Privacy Is The New Luxury At Casa De Campo

20 January 2021 - Forbes

Want to know how to social-distance in the most luxurious way?

You can do it in one of the exclusive villas at Casa de Campo, one of the world’s best resorts located on 7,000 acres of land in the Dominican Republic. A member of Leading Hotels of the World, Casa de Campo has won awards too numerous to mention, including 2020 kudos from the World Travel Awards, as the world’s leading luxury sports and villa resort. It’s a Caribbean playground to icons of yesterday and today, dating back to Frank Sinatra and now to Michael Jordan, Derrick Jeter, Martha Stewart and many US presidents.

I just visited this magnificent property, and first things first. I did not need to get a COVID test before I departed, and did not need to quarantine while I was there. But there are many COVID protocols in place. For example, before entering the lobby (there is one dedicated entrance and one dedicated exit), a staff member in Guest Services takes your temperature. Restaurants also operate at about 50% capacity, to allow for social distancing, and you need to wear your mask in the restaurants when not eating.

But let’s get back to the main thrust – and that is, the magnificent private villas that Casa de Campo houses on its property. “We have 247 resort homes, including 12 suites in the main hotel,” said Jason Kycek, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We have 35 of them in inventory at all times.”

These villas are, in a word, magnificent. All of them cater to sophisticated guests and include butlers and private pools. The most exclusive, Mr. Kycek told me, are the exclusive oceanfront villas that can cost upwards of $20,000 per night. “But there’s something for everyone’s budget,” he told me, citing four-bedroom villas that weigh in at about $799 per night, including all the perks of a butler and maid, plus a prepared breakfast plus lunch and snacks. “We’ve really grown our villas,” Mr. Kycek added. “Everyone now wants private space. In you built a prototype of a hotel in a COVID world, it’s Casa de Campo.”

And here’s a bit more about the safety protocols. In addition to being able to cocoon yourself in a luxury villa away from other guests, with your family, there are many other measures to assure you of health and safety during this COVID era. Everyone wears masks. There are private cabanas at the gorgeous Minitas beach. Cuisine is served in a buffet format as before – but you are formally served by a staff member. The swim-up bar has been discontinued. And you need to make reservations when going to the gym. Upon arrival, the bellman sanitizes your bags, “and there is no paper collateral,” said Mr. Kycek. Instead, menus, for example, are not handed out – “All the menus are on a QR code that you can access through your iPhone,” he added. “We’ve had incredible feedback about out safety protocols.”

“Privacy is the new luxury,” he said. “We’ve always been a private destination and we are still a best-kept secret.”

There are oceans of options of things to do here, and everything is accessed by your private golf cart, which you receive at check-in. Included in your room rate is unlimited horseback riding, tennis courts, non-motorized water sports and use of the Fitness Center. In addition to, of course, basking in the sun at beautiful Minitas Beach (in a private cabana).

Casa de Campo is also a golfer’s paradise – it’s the Number One golf resort in the Caribbean – and home to three championship-level golf courses, including the highly regarded Teeth of the Dog course designed by Pete Dye. The resort’s new state-of-the-art center, which opened this past summer, features indoor hitting bags for rapid game improvement, year-round training, individual and group golf lessons and expert club-fitting and repair. Golf packages are always available, and “they are a huge value for guests,” Mr. Kycek said. In a new and recent development, the resort has partnered with Ship Sticks for its visiting golfers. By shipping golf clubs and luggage ahead of arrival, the first-class Ship Sticks process greatly reduces travel concerns, eliminates the need to lug bulky golf travel bags through airports, prevents loss and damage, and obviates paying baggage fees for oversized or heavy items.

The white-glove service comes with complimentary insurance and a dedicated tracking team that ensures your golf clubs and luggage arrive safely and on-time.

Just remember to wear your mask when social distancing on the golf course.

In an interesting note, the resort also offers ultimate privacy for guests who seek to work away from home in a remove environment, to feel safe during this COVID pandemic. The private villas are ideal for as an escape from the routine, to increase your motivation and, at the same time, give you and your family all the comfort and space and social distancing you need to perform better at work or school.

One thing is for sure – in your villa, you’ll have a magnificent setting for your Zoom video conferences!

Source: Forbes

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