Punta Cana is the land of the all-inclusive resort. The large all-inclusive resort. Not the boutique hotel. And that’s a big part of why Punta Cana has become so popular in recent years, and it remains a place where the smaller, intimate hotel is more of a theory than a reality. But there may still be room for a different kind of stay: more personal, more intimate. Hyatt is banking on that with its just-opened Punta Cana property.
And it’s not what you’re expecting.
Hyatt has just opened the Royal Beach Hotel Punta Cana, the first-ever Caribbean outpost of its JdV by Hyatt brand. And unlike the mega-resorts that have long defined this destination, this is something entirely different: just 66 rooms, no all-inclusive wristbands, and no buffet lines. Instead, it’s intimate, local, and steps from the sand.
Set in the breezy beachside neighborhood of El Cortecito, the hotel marks a deliberate pivot for Punta Cana—one that’s about walking to dinner, sipping something cold at the lobby bar with locals, and actually seeing the soul of the place.
There’s no sprawling footprint here. What there is: a sharp, design-forward property that feels like it belongs. Rooms are stylish but unpretentious, with 55-inch TVs and reliable Wi-Fi, and the kind of thoughtful touches that make a short stay feel like home. It’s 25 minutes from the airport, but a world away from the resort corridor’s usual all-inclusive echo chamber.
And if you want the big-resort perks for a day? You can grab a $50–$60 day pass to the nearby Secrets or Dreams Royal Beach resorts. That gives you access to beach courts, restaurants, pools, and more, all-inclusive, too.
But the bet here is that you won’t need it.
Because the Royal Beach is trying to carve its own identity.
Start with Ambar Fusion Cuisine, the hotel’s signature restaurant, which weaves local Dominican ingredients into an inventive, global-forward menu. Then there’s Bar Colón, a serene poolside hangout perfect for light bites and breezy cocktails. And inside, the Royal Beach Lobby Bar could quickly become a place where locals and travelers meet over a glass of wine or just a really good cup of coffee.
The hotel is also one of the few in Punta Cana offering dedicated boardrooms for business travelers—two well-equipped meeting spaces for up to 16 people—and a rooftop terrace that’s already being eyed for weddings and private dinners.
This debut makes Punta Cana the latest addition to the JdV portfolio, which now stretches across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia. And for Hyatt loyalists, there’s an added bonus: 500 Bonus World of Hyatt points per night through Sept. 30.
But points aside, this is a hotel that’s banking on something bigger: that Punta Cana is ready for something more personal.
Prices? Just $127 per night, according to Google Hotels. If you combine that with those all-inclusive day passes it’s a rather good value Punta Cana vacation.
If it is all-inclusive you’re looking for, you’re in the right place: here is our guide to the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana right now.
