Dominican Republic – Snapping The Globe

So Swimmingly

Hotels with swim-up pools.

We have all seen the photos.

Wedding and travel magazine spreads showing beautiful couples wearing expensive jewelry, designer swimsuits and perfectly coiffed hair lounging around, looking at each other lovingly while hanging in their hotel room’s private pool.

Yeah, I was always sure that was for the rich and famous.

During spring break, my son and I were playing travel roulette. No set plans…we had a list of tropical destinations that we thought we might like to try to sit standby for (a perk of my airline job) and we were going to see where we ended up.

Punta Cana eventually won out and as I made my way down the jetway to my last-minute seat, I frantically scrolled on my phone through the list of resorts that had availability.

There were three that I was eyeing…

There was one we visited a few years ago; the cheapest, but one we had enjoyed for its lively staff, wide-spread beach and their rooms’ proximity to the beach.

There was another that I knew nothing about but my son had a friend staying there. It had excellent reviews and a decent price.

The third was the most expensive of the three (though most akin to number two). It was located two properties over from the first option and one property over from where we had stayed last August, so we were familiar with the area. Both my son and I had friends staying there, so while my son could spend time hanging with his friends, I would have others to have adult conversations and drinks with!

Checking the prices for the third option, I discovered that I could choose the cheapest of their rooms, however, since it was last minute, I could get a room with a swim-up pool for just a little more.

Being that it was my son’s senior year, I had just received a good bonus check and I just felt like pampering myself, I decided to go with option number three! I just hoped that it was worth it!

We arrived to dark skies, rain and no waiting transportation due to a mix-up with our booking. Finally, arranging a one-way transfer, we were exhausted as we made our way into the open air lobby of the Royalton Punta Cana Resort & Casino.

A short time later, we were being escorted to our room near the beach area of the resort. As we passed the rooms with swim-up pools facing the main pool area, I got my first look at what we had paid for. These people could watch the action of the main resort area, yet hang out in their own private space.

As I entered our room, I pulled open the curtains and glanced out at our own pool area, which faced the side of our resort and the resort next door. Well, we didn’t have a great view. No watching the action of the resort, but it was still exciting to have this amenity. With the miserable weather, however, I decided that I needed a nap more than a swim. Taking advantage of this perk would have to wait until the next day.

The next morning, I eagerly opened the curtain, ready for sunshine! What was this? Shadows? With the sun making its way across the sky, our pool was enshrouded in darkness. How on earth was I going to work on my tan?

As we walked to the main lobby for breakfast, I enviously spied on the guests lounging on their verandas, dipping themselves in their private pools. They had sun! I thought, “No wonder I got my room for such a steal…it’s on the shady side of the resort. ”

After stuffing ourselves with pastries and omelets, we decided to head to the beach, spending the remainder of the morning lounging under one of the resort’s thatched umbrellas and enjoying the azure waters that lapped it’s shores.

One of the perks of this resort is that although there were many restaurants that served lunch near the beach, we could utilize room service…for free! Using the ordering feature on our television, we could sit on our veranda and enjoy lunch in the privacy of our room.

This needing doing!

Heading back to our room and noticing that the shadows had changed with the movement of the sun, we ordered our meal and then opened the curtain. Can you believe it? Noon was the witching hour! The sun had crept slowly across the sky during the morning and now our private pool and veranda was filled with bright light!

After enjoying our lunch, we jumped into the pool, relishing in the coolness of the water. Though our pool was private, it was connecting to the others along the length of the building. Though we remained here for the remainder of the day, we were always alone. Not one of the rooms here had guests who swam outside or relaxed on their verandas!

Each day, we repeated the same pattern; hang at the beach during the mornings and enjoy the resort’s many amenities…mini-golf, lazy river, flowrider, restaurants, snack bars. Every afternoon, however, we retreated to our room to take advantage of our pool. What luxury!

And, no…we never saw anyone on the backside of the resort.

