Margaritaville Offers Oceans Of Laid-Back Luxury And Sun-Kissed Style

When I walked into my swim-up villa at Margaritaville, I fell in like with my environment a lot quicker than you can say, “Flip-Flop.” (**FOOTnote: In fact, visuals of the tiny rubber sandals are ubiquitous through the resort.)

And that’s really much how I felt about my the latest keep at the new, all-inclusive Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic. A new 5-star resort, it is only been open up for a small additional than a yr, and it is received rave critiques on Journey Advisor, and it’s also aspect of the award-successful Karisma model. Clearly, administration is carrying out a little something suitable – by now, the ritzy resort has an amazing return-visitor-price of 25-32{d8a8d447f05f03c64398acf0d3c5a745c9c41fc784ba89cd5aecd37177dc7d51}. Most of the guests I talked to throughout our keep beloved their working experience below, telling me they would uncover it incredibly really hard to leave. A number of had some small issues – they identical kinds we experienced, which I will issue out at the finish of this posting. But do not get me improper – Margaritaville is a luxurious, laid-back again vacation resort that will certainly get you into island vibe, in large fashion. (The Margaritaville model as well as the locations, accommodations, and resorts are influenced by the legendary audio, lyrics, and existence of singer Jimmy Buffett. )

The vacation resort is positioned in Cap Cana — type of a “country inside a country” in the exclusive location of Punta Cana, according to Standard Manager, Daniel Cazarin. It is a pretty protected position, evidenced by the reality that you will need a security code to even enter Cap Cana. This unique spot of Punta Cana is a mere 15 minutes from the airport, with acclaimed golf courses, a marina, and riding stables nearby. But “we are not just a flip-flop hotel,” Mr. Cazarin explained to me. ‘We are significant about luxurious.”

Let us get back to my swim-up villa in the grownups-only Hammock area of the resort. All of them are cream-of-the-crop accommodations, with butlers who get up to 6 months of distinctive instruction from the International Institute of Modern day Butlers based in Florida. Our villa, No. 4202, which welcomed us to the “limelife,” featured a lazy river-lagoon right exterior its doors (Heaven). Be aware: Make confident to provide your inflatable tube from house – when you phase promptly exterior and park your posterior in the water, it is the incredibly definition of laid-back again luxurious.

Every villa capabilities a king-sized bed, walk-in closet, out of doors shower (alongside with an indoor shower), a massive couch, Nespresso device, lime-slicer and slicing board (what would a resort named Margaritaville be without having these?), ironing board and iron, and a soaked bar. Two different, outsized superior-def Tv set screens – a person in the bedroom, just one in the dwelling space spot, make film-seeing a pleasant choice.

And here’s an unusual – and we identified valuable – twist: There is no minibar in the visitor rooms – as an alternative, you receive 2,000 factors just about every working day of your remain, which you can use at the resort’s convenience venue called “Joe Service provider.” This little, inviting location is a blend of a patisserie featuring all-involved fine coffees, teas, sandwiches and desserts on 1 facet of the location – all totally free of cost – coupled with a ‘general store’ thought on the other facet, in which you can obtain a range of day-to-day merchandise, such as domestically produced flavored honey (the ginger is marvelous primarily when you glaze it on salmon), artisanal Chin-Chin chocolate bars produced in the DR, as nicely as sodas, beers, potato chips and other treats.

Joe Merchant’s small café side characteristics a wealth of complimentary coffee beverages – cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos, and frappes – to mention a couple of – along with clean fruit and hummus, and clean-produced ice lotions, to mention just a several goods. We went there just about every evening soon after supper to have some thing sweet. I in particular beloved the chocolate mousse dim-chocolate-shell ice cream take care of – it was foreplay on a popsicle adhere.

And never count on chocolate on your pillow at night time – “That’s much too predictable,” Mr. Cazarin told me.

Indeed, there are some excellent upscale touches at this home. The 400-thread-rely sheets have tiny parrots embossed into them — a tribute to “Margaritaville” singer Jimmy Buffet. The steakhouse does not prepare dinner with skillets – as an alternative it employs state-of-the-artwork Josper ovens that are only made to be utilised on meat, providing a outstanding entrée. The resort’s hashtag is “#gourmetallinclusive,” as it wants to be known for its delicacies – and good cuisine it is.

Executive Chef Frankely Castillo prides himself on the very substantial parts – we have been extremely amazed with that, as at some other all-inclusive resorts, the parts of meat or fish are so small, we often will need to buy two. A specialty gin bar, Compass, capabilities the best gin, together with several other bars (there are a whole of 10 food items-and-beverage ideas on the property). There is a brewery on web-site at the Landshark restaurant (Jimmy Buffet’s brewery brand) exactly where it is produced every 7 days, together with other choices this kind of as IPA, chocolate porter and stout.

We are not drinkers, so we didn’t partake of these plentiful, all-inclusive solutions – but the selection of bars, and the premium spirits available are confident to fit your style. All of the involved red and white wines are from Vina Maipo in Chile.

No luxurious vacation resort would be contend devoid of a spa, and I cherished Margaritaville’s St. Someplace Spa, with a single of the most adorably described procedure menus I have ever witnessed. It was so properly-composed I required to try out each individual posh pampering, from the Rum Punch scrub to the Banana-And-Watermelon facial. I opted for the two-hour Morir Sonando Retreat, consisting of a scrub, coconut milk overall body mask, a few-milk facial, heat bathtub, and therapeutic massage. It was very indulgent and its Spanish name is loosely translated to necessarily mean, “I died and went to Heaven.” I agree. That was absolutely the scenario.

