Call it a comeback.
Once known as the Caribbean’s go-to party island — where all inclusive meant value over refinement — the Dominican Republic (D.R.) is undergoing a clear repositioning. For years, the D.R. was defined by large-scale resorts, budget-friendly packages, and social, high-energy travel. That reputation has slowly been shifting. New five-star openings, including The St. Regis along with established standouts like Amanera and Eden Roc, are reframing the country’s place in the global luxury conversation. All inclusive for today’s luxury traveler looks different here: Champagne service, integrated wellness offerings, and a quieter, more controlled atmosphere designed for privacy rather than spectacle. The Dominican Republic is increasingly being considered alongside the Caribbean’s more established high-end destinations.
The audience is evolving as well. Today’s traveler is seeking a more polished version of the D.R. — design-forward, discreet, and experience-driven. Luxury here emphasizes space, service, and intention over excess. Five-star brands are introducing architecture that prioritizes natural surroundings, wellness programs with regional influence, and menus that reflect local ingredients and traditions. In Cap Cana, the St. Regis has introduced a resort where the spa is a destination in itself, while Casa de Campo continues to anchor the country’s legacy of high-end travel with private villas, championship golf, and a long-established international clientele. On the north coast, Amanera defines a quieter, more deliberate approach to luxury hospitality.
“Surfers come to this part of the Dominican Republic because the waves are consistent and conditions line up well, especially in the fall. Being here [at Amanera] just makes it easier — you get serious surf without a ton of people. And you can actually recover here between lessons,” Aman surf pro Junior Gómez Díaz shared over a drink — it was actually his birthday — when we sat down. “This coast doesn’t need to be changed. The waves have always been good, and people come from all over to experience them.”
Amanera matters because it does something most Dominican Republic resorts don’t: it uses space as a feature rather than a backdrop. Opened in 2015 above Playa Grande, the resort spans nearly 2,000 acres on the island’s north shore, and you feel that scale immediately. Nothing is close together. You move by golf cart — room to beach, room to wellness, wellness back to dinner. The distance is intentional. This is not a “pop down to the pool” property. It’s designed for guests who want separation, quiet, and the ability to disappear for a few days without feeling like they’re missing anything. (If you’re the type who likes to “just check what’s happening,” you’ll quickly learn that nothing is happening — and that’s the appeal.)
The design supports that approach. Architect John Heah kept the footprint low and unobtrusive, using Dominican stone, locally made Aguayo tiles, and planted roofs so the casitas sit into the landscape rather than on top of it. There are 25 casitas total, which explains a lot about how the resort functions. Thirteen have private plunge pools, including the Bay View Casa, which is the one people talk about for good reason: cliff edge, full privacy, and no visual competition from neighboring rooms. (You don’t accidentally wander into someone else’s view here — or theirs into yours.)
I have a long-running mental game when I walk into hotel suites for the first time: could this realistically be an apartment, and if so, what would I change? At Amanera, the answer is simple — nothing. The casitas are legitimately large (starting around 800+ square feet indoors), with layouts that make sense for actual living, not just sleeping between activities. The bathroom is decidedly large with a very intentional layout, not skimping on space. The closet is also quite big, with room for several suitcases to lie open, or rows of hangers to fully unpack. (This is not a “live out of your carry-on” situation.) The outdoor space feels just as large: a generous terrace and a so-called “plunge” pool that’s closer to a private pool for two, complete with enough room — and distance — to take space from your partner without making it weird. It’s the rare hotel suite that doesn’t feel oversized for effect, but scaled for comfort, privacy, and staying put longer than planned.
The layout of the resort is just as thought through. Casa Grande functions as the main hub, housing the bar, library, and cigar lounge in an open-air space facing the ocean. It’s where people naturally end up before dinner or after a day out, without feeling forced into a scene. (You can socialize if you want — or nurse a drink quietly and disappear again.) The beach club is separate and more casual, with hammocks, simple food, and direct access to water sports. Playa Grande is also known for its incredible surfing.
Surf sessions with Junior can be arranged directly through Amanera’s concierge, who handles scheduling based on swell conditions and guest experience level. As Junior puts it, “Even if you’ve never surfed before, by the end of the lesson, you’re standing up and catching waves.”
Wellness here is treated as its own destination, not an amenity tucked into the corner of the property. Getting there requires a cart ride, which helped me reset and prepare for my morning of yoga and treatment. I did yoga, followed by a massage that was exactly what you’d expect rather than pulled from a global spa playbook — Dominican amber oil and local botanicals. The focus is restoration, not indulgence, and the experience reflects that.
What Amanera ultimately proves is that the Dominican Republic can support a version of luxury built on restraint. Fewer rooms, more space, and service that doesn’t need to vie for attention. It’s not trying to convert mass travelers or reinvent the destination. It’s setting a standard the way Aman always has.
I was there over a weekend that was more overcast than you’d want in the Caribbean, and it didn’t matter at all — I actually relaxed. I took a bath twice (a rare ritual I seldom do because I never seem to have the time), read instead of baking to a golden brown, booked treatments, took outdoor showers, ate room service, drank Cava, and binged a show — which is to say, I behaved exactly as Amanera expects you to. There’s no scene for scene’s sake, just space to do exactly what makes you happy, whether that’s reconnecting with your partner or scrolling your phone shopping for vintage bags, slowly and without judgment.
Feature image, courtesy of Aman
