Jardines de Arrecife 8

Jardines de Arrecife 8 is a five-bedroom villa in Arrecife, the private community inside Puntacana Resort & Club, with an exceptionally large living area hung with paintings, a family room, an enormous pool and a sand play area for children, and a daily housekeeper in the rate. Twelve guests, six bathrooms, two private beach clubs for guests.

Five en-suite bedrooms sleep twelve, the owner’s cap: two kings, two rooms with two double beds and one with two queens. We’d suggest it for two or three families with small children, who’ll use the sand play area and the pool more than the golf, or for a group that wants a house with art on the walls. Of the Punta Cana villas we place, it’s the one with the sandpit.

THE HOUSE

The living area is exceptionally large and elegant, with a cosy family room and a collection of paintings and artwork through the house that keeps it warm rather than formal. High ceilings, air-conditioning, a dining room for twelve, a sofa lounge with seating inside and out, a balcony and a terrace. The kitchen is fully equipped, with a dishwasher, an ice maker and a coffee machine, and an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and gas grill is there for eating outside. Cable and smart TV, Wi-Fi, a safe, a washer and dryer and a welcome pack are in the house.

THE BEDROOMS

Every bedroom has its own bathroom, air-conditioning and a ceiling fan. Bedrooms one and five have king beds, two and four have two double beds each, and three has two queens. Of the six bathrooms, two have a bath as well as a shower, three have a shower and the sixth is a toilet; hairdryers and toiletries in five.

THE POOL AND THE GARDEN

The private pool is enormous, with plenty of lounging space, a sand play area, a patio and a lawn, on the golf course and with the fairways in view. Beach towels are in the house; the resort’s beaches, golf and nature reserve are minutes away, and guests may use two private beach clubs.

THE STAFF

A daily housekeeper comes with the house. An English-speaking concierge books tee times, tennis courts and excursions and can arrange grocery shopping, airport transfers, golf cart rental, yacht and catamaran charters, fishing, car and bike rental, a personal trainer, a massage therapist, live music and decorations, all on request. A private chef and breakfast can be booked.

THE RULES

Quiet hours are 10 pm to 9 am, parties and events need written approval, smoking is for designated outdoor areas, drones are not allowed in the resort, and pets are accepted only with written authorisation before arrival. The resort asks for every guest’s ID or passport at least 48 hours before check-in. A refundable damage deposit of 10 per cent of the rent is taken on arrival and returned five days after check-out.

THE LOCATION

Arrecife is a private community inside Puntacana Resort & Club, which has seven restaurants and bars, 45 holes of championship golf, twelve tennis courts, two private beaches, an ecological reserve and a marina. Puntacana Village, outside the gates, has restaurants, bars, shops and a pharmacy, and BlueMall Punta Cana is a few minutes away. For a sense of how a family week here runs, our guide to provisioning a Punta Cana villa follows one from the grocery list onward.

To check dates or request a quote for Jardines de Arrecife 8, write to [email protected].