Hey, lovelies!
So if you’ve been following major headlines recently, traveling to the Dominican Republic has become pretty controversial. There’s been a troubling amount of incidents with American travelers staying at local resorts reported. Stories about shady bar practices, awful illnesses, and deaths have rocked the world! 😱 I can’t say I wasn’t just a little bit worried — okay, a lot worried! — to see those headlines right before my summer trip to the island. 👀
But if you’ve been following me for a while, you know I can’t resist the sun, surf, and sand in distant tropics! 😩🏖
Even though I wasn’t entirely sure about my travel plans, I opted to go for it anyway and continue with my planned stay at the Sanctuary Cap Cana, an adults-only full-service resort. Mindfulness and relaxation are really important to me this year, and I love to travel to places where I can enjoy good food, warm sand, and a nice breeze to clear my thoughts and refresh myself. 🧘♀️
This is my favorite form of self-care, and it’s changed my life for the better!
I did bring my own alcohol though, because…. better safe than sorry! 😁
With that in mind, I wanted to dish on my experience in the Dominican Republic, and my thoughts on the resort I stayed at. Let’s dive in! 🏊♀️
Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Dominican Republic Resort
Spoiler alert: this resort lives up to its name! It definitely felt like a sanctuary – there were a lot of other guests, but it always felt so calm and secluded. I felt like the only one there!
I snagged a Luxury Junior Suite with an Ocean View on my stay, and I can honestly say it was one of the best hotel rooms I’ve ever been in. The floorplan was spacious and inviting, with crisp white architecture and light wood accents. The bathroom had a double-jetted tub that was amazing to sink into after a long day at the beach or dining in one of the many restaurants at the resort!
The room also had a private balcony I spent a lot of time lounging on, listening to the wind through the palm trees and the waves below. The water is unbelievably blue in the Dominican Republic, and most of the guests stayed at the pool (which has an incredible swim-up bar!) – so I often had the beach to myself! 😍🏖
I have a lot of high expectations when it comes to food, and I suspected that the hotel buffet options and restaurants would be mediocre at best – most all-inclusive resort food I’ve enjoyed doesn’t have a lot of variety and detail. However, I was really impressed by the dining options at the resort and made a point to sample as much as possible! If you ever plan to travel to the Dominican Republic and stay at Sanctuary Cap Cana, here are my recommendations:
The Steakhouse
The Steakhouse was one of my favorite dinner options. There is a dress code, and while American-style, this restaurant has an Argentinian feel to it. There are singers who move around the room to serenade you, which was so charming.
The filet was a winner for me. It’s brought out on a searing hot stone, so you can control how much it is cooked.
Wok
While not intimate, the Wok restaurant was still a really fun time. You are seated with up to six other people around a hibachi-style grill with a private chef, who is so entertaining! The hibachi looked delicious, but I recommend you order a sushi sampler. The sushi is so fresh, I’d believe it if they said they caught it that morning!
Blue Marlin
Possibly my favorite restaurant at the resort for the view! This seafood restaurant sits out over the water, and the view of the Caribbean is unreal. There’s a cool breeze drifting in from over the water. I recommend the croquetas, ceviche and crab cakes if you enjoy sharing appetizers for a light meal.
There are also several bars around the resort, including the swim-up bar and a piano lounge in the lobby. As I mentioned before, I brought my own alcohol to enjoy when relaxing because of all the nightmarish stories coming out of the area recently, but many guests were enjoying the bars and were perfectly safe. In fact, any guests that had any doubts would just ask the bartender to open a new bottle, and all the drinks were made in front of the guests.
The resort was dotted with hammocks and the most comfortable hanging chairs around the beach, pool and in the common areas. They’re not only comfortable, but a great spot to showcase your swimwear. 😉
Speaking of, I packed three of the most fabulous suits I’ve ever owned for my trip, and they did NOT disappoint. I got so many compliments on my swimsuits by the end of the trip! You’ve got to see these shiny, sparkly beauties!
These designs are by Ottilia & Sugar, a Canadian company I stumbled across on Instagram. I feel like this company designs their swimsuits just for me – each one has an amazing cut and is blinged out with Swarovski crystals! The yellow one above has gorgeous blue crystals on the halter ties – I’m obsessed!
My second Ottila & Sugar suit that I packed for the trip is a bright teal luxury print string bikini with a cluster of crystals on one cup and the front of the bottoms. The crystals would catch the sun and sparkle so prettily. They’re eye-catching, to say the least!
If I had to pick a favorite, however, my one-piece might do it. Just look at this beauty!
One-piece bathing suits used to be considered frumpy or matronly, but they’ve come a long way these days! This sparkly beauty is no exception – I’m absolutely obsessed with the crystals dotting the entire bathing suit from top to bottom. I felt like a mermaid relaxing on the beach!
Final Thoughts
All in all, I’m really happy that I decided to go through with my vacation plans. Sanctuary Cap Cana is an amazing resort to stay at, with a host of fantastic restaurants, a relaxing spa, and a small but secluded beach. There was never a point where I didn’t feel completely safe or taken care of by the friendly staff. They even learned my name by the end of the first day!
I need inspiration for my next sunny vacation! Where’s your favorite tropical vacation spot? Let me know in the comments below! 👇
