A la carte luxury in the land of all-inclusives: an early look at the new St. Regis Cap Cana

The Punta Cana area of ​​the Dominican Republic is known for its abundance of all-inclusive resorts, but this year Marriott is shaking things up with the opening of the shiny new St. Regis Cap Cana Resort. Now open, the 200-room resort is an architecture and design lover’s dream, a stunning property featuring multiple restaurants and bars, a family-friendly pool, adults-only spaces, a beautiful spa, and traditional St. Regis rituals such as daily Champagne bellings and property-specific Bloody Marys.

TPG had the opportunity to be one of the first guests at the new facility and experience what it has to offer. Despite the inevitable troubles of any new hotel (and some bad luck from Mother Nature), the property is off to a good start. This is what it looked like when I visited about a month after the grand opening.

Related: First Look: The St. Regis Aruba is home to the island’s only rooftop restaurant, luxurious oceanfront suites, and the first-ever St. Regis Casino.

First impressions of The St. Regis Cap Cana

Located in a gated area of ​​Cap Cana, this new St. Regis felt luxurious from the start of our stay, starting with a dramatic geometric staircase in front of a floor-to-ceiling indoor waterfall. Dark wood, soft serve ice cream, and vibrant textures and patterns combine to create a beautiful theme that runs throughout the property.

During my stay, the guests were just as eclectic in tone and texture. I met groups from New York, Chicago, Atlanta, the Dominican Republic, and more. And from the moment of arrival, the extremely friendly staff helped us decide what kind of service we would expect during our stay.

The St. Regis Cap Cana rooms

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Tanner Sanders/The Point Guy

For my stay, I boarded the Palm Lux Swim Out with two queen beds. The modern room was beautiful, with a very comfortable bed, a nice little table and chair area, a large flat screen TV with streaming capabilities, a fully stocked minibar, and a cute little cart with liquor bottles and red wine. Almost every technology feature in the room (lighting, curtains, “do not disturb” signs) was controlled by convenient touch panels throughout the room, so it was easy to open the blinds in the morning to let in some light. The automatic lighting built into the floor was perfect for late night trips to the bathroom.

The balcony is the perfect place to relax, and starting your day with a dip in the swim-up pool makes every morning special. Keep in mind that swim-up pools like this one are usually communal, so other guests can get up and down the pool.

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Tanner Sanders/The Point Guy

This room featured a beautifully appointed bathroom with dual sinks, ample lighting, a spacious egg-shaped bathtub, a huge rainfall shower, and a separate vanity closet that hides the toilet. While we liked the large towels and Frette bath mat, there was one small issue related to the linens. It was that the bath mat was fluffy and the toilet door couldn’t slide open over it and had to be turned over all the time.

The room was very comfortable and large, and I could easily share it with my mother, who was traveling with me. Best of all, all rooms include the famous St. Regis butler service, which I opted out of, with a friendly butler volunteering to unpack my luggage (and repack it when it was time to leave).

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Dining at The St. Regis Cap Cana

The St. Regis Cap Cana has nine bars and restaurants, and we had the opportunity to visit several of them during our three-night stay. Nina, the resort’s most exclusive restaurant, features a Peruvian-inspired menu by acclaimed chef Diego Muñoz, where we enjoyed a wagyu cutlet sandwich ($38) topped with potato chips and pan-seared scallops with sweet cream corn. The service was even better than the delicious food.

For lunch, I couldn’t get enough of the garlic shrimp ($23) at the poolside restaurant “Marola” and ended up eating it two days in a row. On the other hand, the chicken and chorizo ​​paella ($25) from the same restaurant didn’t suit me.

Breakfast each morning was served at Cassava, and the buffet ($50 per person) offered classics like fruit, cereal, pastries, scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage, as well as à la carte items like eggs Benedict and how to make eggs. The server seemed surprised when we asked for mimosas, but still made it happen. Cassava is also open for dinner and offers a Latin and Dominican menu with an emphasis on meat and seafood.

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Tanner Sanders/The Point Guy

Don’t forget to stop by the St. Regis Bar for upscale bar snacks like lobster rolls ($26), Wagyu sliders ($24), and oysters and scallops (both $21). If you’re a St. Regis fan, you know that each location serves local Bloody Marys. Cap Cana’s version of Quisqueya Mary is a local rum infused with fried plantains.

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Tanner Sanders/The Point Guy

At the pool, servers were in and out frequently to take drink orders, and we enjoyed a few spicy margaritas (some better than others, and at over $23 per drink including tax, we would have liked a little more consistency). Even though this establishment is only a month old (or young!), the employees were all friendly and happy to help with any needs we had.

