Inside the St. Regis Cap Cana Resort’s family-friendly seaside vacation

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Your long-awaited 5-star vacation has finally arrived in the Caribbean.

Nearly five years after breaking ground, The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort & Residences soft opened in the Dominican Republic in May. And it was well worth the wait. Filled with installations and works by local artists, the decadent getaway’s sophisticated architecture and interiors (by Acebel Canney Arquitectos & Asociados and Chapi Chapo Design) offer exquisite luxury at every corner. This massive luxury resort features dark teak and driftwood accents, plush marble, sculptural seating, textured tiles, ocean-inspired motifs, and features everything from St. Regis’ signature butler service, the popular Sunset Champagne Saber Ceremony, and a curated Family Traditions program, to name just a few.

Located approximately 20 minutes’ drive from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) and two hours’ drive from the capital, Santo Domingo, this 200-room, 36-suite property (from $587 per night) brings a new style of sophistication to the country’s white-sand Coconut Coast. We visited the St. Regis Cap Cana shortly after its debut. We were immediately greeted with refreshing towels, citrus drinks, and a dramatic dark wood grand staircase surrounded by lush greenery and a three-story indoor waterfall.

Our home in Cap Cana for a weekend in early June was two connected rooms (one with a king bed, the other with two queen beds), including access to a kids club and other family-friendly perks. Although the service still needed some fine-tuning (staff were still getting used to the job after only a month of opening), there was a real effort to provide a 5-star service that made a big difference for us.

Rooted in the luxury hospitality company’s signature service, this family-friendly resort caters to all ages with a dedicated Children’s and Teens Club, while younger guests can enjoy yoga, chocolate-making classes, art activities and other experiences throughout the hotel. The St. Regis is also collaborating with Saint-Tropez-based swim brand Vilbourkin on resort-inspired swimwear, beach accessories and special menu offerings, all of which will be available at the new Cap Cana Resort. At the kiddie pool, you can order snacks large and small, including chips and guacamole, Wagyu empanadas, lobster brioche, mango and strawberry paletas, and other finger-licking snacks.

As part of St. Regis’ expanded Family Traditions program, we also offer in-room surprises to add surprise and fun to your child’s stay, including handmade coquitos (a traditional coconut dessert), charming stuffed animals, and plastic-free silicone beach toys. In addition to a dedicated children’s pool, supervised little ones can also sit on lounge chairs, float in one of the five family pools, or dip their feet in the sea on the sand. (It’s worth noting that when we visited in early June, we weren’t able to do so due to seasonal – and very natural – sargassum algae and ongoing cleanup.) Adults looking for some quiet time can soak in the adults-only pool or spend the afternoon in a shaded cabana.

The hotel also offers tours to the local Cap Cana. Our favorites were the Punta Cana Foundation guided tour featuring rhino iguanas and Hispaniola hawks in their conservation program, and a short nature hike that ended with a refreshing swim in a beautiful cenote. Nearby are the 7.4-yard Jack Nicklaus Punta Espada Golf Course, and off-site adventures for kids and adults alike, including nature ziplines and buggy drives at Scape Park, swimming with dolphins at Dolphin Island Park, and paintballing and rope climbing at Bavaro Adventure Park.

Art lovers will enjoy experiencing the Dominican Republic’s rich culture, which blends African, Spanish, and indigenous Taino influences, as seen in Lorraine Franco’s “Totem to Remember.” A collection of calming stacked orbs (or, according to Star Wars superfans, a group of BB-8 droids). And the giant mural in the St. Regis bar is by Santo Domingo-raised artist Citralee Miranda.

Since we had our family with us, we certainly didn’t have enough time to eat the St. Regis Quisqueya Mary. It’s a Dominican take on the iconic Bloody Mary (made with locally made light rum, house spices, and fried plaintains).

St. Regis Cap Cana’s culinary offerings include award-winning Peruvian chef Diego Muñoz’s Nina Restaurant (with panoramic views); Our fire-filled dinner menu offers a taste of our travels across the Americas. Menu highlights include pan-seared lobster and miso-grilled Atlantic sea bass with broccolini. Cassava Restaurant serves Latin American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including an all-day menu featuring an upscale buffet with scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, pastries, fresh fruit, juices, and more.

Seaside Marola Mediterranean Grill serves favorites like squid ink paella with garlic aioli, garlic shrimp, and skirt steak with tarragon and oregano chimichurri. For more seaside seating, there’s also Carey Bay, which serves Caribbean-inspired cocktails and light bites, and Cielo Mio, a rooftop bar serving Latin and Mexican cuisine.

For rest and relaxation, the 14-room spa offers tranquil spaces for guests and couples to unwind. Treatments include rejuvenating massages, whitening facials, restorative body scrubs, couples massages, and more. (We also love some retail therapy, like Dominican brand Fiori’s chic wicker and leather beach bags.)

Speaking of shopping, the St. Regis Cap Cana boutique offers luxurious resort wear, footwear, accessories, jewelry, furniture, decor, and other treasures from local and far-flung designers, including DR-based Jenny Polanco, Anna + Maria, and Castañer. Italian hatter Borsalino. Vilbrekin. Hipolito, the famous guayabera producer. Verandah is a clothing brand based in India. Golf brand FootJoy. And others. (Forgot your beach essentials? The shop sells sunscreen, water toys, swimwear, and other vacation supplies.)

Rates start at $587 per night for a balcony room with guest area and king or two queen beds. Other options include a deluxe poolside rooftop room starting at $595 per night, a John Jacob Astor one-bedroom suite with private pool and rooftop terrace starting at $1,675 per night, and a two-bedroom presidential suite starting at $3,174 per night.

See more photos of the St. Regis Cap Cana below and check out additional booking options online.