Secrets and techniques and Goals Playa Esmeralda pair all-inclusive perks with a secluded seaside
The Dominican Republic has no scarcity of all-inclusive resorts to select from in standard areas like Punta Cana. However away from the noise and crowds, there is a new all-inclusive vacation spot rising in Miches, and two new resorts are prepared to indicate vacationers why they need to make the 90-minute journey from the airport.
Secrets and techniques Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa is the primary adults-only, all-inclusive resort within the space, whereas Goals Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa is its adjoining family-friendly counterpart. And as a part of World of Hyatt, each resorts are bookable with factors, which helped land them on TPG’s checklist of probably the most thrilling lodge openings of 2025.
Here is a fast take a look at what you may anticipate at every of those properties.
Associated: TPG’s information to the most effective all-inclusive resorts you may ebook with factors
First impressions
1 of 3
CARLY HELFAND/THE POINTS GUY
After arriving on the conjoined property — I checked in on the Secrets and techniques facet first — I used to be greeted with a glass of glowing wine and instantly whisked away by golf cart to a particular space for Most well-liked Membership visitors, who get a number of perks with their keep (certainly one of which is a extra personalised check-in expertise). There, I met my private concierge — one other profit for Most well-liked Membership visitors — who escorted me to my room and gave me a tour of its options. Be aware that every facet of the property, each Secrets and techniques and Goals, have their very own foyer and their very own Most well-liked Membership check-in space, although most of the foremost services are linked all through.
Whether or not or not you go for the Most well-liked Membership expertise throughout your keep, whereas checking in, you will get your first take a look at some of the spectacular options of the joint resorts: the inside design. Each the Secrets and techniques and Goals sides of the advanced have their very own lovely open-air lobbies full with stylish bar areas, loads of seating and ocean views.
The rooms
Secrets and techniques and Goals every function 500 visitor rooms and suites, with 125 at every resort earmarked for Most well-liked Membership visitors. Rooms on either side are organized in a horseshoe configuration dealing with out towards the respective resort and ocean, giving most rooms not less than a partial ocean view.
At Secrets and techniques, I stayed in a fantastically designed Most well-liked Membership master bedroom oceanfront room, full with a snug king-size mattress, a full lounge space, a spacious lavatory with twin sinks and a soaking tub, and a balcony with loungers and one other soaking tub. The decor was smooth, with impartial tones making a harmonious area. Use of pure supplies like wooden and rattan, in addition to some refined patterns on the rugs and pillows, introduced in a boho contact becoming for an island setting.
1 of 6
CARLY HELFAND/THE POINTS GUY
At Goals, I stayed in a junior suite swim-up room with two queen beds. The room had numerous area for a household to unfold out, with a desk, a love seat, an outside terrace with seating and, in fact, direct entry to the pool. It was my first time in a swim-up room, and I cherished the idea; it might be an particularly good setup for fogeys keeping track of younger kids throughout nap time. The draw back to being on the bottom flooring is well listening to loud music from the pool.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
The decor at Goals is a little more playful than on the Secrets and techniques facet, with pops of shade and patterned tiles befitting a family-friendly lodge.
1 of 6
CARLY HELFAND/THE POINTS GUY
Each rooms I stayed in had Bluetooth speaker programs to pipe music all through the suite, a function I appreciated and used regularly.
Eating at Secrets and techniques and Goals Playa Esmeralda
Eating is the place each Secrets and techniques and Goals have some room to enhance, which is barely pure for 2 brand-new resorts of this dimension. Whereas restaurant choices are plentiful (Secrets and techniques has 11 eating shops and Goals has 10, with six a la carte eating places apiece), the standard and expertise was combined. For instance, I did not discover the breakfast or lunch choices notably appetizing, and one room service order yielded an undercooked pizza. A number of occasions, confusion led to incorrect gadgets getting delivered to my desk every evening — however servers have been at all times pleasant and keen to assist, and errors have been corrected so quickly that I did not thoughts them in any respect. On the time of my keep, menus weren’t marked with dietary restrictions, in order a vegetarian, it was tough to find out what I might and could not eat.
At each resorts, although, I discovered dinners to be good, and a few dishes have been even nice. The meals at Dona Altagracia, Secrets and techniques’ Dominican restaurant, was a spotlight, as have been the alfajores (cookies with dulce de leche) at Secrets and techniques’ espresso bar, Coco. And each restaurant was fantastically furnished, every with a definite decor theme to set the vibe. Even the buffet areas have been designed with care.
1 of 5
CARLY HELFAND/THE POINTS GUY
Once more, provided that each resorts are brand-new, I do anticipate among the points I skilled to naturally enhance over time. For example, I dined at Secrets and techniques’ Mediterranean restaurant, Meraki, twice throughout my keep, and even in that quick time, I observed that the meals had gotten higher between visits.
Be aware that visitors at Secrets and techniques can take pleasure in all of the eating choices at Goals, however kids can’t entry the eating choices at adults-only Secrets and techniques. At the moment, solely choose eating places are open every day on a rotating foundation, however they are going to finally all be open every day as occupancy will increase.
1 of 6
CARLY HELFAND/THE POINTS GUY
Facilities and repair
Facilities at each resorts have been a spotlight of my go to. As with the eating places, visitors at Secrets and techniques can make the most of facilities at Goals, however kids cannot enterprise over to Secrets and techniques. For that motive, the adults-only gymnasium is situated on the Secrets and techniques facet, whereas the all-ages basketball and tennis courts, for instance, are on the Goals facet.
