For two properties under the same brand, and within a half-hour drive of each other, the Palladium Hotel Group's TRS Turquesa Hotel and TRS Cap Cana Hotel offer remarkably different resort experiences in the Punta Cana region of the Dominican Republic.
A key difference between the two all-inclusive properties is size: The TRS Turquesa has 372 rooms, while the TRS Cap Cana has 115. But room count is only part of the story, for while the Cap Cana hotel is a standalone property surrounded by more than 6,000 acres of tropical forest, the TRS Turquesa shares real estate with three other properties within the Palladium Hotel Group Punta Cana complex: the 672-room Grand Palladium Bavaro Suites Resort & Spa, the 366-room Grand Palladium Palace Resort Spa & Casino and the 582-room Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa.
To my eye, this makes the TRS Cap Cana an excellent choice for a secluded couples getaway. On the other hand, vacationers just looking for a little alone time here and there during a multigenerational or other group trip, or who simply prefer the additional options afforded by a larger property, might opt for the TRS Turquesa.
(On the subject of group bookings: Palladium recently introduced its Groups for Fun program, which offers one complimentary guest stay for every 10 guest bookings of three or more nights at its 14 North American properties. The program also includes a group appreciation dinner at an on-property restaurant and other perks.)
TRS Turquesa's guests enjoy complimentary use of its neighboring properties' facilities, such as tennis courts, the Sunset Boulevard disco and the Sunset and Merengue theaters.
They also have access to all of the properties' restaurants (for a total of 14 dining options) and bars (12 in all), which "adhere to the highest international standards" of safety, according to Palladium representatives.
Given recent concerns over guest safety in the Dominican Republic, Palladium sponsored my recent stay at the two TRS properties in part to highlight those safety protocols, which include "periodic audits concerning health and safety issues, Legionnaires' disease prevention, food safety, room hygiene and overall safety," according to a statement from Palladium. "Additionally, our internal Quality Department audits our resorts daily for quality and high standards."
TRS Cap Cana guests can use the Punta Cana complex's facilities at no charge, too, and Palladium offers a shuttle service between the properties by request.
My Royal Junior Suite at the TRS Turquesa was comfortable and quiet. My huge suite at the TRS Cap Cana also offered plenty of bedside outlets and probably the biggest walk-in closet I've ever had at a hotel or resort. The complimentary WiFi worked well at both properties.
A Junior Suite Deluxe at the TRS Turquesa Hotel, one of four properties within Palladium’s Punta Cana complex.
Since both are part of Palladium's adults-only TRS brand, there are other commonalities, of course. Each has a spa and wellness center and offers a range of wellness-related activities, including pool biking, beach and pool volleyball and yoga. At the TRS Turquesa, I received an excellent aromatherapy massage ($193) that had me wishing I could double the 50-minute treatment time.
The resorts offer a couple of the same food-and-beverage venues, such as the Xtra Time sports bar and the Helios all-day-dining restaurant, but otherwise have their own culinary identities. At the TRS Turquesa, we sampled the Indian fare at Bhogali (I had the rogan josh, a lamb curry every bit as good as my favorite Indian restaurant's back home) and the French-inspired menu at La Boheme (where I partook of the duck confit with Caribbean ratatouille, at the server's recommendation).
At the TRS Cap Cana, dinner was at Japanese-inspired venue Izakaya, where our group received impeccable service as we stuffed our faces with spring rolls and an abundance of sushi -- before realizing we had several courses to go.
And despite the size difference, one could say the two properties had that in common: myriad ways to spoil oneself and a staff more than happy to oblige.
At the TRS Turquesa Hotel, a weeklong stay starts at $254 per night, double, for a junior suite and $360 per night, double, for a junior swim-up suite. At the TRS Cap Cana Hotel, rooms start at $290 per night, double, for a junior suite and go up to $376 per night, double, for an oceanview suite. Visit www.palladiumhotelgroup.com.