dominican republic

Nick Faldo's New Caribbean Golf Course

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports, Real Estate Developments

The reinvention of British golfer Nick Faldo comes in many forms. Not only is the once tight-lipped major champion flashing a sense of humor these days as an analyst for CBS Sports and the Golf Channel (where you can hear him announce the Sony Open this weekend), he's also designing some spectacular golf courses. His latest is the Faldo Legacy Course at Roco Ki in the Dominican Republic.

The holes unfurl across a 2,500-acre site on the island's northeast coast, the terrain shifting from ocean highlands to mangrove forest to upland sawgrass plain. But the course's calling card is its clifftop closing holes. The par-three seventeenth has drawn comparisons to Pebble Beach, and the par-five eighteenth is called Dos Rezos (two prayers) because it demands two heroic shots over inlets of the sea. The course is the centerpiece of a real estate community that's to include luxury homes and villas plus the Westin Roco Ki Beach and Golf Resort, scheduled open later this year.

Given the beating he took in the British press for his unsuccessful captaincy of the European Ryder Cup team last fall, Faldo has to be enjoying the positive ink for Roco Ki.

Tags: Dominican Republic, Golf, Nick Faldo, Roco Ki, Westin Roco Ki

Cap Cana Gets A Bridge Loan

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Another ambitious real estate project has been floundering. Cap Cana, the sprawling resort complex in the Dominican Republic has been facing some funding difficulties lately. The resort includes four luxury hotels, three golf courses and a mega-yacht marina and involves big names such as Ritz-Carlton and Trump. Building was delayed while the resort scrambled for cash; 500 workers were fired after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy causing a $250 million loan to fall through. Thing are tentatively back on track now that Cap Cana has announced an extension on a $100 million bridge loan. The resort's long-term success, however, depends both on tourism and on people buying in to the condos and villas for sale so it doesn't seem like it is quite out of the woods yet.

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Tags: cap cana, CapCana, dominican republic, DominicanRepublic, real estate, RealEstate

Eco-Chic Luxury Resort Planned For The Dominican Republic

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

A new project in the Dominican Republic has been announced that will combine a resort and eco-friendly residences. Terrazas de Coson is located in the rolling hills of Samana, next to the popular beach town of Las Terrenas. European developers Valman are seeking to create an "eco-chic" resort that includes 72 "Villa Estates" spread across 370 acres of land. The villas are available in three designs and range up to 12,000 square feet. All homes will run on solar energy and will be built with natural, eco-friendly materials. As currently planned, each estate will have views of the ocean and surrounding mountains and multiple infinity pools as well as waterfalls and streams that wind throughout the residences.

The property will also include a five-star boutique hotel with 28 bungalows accessed by a tram-like railway. Each bungalow will have its own plunge pool, and the complex will host additional infinity pools and water features throughout. Planned amenities include indoor and outdoor bars, a tennis club, a private beach club and spa, and several restaurants, including a five-star eatery headed by Chef Christophe Leroy.

Prices for villas start at $1.7 million up to $3 million and completion is scheduled for 2010.

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Tags: dominican republic, DominicanRepublic, terrazas de coson, TerrazasDeCoson

Matusalem "Gran Reserva" Rum

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

In our post on the new book Havana Before Castro the other day we reminisced about Cuba before the infamous dictator ruined everyone's fun. Among the many moronic moves Castro made was expelling Matusalem from the island in the '60s, a smooth, rich rum that had been distilled there by a family of Spanish settlers since 1872.

Following the expulsion the company languished for several decades, until it was finally re-established in the Dominican Republic (as were several Cuban cigar brands) using the original secret formula brought from Spain. Today, Matusalem is flourishing once again, with its delectable blend of smooth spirit matured in French oak casks bottled as Matusalem Gran Reserva.

The rum is made using the solera system, which was originally developed to produce Spain's famed wine, sherries, brandies, and cognacs, producing a blend that's somewhere between dark and amber.

Tags: Cuba, dominican republic, DominicanRepublic, Fidel Castro, FidelCastro, Havana, Matusalem Rum, MatusalemRum, Rum, Solera, Spain

The Ritz-Carlton Signs On To Cap Cana

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Luxury Travel & Hotels

We are back to talking about Cap Cana, that massive resort area in the Dominican Republic that is over 30,000 acres of Caribbean acreage. When we first looked at the resort in 2005, the plan included three Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses, a massive inland marina and a casino as well as then unnamed hotels and residences. Then last February, Donald Trump announced Trump at Cap Cana, which will include a golf course, golf villas and golf lots, estate lots, a beach club, a condo hotel, and residences with ocean views. Now the latest luxury name to sign on is the Ritz-Carlton. The luxury hotel chain plans both a resort, The Ritz-Carlton, Cap Cana as well as a residential offering, Residences at The Ritz Carlton, Cap Cana. The 220-room resort will include a 16,000-square-foot spa, private beach club and five restaurants and lounges. The 194 privately-owned residences will include both beachfront and golf course option. Both are expected to open in early 2010.

