Casa La Nouba

In an area beset with decidedly similar resorts, Casa La Nouba is a unique departure. The modern design is marked by stark white walls, floors, and furniture blended with tasteful touches of glass, steel, and high-end furnishings. Potted succulents and buddhist statues add color and interest throughout the space. An L-shaped, open-air common area serves as the combined lobby, kitchen, and bar, all constructed around a stunning infinity pool with panoramic views to the Atlantic Ocean. By day, the on-site owners seamlessly blend into the background, allowing guests to quietly relax by the pool. At night, they personally prepare and serve dinner and cocktails in the lively communal dining area. The vast majority of guests here are international couples on a romantic vacation. 

The road to Casa La Nouba begins at the far west end of a long, oceanfront tourist road lined with small resorts. The surrounding neighborhood is private, safe, and secure with gated access where guests are required to provide proof of reservation before entering. The bars, restaurants, shopping, and beaches of Las Terrenas are a 15-minute drive from the hotel.

Samana El Catey International Airport is 45 minutes away by car and, as a small bed-and-breakfast, the hotel does not offer a shuttle. Larger groups traveling to Casa La Nouba should look to private shuttle transfer between the airport as rates are typically determined on a per-vehicle basis. Taxi service is readily available between the airport, however, rates are often high. 

Travelers landing in Santo Domingo’s Las Americas International Airport will likely want to rent a car to make the two-hour drive to Casa La Nouba. The connecting highway is clean and modern with numerous gas and service stations. However, take note that the tolls run in excess of 50 U.S. dollars round trip and must be paid in pesos.

Each of the five rooms at Casa La Nouba offers an individual ultra-modern design. Stark, monochromatic color schemes are peppered with subtle touches of color in the form of flower petals, under-bed lighting, throw pillows, and ocean-inspired bathroom tiles. Some rooms have a flat-screen TV, and Wi-Fi is free, if you can get it to connect. 

The two, ground-level Standard Rooms -- one with two twin beds and one with a single queen-size bed -- are similar in size, layout, and amenities. Both bathrooms are clean and spacious with modern appliances, including a rain shower and handheld shower head.

A third, ground-level Deluxe King room offers a much more spacious layout with a single king bed and sliding glass doors that open directly to the pool area. Upstairs, a Superior King Room typically serves as the de facto honeymoon suite. The open-air room offers a spacious, 700-square foot floor plan and a large, private balcony with stunning, unobstructed views to the water and Las Terrenas below.

Both King Rooms offer huge, open concept bathrooms with walk-in shower stalls large enough for two, however, they each contain a clear window. Even though the glass is mostly obscured by trees and garden plants, it’s an odd touch that could make more modest guests uncomfortable.

A fifth room serves as the owner’s suite and includes a massive walk-in closet, large flat-screen TV, and private wrap-around balcony. An expansive ensuite bathroom provides his and hers sinks and a large walk-in shower with dual heads. A cowhide rug adds a bit of warmth to the otherwise starkly white, modern space. While typically occupied by the owners, the room is occasionally available for rent by calling the hotel directly.

All rooms feature air-conditioning, although the diminutive size of the units is inadequate to cool the larger rooms. One casualty of the sleek design is a distinct lack of sufficient power outlets in some rooms.

Casa La Nouba is first and foremost a bed-and-breakfast, so there is no fitness center, spa, business center, or formal restaurant. However, the prime hilltop location, sundeck, and stunning infinity pool overlooking all of Las Terrenas make it awfully hard to care about much other than the view. A spacious open-air lounge and living room provide a shaded area to relax by the fireplace or television, along with an ample selection of books and magazines.

In lieu of a dedicated restaurant, the kitchen/bar is open throughout the day and provides snacks and drinks, as well as breakfast and dinner. A deluxe breakfast is included in all room rates and is well regarded as offering a largely homemade selection. Specific options vary each day but typically include local fruits (such as papayas, mangoes, passionfruit, and berries), fresh bread, pastries, eggs, coffee, and fruit smoothies.

Free self-parking is available in a small, secure lot within a gated residential neighborhood. Free Wi-Fi is available in the lobby and common areas.

The owner wife is an adamant dog lover and routinely rescues strays from the area’s beaches. On any given day, there’s typically a dozen or so dogs and several more cats freely roaming the property. While they were all quite friendly in our experience, it’s worth noting for travelers with allergies or small children.