Casa de Campo Resort & Villas is the big-estate honeymoon of the Dominican Republic: 7,000 private acres east of La Romana with three golf courses, a marina, a calm beach club and a hilltop replica of a Mediterranean village. Every booking comes with its own golf cart, so the two of you can putter from breakfast to the beach to dinner without ever calling a car.
It suits couples who want variety and space more than a single romantic cove. One of you can play Teeth of the Dog, the Pete Dye course that the resort calls the top-ranked layout in the Caribbean, while the other spends the morning at the spa or snorkeling off Minitas Beach. Then you meet for lunch on the sand. The resort is not kid-free and it is busy with Dominican and American families on holidays, so the most romantic way to do it is in a hotel suite away from the main pool or, if the budget stretches, a private villa with staff.
Room rates are moderate for the Caribbean. The Casa Inclusive package wraps in meals and drinks for couples who prefer not to sign checks.
Highlights at a glance
- A private golf cart with every stay
- Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore and The Links golf courses
- Calm Caribbean swimming at Minitas Beach
- Altos de Chavón village above the Chavón River
- Staffed private villas, some with ocean views
Why Couples Choose Casa de Campo
The appeal is choice. Most Caribbean resorts give you one beach and a handful of restaurants. Casa de Campo gives you a small town. There is Minitas Beach with its beach club, a marina lined with restaurants and boutiques, polo fields, a shooting center, tennis and the art galleries and amphitheater of Altos de Chavón above the Chavón River.
The Caribbean coast here is usually flat and clear, which makes it some of the calmest swimming in the country. That is a real advantage over the Atlantic-facing beaches farther north and east, where rip currents are common. Because the grounds are so large, the place rarely feels crowded even when it is full. Couples who like a different plan every day tend to love it. Couples who want to do nothing at all may find the scale more than they need.
Rooms, Casitas and Villas to Book
Accommodation falls into four broad groups and every one includes a golf cart.
- Rooms and Suites in the main hotel are the entry point. Ask for one away from the lobby and main pool for quiet.
- Premier Club suites add a more elevated level of service and space.
- Casitas sit close to the resort's main amenities, handy if you plan to walk to dinner.
- Private villas come with dedicated staff and often a private pool. Some face the ocean.
For a honeymoon on a moderate budget, a suite or casita gives you the full resort for far less than a villa. If you are splitting a villa with another couple or treating yourselves, an oceanfront villa with a cook and butler is the most private way to see the estate.
Food, Drink and the Spa
The resort runs several restaurants and the ones couples talk about most are on the water. Minitas Beach Club & Restaurant is the daytime anchor, with lunch steps from the sand. La Piazzetta in Altos de Chavón is the Italian dinner with candles and stone walls; the resort says it was named the country's best hotel restaurant. SBG and Causa add more casual and Latin options and the marina has more restaurants within a short cart ride.
The Spa & Wellness Center, which the resort describes as the only Forbes Four-Star spa in the Dominican Republic, is worth a couples treatment on your first full day. If you plan to eat most meals on the estate, look at the Casa Inclusive package, which bundles dining and drinks and removes the running bill from the trip.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Golf is the headline. Teeth of the Dog has seven holes along the sea and was recently restored. Dye Fore runs along cliffs above the Chavón River and The Links is the gentler inland course. Non-golfers have plenty of other options.
- Snorkel or paddleboard off Minitas Beach in the calm morning water.
- Take a boat from Bayahibe to Saona Island for sandbars and starfish shallows.
- Book a sunset at Altos de Chavón, then dinner in the village.
- Try sporting clays at the shooting center or a polo lesson.
- Charter a fishing boat from the marina.
Mosquitoes can be active at dusk and dengue occurs in the Dominican Republic. Use repellent and if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices.
Getting There
La Romana International (LRM) sits about 10 minutes from the gate and has some seasonal nonstop service from the US. Most couples fly into Punta Cana (PUJ), which has far more routes and transfer about an hour west by road. Santo Domingo (SDQ) is roughly an hour and 15 minutes away, which makes a split with the capital's colonial zone easy.
Arrange a transfer through the resort or a reputable car service rather than hailing a taxi at the airport. Once you arrive you will not need a car, since the golf cart covers the estate. For trips off property, such as Bayahibe or Saona, the resort can book boats and drivers.
Is It Worth It?
For couples who want activities and space, yes. Few Caribbean resorts give you three serious golf courses, a calm beach, a marina and a village of restaurants at these room rates. A suite or casita booking is fair value and the golf cart adds a sense of freedom that most resorts cannot match.
It is less suited to couples who want an intimate, quiet retreat. The estate is large and family-friendly and holiday weeks are busy. If seclusion is the priority, a small kid-free hotel would suit you better, or book a private villa here and stay put. Golf and spa costs add up fast, so budget for them, or take the inclusive package if you plan to eat in.
Insider tips
- Request a room away from the main lobby and pool if you want quiet evenings.
- Book tee times for Teeth of the Dog well in advance, especially in winter.
- Go to Minitas Beach early, when the water is glassy and loungers are easy to find.
- Price the Casa Inclusive package against your likely dining bill before deciding.
