Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana - Adults Only

English and Spanish are spoken by the hotel team, so you can deal with the practical things without resorting to semaphore. Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, with direct access to Juanillo Beach and a set-up aimed squarely at couples and grown-up travellers who like their evenings organised around food, a drink and somewhere comfortable to sit.

The place is substantial rather than intimate: 375 suites, several pools, a large spa, a fitness centre and nightly entertainment in a 300-seat theatre. That gives you plenty to do without having to leave the resort, although it also means this is a full-scale holiday property rather than a small boutique hotel where the barman knows your preferred rum by day two.

You are on the beachfront in Playa Juanillo, within the private Cap Cana community in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Juanillo Beach is directly accessible from the resort, with white sand, loungers, parasols and a beach bar. Seasonal sargassum can reach the shoreline, a Caribbean reality worth keeping in mind when choosing any beach hotel in this part of the world.

Punta Cana International Airport is 7.5 miles away, with a stated journey of around 15 minutes. For a change of scenery, Freshwater Lagoons are about 3.3 miles away and Hoyo Claro about 3.9 miles; Punta Espada lies 3 miles from the resort. Café Santo Domingo is around 5 miles away, while Coco Bongo Punta Cana and Imagine Punta Cana are roughly 10 miles away.

The accommodation is arranged as suites rather than simple hotel rooms, and the useful choice is less about counting cushions than deciding how you want the sea to feature in your day. A Junior King Suite suits a couple who want a straightforward base with a super-king bed, balcony, air conditioning, private bathroom and minibar. Choose an ocean-view or oceanfront category when the view matters; choose a swim-up suite when going from room to water sounds more appealing than finding a lounger before breakfast.

For four guests, the larger one-bedroom Club suites give you more breathing room, with selected categories offering a sofa bed and ocean views. Club-level accommodation adds butler service, a private check-in and check-out route, access to an exclusive lounge and late check-out based on availability. The details that matter when you return tired are all here: individual climate control, a minibar refreshed daily, an in-room safe, a seating area, daily housekeeping and room service around the clock.

Suites also have a 55-inch flat-screen television with Chromecast, tea and coffee-making facilities, a wardrobe and a balcony or terrace. The resort is non-smoking throughout most areas, including suites, decks and balconies, with designated smoking areas elsewhere. Mobility-accessible suites and ramps in most common areas support guests who need easier movement around the property.

All-inclusive is the operating principle here, with breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks covered across 12 restaurants and bars. Breakfast is served buffet-style. The range is broad enough to prevent the usual resort dilemma of choosing between eating the same thing again or pretending a packet of biscuits is dinner: the offer runs from international buffets and health-focused dishes to French-Tahitian, Indian railway-inspired, South American and wood-fired pizza options.

Two named restaurants include Brando's, focused on South American flavours, and The Blind Butcher, which takes the same broad regional direction. The resort also has the Bosque Lounge, a club-level lobby bar specialising in cocktails, and a swim-up bar beside the infinity pool. There is a snack bar, an on-site coffee house, wine and champagne, fruit, tea and coffee-making facilities, and a minibar in your suite.

When your appetite arrives before your enthusiasm for getting dressed, 24-hour room service is the sensible fallback. The resort also puts on themed dinner nights, cooking classes and rum tastings, so the evening does not have to end with the first drink unless that was the plan all along.

Three outdoor pools give the non-diving day some structure. The adults-only infinity pool has a swim-up bar, shaded loungers and hot tubs; the Club pool is reserved for Club-level guests. Canapolis Water Park adds slides and a lazy river, while the beach brings white sand, loungers, parasols and non-motorised water sports when you feel like moving without putting on a cylinder.

Larimar Spa is the serious recovery option, covering 26,900 square feet and offering massage, facials, mineral therapies, chakra rituals, hydrotherapy and heated quartz treatments. There is also a steam room, sauna, spa lounge, hot tub and couples massage. After a few days of salt, sun and kit bags, that is a more convincing use of an afternoon than another heroic battle with the minibar.

The 14,000-square-foot fitness centre offers fitness classes, yoga, workout boot camps and dance classes, with personal training also available. Away from the wellness menu, you can play billiards, join pool volleyball or a cooking class, and watch live music and performances in the evening theatre. Live sports broadcasts and a games room round out the options for a slower night.

Check-in starts from 3 pm and check-out runs until noon. The minimum age for check-in is 18, and children are not admitted. The resort accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express, as well as USD and JMD; the working currency is USD. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and concierge support, luggage storage, currency exchange and a 24-hour front desk are available.

Airport transfers can be arranged through the concierge, either as a shared service or a private transfer. A car-hire service, tour desk, business centre, meeting facilities and laundry are also available. Medical assistance can be arranged on request, and mobility scooters are available for hire. Late check-out is available on request, subject to availability.

Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is restricted to designated areas, with most shared spaces, restaurants, bars, suites, decks and balconies smoke-free. Service animals are accepted with the required documentation. The resort is in Cap Cana rather than in a town centre, so the on-site all-inclusive plan does most of the heavy lifting for meals and drinks.