Sanctuary Cap Cana

We visit Sanctuary Cap Cana every year. All of the staff are very friendly and go out of their way to accommodate everyone. We request the same butler, Emilio, every time. He remembers us and all of our preferences. The restaurant choices are great, we love the suites in the...

We visit Sanctuary Cap Cana every year. All of the staff are very friendly and go out of their way to accommodate everyone. We request the same butler, Emilio, every time. He remembers us and all of our preferences. The restaurant choices are great, we love the suites in the Castle, and the spa is very peaceful.

This was the 6th time we've been to the Punta Cana overall, second time at Cap Cana section, and first time at this resort. This was by far and away one of the best resorts we had been to. Had the junior suite w/ 2 queen beds. Room, lobby, and...

This was the 6th time we've been to the Punta Cana overall, second time at Cap Cana section, and first time at this resort. This was by far and away one of the best resorts we had been to. Had the junior suite w/ 2 queen beds. Room, lobby, and grounds area were well kept. Mini bar in room was well stocked with water, soda and beer (no hard liquor, but who cares, just go to one of the many bars and they’ll make what you want). The beach isn't the biggest out there, especially if you compare to Bavaro beach, but decent and well kept. One plus is that in Cap Cana, you don't need to worry about the motorboats that you often see at Bavaro beach (a plus for us). There is a way to walk to a public beach next door to the resort. Both beaches again are fairly nice and efforts are made to keep the seaweed out. The public beach had very few visitors. As for the dining, we usually go to the buffets out of our own laziness. However, we realized the Casa Bella buffet is only open for breakfast and lunch (daily) and dinner on Fridays only. So for the first night, we went to the steakhouse, which was had absolutely phenomenal steaks. My wife is not much of a steak eater, and she thought it was really good. Second night we ate at the blue Marlin seafood. I wasn't sure if we were going to like it, but yet again it was delicious. On the third night we ate pizza at Mama Fornos in Sanctuary Town, totally delicious. Note, Sanctuary Town has various restaurants such as burgers, pizza, sushi, etc. and are open to guests of other resorts, hence why the menu shows prices. Just make sure the wait staff gets your room number as part of the all inclusive. Thursday night our dinner was at the WOK (Asian). My only regret is that we didn’t book it for 2 nights!! Absolutely phenomenal experience. Most of the days we had breakfast and lunch at the Casa Bella buffet. Each station has an attendant, and you tell them what you want on your plate. I saw some reviews where people complained about this, but I think it's a better system for sanitary purposes. Shout out to Yoleydys and Niersin for their great service at Casa Bella buffet. In fact, I can’t say any of the staff let us down, from barkeepers, housekeeping, beach attendants, and wait staff. As for dress code, I had been able to get by w/ a Hawaiian shirt and either dressier shorts or grey/kaki jeans. Like most resorts, their definition of “elegance” isn’t that strict. If you have the opportunity, try the Canita beer, which is a local beer in Punta Cana. As for the drinks at the pool bar, they are a lot stronger compared to other resorts pool bars.

The staff was amazing! So friendly and helpful… Angel (our butler) made the experience so much easier and awesome! I enjoyed how relaxing the resort was, it never felt like we had to fight for a spot on the beach or pool, the food was great, and overall just a...

The staff was amazing! So friendly and helpful… Angel (our butler) made the experience so much easier and awesome! I enjoyed how relaxing the resort was, it never felt like we had to fight for a spot on the beach or pool, the food was great, and overall just a very happy trip!

Enjoyed a week at Sanctuary to celebrate our 50th anniversary. Kelvin our butler at the castle allowed us to relax and enjoy while he took care of everything from booking restaurants, keeping us updated on activities and events and making sure we had everything we needed right until the end...

Enjoyed a week at Sanctuary to celebrate our 50th anniversary. Kelvin our butler at the castle allowed us to relax and enjoy while he took care of everything from booking restaurants, keeping us updated on activities and events and making sure we had everything we needed right until the end when he put our suitcases in the vehicle to the airport. Our housekeeper, Angela was friendly and efficient. Glory at the buffet always had a big smile for me when she served my fruit at breakfast and my salads at lunch. The Italian restaurant was our favorite, followed by the pizza in Sanctuary town. There was a pool for everybody; main pool active the other pools were varied with different levels of peace and quiet. The vegetation is lush and beautiful. The groundskeepers work very hard to make this resort spectacular. The entertainment was ok and there could be a bit more. The only negative is that the beach is small and there are rocks in the water.

Just returned from a five night stay to celebrate my husband’s 40th birthday. Absolutely AMAZING trip. We stayed in a swim out room in the castle- such a beautiful and quiet area of the resort. Our butler JT was wonderful and made sure we had everything we needed each day....

Just returned from a five night stay to celebrate my husband’s 40th birthday. Absolutely AMAZING trip. We stayed in a swim out room in the castle- such a beautiful and quiet area of the resort. Our butler JT was wonderful and made sure we had everything we needed each day. We loved all of the dining- ambiance was amazing at Blue Marlin and Wok, and our favorite food was the Italian restaurant and Steakhouse. All of the staff were incredibly friendly, excited to be there, and ready to help. The staff at the beach shack/pool were attentive and helpful to find chairs in our desired areas. Bartenders were fun and friendly. Pools were beautiful. Ocean was rocky, but water calm and warm. This resort felt like a great balance of quiet relaxation when we needed it and fun entertainment and activities that made every day unique. Will definitely return!!

Had the best 50th anniversary celebration at Sanctuary, Cap Cana Resort! We could not have asked for a better assistant/helper/butler in Jeremiah! He is the greatest! No matter what we wanted or where we wanted to go, his statement was "We can make that happen, & he did! THANK YOU...

Had the best 50th anniversary celebration at Sanctuary, Cap Cana Resort! We could not have asked for a better assistant/helper/butler in Jeremiah! He is the greatest! No matter what we wanted or where we wanted to go, his statement was "We can make that happen, & he did! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING! See you soon!!

This resort is absolutely breathtaking! The staff is excellent and so accommodating. Yolyedes, Osvaldo, Jefrie, Ulysses, and Ambriosx were the best!!!! They remembered us and made us feel like we had known them forever. Very welcoming and friendly. The food was wonderful and the views are gorgeous. I have nothing...

This resort is absolutely breathtaking! The staff is excellent and so accommodating. Yolyedes, Osvaldo, Jefrie, Ulysses, and Ambriosx were the best!!!! They remembered us and made us feel like we had known them forever. Very welcoming and friendly. The food was wonderful and the views are gorgeous. I have nothing but amazing things to say and we will be back to this resort! Thank you, Sanctuary Cap Cana for making this a memorable vacation and for your unmatched service!

This resort is so lovely. The scenery is gorgeous, lots of swimming options, and the staff couldn’t be nicer. From the housekeeping to the ladies at the coffee shop to the bartenders like Cristian at the beach bar, everyone is so helpful. The sanctuary town with additional restaurants and shops...

This resort is so lovely. The scenery is gorgeous, lots of swimming options, and the staff couldn’t be nicer. From the housekeeping to the ladies at the coffee shop to the bartenders like Cristian at the beach bar, everyone is so helpful. The sanctuary town with additional restaurants and shops on the resort property is really fun. Would definitely come back.

The resort was spectacular and was very accommodating. Our Butler Frank was the best we have had. We had an issue and he was extremely understanding and helped resolve the concern. For an all inclusive resort, the food was very good. We will go back and ask for Frank.

