Dominican Republic
Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana
A Week at an Adults-Only All-Inclusive in the Dominican Republic
From February 27 through March 6, Trav and I spent a week at Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana with my dad and his girlfriend. We were looking for a warm winter escape with beautiful beaches, great food, and a relaxing adults-only atmosphere. With mid eighties for the forecast and mojitos on repeat, overall the resort delivered exactly that.
Our trip was fully paid and booked directly through Hyatt’s website. I originally hoped to book during Black Friday promotions, but the resort didn’t offer deals at the time so we booked at the standard rate.
Compared to other all-inclusive resorts we’ve stayed at, I would classify Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana as upscale rather than ultra-luxury. For example, we’ve previously stayed at Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos, which sits more firmly in the luxury category. That said, Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana offers beautiful grounds, great service, and a very relaxing environment, making it a great option for couples, friends trips, or anyone wanting an adults-only Caribbean vacation! Let’s break it down.
Location and Arrival
We flew into Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), which is conveniently located very close to the Cap Cana resort area. The drive to the resort took less than 20 minutes, which was ideal after a long travel day.
Before our trip, the resort reached out to help coordinate transportation. The round-trip airport transfer cost about $80 total (we paid for this once we got to the resort), and everything was arranged ahead of time so we knew exactly what to do once we landed.
*A heads-up about the airport*
One thing worth knowing before you arrive: the Punta Cana airport arrival area can feel chaotic AF. When you exit the terminal there are a lot of drivers and transportation companies offering rides, which can be overwhelming if you don’t already know your plan. The best approach is to know your transportation company ahead of time. Once you find the desk (after you exit the baggage claim) for your transfer company, they’ll guide you to the area where your van will pick you up.
Airport tip:
One thing I actually love about this airport is the staff who helps with luggage. They’ll grab your bags and guide you through the busy arrival area to your transportation (or to your airline desk). A small tip is expected — usually $5–$10 — and honestly it’s worth it given how hectic the arrival area can be. Within minutes of leaving the airport, you enter the gated Cap Cana community, and shortly after that you arrive at the resort.
The Resort
Check-In Experience
Because we booked club level, the check-in process felt much more personalized than a typical hotel arrival. Instead of waiting in the main lobby, we were taken to a private check-in area where a staff member handled everything one-on-one. They walked us through the details of our stay, reviewed the bill, and answered any questions we had. We were also greeted with a welcome drink, which was a nice touch after traveling. At that point we were introduced to our butler, who would be our main point of contact during our stay. Overall the check-in process was very smooth and welcoming.
The Room
We stayed in a King Club Level Swim-Out Suite, which gave us direct pool access from our patio. It was the only room left for us to stay in when we booked, so we honestly didn’t even realize that is was a “Club Level”. The room itself was very spacious, and both the bedroom and bathroom felt large and comfortable. Storage was also great. There was a closet plus multiple areas with drawer space, which made unpacking easy during our week-long stay. The bathroom setup was one of my favorite parts of the room. The sink counters were very spacious, and there was even a dedicated makeup vanity, which was a huge bonus when getting ready. Having that extra counter space made it easy to spread out allllllll of my beauty products. The bathroom included a large walk-in shower rather than a bathtub.
Outside the room, the patio included:
loungers
a daybed
a small table
direct pool access
The pool itself was standard temperature but warm. One important thing to know is that the swim-out pool is shared with the neighboring rooms, so it’s not completely private. However, it was still a fun feature and something we used regularly during the trip. Interestingly, I didn’t really have a least favorite feature of the room — everything felt comfortable and functional.
Club Level Experience
Booking club level included:
private check-in
club lounge access
premium alcohol selections
butler service
Our butler communicated with us through WhatsApp, which made it easy to send quick messages when we needed help. We didn’t rely on the butler heavily, but they helped with:
making a reservation at The Blind Butcher
coordinating luggage pickup before our departure
One thing to note is that butlers are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., which felt more limited compared to other luxury resorts.
There was also a separate club-level area, though it wasn’t anything overly elaborate. We used the lounge once. The snacks were fairly light, so for us the biggest benefit of club level was access to premium alcohol throughout the resort.
Dining
Overall, the food was very good for an all-inclusive, and I’d rate it an 8 out of 10. We have high expectations after dinning at Le Blanc’s fine dining all inclusive restaurants but quite frankly, the Hyatt’s food is above average and we didn’t have a bad meal! I had to keep reminding myself to stop comparing everything to Le Blanc, as Zilara doesn't market as “high luxury”.
Q: Do you have to tip?A: I think it’s pretty common for most all inclusive’s to say the tip is covered in the stay, however we ALWAYS bring tip money to tip the staff. 1 and 5 dollar bills to tip the poolside servers, coffee shop, concierge and servers.. Italian Restaurant
The Italian restaurant ended up being our favorite overall. I don’t know if it was just that we enjoyed the menu more, but we loved the pizza and lasagna!
Indian Restaurant
The Indian restaurant was a pleasant surprise and one of the more memorable meals we had during the trip. I didn’t know if I would like Indian food but everything was very flavorful.
French Restaurant
We also enjoyed the French restaurant, especially the fish dish. They even had a fire show dessert presentation, which added some fun entertainment.
Asian Restaurant
This was the restaurant I was most looking forward to and the one I was most disappointed by. The sushi was average but everyone else did enjoy the hibachi.
Buffet
The buffet was actually very good and has a wide variety of food categories to choose from! Instead of guests serving themselves, staff members serve the food, which keeps things cleaner and more organized. There was always plenty of staff on duty, so you rarely had to wait for anything.
