Serenity at Secrets Cap Cana

We recently had the absolute blessing of staying at the world-renowned Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa for an 8-night luxury getaway—and simply put, it was luxury at its finest. This 5-Diamond, adults-only resort exceeded every expectation and has officially set the bar incredibly high for future vacations. It truly is the epitome of Caribbean paradise.

A Quick Snapshot:

• Resort: Secrets Cap Cana
• Location: Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
• Stay: 8 nights
• Room: Preferred Club Tropical View King (Upgraded to Ocean View)
• Best Feature: Service and Food
• Would We Return? Absolutely – without hesitation

We booked through Costco Vacations with their Preferred Club Tropical View King package, flying again with Air Transat—a favorite of ours. While the flights themselves were great, the package had a few hiccups this time around. Option Plus wasn’t available (which is unusual for us), and our return flight included a long layover in Toronto due to a schedule change. Not ideal, but we went with the flow. There was also some confusion with airport transportation, as we opted to use a personal driver instead of Costco’s service, yet their shuttle still arrived at departure. It was quickly sorted, and we made it back to the airport smoothly—but worth noting for this review.

Getting There
With a very early 6 a.m. departure from Ottawa, we stayed at the brand new Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport, which was bright, modern, and incredibly convenient— I highly recommend this for early flights. Since it was my birthday upon arrival, they even had a special treat!

Once in Punta Cana, we were whisked away to Cap Cana—just 15 minutes from the airport. The gated community, lined with palm trees and lush greenery, set the tone for a calm, luxurious escape from the moment we arrived.

Arrival & First Impressions
Pulling up to Secrets Cap Cana was a true wow moment. From the champagne welcome to the seamless private Preferred Club check-in, everything felt effortless. We were introduced to our butler, Darling, who immediately ensured we were taken care of—even before our room was ready.

The Grounds & Beach
The grounds were impeccable—lush, spotless, and accompanied by soft, spa-like music throughout. Every corner felt intentional and serene.

The beach was clean, spacious, and peaceful, with perfectly spaced palapas and calm turquoise water. While not as long as Bavaro Beach, it still offered a beautiful 2 km walk. A huge bonus: no vendors—just pure relaxation.

Preferred Club guests enjoy an upgraded beach section with concierge service, though the main beach area was equally enjoyable with added activities like volleyball and pickleball.

Pools
From the lively main pool with daily activities and ocean views to the quieter Preferred Club infinity pool, there’s truly something for every mood.

The Room
We booked a Tropical View, but we were upgraded to an Ocean View—an incredible surprise. Located in Building 8, our room overlooked the pool, palm trees, and a view of the ocean with breathtaking sunrises each morning.

The room was fully stocked with everything you could need—Nespresso machine, snacks, top-shelf liquor, plush bedding, a safe, and thoughtful amenities throughout.

Dining
The food? Exceptional. Every meal—from morning coffee at Coco Café to elegant dinners—all were beautifully presented and full of flavor. Not a single disappointing experience in 8 days.

Standout Restaurants included:

• Seaside Grill (our favorite as we ate here twice—the steaks were incredible)
• Oceana (perfect breakfasts – for preferred members and fresh seafood dinners)
• Himitsu (Japanese—fantastic service and presentation)
• Bordeaux (a surprisingly elegant and memorable French experience)

The Marketplace buffet also impressed us with its wide variety and quality for our lunchtime cravings.

Other restaurants we did not try, but worth mentioning:  

Rosewater – the Preferred Club poolside restaurant – open for breakfast and lunch. We will definitely try this fabulous place out next visit.

Barefoot Grill – a quick snack type grill next to the main pool where you get get a variety of burgers, nachos or snacks to suit your fancy.

The Spa & Fitness
The Spa was a highlight—we visited three times for massages and treatments (a fish feet therapy treatment), and each experience was pure relaxation. The hydrotherapy circuit they also offer is a must-do. Each experience was just as relaxing as the last. Pure heaven.

The Fitness Centre is well-equipped with cardio and weights to suit anyone’s work out regime. There are also plenty of daily activities offered by their Entertainment Team if you want to stay active – we chose an amazing bike tour to the Cap Cana Marina one afternoon. Outstanding.

Entertainment
Nightly shows were vibrant and fun—everything from tribute performances to live music that had everyone on their feet. Special standout performances were the Madonna and Beyonce tributes, as well as the Rock Show.

Butler Service
Where do I start on our butler- Darling?  We have had the pleasure of experiencing the butler system on a few different occasions at Majestic Mirage, Iberostar Grand, Secrets Royal Beach and Secrets Tides, but Darling topped them all.  His attentiveness to our needs, attention to details, caring nature to our vacation and genuine heartfelt serving personality raised the bar for any future butlers we may experience.  Darling is simply top notch.  There is no better way to express our gratitude for taking care of us during our 8 night stay then to simply say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  

Extra Experiences
Beyond relaxing (which we accomplished quite well), we enjoyed sailing, kayaking, biking to the marina, and exploring the Cap Cana Marina village—a charming, European-feel spot just a $5 taxi ride way. I highly recommend taking the time to explore.

Little Touches That Stood Out

• Simple bucket containers of umbrellas situated around the property in the off chance of rain. 
• We asked for a few more waters in our room and an entire case was supplied.
• You will notice special dinner displays situated around the property – at the beach or areas around the resort advertising romantic dinners and how they would look.
• Water and coffee stations beautifully placed around the property. 
• Ice cream cart delivery with popsicles and champagne specialty drinks.
• The wait team brings you a bucket of ice with waters each morning – instead of simply a bottle or glass of water.  Each bucket also contains a white flag.  You need something? Simply prop up the white flag and they come your way instead of bugging you each minute of the day.
• Throughout the property, you will find selfie spots or special photo opps – decorative benches or seats, colourful swings or scooters.  They understand how guests love to take pretty photos and that they most likely will be posted online, so why not provide pretty stations as a way for unique photos as well as advertising their beautiful resort.
• Uplifting signs perched on trees.  Walking around, uplifting signs stating – inspire, contemplate, or smile (as well as many more) can be found by simply looking up.  What a great way to provide happiness and uplift their guests.
• Complimentary Beach bags in your room.
• Complimentary birthday cake surprises in your room.
• Your choice of cucumber or limes for your glass of water at meals.
  

Pros

• 15 minutes from the airport
• Adults-only luxury
• Exceptional food and service
• Stunning, spotless property
• Butler service & Preferred Club perks
• Relaxed atmosphere (no early chair saving!)
• Outstanding spa
• Crystal blue and calm ocean

Cons

• At times, dinner reservations could be busy without a butler to help – so thank goodness for Darling… each night, he had our dinner plans set and ready so we could simply arrive. So, I guess not really a con, but more of a good tip.
• Some small rocks on parts of the beach.
• Higher price point (but worth it)
• Minor booking/transportation confusion with Costco – but this had nothing to do with the resort itself

So, in reality, the Cons are so few and insignificant compared to the measurable Pros Secrets Cap Cana presented.

Tip
Download the Hyatt Inclusive Collection App for menus, activities, and daily updates—it’s very helpful.

Would we return?
Absolutely—without hesitation. This was hands down one of the best adults-only all-inclusive vacations we’ve experienced. Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa delivers on every level.

If you would like to see a small snippet of Secrets Cap Cana or Cap Cana Marina, click the video links below.

If you love the Secrets brand, but have not experienced any of their other Dominican Republic resorts, click below on the links to read reviews on Secrets Royal Beach and Secrets Tides.