You will have an amazing time no matter what you are doing. If it’s a beautiful dinner, drinks at the pool, or activities. You will have a great time and not need to leave the property. We had dinner at the Blue Marlin, Steakhouse, Wok, Sushi Town. Breakfast in the...

You will have an amazing time no matter what you are doing. If it’s a beautiful dinner, drinks at the pool, or activities. You will have a great time and not need to leave the property. We had dinner at the Blue Marlin, Steakhouse, Wok, Sushi Town. Breakfast in the lobby bar or pool side Buffett. Late night drinks at the Love Bar. David and Emmanuel were amazing. David the pool bartender makes amazing drinks where Emmanuel was wonderful setting us up pool side everyday. If you are on the fence with your decision this is where I say DO IT! You will have an amazing time.

This is an exceptional resort. Cap Cana is a luxury area of Punta Cana so our expectations were high. They were met. The buildings have a unique look compared to others in the area - definitely not cookie cutter. The entire grounds were really well maintained and clean. We stayed...

This is an exceptional resort. Cap Cana is a luxury area of Punta Cana so our expectations were high. They were met. The buildings have a unique look compared to others in the area - definitely not cookie cutter. The entire grounds were really well maintained and clean. We stayed in an Oceanfront Junior Suite and the room was huge. The fifth floor rear side offered a peaceful view of the ocean and the Blue Marlin Grille from our private balcony with jacuzzi. The food was excellent as well as the service. We tried every restaurant at the resort (with the exception of Sanctuary Town area). Our favorites by far were the Steakhouse and the Italian restaurant, followed by the Blue Marlin for lunch. Miguel was our waiter for both breakfast every day and twice at the Italian restaurant and his service was among the best we’ve ever had. Félix and Omar helped us every day to get a good spot on the beach, towels, buckets of ice cold Presidente, and Piña Colados. Gloria always saved us Dragonfruit and orange juice for breakfast at the buffet. Luis Saurys, Juan Jose, and Milvio were also there for us every day during breakfast. At the Blue Marlin, we had Roberto as a server for both lunch and dinner and his recommendations were spot on. Would definitely recommend, and planning a return trip.

My husband and I just returned from a week at Sanctuary Cap Cana, where we stayed in a King Suite Oceanfront. The resort was incredible, and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food, which is often a concern at all-inclusive resorts. The food and restaurant service truly...

My husband and I just returned from a week at Sanctuary Cap Cana, where we stayed in a King Suite Oceanfront. The resort was incredible, and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food, which is often a concern at all-inclusive resorts. The food and restaurant service truly exceeded our expectations. The fish and ceviche at Blue Marlin were exceptional, while the steaks at the Steakhouse were flavorful and cooked to perfection. The Wok offered an extensive menu full of delicious Pan-Asian dishes, and Capriccio was a standout, offering an outstanding dining experience. We were traveling with a group of 8, so we ordered appetizers to share at all four restaurants, and each meal was a hit. As guests in the Castle with suites, we had butler service, and our butler, Alexander, took care of every need we had. Our friends had JT as their butler, and he was equally fantastic—once he knew we were part of their group, he took the time to learn our names and make us feel welcome. Both Alexander and JT clearly love their jobs, and their attention to detail made our experience even more special. The cost of our room was absolutely worth it for the level of service and quality we received. I don’t want to forget the pool butlers either. We met Felix on our first day and ensured that he checked on us every day. He got to know our names, why we were there (celebrating a birthday), and spend time just chatting with us. This was a great experience.

We just checked out after a five night stay and really enjoyed the resort. We have stayed at resorts in Jamaica and Mexico so this review is compared to Secrets and Sandals resorts in those countries. Overall we enjoyed our stay and would return again. The highs: 1. The grounds...

We just checked out after a five night stay and really enjoyed the resort. We have stayed at resorts in Jamaica and Mexico so this review is compared to Secrets and Sandals resorts in those countries. Overall we enjoyed our stay and would return again. The highs: 1. The grounds are immaculate and the groundskeepers were working constantly to keep them beautiful. 2. The pools are fantastic. We were there solely to relax so our group spent our time in the infinity pool near the lobby. The views of the ocean are great from there. The main pool is where the swim up pool bar is and has music playing all day. 3. The rooms were nicely appointed and very well kept. The views were amazing. We were not in The Castle but had great ocean views. 4 The Wok and the Italian restaurant were what resort dining should be. The food was fantastic and the service was top shelf. The Lows: 1. Reservations at the Italian restaurant and the Wok are hard to get. The only reservations we could get were at 9:15 and 9:30 respectively. I heard some people call in advance to make their reservations but I suspect preference goes to guests staying in the Castle for reservations. 2. The drink service at the infinity pool was great until lunch (thank you Reyna) but was hit or miss after lunch. 3. Evening entertainment was not what we are used to. There was a karaoke night and a circus but what entertainment was available was over by 10. Reyna at the Love bar and Super Jerry at the Steakhouse and breakfast buffet were fantastic. Roberto at the Blue Marlin Also provided great service. All of the staff at the spa were attentive. One suggestion on the menu: the stuffed Mahi at the Blue Marlin tasted like it had been cooked the day before and heated up in a broiler. I love Mahi and expected fresh fish in a setting like this but that dish in particular was a real let down.

I was disappointed in the quality and selection of food at this resort. Except for the lunch buffet, the food quality and choice was poor. This stops me from recommending this resort to friends or making a return visit. Also, the beach is very small and not really suitable for...

I was disappointed in the quality and selection of food at this resort. Except for the lunch buffet, the food quality and choice was poor. This stops me from recommending this resort to friends or making a return visit. Also, the beach is very small and not really suitable for swimming due to the rocks. You can get out beyond the rocks, but then you are right next to a rather unattractive barrier that helps with the seaweed. The wait staff was not very attentive or friendly, especially at the Blue Marlin. One evening I was not able to get hot water in the shower. On the positive side the grounds are beautiful and the pools are fantastic. The room was a very generous size .

WE were here last year and thought it was a chill property and the room was terrific. The food was passable.. e decided to return this year and regret doing so. I got food poisoning the first night and was not able to lace the room for most of the...

WE were here last year and thought it was a chill property and the room was terrific. The food was passable.. e decided to return this year and regret doing so. I got food poisoning the first night and was not able to lace the room for most of the time.. my husband and our two good friends went out each night and found the food to be terrible. The 2nd to last day my friend and her husband had a couple of pieces of fried chicken at the beach shack and both of them got sick within hours. I even tried to order room service with just buttered noodles and Parmesan cheese. And a bowl of vegetable soup. Both were heavily salted rendering them inedible. Didn’t come in expecting gourmet food but this was another level of bad. Will not be returning

Wonderful resort all around, we were very impressed. We are picky travellers and would say for the price to value received it’s one of the best in the Caribbean even stacking up against higher end resorts. We stayed in the imperial suite which was absolutely amazing with a private pool...

Wonderful resort all around, we were very impressed. We are picky travellers and would say for the price to value received it’s one of the best in the Caribbean even stacking up against higher end resorts. We stayed in the imperial suite which was absolutely amazing with a private pool and a million dollar view. Highly recommended for a reasonable rate to get this much space and privacy. The staff always make or break the resort and we were thoroughly impressed with a few that really stood out. Frank was a truly world class butler he never missed a thing without any prompting, Randi and Billy in room service were super accommodating and always in a great mood. Ginette was one of our favourite hostesses ever and Joesinson at the Italian restaurant bar served up good conversation and his speciality pink drink which we returned more than a few times for. As a Marriott Ambassador Elite we received a room upgrade and 25% off the world class spa as great extras. The only negative review that came up before our trip was the beach size, however small there was always chairs and the sand and water were great, so not a real negative at all. Food, while never world class at all inclusives, was excellent, one of the best we’ve experienced at this price level and lots of restaurant selections for such a small resort. If you are looking for a nice quiet romantic getaway with no measurable negatives this is the place, one of the best in the DR!

