Surrounded on three sides by ocean, this resort provides stunning, panoramic views of the Caribbean. It stands out in other ways, too, with all the little extras (incense, umbrellas, sunscreen) that are provided in the wood, white, and turquoise guest rooms. A main draw to the hotel is Delphinus, a large aquarium in which you can swim with dolphins; at $149 per person for 45 minutes, though, it's not cheap. The deluxe dolphin-front rooms allow you to watch performances from your private balcony. This hotel is recommended for families; there are plenty of activities to keep the children entertained if parents want to sneak off for some alone time. The kids' club here accepts children between the ages of 3 and 12, and is open for far longer than most other hotels (from 9 AM to 10 PM daily). The only catch is that parents aren't allowed to leave the hotel premises while their children are at the club. Every Sunday at 1:30, the hotel offers bilingual Catholic mass open to the public. Pros: dolphin aquarium; excellent beach access, family theme nights. Cons: swimming with dolphins costs extra; lobby extremely crowded during check-in hours.
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