Before arriving at Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve for our anniversary getaway, I knew it was going to be unlike any other resort we had ever stayed at. As our driver pulled up to the property, it felt like we were entering another world. With every twist and turn of the road I couldn’t wait to see what was ahead.
(But first a little back story… originally the resort was a coconut and citrus plantation before becoming the estate of Laurance Rockefeller in the 1950s. Soon afterwards it became a hotel which was graced by the Kennedys and many members of Hollywood royalty. Years later in 2012 it was relaunched as the resort we find today.)
After checking in, we were whisked away to our room by an Embajador (basically a more relaxed version of a butler), who along with the other Embajadores would be available for any request 24/7. When entering our room we were further welcomed as he poured us a glass of local Puerto Rican rum to celebrate the beginning of our stay. (I’m usually not a straight rum drinker but when served alongside some dried dates I was in heaven). Looking around our room you could tell that no detail was spared, from the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, a private plunge pool, and my husband’s favorite: the indoor and outdoor rain forest showers. I’m a bubble bath lover, so I was happy to see the huge freestanding soaking tub. It was incredible!
The night of our arrival we were treated to a beautiful anniversary dinner on the beach at the Encanto (scroll to the video at the bottom for details) where Chef John crafted an unforgettable eight-course tasting menu. The courses never seemed to stop and I was completely okay with that! We indulged in perfectly crisp pork belly on a bed of cornbread soufflé, halibut with crispy prosciutto and braised mushrooms, and some sweet Caribbean lobster coated in the most delicate olive oil sauce. I’ve never found lobster to be very flavorful but this was totally delectable. It was one of the BEST meals of my life and I can’t thank Chef John and his gracious staff enough for the perfect way to celebrate our anniversary.
After a night of blissful sleep we enjoyed our morning coffee while sitting in the plunge pool. It was a lovely way to start the day. We followed that with a light brunch at Positivo Sandbar. Afterwards we decided to explore the property and to burn off the previous night’s indulgent dinner, so we grabbed a set of bikes and pedaled around the historic 11-mile Rockefeller Nature Trail. Riding along the pathway you can get a glimpse of some of the impressive residences lining the golf course. My favorite part of the ride was the small section of rainforest on the far edge of the property. The dense trees of the forest provided the perfect escape to cool off from the sun during our tour of the grounds.
After a day of leisurely exploring we headed back to the room to clean up, and I prepared myself for one of the best parts of the whole vacation – the Spa Botánico. The spa facilities at Dorado Beach are on a whole other level from anything I have ever experienced before. It sits on an incredible 5 acres with 20 separate buildings dedicated to relaxation, along with two elevated tree houses for private treatments. The entrance is marked by an 80-year-old ficus tree that greets you as you walk into the herb-scented Apothecary Portal filled with local botanicals. After an hour of the most heavenly massage ever, I floated back to my room to get dressed for a laid back dinner of sushi in the sand. (See all my vacation snaps here!)
Dorado Beach is one of the first hotels to join the Ritz-Carlton Reserve collection. These luxurious resorts create the ultimate escape with personalized service and a sanctuary-like design in a natural landscape, along with the world’s most exclusive spas. This truly felt like the trip of a lifetime and was the perfect destination for our anniversary trip. For our final toast to each other on our last night there, we vowed to return for another anniversary of tropical bliss.
Thank you, Dorado Beach, for making this destination a complete dream!
Outfits from our stay at Dorado Beach /// lace coverup /// red ruffle tank /// white romper /// floral dress ///
And for some behind the scenes Snapchat action, click here!
This post is brought to you in collaboration with Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Thank you for supporting the brands that support this blog — Xo A