We had a great experience at the Sanctuary, a bit of a hiccup at the castle with hot water but it was remedied with a move to the Villas, stunning place. The castle pool and bar were wonderfu, Jose was fantastic at the castle bar. Once at the Villas we...

We had a great experience at the Sanctuary, a bit of a hiccup at the castle with hot water but it was remedied with a move to the Villas, stunning place. The castle pool and bar were wonderfu, Jose was fantastic at the castle bar. Once at the Villas we stayed for the most part at the main pool, beach plus the bars located there. Jeremiah our bulter, he was very helpful and Cristian at the beach bar was also wonderful. We have stayed at a lot of all inclusive resorts and the food, service, plus top shelf alcohol was indeed special. The steak house and the Wok were our favorite. I would also like to say thank you to David who stocked our mini bar, I seemed to run into him everyday and even though I don't speak spanish we managed to connect and he was wonderful. Thank you Sanctuary Cap Cana

Lovely relaxing time in the DR! We had never previously been to all inclusive resort. Was a great experience. Food was generally good, especially steakhouse and the wok. High end drinks. Most importantly the staff was lovely especially our butler Carlos and Felix who helped us on the beach! If...

Lovely relaxing time in the DR! We had never previously been to all inclusive resort. Was a great experience. Food was generally good, especially steakhouse and the wok. High end drinks. Most importantly the staff was lovely especially our butler Carlos and Felix who helped us on the beach! If you want a chill out time away to relax by pool or beach it is great choice. Nightly music/circus show is great. Resort is lovely but a little quiet - our only suggestions for the resort would be to increase activities- there is enough property to build pickleball or tennis. Could move out buoys to allow for some paddle board or even sailing. Would really make a big difference !

The resort is beautiful. There are multiple eatery options and plenty of areas to sit, relax and enjoy the scenery. Frank, our Butler, seems more like a friend who takes care of us when we're in town than a member of the staff. He makes us feel taken care of....

The resort is beautiful. There are multiple eatery options and plenty of areas to sit, relax and enjoy the scenery. Frank, our Butler, seems more like a friend who takes care of us when we're in town than a member of the staff. He makes us feel taken care of. He even makes us feel special, even though we're not, haha, but it's a nice experience. The breeze on the balcony is always nice. We recommend staying in the castle. The spa services are pretty good, many options and nice ambiance. We like that there are multiple pools - some for partying, some for relaxing. The local fare is our favorite - ceviche, mangu, fresh seafood - the best! The steakhouse was pretty good, too. When you dine, prepare to relax and take your time enjoying each other and the beautiful scenery. With 364 rooms, restaurants can be bustling at mealtimes. If you want to avoid crowds, arrive early. In the evenings, ask the pool (or beach) staff to hold preferred seats in the morning. To secure, arrive early (by 7:45) to claim your seats with a book, hat, etc. They're great about bringing over an umbrella if one is wanted and needed. :) Again, ask for Frank when you stay in the Castle - trust us.

We had a great trip. The hotel was beautiful, weather was amazing, and food and drinks were fantastic. (Highly recommend the pizza place). The spa was also very nice. Angel was our butler and he and the entire staff were incredibly friendly and took great care of us!

Special mentions: Our butler Samuel was very kind and helpful (made reservations, managed our luggage, brought us drinks, etc). Felix, Manuel, Chavelin, Xiorkis, and Juan were also great! Pros: Beautiful view/architecture. Close to airport and in gated community. Variety of good food/drinks available. Staff asks about allergies and listed on...

Special mentions: Our butler Samuel was very kind and helpful (made reservations, managed our luggage, brought us drinks, etc). Felix, Manuel, Chavelin, Xiorkis, and Juan were also great! Pros: Beautiful view/architecture. Close to airport and in gated community. Variety of good food/drinks available. Staff asks about allergies and listed on menus. Cons: Loud construction going on 9-5 every day (even weekends) on property beside the castle. I understand this is not the resorts doing, but it is not worth the price of staying in the castle swim up section for as long as the construction continues. Sadly, really put a damper on the whole trip as we were most excited to have our own quiet pool to relax at alone. $10 each time you use room service even at butler level was disappointing for all inclusive. Butler being unable to reserve beach or pool chairs for you was also disappointing. Wheelchair accessibility: most restaurants have a ramp available if main entrance isn’t accessible. Must be able to manage sand to reach beach/ocean. Some public “wheelchair accessible” bathrooms we visited had a small step in. Prior to booking our trip we called to ask about accessibility for the swim up room and we were told it could be requested. I should have just been told there is no option of wheelchair accessibility in the swim up section at all. Once we arrived we were told there are “wheelchair accessible” rooms which were a “significant downgrade” to what we had booked. Had we known there was absolutely no possibility of having an accessible swim up room at all we would have saved money and chosen that room to begin with.

Sanctuary Cap Cana Castle was great and Dawar gave us a warm welcome and made the trip even more amazing from setting up dinner reservations to going out of his way to make our vacation truly incredible. Dawar provided the best concierge service and we are looking forward to planing...

Sanctuary Cap Cana Castle was great and Dawar gave us a warm welcome and made the trip even more amazing from setting up dinner reservations to going out of his way to make our vacation truly incredible. Dawar provided the best concierge service and we are looking forward to planing another trip to Sanctuary cap Cana

We are just back from Sanctuary Cap Cana and had a great experience. We stayed in the Monarch Villas and had a beautiful ocean view. Dawar was our butler and worked hard to make our stay great! He had coffee delivered to our room every morning and a bottle of...

We are just back from Sanctuary Cap Cana and had a great experience. We stayed in the Monarch Villas and had a beautiful ocean view. Dawar was our butler and worked hard to make our stay great! He had coffee delivered to our room every morning and a bottle of wine delivered every afternoon. He was very receptive to any of our needs and we appreciated his kindness. ALL of the staff are very attentive, kind and friendly. We thought the food was fairly good for an all inclusive resort. Some of the restaurants are harder to get into so we ate at Blue Marlin twice and the Italian restaurant twice. All in all, it was a very relaxing vacation and I would return here. Thanks to an amazing staff for making our stay so enjoyable!

Great adult only couples romantic getaway. The ambience is fantastic and it’s peaceful. The staff members were nice, attentive and professional. Pros: Our butler Joan was very amazing! Not only was he attentive but he also went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable! He made our dinner reservations,...