Sometimes my last minute plans don’t go so well. This one went swimmingly!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Royalton Punta Cana Resort & Casino

https://www.royaltonresorts.com/royalton-punta-cana?_ga=2.143406325.1717712777.1519133944-2036997616.1483655952
Address: Playa Arena Gorda, Carretera Macao, Punta Cana 23000, Dominican Republic

Broke-Down Buggies

As I get older and realize how much there is in the world to see, laying around on vacation, just doesn’t do it for me anymore.

Recently, I read an article written by a journalist who was sent to enjoy an all-inclusive resort. Having traveled all over the world, the writer was apprehensive about having nothing to do but eat, drink and work on his tan. In the end, he learned that his body needed to unwind and he loved the laziness of his days.

I wish that I could say that I reveled in laziness and walked away from my most recent trip to an all-inclusive resort feeling relaxed and revitalized. Truth is, I can’t sit still for that long…that’s just me.

I finished that book I had placed on the back burner and after losing thirty pounds, finally dared to wear a bikini and bronze up my stomach to match my legs. My husband hadn’t been able to accompany us and my teenage sons really didn’t want mom hanging around while they were trying to impress the ladies. What else was there to do?

Having spent a lot more money on two jacuzzi suites than I had planned, I originally told my boys that there wasn’t going to be any excursions away from the resort.

That vow lasted about two days.

Laying in my lounge chair, shaded by a broad blue umbrella, pina colada in hand, I perused the internet, attempting to find something that we could all enjoy that didn’t drain the last of my recent paycheck.

Dune buggies.

As we were driven from the airport to the resort, I had noticed a group of dune buggies crossing the road a few miles prior to our turnoff.

This could be fun.

Arriving at the departure point and signing the obligatory waivers, we were asked to step outside so that our buggies could be assigned. I was told that we were waiting for another family, however, we could leave promptly if we paid extra for a private tour…only fifty dollars…per buggy (we had two).

“No thanks.” We opted to wait.

Our wait was short lived and with the other participants’ arrival a few minutes later, we were strapping on helmets, buckling in, forming a single line and soaring down Dominican back roads.

One of the selling points of this tour was how muddy everyone was going to get…it was recommended that you not do the tour if you can’t give yourself to the idea of being covered in muck! They went on to elaborate on how refreshing the cave swim would be after the spattered adventure. I guess it hadn’t rained in a while, because the only mud puddles I saw were near the shower area at the starting point. The real problem was the dust. Bandannas or something to cover your nose and mouth was recommended (they even sell them if you forget), but what you really need are goggles. As a contact lens wearer, I spent most of the ride squinting as I tried to keep the dust of my eyes or wiping the tears flowing down my cheeks from the pain of the dust abrading my cornea under my lenses. Thankfully, I had relinquished all driving rights to my oldest son.

Driving along the country roads, through colorful villages, we passed grazing cows and children who gleefully ran along side our buggies. The roads were bumpy and narrow and we traveled together in succession. Finally, we pulled up next to a small hut and shut down our buggies. Here, we were educated on the production of cacao, coffee, tobacco and Mamajuana (a Dominican aphrodisiac elixir) and were given a choice to sample the coffee or hot chocolate. These products were available for sale as well as other Dominican handicrafts.

Once the presentation was complete, more driving ensued until we arrived at the part of the tour that promised a swim in a picturesque cave. A large grouping of buildings hawking food and souvenirs lined either side of the stairs to the cave and many buggies were parked here. By the different types of vehicles, it was quite evident that many different companies come to this location.

As we approached the stairway, we were taken aback by how many other people were trying to make their way to the cave. Finally reaching the entry to the small body of water, we noticed that people were being instructed to jump into the cool water and immediately make their way to the guide rope leading to the water’s exit.

That’s it.

No languishing in the water.

No swimming.

No enjoyment.

Get in. Get out.

Then, fight your way up the stairway and get ready to go.

Not really what was advertised.

I am guessing that they don’t make money while you are swimming…why swim when you can peruse the cheap souvenirs at Dominican Walmart or Dominican JCPenney?

