Caribe Deluxe Princess

Caribe Deluxe Princess is a large, all-inclusive resort on the Dominican Republic's Punta Cana coast, renovated in 2021 and built for days that move between the beach, the pool, a proper meal and a cold drink. With 355 rooms, it has the scale to offer choice rather than pretending that one restaurant and one bar are enough for everyone.

You get direct access to a white-sand beach, three swimming pools, a spa, a fitness centre and evening entertainment in the theatre. Families are part of the picture, with a kids' club, play areas and a water slide, while couples can make use of the spa, the beach loungers and the range of restaurants without having to leave the resort.

The hotel website is available in English, Spanish and German.

You are in Punta Cana, at Playa Bávaro in Higüey, on the Dominican Republic's eastern coast. The resort sits directly beside the sea rather than asking you to make a daily expedition of reaching the beach. Arena Gorda Beach is about 0.25 miles away, while Bávaro Beach is around 5 miles away.

Punta Cana International Airport is roughly 9 miles from the resort. La Romana International Airport is much farther, at about 34 miles, so Punta Cana is the sensible arrival point. A few bars sit within the surrounding area, including Mangu Disco around 0.8 miles away and Drink Point around 0.9 miles away.

For a change of scenery on a non-diving day, Parque San Juan is about 5 miles away, Manglar del Macao around 6 miles away and Bavaro Adventure Park roughly 7 miles away. The resort itself, however, gives you enough territory and facilities to avoid turning every quiet afternoon into a transport exercise.

The room choice is mainly about how you plan to use the space. The Caribe Deluxe suits a couple or a small group who want two double beds and a straightforward base between beach and dinner. For three people, the Caribe Suite All inclusive adds a sofa bed, which is the more practical arrangement when sharing a room matters more than having hotel-scale elbow room.

For two, the Honeymoon Suite keeps things to one double bed and is the obvious choice if the trip has a romantic purpose. Children cannot stay in this category, so families should look elsewhere in the room selection. Family rooms are available, and children of any age are welcome at the resort.

Every room has air conditioning, a balcony, a private bathroom, a shower, a hairdryer, a wardrobe and a coffee machine. Views vary between garden and ocean, which is worth keeping in mind if the first sight of the day matters to you. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and daily housekeeping keeps the practical side of a dive holiday from becoming another job.

All-inclusive is the operating principle here, with breakfast, lunch and dinner covered across the resort's dining offer. Breakfast is buffet-style, and Higüero serves buffet meals through the day. You also have eight restaurants, with Mexican, Asian, Dominican, Brazilian, Italian and international cooking among the choices.

Nine bars give you rather more room to manoeuvre than the standard swim-up-bar routine. There is a 24-hour sports bar, a coffee shop and crêperie, an ice-cream shop, a snack bar and room service. The latter is available for an additional charge, while the resort also serves wine and champagne.

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available, with special diet menus handled on request. That is useful after a week of eating whatever was quickest between boats, although the resort does not publish a continuous-snacking schedule or late-dinner timetable here. In other words: plenty of choice, but check the daily arrangements if your appetite runs on dive-boat time.

Three pools, sun loungers, beach chairs, umbrellas and a direct stretch of white sand give you the basic ingredients for a properly unproductive afternoon. The water park and water slide add a livelier option, particularly for families, while the garden, sun terrace and outdoor seating are better suited to reading, drying off and watching the day lose momentum.

The spa includes a Turkish bath, hammam, steam room, sauna, relaxation area, hot tub and massages. Body treatments, scrubs, wraps and facial treatments are available, along with beauty and hair services. Some spa and treatment services carry an additional charge, so the all-inclusive label does not make every wellness option part of the same bundle.

If you still have energy to spend, there is a fitness centre, tennis court and tennis equipment, archery, bicycles, billiards, darts, table tennis, a games room and a casino. Golf is available within 3 km. Evening entertainment takes place in the theatre, with live performances rather than another compulsory quiz beside the pool.

Arrival is handled by a 24-hour front desk, with express and private check-in and check-out, luggage storage, concierge service, a tour desk, currency exchange and an ATM on site. Check-out is by noon. Identification and a payment card are required at arrival, and cancellation or prepayment conditions vary with the accommodation selected.

A paid airport transfer is available through the hotel. Car hire is also available, while free private parking is provided on site without advance reservation. Punta Cana International Airport is about 9 miles away, making the journey considerably simpler than arriving through La Romana. The hotel also has an on-site infirmary, a minimarket, free Wi-Fi throughout the property and daily housekeeping.

Visa, Mastercard, cash, euros, US dollars, Dominican pesos, pounds sterling and Canadian dollars are accepted. Cots can be requested for children aged from 0 to 2 years, subject to the room option. There are no extra beds, and pets are not allowed.