Great adult only couples romantic getaway. The ambience is fantastic and it’s peaceful. The staff members were nice, attentive and professional. Pros: Our butler Joan was very amazing! Not only was he attentive but he also went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable! He made our dinner reservations, sent a ride to our villa to pick us up for dinner and consistently checked on us throughout the day. Please TIP him very well if you ever have him. 😉 Food was above average. Best restaurants are the Blue Martini, the steakhouse, general buffet and Italian restaurants. Make sure you see Manuel, and Quirillo for service he good very care of us. The food at the WOK (Pan Asian restaurant) was disappointing and not as good as described. The food wasn’t horrible, but definitely not work making a reservation. Drinks- typical resort bottom shelf/house alcohol. I suggest you request the top shelf alcohol you like before asking for a drink. Only draw back is that some of the top self alcohol comes at a cost. $10 USD and up. $150- $500 for a bottle which isn’t bad. Overall, every bartender I encountered was on point and very nice. Bali bed- worth the purchase. Comes w a bottle of your choice and a dedicated server. Con: Spa - I’d give it a 3 out of 5. This is only because we had high expectations for the $495 USD we paid for a couples massage. Keep in mind, I get massages at every hotel/resort I travel to so my expectations are different than your average. The massage therapists were just about average. (No disrespect). You would have been much better off w a basic 50 min massage if you much get a massage. Airport- Nothing to do w the resort, but be prepared for the harassment at the airport. Lol. You will be harassed to buy alcohol (which is wierd because alcohol sells itself), hiring a taxi service and buying excursions BEFORE you even get to your designated transportation counter. We hired a driver, but one lady grabbed my arm and directed me to a counter were someone will “assist” me with finding my driver. I played the game just to be nice and also because the lady who approached us was pretty. Lol However, the gentleman got an attitude w me because I chatting w my driver as he try to sell me excursions we were not interested at in. Keep in mind, I told that fella I’ve been to Punta Cuna 4x. I knew better and clearly it was a waste my time, but having them around to scam tourists who don’t know better is unnecessary. My two cents. Overall, I RECOMMEND booking a stay at this resort!

Sanctuary Cap Cana was pure heaven!!! The resort is just gorgeous and the staff was all so friendly...plus it's only 15 minutes from the airport but not in the path of planes...I don't think we heard or saw one plane overhead the entire time. We stayed in the castle and...

Sanctuary Cap Cana was pure heaven!!! The resort is just gorgeous and the staff was all so friendly...plus it's only 15 minutes from the airport but not in the path of planes...I don't think we heard or saw one plane overhead the entire time. We stayed in the castle and had Emilio for our butler who went above and beyond to make sure our anniversary trip was special. I know sometimes at an all-inclusive the food can be meh, but for the most part all of our food was delicious. Some of our favorite were sushi rolls from the sushi restaurant, breakfast and lunch buffet (especially any of the made to order selections), frozen coconut lime drink from pool bar, ceviche and paella from pool snack shack and espresso drinks from the coffee shop! Blue Marlin was a let down (although the outdoor setting was phenomenal) and everyone who ate at The Wok raved about it...we will have to try it next time!!! Only downside is the beach area is almost non-existent...it's manmade and maybe 100 yards in length...BUT...you can walk around the resort and get to the public beach which is right in between Dreams resort and Hyatt Ziva resorts so it's very safe. Those beaches are gorgeous with plenty of room...but honestly after seeing the outside of all the other resorts, it made us that much happier we were staying at The Sanctuary...so much more character and charm. We will be back for sure!!!

We came here for a week long getaway and had a wonderful time. The spa was excellent- great couples massage and loved the hydrotherapy experience with Victor. Emilio was our butler and he was excellent and helped us get dinners, trips to the golf course, airport and everything in between...

We came here for a week long getaway and had a wonderful time. The spa was excellent- great couples massage and loved the hydrotherapy experience with Victor. Emilio was our butler and he was excellent and helped us get dinners, trips to the golf course, airport and everything in between arranged. Had a great week, would definitely go back!

We had the best time! The pools were amazing and Emanuel was a great help there. The pool at the castle is definitely a more quiet vibe but very relaxing. The spa treatments with hydrotherapy were nice also. I’m not sure I would purchase alone without a treatment though. Gigi,...

We had the best time! The pools were amazing and Emanuel was a great help there. The pool at the castle is definitely a more quiet vibe but very relaxing. The spa treatments with hydrotherapy were nice also. I’m not sure I would purchase alone without a treatment though. Gigi, Diamond and the rest of the entertainment crew did an excellent job. We were never bored! The food was excellent, did not have a bad meal and the service was always excellent. Highly recommend the all you can eat lobster. It was the best I’ve ever had! Our butler service with Jeremiah was wonderful . He went out of his way to make our trip special. We were treated like family and will miss this gem until next time!

Amazing vacation! Beautiful property and amenities. Our butler, Dawar was professional, prompt and took care of any needs that we had. Nancy was a great housekeeper and made our stay extra comfortable. The Monarch Villa Oceanfront was like having your own little house with a walkout to the beach. Great...

Amazing vacation! Beautiful property and amenities. Our butler, Dawar was professional, prompt and took care of any needs that we had. Nancy was a great housekeeper and made our stay extra comfortable. The Monarch Villa Oceanfront was like having your own little house with a walkout to the beach. Great views and an amazing sunrise every morning

My husband and I enjoyed 6 wonderful days at Sanctuary Cap Cana. We had a beautiful oceanfront suite, and we spent many relaxing moments on our private patio and the private cabana. The food was fantastic—especially the pizza and Italian restaurants— and the staff was so friendly and helpful. We...

My husband and I enjoyed 6 wonderful days at Sanctuary Cap Cana. We had a beautiful oceanfront suite, and we spent many relaxing moments on our private patio and the private cabana. The food was fantastic—especially the pizza and Italian restaurants— and the staff was so friendly and helpful. We really appreciated Angel, who went out of his way every day to make our stay perfect. We would definitely return.

Absolutely amazing! The room, the food, the staff! I've taken pics of beach and gym as I couldn't find a lot prior to going. We can't say enough about this place . If you're looking for a quiet space without 21 year olds taking over the pool and beach, this...

Absolutely amazing! The room, the food, the staff! I've taken pics of beach and gym as I couldn't find a lot prior to going. We can't say enough about this place . If you're looking for a quiet space without 21 year olds taking over the pool and beach, this is it! The pool atmosphere is great! Fun! I didn't have to get up every morning to mark a spot and I went on March break! We have gone to the DR every year for 15 years . Loved Hard Rock... but I think we're onto something better!

This place is circling the drain. I was hoping for the survey from Marriott but since I didn't get one, I'll review here. I'm Titanium or Ambassador depending on the year, and this place doesn't deserve one star. Lets start that we got one towel. 3 calls day one didn't...

This place is circling the drain. I was hoping for the survey from Marriott but since I didn't get one, I'll review here. I'm Titanium or Ambassador depending on the year, and this place doesn't deserve one star. Lets start that we got one towel. 3 calls day one didn't get us more, i actally grabbed some pool towels from the rack so we could shower. Day 2 in the 3 more calls ove 2 hours still didn't get us towels, so i went to the front desk and parked myself in the chair (they make you sit at the front desk) until they brought me some, they insisted they would deliver them, but i insisted as long as i sat there they couldnt take the next person in line. Oh and a hung up towel wouldn't dry in 12+ hours. Room smelled like sewer gas and mold, ventilation was so poor HVAC didn't work well. the lack of basic maintenance was appalling. Bathroom was very dark too. Service everywhere was painfully slow, good luck getting reservations to the restaurants that required them, in spite of the places being less than half full, maybe someone solves that riddle one day. Check in experience was bad, check out experience was WORSE. Beach was atrocious, water was dirty and 1 foot in there are sharp rocks you cannot see through the murky water. Last negative was that signage throughout was poor to non existent. Only positive was meal at the steakhouse.

We stayed at Sanctuary Cap Cana for 9 nights in early April, and it genuinely felt like paradise. As first-timers at an all-inclusive, we weren't sure what to expect, but the resort delivered an incredible experience despite a few small challenges. Highlights: Exceptional Service & Staff The staff truly went...

