Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana and Sandals Royal Barbados represent the modern vanguard of Caribbean adults-only resorts. Zilara sits on a spectacular, wide swimmable beach in the Dominican Republic with breathtaking infinity pools and a massive underground spa. Sandals Royal Barbados is an all-suite property on a slightly smaller beach, but it compensates with highly unique amenities like a rooftop pool, a 4-lane bowling alley, and access to the adjacent Sandals Barbados. Zilara is ideal for those seeking a grand, cohesive resort with a flawless beach, while Sandals Royal Barbados appeals to travelers desiring ultra-modern suites and an energetic, tech-forward atmosphere.
Key Metrics
Metric
Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana
Sandals Royal Barbados
Our Rating
9.1
8.2
Star Rating
4.5
5.0
Room Count
249
222
Restaurants
6
21
Pools
3
11
Year Opened
2019
2017
Year Renovated
—
2021
Features
Metric
Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana
Sandals Royal Barbados
All-Inclusive
Yes
Yes
Adults Only
Yes
Yes
Beach Access
Yes
Yes
Spa
Yes
Yes
Kids Club
No
No
Dining Comparison
Metric
Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana
Sandals Royal Barbados
Total Venues
28
26
Included
27
26
Extra Charge
1
0
Room Comparison
Metric
Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana
Sandals Royal Barbados
Room Categories
9
12
Suite Categories
9
12
Activities Comparison
Metric
Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana
Sandals Royal Barbados
Total Activities
22
24
Included
18
18
Extra Charge
4
6
Pros & Cons
Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana
Pros
The dual-resort access with Hyatt Ziva means adults-only guests can use the Canapolis water park and seven slides without staying at a family resort — an unusual combination in the Caribbean.
Brando's French-Polynesian restaurant and Journeys Indian restaurant consistently outperform what guests expect from all-inclusive cuisine; both are included in the rate without a surcharge.
Juanillo Beach has calm, swimmable water without the seaweed problems that affect stretches of beach further north near Punta Cana proper.
The Club Pool and its swim-up bars are noticeably quieter than the main infinity pools — the single clearest functional benefit of upgrading to Club Level.
The 14,000 sq. ft. fitness center is one of the better-equipped at any Dominican Republic all-inclusive, with separate cardio, strength, and functional fitness rooms.
Cons
The Blind Butcher — the most distinctive dining concept on property — carries a separate cover charge on top of the all-inclusive rate and books out fast; guests who don't know to reserve on arrival day often miss it entirely.
Evening wait times at specialty à la carte restaurants and swim-up bars can run 30 to 40 minutes during peak weeks, despite no formal reservation system for most venues.
The Zilara side shuts down by 11 p.m. most nights — Moments sports bar is the only late-night option. Guests expecting any kind of vibrant nightlife will be disappointed.
Sandals Royal Barbados
Pros
The rooftop infinity pool is the Caribbean's first — an evening pool experience with ocean views that's unavailable at other Sandals properties
All-suite property means no standard rooms — every guest has suite-level accommodations
'Stay at One, Play at Two' with adjacent Sandals Barbados effectively doubles dining to 20+ restaurants and 10+ bars
15-minute transfer from Grantley Adams International Airport — one of the shortest Sandals arrivals in the Caribbean
Lovers Lanes bowling alley and craft beer bar are genuine novelties within the all-inclusive format
Cons
Summary
Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana is the larger property, while Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana has more dining venues, while Sandals Royal Barbados offers more activities.
