Casa de Campo Resort Visit

Located in the tropical paradise of Dominican Republic, Casa de Campo Resort is one of the finest luxury lifestyle resorts you are likely to find in the Caribbean. It is an easy 45-minute straight road transfer from Punta Cana airport but is also very well connected to La Romana and Santo Domingo airports too if flying in from other locations outside the UK or connecting from USA. 

The concept of Casa de Campo was born in 1975 and has evolved steadily since then. It is a 7000-acre plot of land that is fully private and insulated from the outside world. It is hard to envisage what 7000 acres means in real terms but effectively it is 26 square kilometres of land space wedged in between the Chavon and Rio Dulce rivers leading into the Caribbean Sea.

Because the resort has been around since the 1970’s, it has a very developed look about it throughout. What I mean by this is that the trees, gardens, road network and other infrastructure has all been there a long time giving it a real “lived-in” feel which adds to the sense of Casa de Campo being a “home away from home”.

The resort is full of incredible villas from the minute you enter the resort, they are tastefully dotted throughout the resort in the various neighbourhood areas such as golf villas, tennis villas, marina villas, sea front villas and polo villas for example. 

The hotel, just like the rest of the resort is tastefully designed, no high-rise buildings are allowed, nothing higher than 1 story is currently permitted generally in most parts of the resort. The hotel is made up of the main reception area which has a selection of shops, a couple of bars, an a la carte restaurant, a gym and two swimming pools (one with a swim-up bar) all within tropical gardens. From the main reception area, the rooms are in small blocks with dedicated buggy parking spaces. You can easily walk between the room blocks and reception via the swimming pool entrance at the back of the main hotel area or, just swing past in your buggy.
 

The central focus of the hotel is around the reception area. Most things are located outdoors for obvious reasons with the climate being so good. There is the La Cana bar which is the focal point in the evenings, there is live music most nights and a good sports bar-style vibe going on. From here you can then dine in the La Cana restaurant which is a French-themed brasserie outlet with a great outdoor terrace overlooking the swimming pool. They also serve a la carte breakfast here in the mornings if you want a change from the buffet.

About breakfast; most people tend to go to the Lago Restaurant which has the most magnificent views overlooking the Teeth of the Dog golf course and out to sea. Lago is buffet-style with live cooking stations. The quality of the food throughout the resort is extremely high and breakfast is no different. I’d recommend golfers enjoy breakfast at Lago because the restaurant is located next door to the pro-shop for Teeth of the Dog and the Links golf courses. If playing Dye Fore, you can jump on the courtesy shuttle to the golf course from here if you can’t be bothered driving your buggy.

The rooms are all spacious and all come complete with modern amenities such as a Nespresso machine, minibar, walk-in wardrobes and walk-in showers. Plenty of space to store the golf clubs! I stayed in an Elite Room with a balcony overlooking the golf course and it was perfect for enjoying some late afternoon sunshine too! You can also upgrade to the Elite Suites which interconnects to an Elite Room to provide a larger living space and two separate private balconies or terraces. 

Each room is allocated its own 4-seater petrol buggy, you are given the keys upon checking in. Please remember to take your driver’s license so that you can use the buggy otherwise you aren’t allowed. The buggy concept is unique and unlike anywhere else I have ever stayed before. They are an excellent way of getting around the resort under your steam and gives you a real feeling of freedom being able to go anywhere at any time within the resort. We used it all the time and I have summarised rough driving times to places below:

•    Hotel to the Marina = 15 minutes
•    Hotel to Altos de Chavon = 20 minutes
•    Hotel to Dye Fore = 20 minutes
•    Hotel to Dude Ranch (Polo and equestrian centre) = 5 minutes
•    Hotel to Tennis centre = 10 minutes
•    Hotel to Lago Restaurant / Golf pro-shop = 2 minutes 
•    Hotel to golf academy = 5 minutes
•    Hotel Minitis Beach = 10 minutes

The roads are easy to drive and full of resort buggies wherever you go – they are the primary mode of transport and perfect for really making use of all the resort facilities and dining choices too. 