We stayed at Sanctuary Cap Cana for 9 nights in early April, and it genuinely felt like paradise. As first-timers at an all-inclusive, we weren't sure what to expect, but the resort delivered an incredible experience despite a few small challenges. Highlights: Exceptional Service & Staff The staff truly went above and beyond to make our stay special. Pool and beach service—especially from Oscar, Omar, and Jesus—was excellent. They were always attentive, friendly, and made our days fun and relaxing. Sandro at breakfast stood out with his positive energy and we appreciated that he remembered our preferences for drinks and coffee. Housekeeping was fantastic! Our room was always spotless and well-stocked. As someone with a food allergy, I really appreciated that every waiter asked about potential allergens. While there were some language barriers at times, the restaurant managers were quick to step in and provided clear support in both English and Spanish. The app menu, which tags allergens in dishes, was also a helpful feature. Delicious Food & Drinks The food at Sanctuary Cap Cana was consistently delicious, with several standout items: Steakhouse: Truffled Cassava, Chimichurri, Mushroom Sauce, The Hooke Cocktail, Apple Delight Mocktail Italian: Antipasto, Arancini, Beef Penne Ragu, Fried Porchetta, Pear Mousse, Fresh Bread, Tiramisu The Wok: Bibimbap, Cantonese Rice, Curry Beef Samosa, Crispy Choco, Sakura Cocktail Breakfast: Fresh Juices, Fresh Fruits (Mango, Plums, Pineapple, Passion fruit), Chorizo Sausage, Mashed Plantains, Fried Cheese, Fried Plantains, Banana Bread, Crepes, Omelettes The drinks were great—especially the Mango Margaritas, Watermelon Juice, and the Welcome Drink. Fresh coconuts on Wednesdays were a delightful treat. The pizza and ice cream at Sanctuary Town were also fantastic. The only slight disappointment was the pool snack bar—the burgers felt a bit dry and reminiscent of theme park food. However, the fruit, pasta salad, and potato salad were fresh and tasty. Overall, the portions and variety at each restaurant were perfect—generous but not overwhelming. We felt full without over ordering. Beautiful Grounds & Facilities The resort is impeccably maintained. The beach has soft sand, bright blue water, and they did a great job cleaning up seaweed everyday. The landscaping, birds, and small animals added charm and a lot of visual interest to the pool experience. Each pool had its own vibe, and the infinity and castle pools were particularly stunning for their beauty and tranquility. The themed restaurants were visually impressive, and we particularly enjoyed dining outdoors. When we encountered an issue with a patio door and water pressure, maintenance responded professionally and quickly, resolving both within an hour. Variety of Pools We’re pool lovers, and we appreciated the wide variety of pool options. Whether we wanted a lively atmosphere or a more peaceful retreat, we could always find a spot to enjoy. Poolside service from Oscar, Omar, and Jesus was excellent. Water aerobics with Nathaniel was also a fun highlight of our stay! I also appreciated that every pool was decently deep and had some shallow areas to sit as well. The natural features in the main pool were so beautiful and interesting. Suggestions for Improvement: More shade umbrellas at the pools. While the beach has plenty of shaded seating, the pools could benefit from more cover. We refused to play the seat saving game, but the pool attendants always helped us find a shady spot after breakfast. Larger pool bathroom facilities on the west side of the resort. We frequently went to the larger East pool bathrooms or the main lobby because the facilities on the West pool restroom were too small. Consider adding a small bar or lounge area near the beach by the Castle to enhance the experience. It was beautiful over there, but there was nowhere to sit and relax. More variety in the music played at the main pool. The playlist felt repetitive by day 6. Other Good Aspects: Activities & Entertainment There was a wide range of activities, though we mostly relaxed by the pool. Some earlier activities, such as crafts or cultural events, would have been easier to participate in if scheduled before 4 PM, as most of what I was interested in occurred between 4 and 6 PM, when we were finishing up at the pool and getting ready for dinner. The entertainment team, however, was energetic and engaging, and they did a great job of creating a fun atmosphere. Spa Experience The massage I received at the spa was fantastic—very relaxing and soothing. My gel manicure was a nice treat, though it lasted less than a week due to all the swimming/beach days. The spa services are on the pricier side, but the experience was definitely worth it. Things we Didn't Like: Large Groups & Private Events The biggest downside of our stay was the overwhelming presence of large groups. During our visit, at least 4 weddings and 3 multi-day corporate events took place, as well as several bachelor/bachelorette groups. These events disrupted the peaceful, romantic atmosphere we had hoped for and read about in other reviews. We found that almost every day, a restaurant, terrace, or pool area was closed off for private events. On multiple occasions, we struggled to enjoy quiet dinners because of loud, rowdy groups. There were 5 nights out of our 9 when we couldn’t even hear each other at dinner due to the noise. The restaurants say on the website that they don't allow reservations of more than 6 people, but that was not followed very much during our stay. It seemed that the resort’s priority was on these large groups and events, which affected the experience for other guests. We met some other couples that had similar complaints. It was hard to escape the groups. One morning at the infinity pool we were enjoying a break from the loud groups at the main pool, when a group of 15+ people took over the infinity pool with a Bluetooth speaker, a tray of shots, and sat and laid on the infinity edge. They completely disrupted the peaceful vibe and beautiful view we were enjoying there. We ended up finding peace by retreating to the castle pools, which were quieter and allowed us to escape the noise. Our final day was much quieter after most of the groups left, showing us what the resort could truly feel like. We would have loved every day to be as tranquil as that last one. I haven't read any reviews before our trip mentioning these issues, so I'm thinking we just got unlucky with the timing. We went on this trip to relax and escape work. We really didn't want a party resort, and also we were disappointed to hear groups discussing work and marketing projects in the pool, at breakfast, etc. We didn't choose this resort to feel like we're at a bachelor party or a work conference, but some days that was hard to get away from. I think we missed out on the tranquil vibe most of the reviews mention here. Dinner Reservations Confusion Dinner reservations were hit or miss. We were able to get reservations at the Italian restaurant, but The Wok was a bit confusing. The app indicated that reservations were required for the Omakase menu, but we just wanted to eat from the regular menu. The concierge said we could probably get a table after 6:30, but the staff seemed frustrated by our lack of reservation. The manager kindly made an exception for us, but we were still unsure whether we did something wrong with the reservations. During the busier times, we also wished the buffet was open for dinner more often. Sanctuary Town helped fill the gap, but on two nights, we had trouble finding a spot for dinner due to some additional constraints from the private events. Tips & Final Thoughts: Tipping: Tipping is not required, but we were happy to show our appreciation for the amazing staff. We brought a bunch of small bills, but ran out by day 8. The front desk was happy to break a $100 bill for us at no charge, which we really appreciated. Sunscreen: Bring plenty—resort and airport prices were around $30+ per bottle. We used 6 full size bottles during our stay in addition to wearing sun shirts and hats. Floats: Not necessary; we used ours for about an hour and wished we hadn’t brought them. Most people we saw with floats didn't use them much. Room Conditions: No humidity issues, the AC worked great. We stayed in a premium luxury ocean-view room and enjoyed the amount of storage and closet space. Safe Use: We kept valuables in the room safe and had no issues with theft. Lock the safe every time you access it, so you never forget to lock it. Wi-Fi & TV: Excellent throughout the resort. The TV is in Spanish. We brought a Roku, but couldn't use it due to the HDMI port being so close to the wall. We were so tired by the end of the day, we didn't miss the TV. The gift shop was nice, but we hoped to find more Sanctuary Cap Cana branded items. Overall, we thought this is a beautiful, luxurious resort, and the staff truly make the experience exceptional While large groups and some reservation issues impacted the overall experience, we still had an incredible trip. If the resort can balance the volume of large events or if we can inquire about the types of groups staying during our visit in the future, we’d absolutely return.