Let’s just say, I’m glad I stayed out of the water and kept an eye on the boys’ belongings. That was really not worth getting wet.

Back to the roads. The longest stretch of our drive was before us, retracing our steps back to the road past the starting point. It was now our turn to hold up traffic and cross the highway on our way to Macao Beach. As disappointed as I was with the cave stop, this picturesque location made up for it. One of the last ‘resort free’ coastal stretches in Punta Cana, Macao Beach offers an idealistic shore with amber sands, coconut trees and beautiful, seaweed-free, blue water! This time, I was getting wet!

Placing our belongings behind a log, we waded into the azure waters and attempted to enjoy the brief stretch of time allotted for this stop. Hard to do…there were so many people on the beach, we had to keep a close eye on our end of the log so as no one attempted to walk away with our stuff.

Finally, noticing our guide’s summons, we reluctantly toweled off and jumped back into our buggies. Crossing the highway once again, we made our way back to the companies headquarters.

Instead of immediately jumping into the safari-style truck which was to take us back to our resorts, we were herded to a small area in order to view pictures that were taken during our ordeal. I had noticed someone taking photos a couple of times during our tour, yet, apparently, everyone else had “gotten the memo” about the photographer. There were only a couple of shots of me and my boys, yet there were countless images of other families posed at the cave, the beach, holding parrots…where were the parrots? I even heard another family negotiated the $50 price tag, yet, when I pointed out that we were only featured twice, never briefed on the photo opportunities and I would pay $20, I was rudely shut down.

Time to go.

While it was nice to be able to enjoy a different aspect of Punta Cana, there are many other companies which offer Buggy adventures. Our dune buggies were in poor working order, seatbelts not connected, bald tires and buggies being hot-wired in order to start them. While parked at the cave location, I was able to inspect other company’s vehicles and while in short supply, there were others in much better condition. Still, while I was happy to venture out from our resort for a while, I would think twice about partaking in this type of adventure.

Take my advice. Go ziplining, book a tour to Santo Domingo or take a cab to Macao Beach.

You will be much safer.

Next time, I while reading my book under my umbrella at my all-inclusive resort, I may have to remind myself about Buggies Extreme…only then might I truly appreciate laziness and relaxation!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

No contact Information will be provided as I do not want to promote this business. Thank you.

The Amber Coast

In the northwestern part of the Dominican Republic, between Cofresi and Cabarate lies the “Amber Coast”.

The Amber Coast was discovered by Christopher Columbus, and is the site of one of the first forts in the Americas, Ferte de San Felipe. The popular beach town, Puerto Plata, offers many resorts and a look into its Spanish colonial past with beautiful architecture, museums and a host of landmarks.

Amber Cove Cruise Center, a short distance northwest of Puerto Plata, was opened in October of 2015, to much fanfare, as cruise ships had not visited the area in almost thirty years.

Sailing into the Bay of Maimon, early in the rainy morning, we had our first glimpse of the port with its overwater cabanas, pristine shopping area and resort-style pool complete with waterslides and lazy river. The port also offers a great transportation hub in which visitors can access rental cars and taxi services.

Our original plan had been to enjoy the facilities offered at Amber Cove, but since we had missed out on our day in St. Kitts, we decided to book an excursion to explore another part of the island.

Meeting our guide, Daniel, we were soon on our way to the province of Montecristi, to the small seaside community of Estero Hondo, home to the country’s Marine Mammal Sanctuary. The sanctuary, a natural refuge for the endangered manatee, is about a two hour drive from Amber Cove along narrow, winding roads, through vibrant and colorful communities.

After our arrival, we were divided into two groups, one to kayak through the marine preserve and the other to head to the observation area. Part of the first kayaking group, we paddled through the estuary, admiring the large numbers of aquatic birds crossing the tranquil waters. We all hoped to have a close encounter with the manatees that live in the area since there are very few places in the Caribbean where one can see the manatee in its natural habitat.