Like a luxurious cruise ship, there are tons of activities all throughout the working day to keep yourself occupied. My husband Invoice and I have been far more than material to stop by Margaritaville’s beautiful beach: Identify: Juanillo Seaside, just one of the world’s prime shores (even although it was rocky). There is stay enjoyment just about every night time at Punch bar & lounge, so there is certainly enjoyable after meal.

The food in standard was very excellent. Breakfast at the self-serve Boathouse restaurant delivers every single choice beneath the rainbow, like a great juice bar. (The carrot-ginger juice was fantastic). The Boathouse features a fantastic buffet, with breads and pastries built from scratch from the in-property group who work with the pastry chef. At lunch in this venue, on any given working day, and often in the night, there are numerous stations presenting anything from pasta, ceviche, caviar, charcuterie, cheese, pizza, clean seafood, meat and steaks, stir-fry, King crab, and even a vegan station. You are positive to find entrees and side dishes that you will like – I specially favored the pasta station, where the shrimp in pomodoro sauce and contemporary Parmesan was excellent. I ate it nearly every day, I discovered it so yummy.

Apart from the all-inclusive dining alternatives, for individuals who want to splurge, the assets offers a posh specialty eating possibility at their A-Lam-Bik Cafe. There is an upcharge of $100 per individual for this specialty cafe and it presents a gastronomic tasting menu. Even nevertheless we’re incredibly fussy eaters, we relished this venue, and it’s truffle croquettes, rice paper with shrimp, Chilean sea bass, and guava gel and ice product, to title just a several of the deluxe little bites. The décor is a wonderful black-and-gold motif, and it undoubtedly will work for a exclusive-celebration meal, or when you want to attempt a little something actually diverse.

Also at added charge is the floating taco bar with a wealth of alternatives and condiments – it is so preferred that the resort serves about seven of them for each working day, at a charge of about $85 for two-to-4 people today. I tried out it at the swim-up bar and cherished it.

Our keep here was great, with just two insignificant glitches.

The initial dilemma I encountered – all through our keep — is that there is undoubtedly a language barrier. Only about 50{d8a8d447f05f03c64398acf0d3c5a745c9c41fc784ba89cd5aecd37177dc7d51} of the workers speaks fluent English. The translation is that tries to converse your concerns, typically to wait around staff, can lead to irritation. For illustration, when I spoke to much more than one particular staffer and described that I wished to order a diet program limeade – produced with just h2o, Splenda, and fresh new-squeezed lime juice – I was usually introduced a diet program Coke. Of program, I described this to Mr. Cazarin, and I’m pleased to report that he told me that English instruction classes for the staff are currently being accelerated. That is a constructive response to an easy to understand problem, when opening an English-talking luxury vacation resort in a place that speaks predominantly Spanish.

A well-taken care of, content workers tends to make for perfectly-taken care of, joyful visitors, and Margaritaville Island Resort also stands out in this regard: There is a point out-of-the-art spot for the staff members, finish with dining home, gymnasium, maternity spot for breastfeeding, and even a salon. A excellent thought.

The one other position I’d make is that I found the waiter service could be inconsistent. For example, one particular night we ate at Frank & Lola’s, the Italian restaurant, and I was served a bitter arugula salad and shrimp, and I was not specifically wowed. The next time I ate there, I was served a lovely green salad with tons of vegetables, topped with a delightful balsamic reduction that I had specially asked for. Then I acquired a pasta dish with heaps of tomato sauce and shrimp and Parmesan – it was excellent. We walked absent very amazed. The 3rd time we ate at this restaurant, I kept inquiring for balsamic reduction for my salad – I was introduced common balsamic vinegar – which I didn’t want – and then was assured a balsamic reduction was on its way. Eventually, I was brought lemon juice with salt. Disappointing. Mr. Cazarin agreed with me that assistance is an ongoing issue, and that management takes this really critically, supplying the staff regular schooling. That’s a responsive – and admirable – attitude. I’m positive it will generate advancements. (In general, I need to say, having said that, that I definitely loved myself “tasting absent all over again in Margaritaville….)

To function off all of individuals delicious calories, there is an exceptional, roomy fitness center (“Fins Up” is its title, reflecting the normal expression at Margaritaville). This fitness center is chock-a-block with Matrix tools – almost everything treadmills and a punching bag to the squat-inducing Smith equipment – together with a yoga studio. I beloved heading in there each day and watching YouTube films as I labored out on 1 of the quite a few treadmills, prior to stretching and using in my exclusive environment, and training some meditation and mindfulness.

All in all, I had an particularly constructive experience. As I took in all of the laid-back again luxury of Margaritaville, I recognized in my breathwork that I had discovered a new mantra for myself: Breathe in, “Flip.” Breathe out, “Flop.” And get ready by yourself to relaxation and chill out in sybaritic design and style.

And which is no mere footnote!

The Island Reserve swim-up villas are about $2,210 per evening in high time.

For additional about my Wanderlust and Wellness travels, remember to Comply with me on Instagram at @DebbiKickham.