An Ode to Casa de Campo
Peta Phipps
Dream in colors of blues and greens
Dream of luxury… and what does that mean
Take my hand and explore because there’s a place where the three coexist
On an island, in the Caribbean where sky meets the sea
There’s a place where fantasy becomes reality
Where all that’s left up to you is to simply be.
Casa de Campo has our heart. If you have ever taken a villa vacation, you know what it means to vacation in a way that is totally your own. A villa, when done well, is a paradisiacal escape. It is a place in time when the matter of home is suspended and you travel to a place within yourself without a care.
This year, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas is celebrating 50 years of luxury travel, and their villas top our list of exceptional places to vacation in the Caribbean.
In their words:
“CASA DE CAMPO® Resort & Villas opened in La Romana…50 years ago, as the first resort in the Dominican Republic. We have been a favorite luxury destination for discerning travelers and celebrities who relish the private gated community for its safe and exclusive setting. We are known as the best golf resort in the world. Experience the 3 Pete Dye golf courses including Teeth of the Dog, the #1 ranked course in the Caribbean. The activities are world-class — 7 outstanding restaurants including the stunning new Minitas Beach Club, a Marina, an Equestrian Center featuring Polo, the Shooting Course, great shopping, and 3 private pristine white sand beaches. If you want the best, the most, and the first in the Caribbean, the Casa de Campo experience awaits in La Romana for you to experience privacy as the new luxury.”
We agree! The resort is brimming with families, friends, celebrities, and mere mortal millionaires. Their villa selection is drool-worthy and gives you a reason to become a repeat guest. I can see villa hopping here becoming a trend. 2022 Villa Esplenedor as a winter retreat; Spring might have to be Villa Vogue where, we won’t name drop but, some of Hollywood’s elite checked in this past December. Then again…there are far too many names that we would have to drop when choosing any of the resort’s villas. Each comes fully staffed and with its own pool. We prefer not to deal with the kitchen while away on holiday, and here we never have to lift a finger. The hardest choice is where to stay next as bopping around the resort in our golf cart only leads to more inspiration. Villa Balinese and Villa Taina got our attention, as we whizzed by, but Punta Minitas and Laguna del Mar (spotted from the water) made our Autumn decisions on where to stay, even more challenging.
If you have never vacationed in a villa before, Casa de Campo will spoil you. All the amenities of a 5-star resort coupled with the new luxury of privacy is a combination you’ll be seeking out every time you think about your next vacation. With activities at your disposal within the resort, there is rarely a need to venture out. I have to confess that there were days when the villa was all I wanted.
Even with Altos de Chavón, only a short golf cart ride away still on property, I wanted to enjoy the villa. As compelling as it is, I let my friends and family head up there without me one afternoon. It is a place like no other. This replica 16th-century Mediterranean village in the heart of the Dominican countryside. Meticulously designed by Dominican architect, Jose Antonio Caro, and Italian master designer and cinematographer, Roberto Coppa, every detail of Altos de Chavón was handcrafted by local artisans. The village is a cultural center for residents, tourists, and working artists from all over the world. Active studios for artists of every medium from pottery to weaving, silk screening, and everything in between line the cobblestone streets alongside shops and boutiques showcasing their unique creations. On one of the evenings that we pried ourselves away from our villa, we chose dinner at the cutest Mexican restaurant named Chilango Taqueria. Those rustic casual nights are sometimes the best. It’s a perfect counterpoint to SBG in the lighthouse at the resort’s sprawling marina, featuring an exquisite international menu with a Mediterranean flair, SBG is a luxurious and elegant venue. This is where we hung out when we wanted a chic and sophisticated vibe. The choices are endless as I wish the vacations were. Villa Mar y Palma was our choice for this trip, but we will be back, hopefully for another 50 years of vacationing here at Casa de Campo.
I leave you with this…
