I’d never thought much of resort-centric trips. What I had thought about them was that flying abroad just to lounge in a self-contained paradise was a waste of travel — easy escapes built for comfort, not curiosity, and inherently lacking the messy charm of a local café or the thrill of discovering something unpolished. So when I arrived in Punta Cana, a resort town in the Dominican Republic, to experience W Hotels’ first-ever all-inclusive property, I expected the usual tropes: infinity pools, cocktails, and little else. Instead, what I found felt immersive, almost cinematic — like a place that understood indulgence as an art form rather than an escape.
Photo: W Punta Cana
W Hotels’ First All-Inclusive Is an Adults-Only Dominican Republic Escape You Won't Forget
W Punta Cana quickly proved me wrong. Upon arrival, the air was thick, and the vibes were light. The first thing that surprised me was that the staff was incredibly accommodating but not in a typical way — in the way that made me feel instantly at home. Coming from a Nicaraguan background, I felt a familiar warmth in the Dominican sense of hospitality — the easy laughter, the habitual banter, the music drifting through every space, the way everyone makes you feel like family. Between the camaraderie and cultural immersion encased in luxury, W Punta Cana certainly redefines what luxury without limits can mean.
W Hotels’ signature style meets Punta Cana’s tropical setting
Photos: Isabel Ravenna
From the moment I arrived on the property, the porte-choère — W Punta Cana’s grand entryway — was mesmerizing, with vines enveloping massive columns supporting a canopy of foliage. Beneath it was a fluid black mirror reflecting the sunroof and palm trees. It left a first impression that aligned with exactly how you might expect the sultriness of a W hotel to manifest itself in a tropical paradise — the kind of place that feels inherently suave, like you’re lucky to be there, but also like you earned it.
With the option of a Premier room, Deluxe room, Premier-Deluxe room, and a variety of suites, you can’t go wrong. Still, upon arrival, my boyfriend and I were greeted with much more than a welcome drink. “It seems that you have been upgraded to a swim-up room,” the receptionist told me in harmony with a celestial choir — at least, that’s how it sounded in my head.
Heading toward the room, I crossed a long, beautiful, wooden walkway. If the bridge were my yellow brick road, then the ocean at the other end of it was the Emerald City, and I was certainly not in Kansas anymore. But I took a left, approaching a beautiful California-modern building, lined with private pools, like a moat. Inside, the air carried that familiar, earthy humidity of places where the ocean is never far.
And then there’s the room, designed to feel like an extension of the beach: wooden walls, ivory accents, and a giant slab of stone separating the floating bathtub and bedroom. Ahead of me, the swim-up pool was calling my name — but first, I needed to eat.
More dining options than you’ll have time to try
Photos: Isabel Ravenna
Dining is abundant at W Punta Cana, ensuring something for everyone. While the all-inclusive format made dining easy and carefree, I found myself wishing the room service menu lived up to the hotel’s otherwise exceptional standard — particularly the cuisine made from non-native ingredients. For instance, I wouldn’t recommend ordering a late-night, in-room pizza, but I would absolutely suggest prioritizing a dinner at the rooftop sushi spot.
When it comes to breakfast, I love a simple room-service experience in the morning — fried eggs, myriad colorful fruit, a latte or mimosa, and a side of toast. And that’s what I got, dressed in a robe, poolside, on our patio for the weekend.
Each morning, we walked to Outpost Cafe for organic coffee and cacao from local artisans — limited menu, divine flavor, and pastries worth the trip. In Punta Cana, my days began with a latte and pistachio croissant and ended with a glass of Champagne and macarons.
