Sivory Punta Cana
Dominican Republic

Thursday

For all the fun you can have exploring new cultures and delving into new landscapes, there comes a time when you just want to escape, find a luxurious retreat on some remote beach where there are no demands—however fun—on your time and body, where you can just enjoy the simple pleasures of the sea and sand.

And that's exactly what we found when we arrived by helicopter at the exclusive Sivory Punta Cana resort, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, discretely tucked into landscaped gardens fronting an endless white-sand beach on the far eastern tip of the Dominican Republic.

"The D.R.," as the country is affectionately known by travelers, is blessed with rich cultural tones that have descended from the Colonial Spanish days, and a more contemporary African feel from recent history, but it also shines when it comes to delivering the "all-inclusive resort" experience.Ê

And Sivory leads the pack. With the international airport at Punta Cana just an hour's drive away—or take the helicopter as we did and be there in a matter of minutes—you can be sitting in your own well-appointed luxury suite sipping on a glass of wine from the minibar in less time than it takes to make it through the security line at an American airport.

There are two plans at the Sivory, the EP—which is their standard package—and the more inclusive Sivory Plan, available for an additional $150 per person per night. With the standard package, you can enjoy everything from the swimming pool and water sports equipment to Wi-Fi connections at the pool and a complimentary minibar in the suite.Ê

Shawna and I signed up for the Sivory Plan, which meant we enjoyed all the standards perks, but all our meals and drinks (including leading labels) were also covered, and we also received complimentary 24-hour room service and a nice selection of wine in our fridge.Ê

We quickly put the Sivory Plan to the test for lunch with a visit to one of the three exclusive on-site restaurants, the Laveranda. With the dark blue Caribbean sparkling in the sun just off the restaurant's terrace and dappled sunlight spilling across the wooden floor, we ordered up a pair of Mediterranean salads and some fresh fish followed by desserts, without even a glance at menu prices.Ê

Friday

We woke up this morning and enjoyed a stroll down the private beach just in front of our Ysla Bonita Suite. The one-bedroom suite itself is pure luxury: 950 square feet of space with a king-sized bed, a terrace with chaise lounge and even a Jacuzzi, a soaking tub in the bathroom, and, my favorite amenity—a spacious outdoor shower.Ê

We also had a chance to tour the two-bedroom Sivory Grand Suite, which is more than double in size, with double of everything: two king-sized beds, a couple's soaking tub, and twin outdoor showers.Ê

The décor is contemporary-island—nice clean lines in the furniture, and muted pastel colors that add an extra visual dimension of space and tranquility.Ê

This evening for dinner we managed to get reservations at the finest restaurant on site, the Gourmond Restaurant that specializes in French nouvelle cuisine. Teal-colored walls with bright windows, high-back leather chairs and starched linens might seem like the antithesis of an all-inclusive restaurant, which is exactly what Sivory Punta Cana strives for. Besides, when was the last time you heard of an all-inclusive with a sommelier? Or for that matter, an 8,000-bottle wine cellar?

Tomorrow, Shawna is off to the on-site Aquarea Spa & Wellness Center for a Vichy shower treatment, and I'll hit the links at a nearby 18-hole golf course before meeting up again for lunch back at Sivory.

While Shawna headed back to the suite to catch up on e-mail after dinner, I snuck in a Cohiba at the Cigar Lounge, letting the blue smoke roll into the night and feeling like a million dollars. And no, the cigars weren't included in the Sivory Plan, but sometimes you just have to splurge, a little.