Ancora Punta Cana Private Residence, Yacht Club & Marina

When the massive Cap Cana development went bust for a few years, it left a lot of ambitious would-be residential neighborhoods sitting vacant. The Alsol Luxury Village was one of these, and 166 of these empty apartments by a yacht-filled marina were turned into a resort (several of the other rooms were bought and are still occupied by permanent residents). The result is an unusual hybrid of planned neighborhood and hotel: The Alsol Luxury Village, its lobby, and most of its guest rooms act as a U-shaped anchor to a prefab village that includes an independent gym, spa, Italian restaurant, mini-market, and even a wedding chapel, as well as a couple scattered Alsol Luxury restaurants. The hotel itself is a multilevel collection of brightly colored, vaguely European buildings centered around a palm-lined avenue. It's as if a Disney World version of southern Europe had a baby with one of M.C. Escher's sketches, and then sent it out to play with a fleet of millionaires' sleek, idle yachts. Much of it is strikingly pretty. The guests -- predominantly American couples and families, with some mixed-in Dominicans taking advantage of weekend discounts for locals -- cluster almost entirely in a handful of areas, such as the closed-in lobby area, the main pool, or the hotel's split-level Italian/Argentine restaurant (a five-minute walk away from the main campus). The rest of the property, from its wooden bridges to the faux-antique market plaza, from the sun-saturated walkways on the top floors to the gloomy and stifling subterranean garages, can feel empty, as if built for crowds that still haven't found their way there yet. That Escher mention wasn't gratuitous, by the way -- the levels are a puzzle even for staff, and promising stairways often lead to nowhere useful. For many, the crowd-free environment away from bustling Bavaro is a major draw, and with only 166 rooms, guests often receive lots of individual attention from staff. There are enough activities on the premises to keep guests entertained, including games by the main pool and evening shows. Guests also get access to facilities at Alsol Tiara (a five-minute walk) and Alsol Del Mar (a short taxi ride that should cost about $3) -- but not Sanctuary Cap Cana. The tiny man-made beach is not a highlight here, but those looking to lounge by the pool and play golf nearby should be satisfied. 

Alsol Luxury Village is near the marina in the Cap Cana Development, about a half-hour drive from the tourist hub of Bavaro. This is a major golf destination, and there are several dozen holes of golf (designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus and other top course makers) all around the Cap Cana property (transportation is provided to Punta Espada). As part of an aggressive real-estate development that began with high hopes, built too rapidly, half-abandoned, and only now starting to recover, the resort still feels kind of lonely. Upon arrival, guests first have to get through the security gate to access the Cap Cana area as a whole, then take the narrow but well-maintained road in the middle of half-developed nothingness straight to the Alsol compound, which rises up in a burst of color out of the Dominican scrub. Conveniently or tellingly, or both, there's a lonesome gas station located right outside the Alsol gate -- it only adds to the feeling of isolation here.On another side, the hotel is bounded by the water of the Cap Cana marina, home to several gleaming, apparently empty motorized yachts that range from large to ridiculously large. They may be bobbing up and down for no other reason than to burnish their owners' bragging rights and store a ton of diesel, but they make for a hell of a backdrop when you're eating pasta on the second-floor balcony of a genuinely good Italian restaurant as evening fades into night. The sister Alsol Tiara property and its small beach (shared with the Alsol Luxury Village) are right next door, and it's about a 10-minute ride to the facilities at Alsol Del Mar. 

Rooms are appointed in stylish, understated contemporary furniture -- though the couch in our living room was rather uncomfortable (hard crossbar). Even the standard Junior Suites have plenty of space, with a separate living area, a relatively large kitchenette, and a bathroom with both a tub and shower. Lighting can be an issue -- even in the late afternoon, with the sun still out for a couple more hours, rooms can be dimly lit or downright dark in spots. The light color palettes help offset this and contribute to an airy feel -- expect lots of white, cream, and gray. The decor takes its inspiration from the nearby marina: The photos on the wall are invariably of sailing vessels cruising in the sun, and there are typically fabric accents in blue and green. Some rooms have seashells decorating a rectangle of netting above the couch. Every room we saw also included a framed Taino spear on a wall somewhere, in an unexpected nod to the D.R's indigenous heritage. Views are of the pools, garden (probably just a broad lawn), plaza, or marina (typically just a sliver of the the boats).Higher-tier categories may include full kitchens, private pools, or whirlpool tubs.  

When guests stay at the Alsol Luxury Village, they're not just getting a resort, they're also getting the little village that comes with it. Though they're not affiliated with Alsol, the independent businesses that inhabit the public plaza of the Cap Cana marina area are within a five-minute walk -- there are a fitness center, a spa, an Italian restaurant (not to be confused with the hotel's own Italian restaurant), a little corner sundries shop, and even an Old World-style chapel that can be rented out for weddings. There's also the matter of the marina; though the yachts are the eye candy, there's also the opportunity for boat and fishing excursions, which can be arranged at a desk in the lobby. And as part of the Cap Cana family, hotel guests get free rides to and from the oceanside Punta Espada course (designed by Jack Nicklaus), as well as caddies.On the premises are several chic pools, including a large main pool with music and activities and a smaller quiet pool. Neither has a swim-up bar, though the pool at sister property Alsol Del Mar does (about a $3 taxi ride away). The man-made beach by the marina is tiny, and about a five-minute walk away (nearer to Alsol Tiara). The upside is that they've netted off a swimming area to help prevent seaweed incursion, and the water is warm and calm. Because of the small size of the resort, snagging loungers shouldn't be a problem. The beach at Alsol Del Mar in contrast can get completely overrun with seaweed. None of the restaurants require reservations, and the beach restaurant is particularly popular (especially its seafood). The Argentine steakhouse and Italian restaurant share a building (the Italian restaurant is on the first floor, the steakhouse on the second), and there are also a Mediterranean restaurant specializing in paella and an an all-day buffet restaurant. Drinks can be found at the pool bar (no swim-up option), lobby bar, beach bar and restaurant, and at a bar in the Italian restaurant. Poolside service is available.