Secrets Playa Esmeralda Resort & SPA

My wife and I stayed at Secrets Playa Esmeralda July 11–15 to celebrate our anniversary, in a Preferred Standard room, and it did not disappoint. One of the best perks of this resort is that guests can walk over to Dreams Playa Esmeralda next door and use their restaurants and activities too — it effectively doubles your dining and entertainment options instead of being stuck with just one property's offerings. Our favorite restaurant by far was Castaway Steakhouse. I had the rib eye, which was cooked perfectly. They also went out of their way to accommodate my wife's gluten-free needs — she had a gluten-free cheesecake there that was excellent (I may have stolen a few bites myself). Being an adults-only resort made a huge difference. No kids running around, no screaming or splashing in the pools — just a calm, relaxed atmosphere. We never had trouble finding a pool chair, even during peak times. The staff were incredibly attentive throughout our stay. Our butler, Carlos Perez, checked on us regularly, handled reservations, and took care of any request that came up — always with a smile. Since we were celebrating our anniversary, he went out of his way to make it special, leaving a surprise in our room one evening. He genuinely earned this mention — great service from start to finish. The one downside: the drive from the airport is a bit long. But it's a minor tradeoff for how good the resort itself is. We'd recommend Secrets Playa Esmeralda to anyone visiting the Dominican Republic — highly enjoyable, relaxing, and well worth it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Overall: We had an amazing stay and would absolutely return. The resort is beautiful, 5 star luxury, and has a relaxing atmosphere that made it easy to unwind from the moment we arrived. Check-in: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The check-in process was quick and efficient, and the staff made us feel welcome right away. A glass of champagne and a warm towel to refresh ourselves! Room: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Our room was spacious, spotless, and very luxurious. We had a King Junior Suite Ocean view. Building 3, 4th floor. The bed was super comfortable. Housekeeping did an excellent job every day, and we appreciated the attention to detail. Food & Drinks: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The food exceeded our expectations, with a great variety of fresh, delicious options. Having Celiac Disease, can be challenging for an all inclusive, however, I was assigned a personal food concierge at check-in. Between Keila and Justo, I was treated like royalty! Gluten free pancakes every morning! All the menus indicate allergy symbols beside each option, and your server asks about allergies at every meal. Our favorite restaurants were the Seaside Grill, Himistu, and Bordeaux. Pedro at the pool bar took extra care to prepare my drinks safely even though it meant extra work for him. Ariana remembered my gluten situation and offered to get my special drinks. Roberto at Seaside Grill took great care of us! Pool & Beach: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Both the pools and beach were beautiful, clean, and never felt overcrowded. No beach vendors. No need to reserve sun beds or umbrellas as there were an abundance of each. The grounds were immaculate. Staff & Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The staff truly made our vacation special. Everyone was friendly, professional, and genuinely cared about ensuring guests had a wonderful experience. Angel Medina, you have a spectacular team! What Could Be Improved: Nothing. Would We Recommend It? Absolutely. We would recommend this resort to couples, or anyone looking for a relaxing vacation with excellent service, delicious food, and beautiful surroundings. We look forward to returning in the future for a family reunion!

Beautiful resort and beach! Not much in terms of activities to do. Excellent mixologists, food is average. My favourite meal was at the Dominican restaurant 1844.

Our family vacation for our daughters 30th birthday was one for the books! Our butler was the best butler we have ever had! She went above and beyond. Ask for Amarlys Mercedes, I promise you won’t be disappointed. She booked everything everyday and she helped make my daughters day unforgettable. I will miss her most.

We had a great time at the resort. Our butler Eudomar was terrific, he was there for us with anything we needed. It was my wife's birthday and he surprised her with a special cake and room decorations. Eudomar made sure we had everything we needed or asked for, he made us feel so welcomed. Great resort, we can't wait to go back, great experience. Excellent staff all over the resort, especially Eudomar!