Del Mar by Joy Resorts

Confined almost entirely within a U-shaped swath bounded by hills on one side and a man-made lagoon on the other, this hotel is a self-contained world that begins when guests walk over a wooden bridge spanning an azure moat and into a modern glass-cube lobby. Here they'll find a small bar that almost seems made of blue bubbles, seating that would look at home in a chic yet laid-back cafe, a tiny counter where staff sell sundries, and no front desk. That's right, the guests -- including many quiet North American and Dominican families with babies or young children -- are invited to cozy up to the bar or grab any seat and relax while checking themselves in. 

That atmosphere of being too small to need the usual hotel bureaucracy is something the hotel prides itself on. Instead of the usual multitude of pools, hot tubs, restaurants, and activity areas, the Alsol Del Mar has exactly one pool and three hot tubs (technically, one of them is cold). It also has only two restaurants -- the pool snack bar and Raices, the restaurant under the lobby where breakfast is taken, neither of which offer those cattle-call buffets that are par for the course at most resorts. Everything is within sight of everything else, making for a small world that can feel comfortable or smothering, depending on your point of view, and both guests' and staff members' faces become familiar quickly. 

The atmosphere might be too quiet for some -- though there are sometimes activities such as darts, bingo, and beach volleyball, there's nowhere near the level of hubbub found at the area's many mega-resorts, though for many that is part of the appeal. The resort is often nowhere near full, which can make it feel a bit deserted. In addition, things don't always run as smoothy as they should, and guests complain of housekeeping issues (it not being frequent enough, or items like towels not being replenished often enough) as well as in-room safe violations. Many guests prefer sister property Alsol Luxury Village, which seems to be a bit better run and is often cheaper. Also, because Alsol Luxury Village and Alsol Tiara share facilities and are within walking distance, there are more features and a bit more activity there. Alsol Del Mar ostensibly helps compensate for its lack by offering free access to sister properties, but this is granted only once per stay depending on availability and permission must be obtained in advance. 

Located between another Alsol property -- the more luxurious, adult-only Sanctuary Cap Cana -- and a man-made lagoon, the Del Mar is in the Cap Cana development. Cap Cana is a large venture with lots of marquee names (Jack Nicklaus, Donald Trump) that went through a slump and then decided to turn empty, overpriced condos into hotel rooms. The result is that the hotel feels like it's stuck out in the middle of the Cap Cana desert -- both a literal desert of sunbaked scrub and a metaphorical desert of lonely, brand-new roads, empty golf courses, and half-finished McMansions (guests can take a gander at examples overlooking the man-made lagoon next door). This will make some guests feel like they are in a small business hotel in the middle of nowhere, and others like they have their own tropical beach to themselves, depending on their point of view.

Though the ghost-town market plaza of the Cap Cana marina is nearby, many guests won't feel like they've reached a living, breathing civilization until they hit downtown Bavaro, about a 20-minute drive away. (Punta Cana airport and another large real-estate development, the Punta Cana Resort, are closer, about 10 minutes away.) 

There are 122 condos in the Del Mar property, only 47 of which were being rented as hotel rooms by Alsol during our visit. Several of the condos are used as vacation or even permanent homes, mostly by rich residents of Santo Domingo. Because these units were originally intended to be used as condos, they feel like apartments, and all come with kitchenettes equipped with stainless steel appliances, a washer and dryer, and terraces or balconies. The view can vary widely, with the best balconies looking out at stunning seascapes. 

The units are spacious and full of both natural and electric light. Furnishings are sturdy and tasteful, if a bit generic -- white weathered wood in the bedrooms and living rooms, plastic wicker on the balconies and patios, and sparse artwork that consists of framed seashells (or vaguely seashell-like wooden approximations). The overall feel is airy, beachy, and stylish. It's worth noting that the units at Alsol Luxury Village also have kitchenettes and are typically cheaper -- but they lack washer/dryers, and none of them have the outdoor hot tubs found in the One-Bedroom Suites and some of the Premium Two-Bedroom Suites here. (Some Premium Two-Bedroom Suites may have plunge pools instead of hot tubs.) Note that the entry-level Deluxe Studios only have mini-fridges (stocked with beer), not full-fridges. Detergent for the washers can be purchased on-site. All units have free Wi-Fi and safes, though some guests have complained of their safes being violated. 

Alsol Del Mar has an attractive ocean-view pool with swim-up bar near the beach. The beach is larger than the tiny patch shared by Alsol Luxury Village and Alsol Tiara, but it was covered in seaweed during our visit, the unsightly barriers failing to block its incursion. The shallow, calm water was full of seaweed as well, making swimming difficult. 

There are only two restaurants -- Raices, serving Latin Fusion, and the pool grill, serving fare such as ceviches, burgers, and fried fish. There's no buffet fare here, except for breakfasts and Dominican nights. Guests can ask the hotel to arrange a romantic dinner for two right on the beach, catered by the Alsol Raices. 

The hotel offers a daily bicycle ride through the extensive Cap Cana area, and guests can take a short hike to watch the ocean hurl frothy flumes against the rocky shoreline by a man-made, fish-filled lagoon a five-minute walk away. 

The hotel offers free and reasonably reliable Wi-Fi throughout the property and in the rooms -- something of a rarity for Punta Cana resorts.