Amenities and Services at The St. Regis Cap Cana

All of the staff I encountered at this establishment were incredibly friendly and always smiling, even though they were quickly settling in from their recent opening. The hotel has a huge family-friendly pool. Dedicated splash pad area (at one time had a small buffet and ice cream cart). An adults-only pool with lounge chairs and cabanas offers shade and a refrigerator. There’s also a rooftop pool (although we preferred staying in the adults-only pool). The state-of-the-art gym is spread over two levels and is fully equipped with Technogym equipment, including a full spin class. The spa offers all the classic menus, and guests can also request spa services on the rooftop treatment space overlooking the ocean. The kids club is open to children 12 and under. At Punta Espada Golf, you’ll find a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course next door. Club.Butler services cater to all your needs. The concierge desk can help arrange activities, from excursions to nearby adventure parks to deep-sea fishing. The on-site shop stocks everything from luxury clothing to sunscreen and souvenirs. A nightly champagne serving is a St. Regis tradition, with all guests toasting with a glass.

St. Regis Cap Cana Beach

I have always loved the beaches in the Punta Cana area that I visit in the winter and have always found them amazing. However, Mother Nature may have other plans, and during the warm summer months, the beaches can become filled with sargassum (a type of algae) and seaweed. Unfortunately, while I was there in early June, the area was heavily damaged and despite sea walls and cleaning crews working all day long, the beach continued to suffer damage.

Fortunately, the multiple pool areas were more than enough for us to stay happy and carefree while enjoying the sun. Once the sargassum is gone (and remember, it’s not up to your hotel to see the sargassum coming or going), the beach has beautiful chairs and cabanas to enjoy. Similar situations occur in the Caribbean and many parts of Mexico, so be sure to research the best and worst times to travel for your destination.

Location and Logistics of The St. Regis Cap Cana

The St. Regis Punta Cana is approximately 5 miles from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), approximately a 20-minute drive. The hotel can arrange transportation to and from the airport for approximately $30 per person. Ride-hailing services cost approximately $15 to $20, depending on time of day and demand.

Punta Cana is served by many airlines, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and international carriers such as British Airways and Air Canada.

How much does it cost to stay at The St. Regis Cap Cana?

Rates at the St. Regis Cap Cana during summer, the region’s low season, start at $587 per night, according to our flexible booking calendar. Once the season starts, expect to pay anywhere from $700 to more than $1,000 per night.

Marriott Bonvoy members can book award nights starting at 100,000 points per night, but the price for most members is slightly higher at 104,000 points. (This is a frustrating tactic that prevents you from using your 85,000-point free night certificate (which can add up to 15,000 points for a total of 100,000 points) on many dates.)

When booking The St. Regis Cap Cana, we recommend using one of the credit cards that earn you the most points on your Marriott stays, or one that automatically provides Marriott Bonvoy elite status for added benefits. These include:

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatically earn Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, and earn 25 Elite Night Credits annually towards higher tiers.Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatically earn you Gold Elite status and earn 15 Elite Night Credits annually toward the top tier. Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program and 15 Elite Night Credits annually toward automatic Gold Elite status and higher tiers.Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card:Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatically earn Gold Elite status, and earn 15 Elite Night Credits annually toward higher tiers.Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (See Rates and Fees): Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatically earn you Silver Elite status, and earn 15 Elite Night Credits annually toward higher tiers.Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (See Rates and Fees): Earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatically earn Silver Elite status, and earn 5 Elite Night Credits annually toward higher tiers.

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card information was independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been verified or provided by the card issuer.

Accessibility at The St. Regis Cap Cana

The St. Regis Cap Cana offers accessible rooms (look for superior rooms with two queen beds under “Accessible Rooms” on the hotel’s website’s rooms page). This room type features disabled access and an accessible bathtub.

As always, TPG recommends contacting the hotel directly to find out what room types are available and how well the property can accommodate your specific needs (accessibility laws may vary, especially for properties outside of the United States).

That said, I felt that the resort was generally flat and easy to access as there were plenty of elevators. However, I didn’t notice the pool elevator.

conclusion

The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort adds a luxurious and expensive place to stay in an area that doesn’t lend itself to a less upscale all-inclusive experience (which I love too!).

For sun-seeking and deep-pocketed travelers (we’re talking about margaritas, they’re $23 a pop), this luxury resort is the perfect escape. Although there were some very minor growing pains such as sometimes slow service (but always friendly), we very much enjoyed our stay. I would definitely visit again and can’t wait to see how this facility operates once I have the benefit of time and practice.

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