MICHES, D.R. — A booming destination in the Dominican Republic, Michès, located 90 minutes from Punta Cana, is seeing a rise in the number of all-inclusive resorts.

We recently tried out two that have just opened their doors: Viva Michès by Wyndham, and Marriott Miches Beach, An All-Inclusive Resort.

VIVA MICHES BY WYNDHAM

Officially unveiled in December 2024, this beautiful all-inclusive resort – the group’s sixth in the Caribbean – has a bright future ahead. It targets families, couples, or friends looking to stay at the beach while enjoying entertainment, activities, and sports or cultural experiences.

Brand new and pristine, Viva Michès by Wyndham features 535 rooms, with a second phase planned to bring the total to 750 rooms. Nestled in a secluded corner of the vast Samaná Bay, the resort opens onto a lovely stretch of beach dotted with sparse palm trees and bordered by very pleasant pools.

On either side, at least 300 metres of beach extend to the next resort on one side, while on the other, the beach stretches out of sight in a crescent shape all the way to the western tip of Playa Esmeralda.

Just behind the beach, the accommodations are arranged in U-shaped, three-storey buildings. Most ground-floor suites come with a terrace and built-in mini-pool. Spacious, airy, and offering comfortable bedding (one king or two queen beds), the rooms are divided into six categories, including the very large Oceanfront Splash Suites.

The resort features five restaurants, including the vast El Lago buffet with a wide variety of more-than-decent dishes, and four other specialty dining venues. For VIP guests, Club Viva offers a rooftop bar-lounge with an infinity pool overlooking the complex.

For active guests, equipment such as kayaks, paddleboards, windsurfing boards, water bikes, and catamarans (with or without a skipper) is available, as well as a range of paid excursions. Tennis and pickleball courts, as well as an archery range, have been set up nearby, while a playground gives younger guests a place to stretch their legs.

Popular with vacationers who enjoy lively atmospheres, Viva Michès strikes a balance between peaceful periods and lively activities – near the pool and beach by day, and on stage and near the restaurants by night. Those in the mood can take part in dance classes and nighttime entertainment, with or without joining the resort’s signature Viva Vibe party program.

But anyone looking for peace and quiet can always head to the beach, turn left at the first lounge chair, and walk westward for a few minutes to the wild section of Playa Esmeralda – where calm and tranquility are guaranteed.

MARRIOTT MICHES BEACH

What strikes you immediately upon arriving at Marriott Miches Beach, An All-Inclusive Resort, is the stylish elegance, chic simplicity, and clean beauty of the architecture.

Equally impressive is the experience of staying in the Grand Duplex Villas – luxury accommodations that blend perfectly with their natural surroundings. These two-storey units with mezzanines boast entire glass walls facing the vegetation, along with a terrace, hot tub, and swim-up access right in front of a protected mangrove that separates the resort from the sea.

Comprising several long, low-rise two-story buildings and four-room villa-style units, the Marriott Miches has a proud aesthetic reminiscent of 1960s modernism, especially in the adults-only section.

Rebranded and renovated last year before reopening under the Marriott banner in February 2025, this is the brand’s first all-inclusive resort in the D.R. and the Caribbean.

Ideally located on a nearly 300-meter stretch of sandy beach, Marriott Miches is next to a long shoreline – the same beach that, three kilometres away, leads to Viva Michès. To the west, Miches village beach is just a few hundred meters away, and it’s not uncommon to see a local passing by on a motorbike or 4×4.

That said, the Marriott’s beach is generally very quiet, as is the ambiance in the resort’s public areas, especially in the adults-only section. Whether around the central pool or on the upper-floor terrace next to the 750 square metres of meeting space (currently being renovated), tranquility reigns.

The resort boasts several excellent specialty restaurants, and near the entrance, there’s a beautiful, ultra-modern spa offering a wide array of beauty and wellness treatments. Throughout the resort, service is truly attentive.

Across a small body of water that separates it from the adults-only section, a new wing is about to open. Designed in a similarly minimalist yet more contemporary style, this family-focused section spans a much larger area and includes spaces for all ages.

It will have its own reception area, a large gym, pools, restaurants (bringing the total to 11), and many spacious swim-up suites with large windows and plenty of light. This elegant new area is opening very soon.

Once complete, the entire resort will feature over 500 elegantly designed rooms and suites, each with a private balcony or terrace. As for the exceptional Grand Duplex Villas, their glass walls offer the feeling of being immersed in nature – while still enjoying the comfort of a cozy room.

This article originally appeared at ProfessionVoyages.com, part of The Travelweek Group