Contemporary villa, breathtaking sea view! Internet via satellite!

La Puntilla is a lovely home tucked away in the mountainside which has a most amazing vista. The infinity pool and balcony overlooking the valley below. We ventured out to a number of local beaches and the locals are friendly. The only challenge is we don’t speak fluent Spanish and that was on us so it is helpful if you do. The north east side of the island is natural and remote which made for some unforgettable sights and experiences. Marie was very helpful and communicative and Flavien was very responsive as well. You will need to rent a suv/ car to get around.

First, Marie and Flavien were both terrific. Any time I had any questions or issues (like a flat tire and slow wifi), Marie and Flavien were both were extremely responsive. During my 35 day stay, there was a housekeeper, a pool person (great infinity pool, BTW), and a landscaper once a week, and they were all unintrusive. As for the house, the pictures - while accurate - actually don't do justice to what I consider the best feature of the house - which are the sunsets over the mountain. To be clear, the house is not located in a resort area or on a beach, but in the hills overlooking Rio San Juan (and the ocean behind it). There are lots of cows and chickens/roosters all around, so it is pretty pastoral (yes, be ready for a lot of mooing, rooster crowing and dogs barking). That having been said, there are a few good places to go for food in town or relatively close by. Also, for those who have concerns, the house is very secure with a guard at the front gate and another security person up on the hill (although I never once felt as though I was in danger throughout my entire trip to the DR, and especially not at the house). One word about Wifi, which was absolutely crucial during my stay. Marie and Flavien arranged to upgrade the speed, and it is now fast enough to work remotely, stream videos, etc. One (very) small criticsm: the two (virtually identical) bedrooms have very hard pillows. As a purely personal matter, I am a soft pillow guy. You may want to bring your own pillow(s) if that is an issue for you. Otherwise, the two bedrooms are great, and each have their own full bathroom, plus a full bathroom with shower downstairs. (There was also another bathroom near the front door that I noticed after I had already been in the house for three weeks!) A few recommendations if you are going: (i) fly into POP, rather than STI (I learned this one the hard way); (ii) rent an suv with ground clearance, the roads of the DR leave a lot to be desired, including lots of sizeable potholes and numerous speed bumps (and don't even get me started on the crazy motorcyclists who frequently have a driver plus a or 3 passengers, all without helmets); and (iii) bring a telescope or good binoculars (the sky in the DR, especially on nights with no moon, is amazing). In sum, this was a great house and a great experience.

La Puntilla was the perfect vacation home for our family. The house is in a great location on a hill so that there is a 180 degree view over the surrounding landscape including the mountains and sea in the distance. We enjoyed many beautiful sunsets from the back patio area and infinity pool. The house is tastefully decorated and includes everything you may need during your stay. The house, pool, and garden were clean and well maintained and cared for. The housing estate is gated and guarded, so we always felt very safe. We had rented a car so that we could explore the many beaches close by and also further away from the house. Playa Grande and Playa Preciosa are just picture-perfect, and Playa Caleton had nice calm waters for snorkeling. There are many places to explore, both to the west, towards Sosua and to the east, including the peninsula of Samana. We went grocery shopping in Cabrera where there is a decent supermarket and we also enjoyed some of the local restaurants in Rio San Juan and on the beaches. Both the owner and the property manager were easy to communicate with through WhatsApp. Our check-in and check-out was quick and easy. We will be recommending this house to friends and family and look forward to returning for another visit in the future!

Arriving at the La Puntilla Villa was a dream come true. The view and the landscape was fascinating. The amount of space we had was great. The house managers Celine & her husband were amazing , they made sure we had everything we needed and was there to check up on us certain times. Even the people from the village was extremely friendly .. We didn't expect that. The amount of wildlife surrounding you is incredible, it was totally a dream come true. I would love to visit again. A car will definitely be needed.

Photographs do not do justice to the stunning views from this villa. We stayed a week at La Puntilla and will go back. The house sits high atop a hill with a breathtaking 270° panorama over the valley. You can see the sea from every room, with mountains in the distance. You get an extra 45 minutes of sunshine this high up, followed by sunsets in a constantly changing kaleidoscope of colors. This really is a unique property. We were met by Laurent, who showed us around and gave us keys and a local Dominican cell phone to use on our stay. He lives nearby and was available by text 24/7. The Dominican Republic has an erratic electricity supply, but this house had a battery backup system. We experienced no problems. The kitchen had a dishwasher, which was helpful. The bathrooms were clean and modern. There are four outdoor spaces: a covered loggia with seating area and dining table, the pool area with lounge chairs, a yoga platform down some stairs, and a large balcony upstairs. There are two identical master bedroom suites inside which open onto the balcony. There is a third sleeping space off the landing, which we did not use. I recommend an SUV for the drive up the hill. We spent two afternoons at Playa Grande, which is a 9-minute drive. That beach is the best on the north coast, with modern facilities and amenities (including bathrooms), but it is large enough that you can feel like you have it to yourself. There are no crowds during the week. Any food vendor by the parking lot can arrange for beach chairs and will bring you food and drink. It is very reasonable. We used restaurant #5. In town, there is a market which stocks canned and paper goods and liquor but not much fresh food. There is also a pharmacy, as well as banks, ATMs and restaurants. The French expat community is noticable here. There are two modern American-style supermarkets in Sosua, 55 minues west by car. If you fly into Puerto Plata, you will drive right by them. We flew into Santo Domingo, though, so that added a grocery trip for us. These groceries have everything except good steaks. For those, go to a butcher shop or just buy them at home, freeze them and hide them in the bottom of your checked bag. :-) This was a fantastic experience. I highly recommend it!

La Puntilla was the perfect place for our stay. The view from the veranda is absolutely spectacular! Pictures cannot capture the beauty of the surrounding landscape. The highlight of the property is the infinity edge pool. The pool and surround were extremely private. While there are neighboring villas, you are completely secluded on the pool deck. We spent every evening either in it or by it taking in the vista. There are two matching master suites on each side of the villa, with ensuite bathrooms, huge rain head showers and enclosed W/C's. We had planned for 4 guest but only arrived with 2 and we had ample space to spread out and relaz. The bedrooms had excellent views and ventilation- although there is no A/C, ceiling fans, cross ventilation and mountain breezes never let us down. The villa is in a small enclave of hillside villas of similar design with a boutique hotel, restaurant and spa (currently not open for business). La Puntilla is well-equipped and comfortable. Power, water (hot and cold) and internet were reliable and consistent. Access to the property was gated and guarded- we always felt perfectly safe. The owner (Marie) was in regular email contact prior to our arrival to handle every question and plan our stay. Her representative on location was Celine- I cannot say enough good things about her service and attention to our needs! Celine was always available by phone or text to address any questions or concerns (no issues, just guidance and protocol) Our first full day , she took a couple hours of her own time to give me a guided tour of Rio San Juan- where to eat out, where to get the fresh food if we cooked, the best vendors, banks and points of interest. She personally introduced me to several of the restaurateurs and shop keepers that she trusts. Exceptional personal service! If we should return to the Dominican Republic, I would not hesitate to book this property again in a heartbeat. More times than I can count, I sat by the pool and thought that I love this place!