By Waheeda Harris
Stepping from the airport shuttle into the intimate lobby space of the newly opened Zel Punta Cana, guests are greeted with smiles, an offer of a coffee from the Finca Coffee Roasters barista, and the gentle rhythms of the house playlist featuring sultry Spanish vocalist LISZA, Hawaii’s own Jack Johnson, and French singer/songwriter Julien Dore.
Lush surroundings of tall palm trees and bougainvillea paired with sunny and shaded seating areas result in the newest boutique hotel in the Dominican Republic: Zel Punta Cana is a laid-back oasis of stylish design, creativity and wellness.
The hotel is a partnership between Spanish-hotel chain Melia International and tennis superstar Rafa Nadal, with the all-inclusive brand inspired by the Balearic Island of Mallorca, where both Melia and Nadal were born.
The Zel Aesthetic
Guests are welcomed into a “living room” (aka lobby), with low-slung leather chairs, macrame hangings, modern ceramics, the Zel concept store with sexy swimsuits and beach accessories and Cafe de Finca, the hotel coffee shop, open from sunrise to past sundown.
A calming palette of cream, caramel and terracotta, small pops of turquoise, paired with textures such as leather, wool, rope, wood, jute, rattan, cotton, stone and clay, plus an endless profusion of green from the gardens, surround guests throughout the resort.
Mediterranean diet offerings are found at Parda, a buffet and open-air circular dining area overlooking the pool, featuring a vast array of fresh fruit and vegetables, breads and pastries, salads and items made to order. Mornings feature fresh-made juices and smoothies, multiple milks and make-your-own yogurt bowls, while lunch and dinner serve a wide variety of charcuterie, chilled seafood, grilled meat and veg, pasta, pizza and dessert.
Beside the main pool, Tacorini offers a menu reflecting a Mexican Greek mash-up, while evenings can be spent at Volcan steakhouse or Nokyo for Japanese teppanyaki and sushi.
Zel Suites
Three-story villas feature spacious suites on every floor from swim-up suites on main floor, to upper floors with balconies overlooking connected pools and extensive gardens.
The 190 rooms showcase natural textures and earth tones, with turquoise ceramic tiles, rattan lampshades, handwoven wall hangings, wood furniture, stone floors and plants. Spacious closets, multiple seating areas, kitchenette, beds wrapped in soft white linens, expansive bathroom with rain shower and jacuzzi tub on balcony makes for an idyllic home away from home to restore and recharge.
The villa courtyard’s are flourishing with palms and ferns, with main floor seating areas for quiet moments in the shade and easy access to numerous “patio mediteranneo”, communal areas featuring sun loungers and bali beds, with staff regularly offering drinks and snacks, between dips in the pool or playing board games.
Wellness Spaces
Zel Punta Cana’s mantra is finding balance between fiesta and siesta. The Zel Beach Club is found on nearby Playa Bavaro, a 10 minute shuttle from the hotel. The beach is its own wellness zone: an expansive stretch of soft white sand hugging the coast of Punta Cana for almost 50 kilometres.
From sunrise to sunset, visitors and locals walk and run the shoreline; Zel guests can choose to soak in the sun on a lounger or seek shade at a club dining table, with feet cooling in the sand.
The light-filled Studios provide a fully outfitted gym, personal trainers and a space for fitness classes such as yoga and HIIT. There’s also additional options like morning runs around the hotel property, tennis and padel courts and for a dose of creative fun, afternoon painting classes.
Next year, the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center will open nearby, welcoming adults and kids to experience classes at five tennis courts, four padel courts and six pickleball courts as well as a Technogym fitness centre, sports apparel shop and a museum celebrating Nadal’s tennis achievements.
The AUA Spa provides a restful environment to recharge, with Asian-influenced body and facial treatments. A spacious lounge is beneath a palapa roof where fruit-flavoured water or tea upon is served upon arrival before arriving at the changeroom with steam and sauna rooms.
A shaded hydrotherapy area includes two jacuzzis, pool with jets, cold plunge, a sensory rock path and bali beds for meditation. The serve-yourself bar has hot tea, fruit-infused water, fruit and raw nuts and all are welcome to use this area before or after appointments.
Within the temperature-controlled treatment rooms, a spa aesthetician begins every treatment with aromatherapy, putting one at ease while feet are soaking in warm water. The purificante – a lymphatic drainage massage is highly recommended, eliminating jet lag’s effects and calming the mind.
For travellers seeking an all-inclusive beach vacay to recalibrate health and wellness, Zel Punta Cana provides an island solution in beautiful surroundings.
Waheeda Harris is a freelance journalist who is lucky to explore around the globe, throughout Canada and especially her home province of British Columbia. She writes about culture, design, art, and cuisine and never forgets to pack her swimsuit.