Punta Cana Trip 2023

This past week I spent an incredibly relaxing week with family at an all inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. This was the first time I've ever had such an experience where all drinks and foods were included with the hotel. The plan was brought on about a year ago, by my mom, who had heard great things about this location. Normally our vacations consist of a lot of sightseeing, but this would be quite a different one. It would be a much needed vacation of purely rest and relaxation. Plus I had never been to the Caribbean islands. I made our bookings several months ago at the Majestic Colonial Resort which included the flight, hotel, food, and drinks. Going on the trip would be my parents, Ofelia, Gabriel, Andres, and myself. This was an adventurous and relaxing experience that I will now detail, while it is still all fresh in my mind. 

Thursday-Friday

After I finished work on Thursday, I drove home to pickup Cochie and Mugsy then drove straight to Fort Wayne. I dropped Cochie and Mugsy off at my parents house, where Gily and Natalia would be watching them for the week. We then left that evening to Chicago, where my dad had arranged a hotel/shuttle/parking for the week near the O'hare Airport. The hotel was a very shady one at a Red Roof Inn, and we didn't feel all that safe. Gabriel also met us that evening at the hotel while Andres stayed with friends and planned to meet us the next day. We woke up early at around 5am, and caught the shuttle to the airport. Our shuttle driver was a very energetic and organized person and got us to the airport on time. 

We hit a bit of a problem checking into our flight due to the DR's requirement of E-tickets. My mom had warned me of this, but I had never heard of it and was caught a bit off guard. At the check-in desk I had to fill out everyone's passport info on my phone to send to the DR. From that point on we got our boarding passes and everything went smoothly. Andres eventually met us and we boarded the plane and took off by 8:30am. The flight wasn't too bad and I watched Wedding Singer and No Hard Feelings. We arrived in Punta Cana by around 2:30pm. I had arranged a taxi pickup thru Expedia and they were awaiting us. The guy was very friendly, named Domingo, and gave us some quick tips about the DR. Which included not drinking the water. The drive from the airport to the resort took about 30 minutes. 

We were welcomed to the Majestic Colonial Resort like kings and queens. Our bags were collected and we were escorted to the VIP lounge (which I had arranged thru my Expedia membership). There was fresh tasty espresso coffee and snacks waiting for us. After we completed the check-in process we were introduced to our butler, David who gave us a quick tour of the resort and showed us to our rooms. We spent a little extra to get ocean view rooms, however quickly noticed one of the rooms had a poor view due to a towel shack. We requested to swap out this room the next day. Once we were finished checking into our rooms we did not waste time to get some food. This was probably around 4pm and we went to the beach buffet. The spread had a lot of unique Dominican food, seafood, meats, and salad. I had a beer, known as Presidente, and a passion fruit Margarita. The servers were very friendly.

After we ate, we rested a bit more in the hotel, then got our bathing suits on and went to the beach. We ordered some pina coladas at the beach bar. The water was very warm, refreshing, and of course quite salty. However there was one major disappointment with the ocean, and that was the very rocky surface. I had expected super soft sand but the ground was covered in very unbalancing rocks. Sometimes it was easy to scrape your feet on these rocks as the waves pushed you around. I also often found myself falling into deeper rock holes in the ground. After a little bit of adjustment however I got use to avoiding the ground, or touching it very lightly. Another annoyance was the many vendors along the beach. We still however made an effort to spend some time at the beach everyday. I preferred it much more than the pool.

That evening we showered up, dressed up, and got some drinks at the plaza bar. There was some live music there, a rather chubby guy who couldn't quite hit the high notes. I ordered my first cocktail, a rather strong concoction of blue-syrupy rum. I wasn't quite up on my mixed drinks so just asked the bartender to make me something special, and he made me something quite strong. I finished it nonetheless with a decent buzz. For dinner we ate at the Masuri Japanese Grill. This included a sushi bar as well as a hibachi grill. We were all quite filled-up after the sushi bar, but then came the stir-fried rice, chicken, steak, shrimp, and salmon. I enjoyed the food very much, and we were all beyond full after that dinner. 

