With its miles and miles of beautiful white sand beaches, calm waters, sunny weather and nonstop flights from the U.S. that are just over 2 hours from Miami and under 4 hours from NYC, it's not surprising that Punta Cana is home to so many resorts, especially all-inclusives. But if you've outgrown the party-hard crowd, Punta Cana also offers secluded luxury at several romantic and serene resorts. Imaging going to sleep with the sound of the sea, enjoying your own private villa pool, sinking your feet into the softest white sand imaginable, savoring fresh ceviche and other Dominican dishes, or playing some of the most scenic golf courses anywhere. Here are our picks for where to escape to:
Opening in July, Eden Roc Cap Cana is perhaps the most lavish Punta Cana resort yet. It will offer 34 suites and villas, each with high ceilings, oversized windows, and its own private pool and gazebo. An in-suite iPad controls your villa's light, temperature, TV and sound. Enjoy luxuriously soft bed linens and bathrobes by Rivolta Camignani, an outdoor rain shower, marble jacuzzi, Laura Tonatto bath amenities, in-suite Nespresso and complimentary breakfast daily at Mediterraneo. After breakfast, you may face the hard decision of whether to go for a walk on the powdery soft white sand beach, a swim in the turquoise sea, or indulgently lounge by the pool, set just steps from the beach and with a view of the ocean. Golfers shouldn't miss Punta Espada, the Jack Nicklaus course called “the best course in the Caribbean and Mexico” by Golfweek, with its stunning scenery of cliffs, sea, and waterfalls.
The Tortuga Bay experience begins the moment you alight from the plane. To the envy of other passengers, you'll be met by your driver and receive VIP fast track through immigration and customs, before being whisked off to Tortuga Bay for private check-in at your suite or villa. With just 15 villas that encompass 30 suites, it's truly an intimate place, yet often it will seem as if you have the entire resort to yourself. Even if you're not a fan of Oscar de la Renta, who designed the entire resort, anyone who treasures sleep will enjoy the supremely comfortable beds swathed in Frette linens, and awaking to sunlight flooding in the French doors that open up to expansive views of the sea. Active sorts can borrow a bicycle or kayak for some adventure, but for supreme relaxation, don't miss a visit to the Six Senses spa.
Leave the kids at home and escape to this adults-only resort with oceanfront and oceanview villas and suites, set in a a lush tropical landscape with three beautiful pools to choose from. Even the smallest accommodations, Junior Suites, are a spacious 645 sq. ft. and are either oceanview or oceanfront, with a comfortable king or two double beds, flat-screen TV, enormous soaking tub in the coral and tile bathroom, silk bathrobe and slippers. Savor fresh espresso with your in-room Nespresso machine. As with Eden Roc Cap Cana, golfers have access to the superb Punta Espada course. After you've worked up an appetite, enjoy freshly prepared fish or ceviche at Blue Fin, with its striking overwater thatched villas and sea views.
The bad news: this boutique property is 1 hour away from the airport, and the last stretch is along a pretty rough and bumpy road. The good news: later this year a new road should shave that to close to 30 minutes, and Sivory itself is a beautiful, peaceful oasis. Enjoy spacious, modern suites, each with a private teak balcony or terrace, luxurious bathroom with both a deep soaking tub for two and rainfall shower for two, ETRO bath amenities, flat screen TV and complimentary WiFi. Each morning, fresh squeezed juice, warm bread and pastries and fresh coffee are brought to your door to enjoy, a thoughtful touch. Energized, you could enjoy tennis, golf (Sivory can arrange transportation to a number of stellar courses), or embark on a windsurfing or kayak adventure. But many couples go to Sivory to simply relax, swimming in the infinity pool or sipping a cocktail on the private, secluded beach. When hunger calls, you'll be treated to some of Punta Cana's best dining, from lobster and chocolate fondant with ginger at Tau to Dominican favorites at LaVeranda. Gourmond is Punta Cana's only AAA Four-Diamond restaurant, but to our mind it's a bit overly ambitious (molecular gastronomy anyone?) for the setting. Perhaps the best aspect of Sivory, however, is the warm, personalized service from the staff. They may not all speak excellent English, but they're very hospitable.
Flying to Punta Cana with Miles and Points
United has a seasonal nonstop to Punta Cana from Newark (EWR) of less than 4 hours that you could use miles for, but if you get buy it early enough, it can be under $300 roundtrip (cheaper than JetBlue) so for most, it won't be worth using MileagePlus miles for it. If it's expensive, though, you may want to use miles, as long as you can be flexible on the dates: it can be tough to find saver award availability, though if you do find it, Economy is 35,000 miles roundtrip, or 17,500 miles one-way:
The fastest way to earn United miles if you're not a frequent flyer is with category bonuses from the Ink Bold and Sapphire Preferred.
Apply: Ink Bold Business Card – 50,000 points transfer 1:1 to United
Apply: Sapphire Preferred – 40,000 points transfer 1:1 to United
American has nonstop flights from Miami (MIA) and San Juan (SJU), and many one-stop flights from the U.S. to Punta Cana connect through Miami. As with the United flights above, you can usually get a roundtrip for under $300, in which case it wouldn't be worth using miles. If it's more expensive and you do want to use miles, it'sg usually cheaper to get an award on nonstop American Airlines using British Airways Avios points, than with American AAdvantage miles. Until July 18, British Airways is offering up to 100,000 Avios, with 50,000 after first purchase.
Other nonstop flights to Punta Cana include:
Atlanta (ATL) – Delta
Boston (BOS) – JetBlue (from January 2013)
Charlotte (CLT) – US Airways
Chicago (ORD) – Frontier (seems to only be Wednesdays through end of 2012)
Philadelphia (PHL) – US Airways
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