The secret’s out … Secrets Tides Punta Cana, that is, which is now officially open and has begun welcoming a wave of guests, including our some of our own ALG Vacations® team members. And the verdict is in: it’s better than they’d even imagined.

For this chapter of our First Person Perspective series, we spoke with Emma Barger and Julie Mollen on ALGV’s Marketing team about their experiences at Secrets Tides Punta Cana during the second annual Kindness Conference and Kindness. Here’s their on-the-ground report of favorite features real guests (like them!) can expect from this new addition to the Inclusive Collection, part of World of Hyatt, family.

Surround Sound

It’s become pretty expected that guests should be able to beam the music from their phones into some kind of speaker in the room, but at Secrets Tides Punta Cana, it’s steps literally above the standard.

What do we mean by that? The sound comes from above you for a fully immersive sonic experience!

“One of my favorite things – although a small detail in the grand scheme of things – was that each room had Bluetooth speakers built into the ceilings!,” Emma told us. “It was so awesome to connect my phone and play music while getting ready, hanging out, etcetera. And the way the rooms were built also kept most of the noise within the room. I could only faintly hear others’ music when walking the hallways … Even then, it was very faint,” a remarkable testament to the soundproofing efforts that make each room an actual haven.

Julie agreed. “The Bluetooth room speakers are awesome. Many advisors also commented on how cool this was!”

Plenty to Do

While this resort is as laid-back and relaxing as you’d want an Unlimited-Luxury® resort to be, boredom doesn’t stand a chance at this all-options property. “There are tons of activities,” Julie said. “They had morning poolside yoga, poolside painting classes, and more … those were just the two that I personally saw taking place.”

For Emma, it was the candle-making class that caught her attention. “I thought it was super cool and a great keepsake for guests,” she said. “Also, the entertainment team had singers and dancers all day long and into the evening. They really have some talented staff! One woman would sing in the evenings, and I truly thought it was a recording, she was so spot on. Sometimes I find that the entertainment crew can be a bit pushy to get people to enjoy themselves,” Emma admits, “But here, they were all very respectful and did a great job of reading the audience.”

Water, Water Everywhere

And of course, there are plenty of relaxing ways to have fun, too. “The pools are great – they’re deep; the water was up to about my shoulders in most of the pools, which is great in the heat! Many of the pools had lounge chairs set in the water, too, and the Preferred Club pool overlooks the beach,” Julie observed. “And it’s a beautiful large beach with golden sand that’s incredibly soft. Several travel advisors have also commented to me on how ‘powdery’ the sand was as well.”

“There’s a mix of chairs under the palapa-style umbrellas and beds. Some of the beds had egg chair swings next to them, too, for lounging,” she noted.

And of course, the spa is noteworthy. Felicia Cody, who works for Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, gave us some Hotel Confidential-style notes about Secrets Spa at Secrets Tides Punta Cana, sharing that the “stunning spa” is “surrounded by a hydrotherapy circuit, sauna, steam room, and relaxing indoor lounge area” is available for those booking treatments.

Dining for Days

A stand-out meal for Julie and Emma included dinner at LaTierra, which is “all South American cuisine, so Peruvian, Argentinian, Brazilian, and more,” Julie said. Emma called this one her favorite, saying, “It had a great ambiance and vibe. Food was Amazonian fusion cuisine, and my table got one of everything to try. I loved it all!”

This restaurant and Meraki, the Mediterranean-Asian and teppanyaki restaurant, are concepts exclusive to this resort. She found out, “This hotel was built and is owned by someone who … really wanted to add two restaurants to capture food areas not really represented elsewhere” in resorts across Dominican Republic, she shared.

However, these are only two of the nine dining selections, which is comprised of six à la carte restaurants, one buffet, a grill, and a café … plus room service, for which each room is well equipped for. “They have the room service cubbies!” as Julie calls the signature Secrets “Magic Box,” which allows for no-contact service and discreet, hygienic service return.

Additionally, “the buffet was really good, with a lot of variety and made-to-order options like pasta and more,” she said. Emma chimed in, “It had so much variety; some of my favorites were from the Make Your Own Pasta station and the sushi, which the staff was constantly bringing out, making sure nothing sat for long.”

The Perfect Size

“I really liked the size of the rooms!” Emma raved. “They were so spacious; definitely more space than one person would need.

“I appreciated that it had a private bathroom with only the vanity open to the room. There was a fogged glass shower with two showerheads and a fogged/private [water closet]. This is something I note when visiting some resorts, because if I were to travel with friends or family and share a room, I want to be sure that bathroom can still be private,” she pointed out practically.

As for the property itself, Julie acknowledges that “At first glance, the resort looks really big. But it’s really manageable and walkable,” she assures. “It’s actually a lot more compact than it looks.”

Emma agreed. “The size of the resort was perfect, in my opinion. Not too big; it felt comfortable and private. Everything was perfectly spaced out so that the pools didn’t disrupt the guests in the rooms or at any of the restaurants.”

Final Pro Tips

Emma: “Book a room in Preferred Club. The staff was so friendly overall, but within Preferred Club, my assigned butler was so helpful and attentive. I was really happy he was able to get me a transfer to my next resort, and he made sure I was a priority … even amid the hectic arrival of the President of the Dominican Republic to Secrets Tides!”

Julie: In true mom fashion, she shared, “There’s a very small medical clinic that’s staffed 24/7 on site. The staff was super awesome, spoke excellent English, and it was very clean!”

Want more First Person Perspectives on Secrets Resorts & Spas? Read about the Most Memorable Features of Secrets Playa Mujeres and learn about ALGV staff members’ favorite things about Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club.