For dessert we walked over to the Supreme Buffet and I remember being shocked at how much food was still sitting there to be thrown away. As full as I was I still had a loaded donut. After this we briefly caught some live entertainment at the Theatre, which was a classic rock show. Andres and I played some ping pong, then Gabriel and I played some pool. We stayed at the theatre for maybe an hour or so, then called it a night by around 10ish. I was quite wiped out and fell fast asleep. 

Saturday

I knew I had to do some running on this vacation as I am still training for the Monumental Half Marathon. So I got up, had some tasty espresso coffee, then searched for the gym. It was quite rainy that morning and took me a little bit to find the gym, since it was not connected to the main lobby. Once there I ran 4 miles on the treadmill. This was one of those treadmills that annoyingly shuts down after about 20 minutes (which interrupts my flow). After I finished my run I went back to my room, quite sweaty, skipped breakfast, and took a shower. Unfortunately there was no breakfast spot close to our room, since the main lobby was a good 5-minute walk. It continued to rain all morning, so we hung out at our room outside the patio. Gabriel took a bath outside and popped open a bottle of champagne. 

For lunch we went to the Beach Buffet, and I was very hungry having skipped breakfast. The waitress was very friendly with us and kept the drinks coming. I ordered a very tasty Miami Vice which was a mixture of a Pina Colada and Strawberry Daquiri. We then relaxed at the beach for most the afternoon. My mom and I bought some trinkets from one of the vendors. That evening we went to the 5 o'clock church service at the chapel. It was quite an interactive mass, as the pastor recruited me to do the reading and my mom to translate his service. I had not done a reading since high school, but think I did quite well, including the responsorial psalm as well. After mass we all took a photo with the priest and the small congregation. 

For dinner we went to the Taino Restaurant, near the lobby, which specialized in Caribbean and Mexican food. We had the option to either order from the menu or go to the buffet, which we all decided the latter. After this we went to the plaza bar for a little bit, where the same chubby guy was singing. Gabriel danced with one of the local girls. That evening we went back to the theatre to catch the Disco Show. This was a much better performance than the night before, with a full backup band and some great vocalists performing the most popular disco hits of the 70s-80s. We stayed for the entire show and think all of us really enjoyed it, especially Gabriel. 

Sunday

That morning I got up and went back to the gym first thing to get my run over with. I once again did a 4-miler on the treadmill, then scouted out the nearby Legends Sports Bar. It appeared the sports bar did not open until evening, which would have been disappointing for the big Lions game. I later found out from David however that the bar would be open by afternoon. After a shower, I was luckily able to catch my parents finishing breakfast at the Supreme Buffett. I had some very tasty donuts, pastries, and tropical juices there.  

After breakfast we ventured to the lobby to make arrangements for an excursion to Santo Domingo and reservations to the French restaurant. This was quite a time consuming process however as we waited maybe 10 minutes to finally get service and even longer to work things out. We made our plans to leave Monday morning with a driver and tour guide to get a full tour of the biggest city in DR. The drive itself was going to be about 3 hours, but we all agreed we needed some sort of adventure. After we worked things out we spent another 10 minutes with a different person making reservations for the French Restaurant. We didn't understand why it took so long, other then poor organization. After we left the guest services, another person tried to flag us down to re-arrange our plans but we told him we just didn't want to waste the time. 

For lunch I was able to get dad to join me to watch the Lions game. We ventured to the Legends Sports Bar, but right away I was quite disappointment with the setup. This included three big theatre style screens, one of which was not even working. We asked the host if he could get the Lions game on, but he seemed to pre-occupied with other issues. I highly doubt he even had access to the game. We ordered a round of drinks there, then left after about 10 minutes. I think I also came to the realization that even if we had the game on TV, watching a football game was not something to be done at a tropical location. So my dad and I rejoined the group at the lunch buffet. Our waitress was especially friendly to me and kept the Presidente beers rolling. 