Golf Courses

Now, the golf! Casa de Campo is a golfer’s paradise with 63 available golf holes to play during your stay. Onsite there are 27 holes on the Dye Fore course and then two 18-hole setups on The Links and Teeth of the Dog golf courses. All courses are designed by the legendary designer, Pete Dye who had a unique vision for the golf courses at Casa de Campo and, the multi-award-winning Teeth of the Dog which is widely considered to be the best golf course in the Caribbean and up there amongst the worlds must play golf courses. This is due largely because of the stretch of seven holes laid out along the Caribbean Sea giving one of the most testing and exhilarating golfing experiences around. 

Complementing Teeth of the Dog are The Links and Dye Fore courses; the Links is a very enjoyable layout that meanders throughout the villas and truly is a shot makers dream course. With tricky greens and plenty of space off the tee, it gives golfers of all abilities the opportunity to enjoy the layout in equal measure. It is in immaculate condition and a joy to play. Dye Fore is the newest of the golf courses at Casa de Campo and has 27 holes called Lagos, Marina and Chavon. In particular, the Chavon 9 holes has 5 holes that run beside the cliffside with a 300-foot drop to the river below. The marina boasts some incredible views out to sea and over the Casa de Campo Marina itself.

There is also an incredible golf academy where guests can use their huge driving range and short game areas all day if they wish!

Dye Fore Golf Course

Teeth of the Dog Golf Course

The Links Course

All Inclusive Plan

The all-inclusive program at Casa de Campo is very comprehensive. During our stay, the following was included:

BREAKFAST:

-    Lago Restaurant (buffet) - located next to the Teeth of the Dog and Links clubhouse
-    La Cana Restaurant (a la carte) – located in the main hotel reception complex

LUNCH

-    Lago Restaurant (buffet)
-    19th hole bar at Teeth of the Dog
-    Masas and Brasas food trucks at Minitis Beach (Pizzas, burgers and salads) – Minitas Beach
-    La Cana bar (typical bar menu) – located in the main hotel reception complex
-    Chilango (Mexican) - located in Altos de Chavon

DINNER

-    Chilango (Mexican) – located in Altos de Chavon
-    Piazzetta (Italian) – located in Altos de Chavon
-    Causa (Peruvian and specialist sushi) – located in the Marina
-    La Casita (Spanish) – located in the Marina
-    La Cana (French) 
-    La Cana bar (typical bar snacks)

DRINKS

-    Pool bar (swim up)
-    La Cana bar 
-    19th hole bar
-    Coco Mar bar at the beach
-    Squeeze bar at the beach (fresh fruit smoothies and juices)

GOLF

-    Dye Fore and Teeth of the Dog/Links shared 19th hole bars
-    Mobile bars on the golf courses serving drinks and snacks

There are restaurants and bars that are not included in the all-inclusive programme. These are run independently within Casa de Campo resort. You can use them but need to pay for them locally. Given the choice within the all-inclusive, there is no need to deviate off plan but important to know that other options are available. 

There is a huge choice of drinks and brands available. There are exclusions but these are clearly marked on menus throughout, it is not an exhaustive list of exclusions. 

Handy things to know

- You do not need to take the all-inclusive package – you can book bed and breakfast and then pay as you go for everything else.
 
- Upon check in, the resort will put a hold on your credit card for around $750 and then release this upon check out or draw it down against your final bill.
 
- You must present a valid driving license upon check in to use the golf buggy around the resort.
 
- There is a spa at Casa de Campo which is located within the main hotel.
 
- You can also rent one of the amazing villas at Casa de Campo if you have clients who prefer their own space or have a larger group. You can also stay on the all-inclusive plan if staying in a villa too!
 
- If looking for a day out, there is a boat transfer from Minitas Beach to Catalina Island. It is great for a few hours and is a true beach island paradise with great snorkelling and even better beach. It takes around 45 minutes on the boat and is $50pp return. Well worth it in my view as an excursion.