After a bit of paddling, we entered a larger part of the estuary where and we noticed the other members of our group on the observation deck on the shore. Scanning the mirror-like surface constantly, we were disappointed to only see a manatee minimally break the surface twice. Extremely difficult it was from our vantage point at the waters surface, it was a bit of a letdown to not have seen more of the amazing, docile creatures from a closer distance.

While paddling back, we admired the clams attached to the mangrove trees and as we neared the seashore, we dragged our kayaks onto a beach across the channel. Walking along with our guides, we marveled at the large number of seashells resting on the rough sands.

Our guides motioned for us to follow as they waded into the shallow waters to cross over to a small island. As we neared the island, the waters were only ankle deep and we proceeded to enter a grove of trees teeming with squawking birds overhead. The waters were littered with the remnants of hatched eggshells, feathers and even a small bird that had obviously fallen from his perch and drowned. It was perilous walking through the area with so many birds overhead and much to his dismay, one of the members of our group was bombed! Yes…poop!

Quickly making our way out of the grove to the other side, we found ourselves in a protected area; waves crashing on the other side of the reef and calm waters surrounding us in clear, swimming pools. Languishing in the beautiful, clear waters, we rested a moment and admired the view.

Checking our watches, we realized that as much as we would have loved to hang out in this stunning oasis, it was time to head back and make the switch with the other group.

Shedding our lifejackets, we followed Daniel to the Visitor’s Center. An orientation with a ranger from the sanctuary informed us of the lives of manatees and how this particular group of about forty, is one of the largest populations of this species that exists on the island and possibly throughout the Caribbean.

We then boarded an open-air safari truck and headed down the overgrown road to the observation platform. From the high vantage point, we soon saw the water’s surface breaking. Though the manatees did not stay at the surface for very long and we mostly saw only their backs or noses as they came up for air, we did see many during our time observing the water’s surface.

Soon it was time to head back to the Visitor’s Center for a quick bite to eat and time to make the lengthy drive back to the cruise ship port.

A little later than we had anticipated our arrival, there was no time to check out the shops and we had to make a mad dash back to the boat for our departure.

As we sailed away, we watched the port and the Bay of Maimon disappear. Thinking of my love of architecture, I was a little wistful that I had not seen more of the area and nearby Puerto Plata. Though we have been to Dominican Republic before, it seems that the northern coast may offer a bit more charm than the packed resorts of Punta Cana. And, after speaking with our tour guide, it seems that there are many other outdoor activities (Damajuaga Fall, ATV tours, cave snorkeling) we would have enjoyed.

Oh, well, there only so much you can squeeze in to a seven hour day in port. Sigh.

Amber Coast…I’ll be back.

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Estero Hondo Marine Mammel Sanctuary

Runner’s Adventures https://www.runnersadventures.com/
To visit Estero Hondo, visitors may book an organized tour (see above link) or drive on their own. From Amber Cove, take the road to Montecristi, pass the village of Villa Elisa, until you reach Punta Rucia. The protected area is in this vicinity.

Zip! Zip! Hooray!

Enjoying our resort and the much needed relaxation was the main objective on our Punta Cana vacation. After a couple of days, however, we realized that there were some amazing zip line locations nearby and it would be a shame to miss out on the opportunity.

My children and I had zip lined while in Belize a few years ago. It was a extremely fun experience racing down the cables through the jungle. A couple of summers ago, I zip lined through the Nevada desert, going from mountain top to mountain top. It was a completely different experience than the first, but exciting nonetheless. My husband, had not been with us in Belize and had been working while I went off on my excursion in the Las Vegas desert, so he was new to this type of adventure. Very apprehensive about heights, I was not sure how he would approach the whole thing, but I knew we needed to get him out there.

Since we had not booked the excursion before we arrived in Punta Cana, I assumed that we could do so through the concierge. After our arrival, I realized that no concierge was available, so I inquired with the dinner reservations desk on whom we could book with. I was directed to both a travel agency located within the resort as well as an office with many tour companies. Deciding on the latter, I encountered Shirley who assisted me with the booking.

