I dreaded all-inclusives, then this under-the-radar Dominican resort made me never want to leave.
Between their unlimited cocktails, winding buffet lines, and the quiet fear that you’ve accidentally signed up for a fancy adult summer camp, I’ve always been a little suspicious of all-inclusive resorts. So, when I arrived at Zemi Miches, an all-inclusive resort nestled in the Dominican Republic, I admittedly arrived armed with mild skepticism, a skepticism that soon morphed into a feeling of not wanting to ever check out.
Tucked along the quiet Playa Esmeralda coastline, about 90 minutes from Punta Cana, Zemi Miches feels intentionally off-grid, surrounded by lush greenery, ocean views, and pools that wind around towering palms as if designed by nature first and architects second. My first night at the resort set the tone: sunset cocktails, Thai-inspired flavors at Boba, live music drifting through the warm Caribbean air, and suddenly, that all-inclusive experience I’d dreaded began to feel less like a package deal and more like stepping into the island’s natural rhythm.
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My mornings at Zemi Miches started languidly, as most island vacations should, with the day beginning at Royal Palm—the resort’s vintage-inspired rooftop overlooking Playa Esmerelda–followed by admiring the resort’s thoughtful Taíno-inspired design and décor before disappearing into the cave-like Acana Spa, built around a tranquil water sanctuary reminiscent of a natural cenote. This is where the “wait, this is actually included?” thoughts began to set in as I discovered the resort’s four pools, full waterpark, padel courts, fitness classes, non-motorized water sports, arcade, bowling alley, escape room, laser tag, kids and teens clubs, and over ten restaurants and bars serving everything from Caribbean to Italian with 24 hour room service and daily refreshed minibars.
Somewhere between swimming in the ocean, enjoying cultural workshops, stepping into late-night speakeasies, and confections appearing in my room each night, like magic, I realized that the best all-inclusives aren’t about excess, they’re about place.
Zemi Miches leans into the Dominican Republic’s local culture, nature, and island energy, turning a quiet stretch of coastline into the kind of under-the-radar escape you’ll want to experience before everyone else discovers it.