secrets at the top of your list. I would for sure go back.
I traveled here in 2018. As always, stay safe by checking out your country’s travel advisories before booking any trips or excursions. You can check out the Canadian opinion here.
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