The Blind Butcher
The highlight of the dining experience was The Blind Butcher, which does costs an additional $150 per person. The quality of the food and drinks was excellent! A similar dinner in the U.S. would easily cost $350 or more. The portions were huge and the food tasted even better. When we ordered the seafood appetizer and asked them to replace shrimp with more crab, each person in our group literally ended up with their own crab portion. We loved the experience so much that we went back twice! As far as tipping, we had no idea what was “normal” so we tipped the average 20% for each couple ($300 for each couple).
All the restaurants were first-come, first-served, and the only place that required reservations was The Blind Butcher.
Drinks
The cocktails were great, especially with club-level access to premium alcohol. Drinks were consistently well made and strong, and bartenders were happy to customize cocktails based on what you like.
If you do not have the Club Level access, I do believe you still can order premium alcohol - you’ll just be charged for it!
Pools and Beach
The resort has multiple pools, including a large infinity pool overlooking the ocean. We usually sat at the pool closest to the beach, and we were always able to find chairs there (the night before 🤫) Like many resorts, some guests go out early in the morning to reserve chairs. However, the beach had plenty of seating, so finding chairs there was much easier.
We did have one awkward encounter with another group getting snippy about us sitting on their seats (we didn’t know) - other than that everyone was kind LOL
TIP:Make friends with the pool workers. We would tip then 20 bucks to make sure the chairs we want the next day were reserved for us (aka the towels were out on them)
Everyday there was a fitness activity (pool aerobics), live music in the afternoon and arts & class poolside.
Beach conditions
The water clarity was good, though you couldn’t see much past waist depth. There was some seaweed during our stay, but the resort was very proactive about cleaning it using tractors. The resort also offers several complimentary water activities, including:
paddleboards
kayaks
small sailboats
Spa Experience
The spa was one of the most beautiful areas of the resort. It’s designed to emulate a cenote, creating a calming environment.I booked an 80-minute deep tissue massage, which cost around $300. After the treatment you can enjoy the spa amenities, including:
steam rooms
saunas
hydrotherapy
relaxation areas
The experience was very peaceful and worth the price. *You can only access the spa if you have a service booked.
Zilara vs Ziva
One unique feature of this property is that the adults-only Zilara and the family-friendly Ziva resorts are connected. Adults staying at Zilara can visit Ziva to access additional restaurants and amenities. However, children are not allowed on the adults-only Zilara side.
Who This Resort Is Best For?
This resort honestly works well for a wide range of travelers, including:
couples
girls trips
groups of friends
travelers wanting upscale but relaxed luxury
It’s also convenient for families staying on the Ziva side who want to spend time at the adults-only areas.
Excursions
Q: Did You Ever Feel Unsafe Leaving the Resort?A: The honest answer is no — we never felt unsafe or uneasy while traveling to our excursions or while we were out exploring. Transportation to activities was organized through the resort, and everything felt well coordinated and comfortable. That said, like traveling anywhere, it really comes down to using good judgment. If something looks questionable — like a dark alley or a situation that doesn’t feel right — it’s probablyyyyy best to avoid it.Overall, during our entire stay in Cap Cana and while visiting nearby excursions, we never had any moments where we felt concerned about our safety.
Scape Park
We booked an excursion to Scape Park through a representative who worked with the resort (AmStar). If you email the resorts concierge ahead of your trip, they’ll send contact information so you can email with the representative and book excursions beforehand. We did this so we would know what to pack for the excursions. The park is about 10 minutes from the resort, though the shuttle may stop at other hotels to pick up guests. The zip-lining was fun, though the park felt a bit more geared toward families with kids. We did the zip line and sat and had margaritas LOL
There is a lot of walking through the park, so I highly encourage comfortable shoes to walk in/get wet in. I wore these Nike shoes and they were perfect. I wore a swimsuit under my t-shirt and shorts and felt comfy. I also saw girls just wearing their bikinis 🤷🏼♀️
Random tidbits bits:
People recommend bug spray (which we did) but we didn’t end up needing it. Maybe it was the time of the year?
If you don’t want to worry about a backpack, you can rent a locker!
There are designated times the transportation swings back by to grab you, be sure to ask your bus driver what times they are scheduled to come back and pick up later that afternoon!
Golf:
If you’re a golfer, Cap Cana is home to two well-known courses: Corales Golf Club and Punta Espada Golf Club. Both courses cost around $500 per round if booked through AmStar, which includes:
transportation from the resort
a required caddy
The guys played both courses during the trip, and their experiences between the two were actually pretty different.
Corales Golf Club
When they returned from Corales, the feedback was that it was good, but nothing overly memorable. The course was nice, but overall they described it as pretty average compared to other courses they’ve played. Like they didn’t even take photos LOL
Punta Espada Golf Club
Punta Espada, however, was a completely different story. When they got back from that round, they were raving about the course. The course was incredibly well maintained, and the scenery was stunning. Several holes run directly along the ocean, with waves literally crashing against the rocks right next to the greens. My husband said it might be one of the most beautiful courses he’s ever played, which is saying something considering he’s played courses at Pebble Beach multiple times.
If you’re deciding between the two, the clear recommendation from our group would be Punta Espada.
Final Verdict
Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana is clean, great service, solid dining, and a relaxing adults-only atmosphere. While it may not reach the ultra-luxury level of some resorts, it’s still an excellent option for travelers looking for an upscale Caribbean all-inclusive experience.
Overall, it was a beautiful trip and we’d totally come back 👌🏼