Wanting to leave first thing in the morning so that we would have the remainder of the day available to us, we decided on an 8:00am pickup time the next day. Since our phone was not working, I came back to the room later that day to find a note from Shirley explaining that the zip lining office had contacted her and 8:00am time slot was not available. She had rebooked us for that same afternoon for a 2:00pm departure, but instructed me to come to her office first thing in the morning if this was not to our liking. After much discussion, we decided that we would still prefer the early morning departure and would wait until the following day. A quick visit to Shirley at the opening of her office made the appropriate changes…she even called the zip line office to ensure that space was available.

The next day, after waking early and having breakfast, we were out front with many other people who were also awaiting their pickup vehicles.

A few minutes later, a vehicle arrived which looked as though it was the one described to me. As I inquired with the driver and showed him my confirmation slip, he appeared to be a bit confused. He promptly made a call and began speaking to someone on the other end. Another person standing nearby, explained that this was not the company that was supposed to pick us up but this gentleman worked with them as well. It seemed that although we had a confirmation number, the office did not show us as having a booking and therefore, no one was on their way to pick us up. It was explained that a representative from the company was in the area and on his way to speak with us. Naturally, we were very frustrated.

Shirley’s office had not quite opened yet, but a short time later, arriving for here workday, she noticed us still in front of the Barcelo. She promptly came over to see why we were still waiting. Making a phone call to the office, they explained what had happened on their end and offered the 11:00am and 2:00pm options. Although this was not quite what we wanted, we were leaving the next day and all that we could do. The company first offered us a bottle of rum as an apology, but we declined, explaining that it would be more of an issue having to check our luggage to accommodate it. Finally, it was agreed that the pictures taken of the customers while zip lining and offered for sale would be offered to us complimentary.

By this time, almost 9:00, it was too late to really do much but wait.

Around 11:00, our van arrived and since almost full, we filed into the seats remaining in the back row. With no other pickups, we were soon on our way. During a long and very bumpy ride, we soon realized that the 30-40 minute ride that we were expecting was really about an hour through countryside and local villages. Wishing that I had brought my large camera to document Dominican Republic local life, I captured the townsfolk and buildings with my Iphone.

We soon arrived at the Bavaro Runners Adventures. Not much instruction was given to us and we were left to mill about, wondering when we would be outfitted with our equipment to get started. After a lengthy wait, we were told that we were waiting on another group. More time passed and finally, an introductory speech was given by one of the workers.

After a few more minutes, we were finally outfitted and then directed to a courtyard just outside, where we were instructed on the basics of zip lining…how to slow down, how to stop and how to get to the platform if you did not make it all the way.

A short walk to the first platform and we were soon on our way to experience the 18 platforms and 12 zip lines, among them, the longest in the Caribbean and the lengthiest in the Dominican Republic, on Anamuya Mountain.

Attached with climbing gear to the double line cables, we were soon zipping along from the first platform to the next…one to two, 358 feet, and from two to three, 209 feet, where our pictures were snapped. Disembarking from platform three, we ascended the stairs to platform four where we zipped across 203 feet and then from four to five, 213 feet. The next lines, five, six, seven and eight averaged between 344 and 682 feet. Walking between platforms eight and nine and ascending an extremely tall tower had us flying across a river for our longest ride yet, 2296 feet. After reaching platform thirteen and journeying on foot again to fourteen, riding 360 feet to platform fifteen, we were then ready for the longest journey, back over the river and through the trees, 2624 feet. What a ride! Finally, our last cable was a short 377 feet to the end of the line.

With the seemingly unorganized start at Bavaro Runners Adventures, we were pleased to find that the staff was very friendly and helpful while on the course. The platforms and cables were well maintained and the views spectacular! Even my husband, with his fear of heights, loved the thrill of it all!

As promised, our pictures were readied for us and given free of charge, a forty dollar value, and upon the return of our equipment, we were offered fruit and soda before being loaded up on the buses for our return to our resorts.

