The bedroom. Ah, the bedroom. At Casa Colonial it’s difficult to leave the bedroom. Its four-poster beds with Presidential Suite Soft mattresses from Serta, Italian Frette silky bed linens, including the cotton down-filled duvet, are as inviting as they are accommodating and sensual. At night, you will discover a sachet of aromatic leaves under your pillow.

All bathrooms offer double hand basins and elegant oval bathtubs from Kohler, and separate walk-in showers and toilets. Much appreciated details include a many-times magnifying hand mirror, plus a full-size mirror behind the door. There are even electronic foot weights. An abundance of towels and Frette bathrobes are waiting for you. The toiletry range was specially created for the hotel by Gilchrist & Soames.

Decorated in tropical minimalist style, this is a hotel of details, with an amber and larimar museum on one floor, and a display of Taino Indian artifacts leading to a third floor infinity pool flowing into Playa Dorada beach on the horizon. The very elegant light cream-colored marble tiles used throughout blend in with the sand of the beach.

Each room has a Bose radio stereo system for tuning into grassroots Bachata music from the local Puerto Plata FM stereo station, or for playing your own CDs. There are Internet connections in each room for laptops, and chilled wine or champagne in the room cooler.

Order room service that comes served with real silver cutlery and fresh flowers for leisurely dining on your Playa Dorada beach-facing balcony. Eat to the rustle of the ocean breeze through the sea-grape trees along the hotel’s