As for lunch, dinner, and drinks, the options are plentiful. There’s the Trade Market food hall for various global cuisines, the pan-Asian street-food-inspired Noodle Bar, Scena for Dominican and Caribbean fare, The Plaza and Living Room cocktail bars, the Taproom beer hall, the 33 1/3 Speakeasy, and the Sensazioni flex space — and those are just the ones we didn’t get to try. We primarily dined at Satsuma Rooftop, featuring various takes on raw seafood and other bites; WET Deck, a beachfront stop for shareable snacks, sandwiches, and drinks; and the Mediterranean-leaning Taman Beach Club. There simply wasn’t enough time to try it all, especially since we dined at events some nights: a beach BBQ and a party.
Making our way toward the sand, we were greeted with fruity wines and a man playing the saxophone over popular tracks, lit by lightning in the distance, striking the ocean’s horizon. The scene felt like a perfect fusion of the W brand’s edge with after-dark elegance — part suave cocktail lounge, part timeless class.
We were invited to help ourselves at a salad bar, lined with other options. As a pescatarian looking over the primarily meat-based spread in front of me, I took a beat — that small, instinctive pause humans make to let a moment settle. But my reverie must’ve seemed more meaningful than I intended because the chef quickly made sure I’d be satisfied, inquiring about what I liked, disliked, and, only after assuring me that he had heard enough, directed us to our table where I was delivered a fresh-cooked dish of traditional Dominican cuisine — Puerto Nuevo lobster, ensalada verde(green salad) and moro de habichuelas (a Dominican rice and beans dish) — which I enjoyed as fire dancers performed in the sand before us.
Ambiance, amenities, and after-hours adventures
Photos: Isabel Ravenna
Another night, we met at the WET Deck after hours, where drinks flowed (cocktails were consistently playful, well-executed, and beautifully presented). Between poke, salads, and BBQ, the atmosphere was united by a DJ spinning tracks.
In perfect W fashion, disc jockeys were plentiful, and their setup blew me away every time. One morning, baristas mixed signature lattes while a DJ mixed records at Outpost Cafe, and at the infinity pool, there was always a music curator overlooking the beach, dripping in minimalistic sleekness. Following the grand opening ceremony, the booth was decorated with thousands of flowers, and at the after party, feathers reminiscent of Las Vegas in the 1950s.
Around every corner at the resort, there was chic architecture, lush greenery, and art inspired by the island. I often found myself thinking, depending on the lighting, that the bronze, saffron-tinted details echoed the luxeness of Dubai or Tulum. But there was one experience that was truly unforgettable, reminding me of nowhere I’d previously seen.
The resort’s Away Spa treated us to its “hydro circuit,” which I expected to involve a sauna and cold plunge, but that’s certainly not all.
Upon entering the two-story, 4,000-square-foot sanctuary, I was struck by its earthy, jungle-chic beauty — so much so that the enclosed spa managed to store itself in my memory as an outdoor garden courtyard. There, the incredible staff guided us through a series of self-care activities, delivering offerings of fresh juices, infused waters, and essential oil towels as we moved from the sauna, steam room, and Himalayan salt cave to cheering us on through our cold plunges. For the grand finale, we arrived in a pressure pool where pulsing jets moved in rhythm, working every muscle, while the staff brought over wellness shots and Champagne.
After a long, eucalyptus-scented shower, we left amazed by every detail, feeling refreshed, reinvigorated, and completely prepared to lounge some more.
Getting to W Punta Cana
Photo: Isabel Ravenna
“I’m so sad you’re leaving!” One staffer said to us as we moved through the property with our luggage one final time. “It’s like we created a little family.”
If you’d like to experience W Punta Cana for yourself, most travelers fly into Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). If you’re willing and able to splurge a bit, you can arrive in style. For $160, you’ll skip the shuttle and be whisked right off the tarmac to a VIP lounge, where agents pick up checked luggage and take care of customs with express passport control while you sip on unlimited refreshments, before being escorted to pre-arranged transportation.
Otherwise, guests can arrange private transfers directly through the hotel or take a local taxi for roughly $50. Either way, 45 minutes later, you’ll arrive at the property where check-in feels seamless, Champagne in hand and ocean breeze included. 