Marriott’s W Hotels Is Opening Its First All-Inclusive in Punta Cana, And Now It Has an Opening Date
The Living Room. The Wet Deck. The Fit gym. The “whatever/whenever” button, the one that helps with even the most unlikely request. They’re all the signatures of the W brand, which first launched in the late 90s in New York and has retained its hip, energetic soul as one of Marriott’s most sought-after brands.
In a few months, W is adding another signature: all-inclusive. The everything-included concept, the hottest trend in Caribbean travel and increasingly popular all around the world, will soon find its way into a W hotel.
It’s called the W Punta Cana, Adult All-Inclusive, and it now has an opening date in the Dominican Republic’s most-visited destination: April 15.
The 340-room property (and yes, that includes some swim-up and plunge pool rooms) is now taking bookings, and it’s one of the most anticipated Caribbean openings of the year (the latest in a surge of Marriott all-inclusive debuts in recent months, including another one in the Dominican Republic).
So what do you need to know?
It will include some cool new culinary concepts, including a Tokyo-inspired Noodle Bar, a Caribbean-focused eatery called Scena with an open kitchen and a W spin on the all-inclusive buffet called “Trade Market,” with a focus on street food.
There’s also a spa, a pool bar called Chill, a rooftop lounge with a pool called Satsuma and, yes, of course, a Living Room bar, part of what Marriott calls a “beverage firs attitude” at the property.
And when you want to burn it off, there’s the FIT gym studio.
There’s also 24-hour room service, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and spacious rooms by Punta Cana standards.
The new W is part of a welcome trend that’s seeing brands known for their fun-loving, hip vibes enter into all-inclusive, one that began late last year with the first-ever SLS-branded all-inclusive in Playa Mujeres. It’s also a sign of just how much all-inclusive has changed in recent years, with Marriott itself adding dozens of resorts to its growing All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy portfolio.
So what about prices?
Rates on Marriott’s website start at $1,900 if you’re a Bonvoy member and $2,000 per night if not. That gets you a “premier” room with a “tropical view.” For a swim-up, which we famously recommend just about all the time, the price goes up to $2,300 for non-members.
What about getting there? The resort is in Uvero Alto, which is about a half an hour from Punta Cana International Airport, which has flights from just about every major airport in the US. You can find attractive fares on Google Flights, including $471 from Fort Lauderdale on JetBlue in April.
