Margaritaville Island Reserve Coming to the Dominican Republic in October

The Island Reserve brand created in partnership with Karisma and Margaritaville will debut in the Dominican Republic this October.

Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana sits on Playa Juanillo, renowned for its miles of pristine white sand beaches and clear turquoise waters.

After launching the Island Reserve concept in Riviera Maya, “Cap Cana is the ideal setting for the newest addition to the portfolio,” Karisma Hotels & Resorts said in a statement.

The new build all-inclusive resort will feature 228 suites and 40 villas designed with elements inspired by the destination’s surroundings. Thirteen room categories range from swim up and honeymoon suites to signature villas. The Jimmy Buffett Suite offers views of the Caribbean Sea from the top floor of the main guest building, complete with indoor and outdoor entertainment spaces.

A signature element of the property is the 40 Island Reserve villas, where guests have exclusive access to a sprawling lagoon pool and an S.O.S. Swim Up Bar featuring hanging beds. Each villa features a king-size bed, kitchenette, breakfast bar, living room, and expansive outdoor terrace offering either a private pool or direct access to the lagoon pool.

Other amenities include the 11,000-square-feet St. Somewhere Spa and the 2,200-square-foot Fins Up! Fitness Center.

At the heart of the resort, the Gourmet Village features music, entertainment, and Sports Hub, where guests can sign up for activities. The Margaritaville Main Stage, a theater that will provide daily entertainment, will houser seven of the resort’s 10 food and beverage locations, from Frank & Lola’s Italian Trattoria to JWB Steakhouse. There’s also Rum Runners and the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Swim Up Bar.

Bookings are now open. Grand opening rates start at $209 per person per night for bookings through June 15, 2021 for travel from Oct. 1 through June 30, 2022.

The resort’s upcoming opening is also expected to have a significant impact on the local tourism industry in the Dominican Republic, bringing much needed economic growth following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country recently updated its travel entry requirements. Officials will no longer require travelers to provide a negative coronavirus test upon arrival. Instead, breath tests will be administered to 3% to 15% of arriving travelers at airports or other ports of entry. All passengers arriving in the Dominican Republic will also need to perform a temperature check.

Travelers entering or leaving the Dominican Republic on commercial flights must complete the electronic entry and exit form.

For travelers returning to the United States, the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism is offering viral antigen testing to international visitors staying at a hotel to meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) travel protocols.