A SAFE AND LUXURIOUS STAY AT HYATT CAP CANA
After months of lockdown and travel restrictions worldwide, many people are eagerly looking toward their next vacation. We all want to feel normal once again and get back to life before the pandemic. A vacation is the perfect way to refresh and reset after a difficult year!
Imagine my excitement when I was invited to experience the super luxury Hyatt Ziva and Zilara on the white sandy beaches of Cap Cana, Dominican Republic. Two incredible resorts by the Playa Resorts company which also includes the Hilton and Panama Jack brands. They promise to “redefine all inclusive”, yet the bar is set high in the Dominican Republic and competition is fierce. Can they really make all inclusive even better? Here’s a snapshot of my experience:
Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana
Ziva is the Hyatt offering for families! Here you’ll find everything you need to keep all ages entertained! Water activities feature heavily, with an onsite waterpark that will tire out even the most active of kids! There are kids and teen clubs that cover ages 2 to 17, with plenty of interactive and physical activities for them to enjoy. While the kids are being entertained, the adults can relax in the world class spa, or by the pool in a private cabana enjoying the exquisite views!
The family will have a blast with the many activities and live entertainment events held at the resort. I loved the layout of the pools as the whole family can be together with plenty of space. For a little more peace and quiet you have club access, which is a great addition for exhausted parents!
Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana
To really disconnect from the world, head over to Zilara, Hyatt’s adults only resort! Yoga, aqua classes and more are provided as daytime entertainment, with live shows in the evenings. If you feel like bringing out your inner child, you can still head over to the waterpark at Ziva which is included in the adult’s only package too!
The gardens are beautiful and spacious! I didn’t feel like I was in a resort, but in a tropical paradise! The lobby is also beautiful and great to spend some time out of the sun to enjoy a coffee, or fresh tropical juice with a pastry!
Dining
No matter which resort you choose to stay at, you’re spoiled for choice with the dining options! All the usual options such as pizza, pasta, and grill sit side by side with French fine dining and more exotic flavors from the Caribbean and Asia. The dining options will be a relief for parents of fussy kids, it’s impossible not to find something they’ll all love!
My favorite restaurant was definitely the French restaurant Brandon. The food was to die for and you are transported directly to Paris, it’s an amazing atmosphere!
Buffet restaurants look a little different to before COVID. Plates are generously filled by staff with everything your stomach desires behind plastic screens. However, for me this was only an improvement to the old style buffet which I always felt was too crowded and messy. Of course the fine dining options were incredible, and the extra social distancing between tables only added to the intimacy and romance of the experience.
Safety and Hygiene
One of the most important considerations for a post pandemic vacation is exactly how safe the resort will be! Hyatt provides reassurance with their Safe Stay Promise, which certainly lives up to standards! I felt completely safe in the resort at all times and it was SPOTLESSLY clean everywhere! An incredible feat considering I hardly even noticed the staff as they worked hard to ensure everything was gleaming!
The extra little safety touches were definitely innovative and pleasantly integrated into the resort experience. The room was sealed for my arrival, and after every visit by housekeeping. I received a complimentary PPE kit in my room which was so clean it felt like it was my very own private vacation suite! Since I had my phone everywhere with me for photos, the option of scanning QR codes for menus, information, reservations, and more was super convenient and reassuring. Surprisingly, it didn’t sterilize the service experience at all, just made it more modern and high tech!
Hyatt also offer complimentary on-site COVID Antigen testing to guests with no minimum stay. PCR tests are complimentary for stays of 7 days or more, or discounted by US$79 for stays of less than seven nights. They also guarantee results in time for your flight home or provide you with a room until your earliest next departure date!
Final Verdict
It was a rare opportunity for me to really sit back and relax as my travels usually take me far beyond the resorts. However, after this experience with Hyatt, I may just spend a little more time recharging my batteries and letting myself be pampered! I was extremely impressed by how intimate the resort felt, the exceptional service, incredible food, and most importantly Hyatt’s commitment to hygiene in a post COVID world.
For more information on Hyatt Resorts in the Dominican Republic, visit www.resortsbyhyatt.com.