This month, Rental Escapes celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a holiday trip to the beautiful Puntacana Resort and Club. The team got to experience two of Punta Cana’s best villas – Arrecife Royale and Villa Lorenne, our Villa of the Year – as well as all of the resort’s great amenities and the 5-star attention to detail provided by our concierge service. It was truly an unforgettable trip from start to finish.
A Tale of Two Beautiful Punta Cana Villas
After being taken to the resort from the airport by their private drivers, the team was greeted at their villas with cold towels, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres, as well as by the villas’ amazing and attentive butlers – Jesus and Raul at Arrecife Royale, and Merardo at Villa Lorraine – who didn’t miss a beat all weekend in helping create a true luxury experience.
Arrecife Royale
The nine-bedroom Arrecife Royale made a perfect home base for about half of our team. With its horseshoe shape centred around its gorgeous infinity pool, the outdoor living area became the centre of villa life for the whole weekend.
From the high-arch foyer at the entrance to each of the gorgeous bedrooms, everything about this villa is immaculate – though determining who gets to sleep in the three master bedrooms, complete with their terrace hot tubs, is no easy feat.
Villa Lorrene
Not to be outdone, Villa Lorrene hosted the other half of our team. One of the newest villas in the Puntacana Resort, Villa Lorrene’s décor really stands out, with beautiful murals, a stunning indoor garden, and eight Zen-inducing bedrooms offering the perfect respite after a fun and sun-filled day.
Like with Arrecife Royale, Villa Lorene’s gym saw a lot of use, as did its gorgeous pool area and its foosball and ping pong tables.
It’s hard to say which villa was preferred– everyone staying in Lorrene swears they had the better villa, while those on team Arrecife Royale were sure their villa was the best. In the end, everyone was happy – and that’s what matters.
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
Our 10-year anniversary trip was also Rental Escapes’ Holiday party, and like any good party, the food and drink were top-notch
In-Villa Chef Service
A special shout-out here goes out to Elvin and Daniel, the chefs at Arrecife Royale, and Carlos, the chef at Villa Loraine. The food they prepared was absolutely delicious, from the Dominican barbeque and Italian theme nights to the Mexican and paella lunches and everything in between.
Plus, any special requests, including vegetarian and vegan dishes, were handled exquisitely (and were enough to tempt even the most ardent carnivores). The chefs’ skill and professionalism, along with the rest of the staff going above and beyond to fill drinks, serve food, and ensure everyone was having a great time, made each meal a standout moment of the trip.
Friday Night Party
The first night of the trip was also kicked off with an amazing party organized by our on-site concierge, Jose. It featured a live DJ, photo booth, photographer, and an awards ceremony for the team, with prizes for Villa Specialist of the Year, Concierge Specialist of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and more.
The next night, a few of the gang went out to Coco Bongos. With a private driver arranged by the concierge, they arrived in style, caught a fun show, and then partied in Punta Cana’s hottest nightclub. The mix of stage show and nightclub was like nothing they’d seen before, and that’s saying a lot.
Fun in the Punta Cana Sun
Along with the villas themselves, the Rental Escapes team also had a blast enjoying all of the fun activities in and around the Puntacana Resort and Club.
Indigenous Eyes Eco Reserve
Saturday saw the team take a trip to the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve. Spread out over 1,500 acres and featuring 12 natural-spring lagoons – five of which you can swim in – the reserve tells the story of the indigenous Taino Indians and their deep relationship with the land. Between the birds singing, the colour of the cenotes, and the dense tropical vegetation, the atmosphere is simply magical.
Golf at La Cana
A few of the golfers managed to get in 18 holes at La Cana, the Puntacana Club’s signature course. With its expansive ocean views and lush greenery, it’s not hard to see why this was dubbed the best course in the Caribbean by Golf Magazine. And with caddies Catalino and Facuche by their side, everyone’s game was upped significantly.
Oscar de La Renta Tennis Centre
A few others took tennis lessons at the Oscar de la Renta Tennis Centre. The most impressive part of this place is the sheer size – with 12 tennis courts, including nine clay, one Har-Tru, one natural grass, one hard surface court, and one fully-equipped Technogym, it’s easily one of the best tennis centres in the Caribbean.
Six Senses Spa
Some of the team also went to the Six Senses Spa, the only one in the Caribbean. From massages to hot stone therapy, every treatment helped restore and rejuvenate. And by all accounts, the vibe in the spa was immaculate.
La Cana and Playa Blanca Beach Clubs
A favourite activity of many was just driving around the Puntacana Resort on golf carts and vising the resort’s beach clubs – La Cana and Playa Blanca. Set beside the golf course, La Cana is chic and relaxing, while Playa Blanca is known for its lively atmosphere. Both had the white sand and clear, warm water that our team was craving.
Coming Home
The team returned from the trip rested, refreshed, and more connected than ever. It really reinforced the power of a luxury villa experience to bring people together, especially in a destination with as much to do, and with as many beautiful villas, as Punta Cana. Everyone has a different favourite memory, but one thing we all share is a renewed commitment to offering our guests the very best villa experiences possible. Here’s to the next 10 years and beyond of Rental Escapes!
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