Our second visit here, first time as a Marriott property and we booked an all-inclusive stay using points. Very disappointed. First off, the overall property is beautiful, the castle is especially awesome! Also, most of the meals including the buffets were very good. And that's the extent of the positives....

Our second visit here, first time as a Marriott property and we booked an all-inclusive stay using points. Very disappointed. First off, the overall property is beautiful, the castle is especially awesome! Also, most of the meals including the buffets were very good. And that's the extent of the positives. They were holding a large meeting on the property which made our all-inclusive visit only a partially-inclusive visit and here's why: --only one of the four days was our room cleaned (not enough staff due to occupancy levels) --the main pool loungers with umbrellas were all taken (by towels, not people) by 7am so no loungers unless you want to bake --Blue Marlin restaurant closed for dinner for private event --Blue Marlin fully booked for lunch due to private event --Bars booked for private event --Sanctuary town areas closed for private events --Buffets very crowded to due large group (200 people, it was rumored) Two other issues: the dichotomy of service was shocking! For example, the check-in lady was horrible (pregnant but still should be able to provide basic customer service) but our butler, Alexander, was great! He brought us towels when housekeeping couldn't. Some servers were great while some were surly. Weird! Like some employees attended the Marriott customer skills training and some played hookey. Secondly, the guest rooms were small and the balconies were worthless they were so small. We emailed Sanctuary management with our concerns and their response was, in essence, "sorry, not sorry". Last point, we moved from Sanctuary Punta Cana to Excellence El Carmen and had a large room, Excellence Club Level, swim out for the same price as Sanctuary's dinky room. Sanctuary is a beautiful property but that's all they have going for them. We will never be going back, especially with so many other better options for a lot less money in DR and Mexico.

We stayed in the Castle, and it was amazing! Emilio provided top notch service as the concierge! 10 out of 10! We loved the Castle pool and bar, restaurants on site were delicious (our favorite was Wok)! The breakfast buffet was delicious as well. Very nice hotel staff…will return!

Sanctuary is a beautiful, relaxing destination. The food was delicious, the staff extremely friendly, and the property is super clean. We had the butler service and Jeremiah was amazing! Always quick to respond to our needs and super helpful with touring ideas. I highly recommend Jeremiah if you have the...

Sanctuary is a beautiful, relaxing destination. The food was delicious, the staff extremely friendly, and the property is super clean. We had the butler service and Jeremiah was amazing! Always quick to respond to our needs and super helpful with touring ideas. I highly recommend Jeremiah if you have the butler service. He was Great!

Held my wedding here in April ‘25 and it was absolutely stunning. Everyone had an incredible time. Everywhere you looked on the resort was beautiful. Leidy was our wedding coordinator and she did a great job making sure everything we wanted or didn’t want was taken care of. We stayed...

Held my wedding here in April ‘25 and it was absolutely stunning. Everyone had an incredible time. Everywhere you looked on the resort was beautiful. Leidy was our wedding coordinator and she did a great job making sure everything we wanted or didn’t want was taken care of. We stayed in the castle so we were blessed with a butler, Jeremia, who was awesome. Every one of our needs was taken care of throughout the week, but he went especially above and beyond for my bride as she got ready the morning of the wedding. We loved our stay and highly recommend

Overall Rating: 3.8/5 Staff: Restaurant: 4.5/5 – The restaurant staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. They went above and beyond, showing maximum effort toward customer service at all times. Bartenders: 3.0/5 – Hit or miss. Some were friendly and attentive, while others were not. The larger pool bar seemed understaffed,...

Overall Rating: 3.8/5 Staff: Restaurant: 4.5/5 – The restaurant staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. They went above and beyond, showing maximum effort toward customer service at all times. Bartenders: 3.0/5 – Hit or miss. Some were friendly and attentive, while others were not. The larger pool bar seemed understaffed, with two "core" bartenders supported by trainees. Drink consistency was poor, even from the experienced bartenders. The result was a lot of discarded drinks. My advice: Don’t tip until you’ve had a second round, to ensure the quality is acceptable, unless you're okay with tipping for drinks that may not meet expectations. Administrative Staff: 2.5/5 – The administrative staff was somewhat helpful, but we received conflicting information multiple times. They often seemed unsure about the property details and event schedules. This lack of clear communication was frustrating. Room: 3.2/5 Our first room in the Villa was fine, but the view was obstructed by a wall on the left, and directly ahead was an unattractive floating seaweed barrier. The furnishings were worn, and maintenance issues were apparent. The flush panel for the toilet had been poorly repaired multiple times with clear caulk and was falling off. The shower control panel was also coming loose and didn't work properly. On top of that, there was no hot water on the first morning. We upgraded to the Castle on day two. The staff promised BONVOY elite night credits for the upgrade, but this turned out to be untrue. Be cautious about relying on staff information. The room itself was small and on the ground floor with direct beach access. Unfortunately, after a heavy rain, we woke up to a flooded room, with water leaking in through the sliding glass door. It took most of the day for the staff to move us to another room. The third room was much better. Pool and Beach: 3.8/5 The beach was small, and other resorts in the Dominican Republic have larger beaches. The pools were crowded, and you’ll need to claim deck space early (around 7 AM). The lounge chairs were arranged too close together, limiting movement. My tip: Pick an end of a row for better flexibility; otherwise, you'll find yourself "landlocked" between other guests. The condition of the chairs ranged from okay to poor, and the umbrellas and stands were also in bad shape. Food: Breakfast and Lunch Buffet: 4.0/5 – Decent quality, selection, and presentation. The staff was super friendly as mentioned earlier. Steakhouse: 3.0/5 – Just okay. Nothing special, but it was decent. Pizza: 4.8/5 – A highlight of our stay. Very good pizza, and the staff was incredibly accommodating. Italian: 4.5/5 – Above average for the Dominican Republic. Blue Marlin: 4.7/5 – Wonderful view and decent food, but it operates on limited days. Make sure to check which nights it’s open for dinner. Beers of the World: 1.0/5 – A joke. Only one beer (Presidente, the local brand) was available, with all others available at an additional charge. Drink: 3.5/5 Drink consistency was a problem. We had a few great drinks, but many were disappointing. Tip: Don’t tip until you've sampled your drink to avoid tipping for something you don’t enjoy. Additionally, any liquor other than local spirits, including tequila and Bacardi rum, came with an extra charge. Entertainment: Don’t expect much in this department. It’s the Dominican Republic, so the entertainment was pretty basic. The late-night disco was too small, and the sound system was terrible. Workout Facility: 4.0/5 Better than average. However, Hyatt Zilara still remains the best we’ve experienced. Spa: 4.0/5 Pleasant atmosphere, and the quality of the massage was great. The staff were skilled, and we enjoyed our visit. Special Group Events: During the second week of February, large tour groups arrived, and the hotel seemed to cater exclusively to them at the expense of other guests. AUDI USA events took over large portions of the grounds and facilities. On the night of their arrival, they reserved the entire upper balcony for a welcome dinner. Throughout the week, they had exclusive access to two medium-sized pools for lunch and cocktail events, creating overcrowding at the remaining areas. On Friday, we were forced to vacate the Castle Pool deck at 1 PM for another AUDI event. On Saturday, the Blue Marlin seafood restaurant was reserved for a similar event, and since it only operates on select nights, this was our last chance to dine there. We felt like second-class citizens during this time, restricted from areas we had paid for while the tour groups had unrestricted access. Conclusion: This resort is better than average but has some noticeable facility and management issues. While it looks impressive at first, you’ll quickly notice several small problems that impact the overall experience. We paid over $1,100 per night, which is a significant investment. Perhaps we expected too much, but for that price, we felt we should have been more impressed. Unfortunately, we weren’t.

