The Amanera Palace in the Dominican Republic looks like a set from a James Bond movie, with its breathtaking views.
The luxury hotel, beloved by celebrities and wealthy travelers alike, is the perfect hideout for villains, nestled in the thick jungle on a peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean.
If you are traveling from New York for a weekend getaway, the area is so peaceful that it is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The honking of fire engines is replaced by birdsong and the constant rumble of traffic is drowned out by rolling waves.
As you enter the minimalist lobby, the view immediately catches your eye: the ceiling is built on matchsticks and there are no walls.
From the grounds, Playa Grande beach stretches out like a golden smile, framed by waving palm trees.
Armed with a view to die for, the Amanera in the Dominican Republic looks like a set from a James Bond film
Entering the minimalist lobby, Sadie says, “The view speaks for itself, with matchstick struts supporting the ceiling and no walls.”
“It never gets boring,” says an employee who has worked on the estate for more than five years, as we gaze at the panorama in fascination.
From the lobby we drive in an electric golf cart to our villa (or ‘casita’ as they call it at Amanera) and the wow-feeling continues.
Like the other properties in the Aman portfolio, Amanera features a sleek interior design, with natural woods, polished stone and a neutral colour palette.
All of the accommodations, which start at $1,400 a night, have flat, grass-covered roofs, making them hard to spot amid the lush surroundings.
Our casita extras include a pool, manicured gardens, spacious walk-in closet, deep soaking tub and separate living room.
To enhance the James Bond feel, the roller blinds are operated at the touch of a button. The same goes for the television, which secretly emerges from a dresser in front of the bed.
Because there are only 25 casitas at the Amanera, there is a relaxed atmosphere in the hotel and it almost feels like you have the entire hotel to yourself.
When I’m there with my partner, the beach is only 35 percent occupied. Sometimes we see another couple during lunch or dinner, but on the beach it feels like we have the whole beach to ourselves.
Like the rest of the properties in the Aman portfolio, the Amanera features a sleek interior design, with natural woods, polished stone and a neutral colour palette throughout
All of the accommodations — which start at $1,400 a night — have flat, grass-covered roofs, making it difficult to see them among the lush surroundings
Sadie said her casita’s perks included a pool, manicured gardens, a spacious walk-in closet, a deep soaking tub and a separate living room
There are two restaurant areas to choose from, one located below the lobby with a spacious terrace and the other down by the beach for a more relaxed atmosphere
Although relaxation is the key word at Amanera, there are also plenty of activities to do for the more active traveller.
One morning we take a brisk walk through the jungle to a tree house-like structure for breakfast. During breakfast we can enjoy more magnificent views.
Meanwhile, walks on the beach serve as our daily workout instead of a visit to the gym.
Kayaking and sailing are also activities that catch our attention, but somehow time flies and we prefer to hang out by the pool.
As for the food, the hotel (unsurprisingly) serves excellent fish dishes, caught daily from the local catch.
One morning, Sadie went on a sweaty hike through the jungle to a tree house-like structure for breakfast
As for the food, the hotel (unsurprisingly) serves good seafood, with local catches caught daily.
For a real action hero on arrival or departure, the hotel can arrange helicopter transport
Because there are only 25 casitas at the Amanera, Sadie says the hotel exudes an “effortless tranquility”
You can choose from two restaurant areas: one below the lobby with a spacious terrace and the other by the beach, where you can enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere.
During our stay we ate, among other things, grilled shrimp (as big as my hand), succulent octopus and a local Dominican fish curry that was bursting with flavor.
The ‘coco locos’ – a combination of coconut rum, fresh coconut water and coconut cream served in a coconut – also go down well, but by the end of our stay we discover that the $35 each price tag on our bill is yet another James Bond-worthy surprise.
For a real action hero arrival or departure, the hotel can arrange helicopter transport.
But alas, we said goodbye and set off on four wheels with the mission to explore one of the most beautiful hotels in the world accomplished.