Bavaro Runners Adventures offers other options at this location. One particular alternative was to complete eight cables and then interact with the squirrel monkeys at Monkeyland. While on one of the trails, we noticed torches lining the pathway and discovered that these were present for night time zip lining. One thing I would like to point out however, is that a weight limit is in effect. A sign hangs in the outfitting area stating that individuals weighing more than 285 pounds are not permitted to ride. Since there was a gentleman on our bus expecting to ride and then not allowed, it seems that the information may not have been communicated during the booking process. Hopefully, his payment was refunded.

Having paid more per person for our Belize and my Vegas zip lining trips, I would say that Bavaro Runners Adventures offers a fair deal. At $90 per person, with transportation provided and 12 zip lines, more than the Belize and Vegas locations, it was a great way to spend a few hours off of the resort. Aside from the problem with our booking and the unorganization experienced upon our arrival, everyone had a great time and now have great memories!

Check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe, and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe for more pictures.

Bavaro Runners Adventures

https://www.runnersadventures.com
Phone: 1-809-455-1135
Departures: 8:00am, 11:00am and 2:00pm, Monday thru Saturday
Adults, $90, Children $45, add additional $29 per person for Monkeyland option
Nighttime zip lines: $99 per person for groups of 15 or more, Tuesdays and Thursdays

Pretty and Pleasing Punta Cana

For a few years, my children have expressed an interest in visiting one of the Dominican Republic’s all-inclusive resorts. The few times we have thought that the flights would remain open; they always seemed to fill up at the last minute. Hating to book a resort that we would be unable to get to and losing a deposit or more, we always decided against it.

This year, my son learned that instead of playing baseball during spring break, his coach was going to give them the week off. Being that it was his birthday the day before Easter, I decided to surprise him with plane tickets to Punta Cana for himself, his brother and my husband. Having the tickets enabled us to be able to book a resort ahead of time and actually plan our vacation a few weeks out instead of a couple of days, like we normally do.

Our flight departed New York and arrived in Punta Cana early in the afternoon. After what seemed like a very lengthy taxi, we finally made our way through the immigration and customs area and out to the front of the airport where we were greeted by our transportation company.

About thirty minutes later, we were driving up to the front of our resort, Barcelo Punta Cana.

When booking our resort, it was a bit of a task trying to decipher which resort was in the best location and which would offer my family the type of experience that we were hoping for. Zeroing in on the Barcelo Punta Cana, in which the price was what I was willing to pay, I discovered that it was near the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Bavaro Beach, which has been heralded as one of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic. What disturbed me, however, was that the reviews of this resort were a bit mixed. Some people absolutely raved about the resort, but some people discussed problems that they had mainly with the rooms. Although my husband loves luxury, I hate paying the premium price, instead preferring a more simple, yet nice room. Paying for a luxurious room that we hardly spend any time in is a waste of money, in my opinion. My biggest stipulation, however, is that, although I will accept simplicity, the room must be extremely clean and everything in working order. After booking our vacation, it seemed that some of the reviews I uncovered were about problems that people experienced dealing with cleanliness and the general working order of items in the rooms. We decided to stick with our reservation, however, and hope for the best.

My first impression of the lobby area was a favorable one. It was an open-air space and reminded me of some of the hotels in Thailand I have stayed in. Upon our arrival, we were given our room after a short wait. Although a fairly simple room with tile floors and simple wood furniture, it was extremely clean and looked out over one of the pools and the beach.

Since dinner reservations could only be made between 7:00 and 15:00 and we had arrived just after the close of the reservation office, we decided to dine at the buffet that evening. After unpacking and heading downstairs to check out the pool and beach, we then headed to dinner.

The buffet was extensive and carried many different types of food, including local fare. Although we tried a variety of items, we soon found that the best option was the made-to-order pasta bar. After our dining experience that night, however, we decided that we would be up early the next morning to book our reservations for one of the other restaurants.

The next morning, we found that because we had just arrived, we were able to make reservations for that night and also the following. Our Easter meal was going to be at the seafood restaurant, Marenostrum, and the next night, the French restaurant, La Comedie. For the remaining two nights, we booked reservations at the El Conuco, the Dominican restaurant and La Dolce Vita, a restaurant offering Italian fare. Because certain restaurants are only open on certain nights, a bit of planning may take place to be able to dine at all of the restaurants during one’s stay.

