In Punta Cana at the height of spring break, there are plenty of adults-only all-inclusives where party vibes dominate. But in a late March visit to the Dominican Republic, I found that the Secrets Tides Punta Cana was a breath of fresh air for those more interested in relaxation.
A modern, sizable lobby greeted me at the 688-suite resort, which debuted earlier this year. There was ample seating and, off in the distance, a view of Uvero Alto beach. The Secrets Tides Punta Cana, part of World of Hyatt's Inclusive Collection, is spacious, laid out more like a residential complex than a resort, easily navigable without the use of a map or an app.
A surplus of lounge chairs across the resort's three pools (one of them exclusive to Preferred Club guests) and three outdoor hot tubs ensured that no sun worshippers would be denied a place to soak in hours of rays.
Rooms at the resort range from 668-square-foot junior suites to the 2,970-square-foot Presidential Suite Ocean Front Plunge Pool.
The property features eight categories of Preferred Club Suites. My Preferred Club Junior Suite Partial Ocean View was well stocked with toiletries as well as drinks and snacks in the minibar. Natural light brightened its modern, Caribbean-style decor.
Preferred Club bookings include butler service, personalized check-in and checkout with concierge service and an upgraded room service menu. Preferred Club guests also have access to three lounges exclusively for them with bars and quick bites/hors d'oeuvres all day long.
This is unique to Secrets Tides Punta Cana, as most of the Hyatt Inclusive Collection resorts only offer one Preferred Club lounge. Preferred Club guests also have access to a private beach section.
A Preferred Club Junior Suite Ocean Front Swim Out unit. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Hyatt Hotels Corp.
Dining diversity
The resort has seven bars and lounges to choose from, and its nine dining options offer a culinary variety to cater to most palates, whether it's Italian (Portofino), Mexican (El Patio), Mediterranean-Asian fusion (Meraki) or the international Market Cafe, a buffet that's open for breakfast and lunch.
That's where I headed after a morning double espresso from the 24-hour Coco Cafe. Facing a vast amount of choices, I opted for, among other dishes, morcilla (blood sausage) and Dominican breakfast platter specialties that included fried salami and cheese and mashed plantains.
Open for lunch and dinner, the Seaside Grill serves quick favorites like hamburgers as well as dishes like slow-cooked short ribs. Among my choices there was an Asian-inspired red tuna ceviche appetizer, the earthy taste of sesame seed oil replacing ceviche's typical citrusy zest.
Open only for dinner, the South American-inspired Tierra offers a fusion of the region's popular dishes, like bandeja paisa, the Colombian national dish that includes rice, beans, plantains and assorted meats; Brazilian moqueca seafood stew; and Peruvian lomo saltado, thinly sliced beef cooked in soy sauce and served over rice. I found the Peruvian staple was hearty and flavorful and not drenched in soy sauce, allowing the beef richness to emerge over saltiness.
All the restaurants I visited offered vegan options.
The Secrets Tides Punta Cana lobby is laid out more like a residential space than a hotel. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Hyatt Hotels Corp.
Ample activities
Besides spa treatments and use of the fitness room, daytime activities include on-site snorkeling, nonmotorized watersports, kayaking, tennis and pickleball and a number of off-site excursions. An occasional daytime live music performance adds color to the relaxing ambience without ruining the serenity.
The chill vibe doesn't change much at night. Once the pools close at 6 p.m., it's off to dinner and, afterward, the theater, a 400-seat venue that provides an array of entertainment, from musical tributes to Broadway and theatrical performances.
Those seeking a nightcap after the theater can grab one at the adjacent, after-hours Desires Sports Bar.
As I returned to my suite one evening, despite a long day of experiencing all that the Secrets Tides had to offer, I did hear the occasional sounds of college-age revelry and music drift over from the nearby Dreams Onyx Resort & Spa (also a part of Hyatt's Inclusive Collection). And while I enjoyed it for a moment, I also decided then that I had made peace with peace.