A shout out to all the great staff! Extra thanks to our butler Samuel who was amazing. Maria at the buffet who was always smiling and always gave great suggestions on what was good! Yeisy at the smoothie bar, made the best smoothies and always accommodated me with all the...

A shout out to all the great staff! Extra thanks to our butler Samuel who was amazing. Maria at the buffet who was always smiling and always gave great suggestions on what was good! Yeisy at the smoothie bar, made the best smoothies and always accommodated me with all the extra add ins to the smoothie that I wanted! Bethania at coffee bar, every night she knew what tea we wanted without even asking.

We came into this vacation looking for a top notch, 5-star luxury experience and while the ingredients were there, the formula was off and ultimately left us underwhelmed. We spent 10 nights so it gave us ample chances to try lots of things and for the resort to show us...

We came into this vacation looking for a top notch, 5-star luxury experience and while the ingredients were there, the formula was off and ultimately left us underwhelmed. We spent 10 nights so it gave us ample chances to try lots of things and for the resort to show us what they can do. I will share some of the many great things about the resort and then share where I felt they fell short for a resort claiming ultimate luxury and wanting to compete in the luxury, adults only, all inclusive space. Warning, this is a long review with lots of examples and details. First off, I want to recognize some staff who went out of their way to make our trip memorable. • Anselmo and Emillio at the Ocean Club Bar. Always smiling and adding little professional touches. • Levis, our waiter at Casa Bella some mornings and Capriccio a few nights. What an awesome person, smile, and positive attitude. Well done! • Christian and Omar at the main pool keeping me hydrated for 10 days! • Fernando at Casa Bella serving me great eggs every morning with a smile. • Kelia at the main pool who made sure I had a few chairs with umbrellas during my entire stay and greeted me with a huge smile and good morning every day. • Alexander our butler who checked in on us daily and helped us get our dinner reservations. Always in a great mood and smiling. The resort itself is gorgeous and really does have a Spanish colonial feel in the design and colors. There are lots of water features, gardens/landscaping, and artwork around to make this property very unique and certainly one of the prettiest and most unique that I have been to. I genuinely enjoyed walking around the property and felt like it is a 5-star property. If you want a stunning property, this is absolutely it. A+ Pool areas were nice and the pools never felt overcrowded. There are 4 pools lumped together offering different experiences and are close by so easy to pool jump to check them all out. There are a few other pools at the Castle section as well if you want a really quiet experience. The main pool had a coral rock edge design and floor at one end which is very unique and made for a fun experience to pop over and sit on the rocks in the water. Gave the pool some personality which was nice. Swim up bar at the main pool was great and there are lots of waiters that come around the sun chairs to get you refills of your favorite beverage. There were lots of chairs and even when you arrived late, you could find something. They also had a team of pool and beach concierges that would help you find a spot and get you clean towels. We learned that if you ask them for a specific chair and tip them, it would mysteriously be reserved the next day with personal items that were removed when you arrived. Not everyone seemed to know about this and I fell into this by accident when I tipped the pool guy on day one and he asked me where I wanted to sit the next day. After that my chairs were reserved for the rest of my stay. We actually had the same couples around us who all did the same thing but I did hear other couples grumble when I showed up at 11AM and got prime seats by the pool that were never available to them. Great for me, but I understand that on the flip side this would be a huge negative. The beach is a touch small but large enough to accommodate the resort. It never felt crowded and I honestly always found empty chairs at the beach and when I swam in the ocean, I had tons of real estate all to myself. They do their best with the seaweed but as we all know, there is a problem in the Atlantic so any east facing beach in the Caribbean like this one will take the brunt of it. This is not the hotel’s fault…nature is to blame. If you love long walks on the beach, there are long public beaches on either side of the property that are easy to access and walk to your heart’s content. They are all within the Cap Cana gated community so they are safe, and there are no outside vendors to harass you. Food at dinner time was excellent. Breakfast and Lunch were a different story and I will write about that later with the reasons why I gave it 3 stars. We loved Capriccio (try the Squid Ink Risotto…blew my mind), The Steakhouse (great platter for 2 if you want to try different cuts), Sushi Town (all made to order and was delicious), and Casa Bella for Dominican Night. The menus are varied and offer lots of options for everyone. We enjoyed all of our dinners except Wok. We found the Asian restaurant to lack authenticity. Samosas were served like fried wontons; wontons that should be steamed are fried and look like the samosas. We ordered both and could not tell which was which. Pad Thai was made with what looked like spaghetti, not Thai rice noodled and was disgusting, we sent it back. (note that we eat Pad Thai all the time so it’s not a matter of trying something and not liking it, it was not pad Thai). Also sent back a few other dishes like the Chicken Tikka Massala. There were some good dishes but it was 50/50 in the end. We did try it twice and both times sent food back. Now here is where they went wrong in our book. NOT ALL INCLUSIVE: Their definition of all inclusive is quite a bit more limited than the competition. • There are no watersports included. • Many top shelf liquors are not included (but there are plenty that are to make it work) which are included at other luxury all-inclusive resorts so if you like the “good stuff” you may be disappointed here as I was. • They charge a delivery fee for food, and a boxing fee for takeaway! This includes If you order food at the Ocean Bar and “Restaurant”. We saw a menu, it says bar and restaurant on the menu, and on the signs to the place, but they consider it delivery and charge you a fee. Be careful as this is not a restaurant even if that word is everywhere. There is also a boxing fee if you want to get food yourself and take it to the room. They literally will not let you take food anywhere without paying for it. This left a very sour taste (pun not intended) in my mouth. Most other resorts let you take food up for a snack at the end of the day when you shower, or provide some daily snacks in the room. Not here! Small Room: We booked a Jr. Suite in the Castle that said it came with a separate living area, jetted tub, King bed, and large balcony (650sq feet estimate). What we got was a tiny room that could barely be considered a hotel room and was honestly smaller than some cruise cabins I have been in. No living room, no bathtub, small balcony barely large enough for 2 chairs. My wife and I could not even pass by each other in the hallway to access the small closet by the door. I had one chair, a king bed, and a TV. I complained and was told that this was considered a Jr Suite because it was right on the ocean and the view “made up for the size”. If I wanted the real Jr. Suite, I could be moved but they would “put me in the back” of the resort (their words). I felt like I was being punished for questioning why their description and the actual room did not match. We stayed in our room and made it work but I would not stay in a Castle Jr. Suite ever again…it is not a suite…it is barely a room. Hygiene issues: I watched multiple staff use the washroom and not wash their hands (including my waiter one night!). We also found a dirty tissue with what looked like blood under our bed at check in. Housekeeping missed that one and it was visible from the side of the bed (I did not actually look under the bed). Checks at some meals: It was random, but sometimes they made me sign a bill after a meal that said $0! Not sure why, this is all inclusive. Not in Sanctuary Town where locals can eat (and thus have a bill), but at the buffet or main restaurants! Very annoying. Breakfast and Lunch: You had very limited options. Buffet only for breakfast while lunch was buffet, snack shack and some days Blue Marlin (when not closed for events which happened A LOT). The buffet has lots of options, but everything was always cold. They could not keep anything warm. I was really disappointed with items that should be hot. If you ordered from the grill you were ok, but they offered the same 2 or 3 dishes every day. The beach snack shack had the same 4 or 5 items every day and they were also cold. They cook hamburgers in batches and leave them out for hours. Not appetizing. Overall we found breakfast and lunch to be frustrating and well below luxury hotel expectations. There were some good items, but most were just cold and dry, cold and stale, cold and…well you get the point. My morning eggs were great as they were to order, but that was the extent of it. Blue Marlin Closed most nights: We were there 10 nights and never got to eat at the Blue Marlin as every time we tried, it was closed for a corporate event. Same with lunch, it was often closed. We eventually just gave up on it all together and overhead many complaining about it as well. There was even one night where they closed the whole Sanctuary Town (5 restaurants) and Blue Marlin so everyone was either lucky with reservations at Capriccio or Wok, otherwise you waited 90 minutes outside the only place left (Steakhouse) or pay for room service. This was frustrating and poor planning. Butlers have no authority to do anything: While our butler was very nice and checked in on us daily, they have no power to do anything other than reservations for dinner and drinks to your room. There is little value here. I did ask for some help on the next item below and was told to go to front desk myself as they would not let the butler deal with it. Marriott Bonvoy is NOT recognized in most cases: Unless you book this resort directly on your smartphone Bonvoy app, they will not recognize your stay, will not credit your nights, and will not give you points. So if you book with Expedia or other online sites that let you simplify the booking experience by doing it all in one place, you are out of luck! I argued with front desk and the reason they claim is because “they cannot control the rate we pay” therefore do not recognize the booking. When I book through an agency, and that agency goes to the hotel for a rate, the hotel does not control that rate, which they gave the agency/booking site? Make sense to anyone? Did not think so. This was a massive turn off for me. 10 nights and the rate I was paying should have moved me up the Bonvoy status ladder easily but instead I got nothing. There are many other resorts that give you points, nights, credit etc. regardless of where you booked their hotel from. They understand that in the end, the hotel controls all the rates they charge no matter who they offer it to or through. Short pour drinks: We sometimes ordered a drink and got a half a glass or 2/3 of a glass back. I know I can order more, but why are the bartenders giving me half a drink? That is just poor bartending. Perhaps if they were not texting their friends, they would get their pour count right and actually fill my glass. Staff always on their phones: The number of times I was left waiting for service and had to wait for staff to put their phone away, or finish their text, or even finish a call to their friend was alarming! I even had staff walk into me because they were staring at their phone and not where they were walking. Most staff walk past you like you don’t even exist. I have been to lots of resorts where everyone including groundskeepers mowing lawns wave and say hello. This level of service is well below the competition. My wife checked in at the spa for a massage and the desk employee was talking on her cell phone the entire time. She never hung up and escorted my wife to her massage room while continuing her conversation! This is not acceptable at any hotel. No shade at pool: If you are someone that burns easily and like a pool area with some permanent structures for shade, or trees to provide some shade in the pool, you are out of luck. There are umbrellas for about 1/3 of chairs only and the pools are under the sun all day long. You get a slight corner in the shade late in the day in one of the pools. While I am there for sunshine, I don’t want skin cancer, nor to burn, and it was hard to avoid that. I paid daily for a chair with an umbrella and would be in trouble otherwise. With these details, I found it very hard to give them 5 stars and quite frankly, even want to go back when there are many other luxury all-inclusive resorts that I have been to who offer more value, better service overall, and actual hot food for all meals that are all made to order. I can see why people love this resort and go back, and I would not discourage anyone from going, just be aware that if you are used to true 5-star luxury, Sanctuary Cap Cana will probably disappoint you.