1 of 8
CARLY HELFAND/THE POINTS GUY
- Service: For probably the most half, everybody I encountered was very pleasant. Because the resorts are new, some restaurant waitstaff are nonetheless studying English, however that didn’t impede my expertise in any respect. As a substitute, I noticed it as a fantastic alternative to observe my Spanish.
- Private concierge: My private concierges, Claudio at Secrets and techniques and Esteban at Goals, have been the heroes of the journey. They have been shortly reachable by WhatsApp, seemingly always, serving to out with the whole lot from eating suggestions to exercise schedules to establishing the Bluetooth speaker system. I extremely suggest springing for Most well-liked Membership lodging for entry to the non-public concierge profit.
- Actions: The properties host a number of free actions and workshops, together with jewellery making, hat portray, kayaking and paddleboarding. Water sports activities firm SeaPro has an on-property kiosk and may organize banana boating, snorkeling excursions and extra.
- Pets: Vaccinated canines weighing 22 kilos or much less are welcome on the property for a charge.
- Swimming pools: Every resort has an exercise pool, a extra serene pool and a Most well-liked Membership pool. I notably loved utilizing the Most well-liked Membership swimming pools, which have been quieter and fewer crowded.
- Health middle: The ability is properly outfitted with free weights and Technogym machines. There’s additionally a non-public room that can host Pilates courses as soon as occupancy will increase.
- Leisure: The resorts supply stay music within the public sq. and a wide range of programming within the theater areas (suppose: magic reveals at Goals and cabarets at Secrets and techniques).
- Spa: The big spa homes a leisure pool, a sauna, a hammam, a steam tub, a magnificence salon, locker rooms and extra.
- Youngsters and teenagers golf equipment: These no-fee golf equipment supply a powerful slate of actions and facilities, together with a playground for youths ages 3 to 13 and a DJ disco and movie show for teenagers.
Seaside
1 of 3
CARLY HELFAND/THE POINTS GUY
One of many large attracts to the property is its secluded seaside. I did not see greater than a handful of individuals there at any given time all through my few days on the property, not to mention the overcrowding and protracted sellers I’ve seen on seashores throughout different resort stays. The water turns a shocking shade of turquoise round noon, and it is heat and swimmable.
Loungers and daybeds are set again a bit from the water, although they nonetheless supply unobstructed views. That is as a result of the seaside is protected as a sanctuary for the leatherback turtles that lay eggs there yearly.
Location and logistics
Secrets and techniques and Goals Playa Esmeralda sit about 63 miles northwest of Punta Cana Worldwide Airport (PUJ), which is the closest airport possibility. Flights from the U.S. into Punta Cana are plentiful, and from there, you will want transportation to the resort, which takes about an hour and a half to achieve by automobile.
The resorts ebook transfers by their sister firm, Amstar, which is what I took to get there, and the rides have been straightforward and nice. They don’t seem to be low cost, nonetheless, at about $174 every approach (although that determine can range relying on how and once you ebook). Whereas ride-hailing apps are used broadly in different components of the Dominican Republic, they don’t seem to be presently used within the extra distant Miches space. Parking on the resorts is free for visitors who select to hire a automobile.
What it prices to remain at Secrets and techniques and Goals Playa Esmeralda and learn how to ebook
Secrets and techniques and Goals are a part of Hyatt’s all-inclusive assortment, which means you may earn and redeem World of Hyatt factors for a keep. A number of room varieties can be found to ebook with factors, together with Most well-liked Membership lodging and premium suites.
Secrets and techniques is a part of Hyatt’s all-inclusive Class C, which means customary rooms on off-peak nights go for as little as 21,000 factors, whereas premium suites on peak nights are priced at 58,000 factors. At Goals, a Class B all-inclusive, these costs vary from 17,000 to 46,000 factors per evening, respectively.
In money, anticipate to pay charges within the mid-$300s as much as about $500 for a non-Most well-liked Membership room at Secrets and techniques this 12 months till the vacations, when costs skyrocket. At Goals, you could find room charges under $300 on many nights.
Accessibility
Each Secrets and techniques and Goals supply accessible rooms, with 4 per lodge and one every within the Most well-liked Membership. These rooms embrace giant loos outfitted for wheelchair entry, amongst different options. There are ramps and elevators all through the property, however not one of the swimming pools have a elevate. Service canines are allowed.
TPG at all times recommends contacting the lodge instantly to substantiate how properly the property can accommodate particular wants, notably with resorts outdoors the U.S., the place accessibility legal guidelines could also be completely different.
Backside line
When you’re in quest of a extra peaceable all-inclusive expertise paired with pristine seashores, spacious rooms and delightful facilities — and your journey is lengthy sufficient to assist the three-hour round-trip drive from the airport — Secrets and techniques and Goals Playa Esmeralda are nice choices. If wonderful meals is basically necessary to you, I might counsel ready a few months to ebook simply to present the eating places time to hit their stride. The conjoined beachside resorts are a stable addition to Hyatt’s all-inclusive assortment in a shocking, lesser-known Dominican vacation spot.
Associated studying:
Supply hyperlink
