Island Utopia

Island Utopia: La Altagracia

It really doesn't get any better than this – a striking villa surrounded by tropical foliage in the middle of one of the Dominican Republic's most renowned resorts.

The home itself is made up of palatial proportions, with lots of huge open rooms, high ceilings and large windows, while the design opts for a simple whitewashed colour palette livened up by colourful artwork and interesting decorative items. Anybody with gastronomic talents will swoon at the sight of the sleek kitchen, but the address comes with a private cook and butler in case you prefer to leave it to the professionals.

When it comes to enjoying the island's bountiful amounts of sunshine, guests are truly spoilt for choice here. On both levels of the villa, there are covered terraces on which to lounge and dine, but sometimes, you'll find that the only thing for it is a refreshing dip in the private swimming pool.

As if that wasn't enough, there's a wealth of activities and excursions to undertake within the resort, from visiting one of the golden beaches and trying your hands at watersports to playing a few rounds on the very golf course that can be spotted from the villa.

Home truths:
*The villa is spread over two floors with no elevator, although there are three bedrooms on the ground level
*The home comes with maid and butler service, a private chef, airport transfers, a welcome basket, and concierge service