Service was spectacular, and my Concierge Samuel was absolutely fantastic. Great experience and will definitely come back. The facility was stunning, food was ok but could have been better. Definitely more of a quite and relaxing resort if that's what you're looking for

We stayed at Sanctuary Cap Cana for our honeymoon and it couldn't have been more perfect! The grounds of the hotel are stunning, the food was fantastic, and the beach was gorgeous. We stayed in the Castle and had Emilio as our butler. I don't know how he does it,...

We stayed at Sanctuary Cap Cana for our honeymoon and it couldn't have been more perfect! The grounds of the hotel are stunning, the food was fantastic, and the beach was gorgeous. We stayed in the Castle and had Emilio as our butler. I don't know how he does it, but he was always there when we had a question or needed something but did not hover over us. He took care of all our reservations and let us know the activities for the day. He made our trip truly unforgettable. I can't wait to go back!

One of the most beautiful properties! We had a lovely 20th anniversary trip and would highly recommend for a relaxing, do nothing but sit by the poolside vacation! This is not usually how we travel, but it was lovely. The site was beautiful and well designed. The room was nicely...

One of the most beautiful properties! We had a lovely 20th anniversary trip and would highly recommend for a relaxing, do nothing but sit by the poolside vacation! This is not usually how we travel, but it was lovely. The site was beautiful and well designed. The room was nicely situated near the pool. Food was decent, lots of gorgeous desserts in particular and the drinks were great! Everyone was always so, so kind. I would say, they need to work on their nighttime DJ. They have people there that want to dance and the dj did not read the crowd at all. Until my husband gave the young (maybe 20 years old) his playlist, everyone left the dance floor each night! Once we made recommendations, the party started! Otherwise, everything was phenomenal’

This resort is absolutely top-notch—10/10! It’s beautifully maintained, spotlessly clean, and the food and service are outstanding. The staff here are truly amazing! A special shout-out to Emanuel, Luis (blue marlin), Levis (Italian restaurant), Cristian, Ninja, Yeissy, Cristy, Felix, and Nataniel for making our stay unforgettable!

Second time here and we will be back every year. Food was good - Steakhouse and Capriccios were our favorites. Pizza in Sanctuary Town was amazing (they made a specail glute nfree pizza with goat cheese for my wife). Daily buffet and beach side food is very good. We had...

Second time here and we will be back every year. Food was good - Steakhouse and Capriccios were our favorites. Pizza in Sanctuary Town was amazing (they made a specail glute nfree pizza with goat cheese for my wife). Daily buffet and beach side food is very good. We had room service breakfast every morning. We stayed in one of the Monarch Oceanfront Villas for the second time. Perfect for quiet and seclusion. I want to highlight several employees: Miguel our butler was the best; Billys and Leandro from room service were a joy. Illumanata cleaned our room and was so kind and friendly. Edwardo in Capriccios and Niersen in Casabellas went out of their way to accommodate my wife's gluten and lactose sensitivity. Maria in the Love Bar and Evelyn with the daily special tastings were amazing. The pools are varied and great. We are here at peak season and it does not feel crowded at all. The beach is small but nice. If you are looking for a long walk on the beach you can leave the resort and walk long distance on a public beach next to the resort. If you are concerned about safety the resort is very well protected and secure. One thing I must highlight. One day only there was a mix up in our breakfast room service and it got there 45 minutes late (every other day it was there at exactly 7:30 am as we requested). The room service men apologized, our butler Miguel apologized, the head of room service offered to come personally and apologize. They sent us a bottle of wine and charcuterie board and later that week a bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. What an apology! If you are looking for a perfect romantic couples resort for any age with quiet, beauty, relaxation, good food, and amazing service, this is the place. If you are looking for a loud, party, night life with lots of on site water sports this is not the resort for you. We will be coming back here every year!