If asked to rank the four restaurants that we dined in, my entire family would agree that El Conuco was definitely the best! The food, especially the sococho, a Dominican stew, was outstanding, much to our surprise. The Italian and Seafood restaurants were good as well, but, the biggest disappointment was the French option. The food was not very tasty and did not quite agree with any of us. My husband was certain that he was ill the entire next day due to the food consumed in this particular outlet. After hearing another customer’s complaints about the Japanese restaurant, Kyoto, we had decided to skip this dining experience, however, I think that it may have been a better option than La Comedie.

Our breakfast was taken that first morning in El Alcazar, the main dining room which offered buffet-style dining. Each day after, our breakfasts were taken here and at the buffet in the open-air dining room at the main pool. The best omelets, we learned, however, were made in the main dining room and wonderful pastries were offered every day, including my favorite, churros! Delicious!

Lunch buffets were served in the main dining room as well as the open-air dining room at the main pool. Hot dogs, hamburgers and fries were served at a grill near the pool every afternoon. A pizzeria, Don Simon, was open in the upstairs area near the main pool from 12:00-17:00 each day. Our biggest regret was only having the opportunity to dine at Mexico Lindo for lunch on one day. Delicious sandwiches were offered here, near the quiet pool, and were served inside and outside on the deck, overlooking the ocean. Mexico Lindo was also open at night, available without a reservation, serving Tex-Mex.

The next three days were spent lounging at the beach and the pool. The beach was extremely long and wide with some of the softest sand I have ever dug my toes into. The water was a clear blue with some great body surfing waves. There were always many beach chairs available although it seemed that most pool chairs were reserved by early risers who claimed their spots at the pool’s opening by leaving their towels.

Two large pools were available on each side of the resort…the main pool or “party pool” and the “quiet pool”. The party pool and the beach area near it always had music playing and some sort of scheduled activity going on…beach volleyball, dance parties, step aerobics, contests…it was oftentimes quite entertaining. The quiet pool was located on the left side of the resort and seemed more suited for parents with younger children as there was a small water park available. The beach area alongside this pool area was also deemed the “quiet beach”. It was a short walk from the rooms to the pool as well as the beach area…no shuttle required as with some of the larger resorts.

A pool bar was in operation each day from 10:00 as well as a beach side bar and the other bars located within the main building. The staff was usually friendly, the drinks were good and the Presidente beer, cold. My only regret was not bringing a large, insulated cup to the resort as many did. The staff will fill your cup, saving you from having to get two drinks at a time or going to the bar multiple times. Cups are sold on the premises, however, you will be paying about five times what you would have paid at Wal-Mart!

My sons enjoyed partaking in the various activities and water sports offered. Boogie boards were available for use by guests of the resort as well as kayaks and sailboats. There was a trampoline, a trapeze and a rock climbing wall, each with its own operating hours. There was a large chess board near the pool as well as tennis and basketball courts near the front of the resort.

Packing my workout clothes, I had planned to use the gym and participate in some of the classes offered. The website indicated that zumba, step aerobics and water aerobics were offered, however, zumba was never on the schedule. On the first day, I did witness water aerobics and on that afternoon, a step class was offered. It was performed on the very small stage with the entire pool area watching, lasted only 30 minutes and many of the people were barefoot and appeared to be drunk. Not my idea of a good workout! My husband did use the gym and although the member of the staff present was very helpful, he said it was a small space with not many machines.

Each evening, spent from the sun, swimming and alcohol, my husband and I usually retired early, after dinner. One night, however, we decided to head over to the theater and see the nightly show. This particular evening, it was a program entitled, “Circus”. Nothing to write home about but it was entertaining for an hour’s time. There was a casino on the premises as well as a disco that opened at 22:00 and stayed open until the early morning hours. I guess I am getting older…I never seemed to be able to stay awake that late! It seemed that a lot of other guests seemed to provide their own entertainment by congregating in the porticoes on each side of the lobby area, drinking and playing cards and other games.

