As Told by Ali

Another year, another birthday trip. Following last year’s destination, I remained close to home in the Caribbean island of Dominica. Given this birthday was extra special, I wanted to treat myself to a luxurious stay. I recall seeing this particular hotel on a fellow Caribbean influencer’s page and decided this is where I had to stay. In this blog I’ll share details about InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa as well as my personal experience.

Length of Stay: 4 Nights

LOCATION

As you know, Dominica is the nature island of the Caribbean and this resort is located in the northern part of the island, in Portsmouth. It took around 1 hour to get from the airport (Douglas Charles Airport) to the resort via an airport taxi (Cost: $80 USD/$200 XCD). The property was perfectly situated within a national park and has amazing views of the Caribbean sea and lush mountains.

Address: Bellhall Road, Douglas Bay Cabrits National Park, Portsmouth, Dominica

CHECKING IN/OUT

As we exited the taxi we were greeted by staff who took our luggage and escorted us to the reception area. While waiting for the necessary paperwork to fill out, we enjoyed some rum punch as a welcome drink. The check in process was fairly smooth and quick then we were escorted to our room. Along the way, staff pointed out various areas of the resort as well as times for dining. We would have also received a quick tour of our hotel room.

For check out, we only had to return our room keys then we were on our way. The previous evening, front desk staff would have inquired about our stay and asked for any feedback we wished to share. I would have also signed up for their rewards program (IHG Hotels and Rewards) and received an email for if I wished to view my bill or leave a review.

ROOM TOUR

We had a Premium King Room with mountain view which had more than enough room for two. There was ample closet space for storing luggage and to pack things away if you wished to unpack your items. The closet door also had a ceiling to floor length mirror, which I used everyday for those outfits photos/videos.

Other aspects of the room I enjoyed were the various seating areas both inside and on the balcony. However, my absolute favourite thing was the en-suite bathroom. It had good lighting for getting ready, double sinks, a bathtub and a walk-in rain shower.

Hotel Amenities/Services

DINING & DRINKS

Unfortunately, the resort was not all-inclusive, so we had to be mindful of that when it came to dining. Although the food may have been reasonably priced, the cocktails were a bit much to be able to enjoy multiple. There are three restaurants and three bars on property. One of the bars is a swim-up in one of the pools, however it didn’t seem to be in use at the time.

Kwéyól Beach Restaurant

One of the first restaurants we visited for lunch on our arrival. It’s located near the main pool area with an open layout. It’s said to serve international cuisine with a local flare, and is open 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. daily. My first meal was their Grilled Fish Sandwich which came with fries; I had the option of Mahi Mahi or Tuna, and I chose Tuna. This was probably one of the best meals I ate while on the island.

Given it was leading up to the country’s Independence, on Friday they had a 3-course menu featuring local items which I decided to try. For my appetiser, I tried a conch ceviche, which I surprisingly enjoyed. The main course was stewed goat served with rice and peas, and vegetables. Lastly, dessert was a bread pudding with rum sauce, which wasn’t particularly my fave.

There’s also a bar on one side of the restaurant where we got to do an impromptu rum tasting of locally infused bush rum. We tried flavours such as coconut, passion fruit, cayenne pepper, spice (cinnamon), rosemary and much more.

Cabrits Market

We dined here for our daily breakfast, which may have been one of the best parts of our stay. Each day offered different selections at the buffet, and you could also order an omelet from the kitchen. They had various stations for fruits, salad, breads/sweets, coffee/tea, and juice including freshly made options which made the spread highly impressive.

RumFire Bar

We were told the place to be on Friday night was the RumFire bar, so of course we got dressed up to check it out. Sadly, our expectations were not met. Given we were already there we decided to try a cocktail made with their bush rum and some tapas then call it a night. On the other hand, the aesthetics and outdoor lounge definitely gives the bar potential for hosting events.

HOTEL EXPERIENCE

I was excited even before arriving at the hotel and had high expectations for my visit. This is probably the first 5 star hotel I’ve stayed at (I didn’t know that when booking), so I’ll probably be spoiled from now. The customer service stood out the most from the time we got there, up until the time we departed, the staff were welcoming and friendly.

During our time at the resort, it seemed like there was a low occupancy so it was very quiet and not much to do; it was more for relaxation and not the upbeat hotels I’m used to. Not letting that affect me too much, I definitely enjoyed this hotel from the room, to the outdoor areas. There were various open areas for you to relax, and it never felt like you had to fight for space (even if more people were on the resort). We didn’t walk the entire property but from what I saw they do a very good job at the upkeep.

LOCATED NEARBY

• Fort Shirley
• Cabrits National Park
• Purple Turtle Beach (Bars/restaurant on beach)
• Rainforest Riding
• Bell Hall Beach Spot (Bar & Restaurant)
• Portsmouth Town (Catch a bus to Roseau)
• Indian River Tours

RATES

As usual my reservation was made through booking.com well in advance in order to receive a comfortable rate. The first reservation I made was for two nights with breakfast included, however due to unforeseen circumstances (depends how you look at it) we ended up staying an additional two nights. For these two nights, I got to reserve using a CARICOM rate of US $350 with breakfast included.

There are various types of rooms available at the resort which will contribute to the different rates. Additionally, time of year should also be factored in when booking accommodations, as busy season normally receives a higher rate. In addition, if there’s any festivals or special events occurring on island, the rate may increase.

Hotel Website: IHG.com