🌴 Amanera Resort Review: Private Luxury on the Dominican Republic’s Untouched Coast

If you’re looking for a quiet, luxurious, and fully private Caribbean escape, Amanera in the Dominican Republic checks nearly every box. Located on the less-traveled Northeast coast of the island, this exclusive Aman property delivers world class views, serene casitas, and ultimate seclusion. But with a $20K/week price tag, does it truly live up to the hype?

Having just spent a week on property, here’s my honest review, what impressed, what missed, and what you need to know before booking.

📍 Where Is Amanera Located?

Amanera sits on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, nestled along the dramatic cliffs and wide beaches near Río San Juan.

• Arrival Airport: Puerto Plata (POP)

• Travel Time to Resort: ~90 minutes by private car Pro tip: Arrange resort transport ahead of time for a smoother arrival.

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🏡 The Casitas: Spacious, Serene, and Private

With just 30–40 private casitas scattered across the clifftop property, Amanera never feels crowded. Most are 1-bedroom units, and only one 2-bedroom casita exists, so book early if traveling as a group.

✨ Casita Highlights:

• Private pools (not plunge pools—full-size, with ocean views)

• Oversized bathrooms with garden tubs, dual vanities, and rainfall showers

• Closet/dressing room and ample storage

• Kitchenette stocked with:

  • Coca-Cola, beer, sparkling water, milk

  • Chocolate bars

  • 2 mini bottles of wine (charged separately)

  • Nespresso machine (pods included)

• Welcome fruit basket

• Modern tech touches:

  • Floor-to-ceiling windows with blackout shades (remote controlled)

  • A hidden TV that disappears into the furniture, preserving ocean views from bed

    
    

The outdoor living areas are massive, with shaded daybeds, lounges, dining areas, and a beautiful sun shelf-lit pool that glows at night. Honestly, there were so many seating zones, we didn’t use them all.

🛏 Note on Beds:

The beds were very firm, which may appeal to some, but for us, it was a downside. If plush bedding is a must, you may want to inquire in advance about mattress options.

🌺 Daily Cultural Touches:

Each day, Amanera left a thoughtful cultural gift in our room, ranging from hand crafted tokens to small locally inspired treats, along with notes teaching us about the island’s heritage. It was a lovely and educational touch that made the stay feel extra meaningful.

🍽 Food & Dining: Where Amanera Misses the Mark

If you’re hoping for a culinary journey, this resort may fall short.

Main Restaurant:

• Only one restaurant on site

• Menu did not change during our stay

• Food quality did not match the price point

For a $20K stay, we expected inventive dishes and evolving menus—but instead found the food monotonous and uninspiring.

Beach Club:

• Worn down and outdated

• We visited once and didn’t return

• Beach restaurant was not open during our stay

Room service also came with a hefty surcharge, and cocktails were overpriced. These small upcharges added up and detracted from the overall luxury experience.

🏖 Beach & Grounds: Stunning Views, Mixed Amenities

The beach itself is breathtaking, wide, soft sand, turquoise waters, and almost totally private.

The Good:

• Easily walkable from all casitas

• Exceptionally clean and peaceful

• Great for sunrise and sunset walks

The Not-So-Good:

• The beach club needs renovation

• No lunch options available at the beach during our stay

• The vibe didn’t match the serenity of the casitas

  
  

🧘 Spa & Golf: Off-Property Perks (With Caveats)

Spa Experience:

• Located offsite at Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club

• Requires a 5-minute car ride

• No hot/cold tubs, sauna/steam room, or traditional spa amenities

• Massage quality was excellent, but setting was not ideal

  
  

Notably, our open-air treatment room had roaming cats—which, while perhaps charming to some, was stressful for me as someone with allergies. We even encountered cats at check-in. It’s something worth noting if you’re expecting a more tightly managed environment.

Golf at Playa Grande:

• Owned by Discovery Land Company

• Typically private, but non-members can inquire about tee times

• Absolutely worth it for golfers, views are jaw dropping and overall golf experience is like no other.

  
  

🧒 Children at Amanera: What to Expect

While Amanera’s branding suggests a more adult-focused, child-free retreat, that wasn’t our experience. In fact, we were the only couple without children on property during our stay.

If you're considering a family trip:

• Children are welcome, but younger kids may not fully appreciate the quiet setting

• No structured kids’ activities or water slides, but plenty of space for older kids to enjoy

We would return with our children, but likely not until they’re old enough to relax and appreciate the experience.

✔ Pros & Cons Summary

Pros	Cons
Incredibly private casitas with full-size pools	Poor food quality and no menu variety
Immaculate beach and ocean views	Beach club worn down and in need of renovation
Spacious, luxurious rooms with modern amenities	Spa is offsite and lacks full facilities (no sauna, hot/cold tubs)
Remote and peaceful setting	Additional surcharges for room service, mini-bar wine, and cocktails
Beautiful golf access nearby at Playa Grande	Firm beds may be uncomfortable for some guests
Thoughtful daily gifts & cultural heritage notes	Roaming cats in common areas and open-air spa (problematic for allergies)
Floor-to-ceiling windows with blackout shades	Only one restaurant; reservations recommended but no menu rotation
Hidden TV that retracts to preserve the ocean view	Only one 2-bedroom casita; limited family accommodations

⭐ Final Verdict: 4 Stars for the Stay, 5 Stars for the Setting

Amanera is perfect for couples or families seeking a secluded, luxury experience, especially those who value privacy and relaxation over activity or dining. The casitas alone are a 5-star experience. However, the food, added fees, and off-property spa drop the overall score to a strong 4 stars.

Would we go back? Yes, but with realistic expectations about dining, and possibly with older kids in tow.

📩 Want More Details or Photos?

As always, I’m happy to answer questions if you’re considering Amanera for your next vacation!

Be sure to check out my video on this resort HERE! Please subscribe and like my YouTube Channel so you can get updates each week on my resort reviews.

📧 Reach out at BeyondHerLensArt@gmail.com📷

The Daily Gift Experience...

The Spa Experience...