For those who are looking to purchase forgotten items or souvenirs, there were three or four shops located near the main pool as well as a jewelry store. T-shirts, carvings, clothing, shoes, and other items were sold here albeit for a premium price. The Barcelo Punta Cana did have local vendors come to the resort on one of the nights. Thankfully, through one of these vendors, I did find a locally made mask to add to my collection. Leaving the property to do some shopping would have required a taxi as there was no town area directly near the resort. Upon our departure, I did notice that the Royalton and Majestic resorts next door had an area near the road that was advertised as a shopping center.

Being a collector of Pandora charms from places that I travel, I always check for local Pandora stores on my vacations. Luckily, I found that the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino had a Pandora store on their premises. One morning, I walked along the beach toward this hotel. Not knowing whether I would be allowed on the property, I hoped that if I would have been denied entry on my own, I could maybe secure an escort toward the lobby where the store was located. Not one person stopped me from walking on to the property and I made my way toward the lobby area, twice asking for directions from staff. There were many stores in addition to the one I was seeking, so, if retail therapy is needed, wandering over to the Hard Rock is suggested.

Before our arrival in Punta Cana, we had not made plans for any excursions. When we arrived at the resort, I realized that there was no concierge desk to offer assistance. After inquiring with the dinner reservation desk, I was directed to a travel agency located near the El Alcazar restaurant and an office with travel companies within. Trying the latter, we were able to book a zip lining tour with one of the companies within. Although there was a mix up with our pickup (which was the fault of the zip lining company) I found the booking company to be extremely helpful and efficient.

For those wishing to stay connected, the hotel offered Wi-Fi for $12 per day. Thinking that quite expensive, I did a bit of research before our trip, looking for alternatives such as buying a local sim card and renting Mi-Fi devices. I finally located a transportation company which offered transportation to the various hotels as well as Mi-Fi devices. The company, Gobecon, extended a Mi-Fi rental rate of $20/week if transportation was booked through them. The transportation rate was the same as what the hotel was offering, so we decided that we would make a reservation. When we arrived at the airport, a representative was waiting for us with a marked sign. He escorted us to a waiting van and we were pleasantly surprised to learn that only my family was being driven to our resort, not a van full of other travelers. The representative had a zippered pouch ready for us containing the Mi-Fi device, instructions and a charger. He helped me to connect and collected a $50 deposit which would be returned to me upon our departure when the equipment was returned. All four of us were able to connect to the Mi-Fi and it was a blessing to be able to communicate with our families on Easter Sunday. The signal was very good and we took it with us to the beach and pool. After speaking with another guest of the hotel, we realized just what a great deal we had made as he told us how slow the Wi-Fi in the hotel was and that only one person at a time was able to connect. Our driver arrived promptly for our departure from the hotel and upon our return to the airport, our representative was waiting for us, collected the equipment and returned our deposit.

Overall, my only real complaint about the resort was that the phone in our room never worked. Not really needing to use it, it was not much of an inconvenience, however, I worried that we would have not method of communication if we had an emergency. Despite visiting the front desk and complaining twice a day, the phone was still inoperable upon our departure. Other minor inconveniences involved the maid forgetting to leave hand towels and forgetting to restock our refrigerator.

In the end, we truly enjoyed our visit to Punta Cana and the Barcelo Punta Cana resort. I am sure that there were guests who experienced other issues and I am sure that there have been guests who have left the resort, not happy with their stay. Only able to speak for our experience, I would recommend staying here. One should remember, this is not the Ritz Carlton, therefore you are not paying for the Ritz Carlton…accept it for what it is…and we were happy with what it was!

Check our more pictures on Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.com

Barcelo Punta Cana

https://www.barcelo.com/barcelohotels/en_gb/hotels/dominican-republic/punta-cana-beach-bavaro/hotel-barcelo-punta-cana/general-description.aspx

Gobecon

http://www.gobecon.com/