Oceanfront Wellness Escape in the Dominican Republic

This is a bookable wellness stay rather than a fixed retreat programme. You choose your dates, book a casita or pavilion, and the wellness concierge team puts together treatments, sessions and activities around what you want. There's no group intake and no set itinerary — the schedule is yours.

Most of the wellness work happens in three places. The spa itself handles facials, body scrubs, wraps and massage. The open-air wellness platform, positioned for views across the water, is used for outdoor treatments and yoga. And in-casita treatments mean you can have a massage at your own room without leaving it. Access to the Playa Grande Golf Course is part of the setup, and the beach pavilions sit right by the sand for the afternoon.

Surfing is a genuine part of the offer here rather than a side activity — the north coast of the Dominican Republic gets consistent swell, and Playa Grande is a known break. If surfing isn't your thing, the same coast works for swimming and walking, and there's hiking and horse riding inland.

What separates this from a standard spa hotel is the setting and the setup. The property sits on a bluff with the ocean laid out in front of it, the treatment rooms are outdoor and oriented toward that view, and the whole place runs at a low density — casitas rather than corridors of rooms. It's quiet, it's spread out, and the pace is slow.

The wellness programme is best suited to people who want to choose their own schedule. If you're after a structured multi-day detox with a set menu and fixed class times, this works differently — you get a menu of treatments and activities and book the ones you want, when you want them. Guests who use it well tend to block out mornings for movement and treatments, then spend afternoons at the beach or on the golf course.

What's included

- Accommodation in a casita or pavilion - Access to the spa, open-air wellness platform and beach pavilions - Access to the Playa Grande Golf Course - In-casita wellness treatments available on request - Wellness concierge service to plan your stay - Use of the resort's facilities and grounds

What's not included

- Flights - Airport transfers (arrangeable through the resort) - Travel insurance - Spa treatments and wellness sessions (booked and paid separately) - Golf green fees and tee times - Surf board hire and instruction - Meals and drinks, unless included in your rate - Personal expenses