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Tags: cap cana, dominican republic, donald trump, DonaldTrump, residiences, resort, ritz carlton, vacation

Villa Flor de Cabrera

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Charity

This is interesting, a luxury villa rental in the Dominican Republic is promising to give the profits of the rental to the PONA foundation, a trust that the family members set up to give money to the local community and local charities. The luxury villa was built not just as the headquarters for PONA but with the idea that it could be rented out to make money for the nonprofit foundation. The trust is a perpetual organization where a pool of money is invested, and the profits of the funds are split between reinvestment in the local area and giving to local charities. Through the PONA Trust, the Moller family has purchased an acre in Cabrera with plans to begin building a community school and the vacation rentals of Flor de Cabrera will fund the classes.

The villa has easy access to beach and has a large swimming pool, tropical gardens, a full staff, tennis courts, game room and an exercise room. The villa has a variety of bedroom suites include two master suites (one away from the house and down by the shore). Villa Flor de Cabrera rents for $18,200 per week during the low season not including the mandatory meal plan. Is this just a gimmick or could luxury vacations that fund charities be the wave of the future?

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Tags: dominican republic, flor de cabrera, FlorDeCabrera, private villa, villa

Looking to Buy in the Dominican Republic?

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Celebrity Shopping

Rumor has it that Brad Pitt has spent some time looking around the Dominican Republic for a summer home. This has meant a boost in tourism, which we mentioned before, but Brad won't be headed to the resorts if he's looking to buy. The north side of the island country is known for its beautiful coastline and private beaches, and that is where he seems to have been looking. Now, he apparently wants it to be similar to his old house in Los Angeles, we have to ask whether he wants a similarly large property of a property in the same price range. He probably will build a custom home if he does end up in the Dominican republic, but here there are certainly more than a few existing properties to choose from.

Tags: beach, brad pitt, BradPitt, dominican republic, estate, island, real estate, shopping

Continue reading “Looking to Buy in the Dominican Republic?”

Paradisus Palma Real

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Tourism in the Dominican Republic is booming lately (most recently Brad Pitt has been rumored to be looking at land there). A new resort, Paradisus Palma Real had its official grand opening this month (its soft opening was in December). The $120 million new resort is Sol Melia's 2nd Paradisus in Punta Cana and their fifth in the Paradisus brand. The five-star all-inclusive resort has 554 suites which have mahogany furniture, Jacuzzis for two, plasma televisions and private terraces. There are seven restaurants including an Asian bistro that has a sushi bar and tepanyaki and Passion, an “adults only” fine dining venue. There are three pools including a 37,600-square-foot beachfront free-form pool that is the largest on the island, two small children's pools, a spa and health club and a casino with poker, black jack and slot machines. Their royal service option in 102 suites and two oceanfront Presidential Suites provides personal butlers, access to royal service lounges, access to a private pool and a private beach area with concierge service. The service also includes a DVD library, personalized pillow menu and a special in-room aromatherapy menu. According to some reviews on TripAdvisor, the hotel is still working out some of their opening difficulties, although many of the reviews did say that this is a beautiful resort. Their Romance package with an ocean view suite costs $509 per night.

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Tags: dominican republic, paradisus palma real, ParadisusPalmaReal, punta cana, resort, spa, vacation

Brad Pitt Real Estate Update

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

I could spend my entire day tracking Brad Pitt real estate rumors. Let's take a look at the latest places the globe-trotting dad has been spotted:

--The wine world is buzzing this morning about Pitt's quiet visit to some wine estates in the Italian countryside. The Daily Telegraph reports that on a recent visit to the Turin area, Pitt stayed at the Fontanafredda estate at Serralunga an area that makes some of Italy's most famous wines including Barolo and Dolcetta D'Alba, and the classic white, Gavi. Pitt was interested in checking out the entire process of winemaking and checked out two working vineyards near Fontanafredda which are for sale. The two vineyards are the Cascina Cucco at Serralunga and the Poderi Aldo Conterno at nearby Monforte both are about 90 minutes from George Clooney's Lake Como home.

--Pitt was also spotting taking a helicopter tour in the Dominican Republic checking out the Samana peninsula and the towns of Miches and Punta Cana with art dealer and promoter George Nader. He was photographed on Friday meeting with German architects Lars Kruckeberg and Wolfram Putz.

--Las Ramblas may be toast but Pitt may still have the hotel-building bug. The latest rumor is that Pitt wants to build a futuristic hotel resort in Palm Springs, California. This relates to his meeting with the architects in the Dominican Republic this weekend. The plan is for a $60 million resort with two restaurants, a spa and an outdoor cinema.

[more pictures of Pitt's latest adventures at JustJared]

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Tags: angelina jolie, brad pitt, BradPitt, celebrity real estate, celebrity rumors, dominican republic, george clooney, italy, palm springs, wine

Sun Village Resort and Spa

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Sun Village-Cofresi, a Canadian-owned resort in the Dominican Republic has created a new spa with indoor-outdoor treatment rooms, tropical gardens, and a spa-only pool and sundeck. There are also 25 Oasis Spa rooms that offer private Jacuzzis and views into the Spa gardens, pool or ocean. The spa offers the usual collection of massages, wraps, scrubs, facials and hand and foot treatments. Their Island of the Sun Package includes a caviar facial, body scrub, wrap, body massage including a lavender scalp massage, pedicure, manicure and a spa lunch. The total pampering experience takes over four hours and costs $299. The resort offers multi-bedroom villas, standard hotel rooms and they recently opened special Oasis spa suites which include a private Jacuzzis and a more tranquil location near the spa pool and gardens.