InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa

Getting There

There are limited flights to Dominica from the mainland United States (they are building a new international airport so hopefully more flight options will be available in the future). We took a connecting flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico on Silver Airways. The flight lasted about an hour. Flying into DOM airport is like flying into Jurassic Park with aerial views of the lush and rugged landscape.

We arranged transportation through the hotel and were picked up in an S-Class Mercedes. The airport is small and remote, so it's essential to pre-book transportation. The InterContinental is located in Portsmouth, which is about an hour's drive from the airport along the scenic north coast of the island. The roads are quite narrow and winding, and drivers communicate using their horns as they approach each bend.

The Property

The lobby of the hotel is gorgeous and smells amazing. It is decorated with local indigenous art and provides stunning views of the ocean and mountains. We were given a welcome drink and promptly escorted to the room. The hotel was at low capacity during our stay as it was during the low season, and we were told that there were between 20 to 50 guests. It is a fairly large hotel with approximately 150 guest rooms and several villas, so it felt quite empty due to the low occupancy. We often had the beach and pool to ourselves.

The InterContinental is located on a black sand beach near the Cabrits National Park. The landscaping throughout the property features fruit trees and large flowering bushes. It smells amazing and feels alive. Frogs, lizards and large crabs wander the property.

Right off the beach there is great snorkeling along the pier with a variety of tropical fish and creatures (like trumpetfish, colorful parrotfish, sea urchins, crabs and more). The water is crystal clear. There is access to the Waitukubuli Kayak Trail from the beach and the resort provides kayaks.

There is a large zero-entry pool with a swim-up bar and adjacent bar and restaurant.

The Room

We stayed in a mountain-view swim-out suite. The room was clean and spacious. The bathroom featured a large bathtub which was big enough for two people. The shower has dual waterfall heads. There was a mini fridge which was stocked, as well as a Nespresso coffee maker. The room was stocked with multiple complimentary bottles of water which were restocked throughout our stay. Robes were provided but no slippers. The hotel provided Byredo Bal D’afrique bath products which smelled amazing. The bed was a large California king. The swim-out pool was reasonably clean and the water was warm.

Dining

Overall, the food at the InterContinental was good, but the options were somewhat limited and expensive. We would have liked to see more local cuisine on the menus.

The Cabrits Market restaurant is the primary restaurant onsite, which serves breakfast (buffet) and dinner (a la carte) daily. The breakfast buffet has a mix of local cuisine that changes daily, pastries, fresh tropical fruit, freshly squeezed juices, coffee and tea. Omelets are also available upon request.

The dinner menu had a variety of options with a bit of local flare. Our favorite entree was the Mahi Mahi. They have Americanized options like pizza and burgers in addition to Caribbean fare like goat soup and curry chicken.

Lunch is only available at the poolside bar, Kweyol. This is also the only place serving alcoholic drinks during the day. Drinks are moderately priced.

The Rumfire bar is open on the weekends and serves cocktails. There were a few local infused “bush rum” options at the bar which we enjoyed.

Room service is available all day but we found it to be quite slow. The menu can be accessed on the televisions in the guest rooms. The menu is similar to the restaurant menus. Certain breakfast foods like pancakes, french toast and waffles were only available via room service.

There are some good restaurants near the hotel that offer more authentic local food. We particularly enjoyed Keepin It Real in Toucari (about 10 minutes from the hotel).

Excursions

We booked excursions in advance with DG Tours but the hotel also works with DG Tours so there is no need to book in advance. There are so many options for tours and excursions in Dominica. We spent a day in the Calibishie area hiking to waterfalls and the red rocks. We also saw a cold sulfur spring in an active volcano, visited Batibou beach and toured a chocolate factory. We enjoyed our first tour so much that we booked another day with DG and visited the Indian River and hiked in the Cabrits Park. There are so many amazing things to do and see in Dominica.

Service

The staff members were incredibly warm and friendly throughout our stay. Manager Fernando greeted us each morning at breakfast and made sure we were enjoying our stay. Our servers also took the time to talk to us at each meal and gave us recommendations for local restaurants to try and attractions to visit.

Most notably, we had an incident with one of our phones and Fernando arranged for the hotel’s IT manager, Jay, to help us configure a new phone. The staff went above any beyond throughout our stay to take care of us and make sure our experience was enjoyable.

Departure

The checkout process was smooth, even at 5:00 am. We had gone to the front desk the day before to confirm our transportation to the airport, and they offered to arrange a packed breakfast for us. It was ready when we checked out. They also provide this service for guests going on excursions. We were transported to the airport in a Mercedes van.

Departing from DOM airport was much less smooth than arriving. Even though we checked in online the day before, they didn't have the equipment to scan a digital boarding pass, so we had to wait in a long check-in line. It took at least an hour to check in even though there were only about 20 people on our flight. The airport employees were generally slow and inefficient. There is only one x-ray scanner for baggage. The process was generally frustrating and I recommend arriving several hours ahead of the scheduled flight time to provide plenty of time for the check-in process.

Book airport transfers in advance and arrive at the airport well in advance of flight departure times.

The InterContinental has a unique spa with outdoor walkways connecting treehouse-like treatment rooms.

Try the bush rum, which is local rum infused with different fruits and herbs. It's available in multiple varieties but the ginger-infused flavor was most recommended by the staff.

There is only one hospital on the island and it is located in Roseau, an hour away from the InterContinental. Accordingly, I would not recommend this hotel for anyone with serious health conditions.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Dominica, Caribbean. In need of further inspiration? Check out Stephanie Stevenson’s guide, Unlocking the Caribbean's Best-Kept Secrets: A 5-Day Retreat to Saint Kitts and Nevis.