Key Takeaways

• Within the highly regarded Meliá Hotels International brand, two properties in Dominican Republic offer premium options with a special focus on wellness
• Those who find social and physical activation refreshing will love the new Mediterranean-influenced wellness resort concept ZEL Punta Cana
• Five different wellness emphases and a room category with included spa treatments at Meliá Punta Cana Beach, a Wellness-Inclusive Adults-Only Resort, provide infinite ways to relax

There are a lot of great resorts across Dominican Republic to recommend to clients looking to balance wellness and wonder for vacation bliss balance. In the Punta Cana area, two premium resorts by Meliá Hotels International properties stand out among them for very different reasons. Both are pet-friendly, a nod toward the therapeutic powers and inherent happiness our furry friends bring us, and are premium all-inclusive options. However, one favors a social environment and activities for body as well as mind, the other places more emphasis on mindfulness and reconnection in a serene space.

Here's how to decide which of the two – Meliá Punta Cana Beach, a Wellness-Inclusive Adults-Only Resort or the all-suite new lifestyle resort concept ZEL Punta Cana – are the right fit for your R&R customers.

ZEL Punta Cana

Open spaces keep the energy free-flowing at this Mediterranean-inspired property created in partnership with Spanish tennis legend Rafa Nadal. Designed as a “social activator and energy catalyst,” the focus on this property, experts tell us, is connection, balance, and movement with a general sense of active and social well-being in mind.

This manifests in several remarkable ways. The first is via ZEL Club, where guests can enjoy exclusive fitness residencies led by expert trainers, which blends sports, wellness, and community, and expands into social events and weekend retreats. And they have the venues to carry these programs through to the highest caliber. For example, The Studios, which are a pair of dedicated wellness spaces comprised of a fully equipped strength and conditioning side and a multi-functional space for high-energy sports, group classes, and more.

But finding physical wellness and connection with your body should be available outside of the structure of traditional workout facilities, too. True wellness comes from being able to incorporate things that are good for you into your everyday life so you can live in that space. That’s why ZEL Punta Cana has also invested heavily in a scenic 10K trail for running, walking, and general exploration. Plus, there are cutting-edge tennis courts (naturally, with the resort’s affiliation with the sport) to accompany the newly opened Rafa Nadal Tennis Center and a 27-hole golf course, the Cocotal Golf Course.

Finally, the AUA Spa is one of the most important and notable spas in the region. It’s certified by Wellness for Cancer, a global network of coaches, facilities, caregivers, service providers, and others that support individuals and emphasize fully despite being touched by cancer, an attitude that informs the menu of facial and body treatments offered for relaxation and recovery.  More wide open spaces here, as well as public areas and accommodations, increase the free flow of energy and the brand’s embrace of the Mediterranean way of living.

Meliá Punta Cana Beach, a Wellness-Inclusive Adults-Only Resort

In an industry where wellness selections are often an add-on, this resort makes it a focus. Designed as a soul retreat for adults only with five spaces to address as many different categories of wellness – Social, Silent, Sensory, Culinary, and Personal – Meliá Punta Cana Beach, a Wellness-Inclusive Adults-Only Resort integrates recentering both mind and body into every vacation experience. A monthly wellness events calendar lets guests create personal itineraries around their needs, incorporating activities that range from sound healing to labyrinth walks. Some travel dates are even centered around different themes, such as Wellness, Wine & Health.

No matter how guests time their visits, though, there’s always the YHI Spa, which blends ancient traditions inspired by the goddess of light with modern therapies. This facility is also certified by Wellness for Cancer, and 16 available treatment rooms means ease of booking and accommodation.

Speaking of accommodation, The Level Stay Well Suites are the ultimate pick for those who need to recharge. It’s specifically engineered to minimize stress, from aesthetic and furnishings to programs, including those by Cleveland Clinic. Special features include Deepak Chopra meditations, vitamin C showers, dawn simulators, aromatherapy, and boosted air purification.  Even the minibar is curated to have healthier choices. But perhaps one of the best inclusions for this category is one treatment per person per day from an exclusive spa menu. Can you sigh it out with us? Ahh.