After this we hung out at the beach for most the afternoon. I ordered a very tasty strawberry daiquiri and got some reading done in my book, the Secrets of the Immortal Nicolas Flamel. That evening we went to El Rodeo for dinner which was at the beach plaza. I ordered a beer and the lobster. I honestly was not all that impressed with the food there, but still ate so much as I finished mine and helped Ofelia finish her steak. That evening dad and I took a late night swim in the pool, which I thought was lit up so nicely at night. We managed to get from our end of the hotel all the way to the plaza and got to watch some of the entertainment from the pool. However one of the managers warned us that the pool was very heavy with chlorine in the evenings, although he did not tell us to get out. After this late night swim, dad and I walked over to the beach where they were having a dance party. We stayed for maybe 15 minutes hoping to meet up with Gabriel, but then returned to the hotel for the night.

Monday

That morning we got room service at around 7am, arranged by our butler David. The food was quite cold but still this made our morning easier before we set off to Santo Domingo. We met our taxi driver, Roberto, at the front of the lobby he was very kind and showed us to his van. The trip was a good 3 hours, but still very interesting to observe the DR countryside. It really reminded me of Venezuela or Costa Rica. My mom and Ofelia talked in Spanish with the guy the whole way, while I got some reading done in my book. We stopped at a rest area half way to get some coffee and go to the bathroom. 

Once there our first stop was at the famous national park known as Los Tres Ojos (which means the three eyes). This is a reference to three (actually four) underground lakes that dwell in caves. We met our tour guide there, who was loaded with information. The trip to get to the lakes consisted of many stairs thru beautiful caves. Each of the lakes had a crystal blue color to them with superstitious ties pertaining to luck, wealth, and love. The guide informed us that many Hollywood movies were filmed in these caves such as Jurassic Park III, Anaconda, and Pirates of the Caribbean (where Jack Sparrow and Barbosa have their final confrontation). After this we went to a giant mausoleum dedicated to Christopher Columbus known as Columbus Lighthouse (erected in 1992). It is believe that some of Columbus' bones are kept at the central tomb of the giant building. The site was also host to Pope John Paul II's visit in 1992, commemorated by his pope mobile outside the building. While the building I thought was a rather impressive site, it was unfortunately poorly managed and already showing signs of wear.    

After this we got lunch downtown near the Cuidad Colonial (the Old European Town of Santo Domingo). We ate at a tasty buffet, where our driver Roberto was able to get us a discount. After this we explored the beautiful colonial city that was established by the conquistadors of the 1500s. Our tour guide showed us the many churches, palaces, and homes of the famous conquistadors such as Columbus, Cortez, and Pizzaro. I was quite inspired by the trip and learned that Santo Domingo was at one point the main city of the New World in the early 1500s. It was named after Saint Dominique, and considered the gateway to the Caribbean where many other conquistadors staged their operations from.  

As we continued to walk thru old town, our guide also showed us the famous street where a scene in Godfather 2 was filmed. This is when Michael Corleone witnesses a suicide bomber take out some local soldiers. While the movie takes place in Cuba, much of it was filmed in the DR due to political reasons. We dropped in on several souvenir shops, who were all friendly and treated us to their local Mamajuana drinks. After a couple hours in the city, Ofelia and dad started getting quite tired so we decided to call it a day. I did a little bit more reading on the way home, but also fell asleep for a little bit. We paid our driver in pesos and got back to the hotel around 5pm. 

For dinner we went to the Supreme Buffet, then dad and I walked around for a bit exploring the resort. We ventured off to the neighboring resorts which included the Elegance and Mirage for adult/club members. We found the Elegance to be quite empty and without any restaurants at all (I believe the Mirage does have some however). After this we got back to the hotel early and rested up for a bit as I planned to go to the disco that night at 11pm. Gabriel however decided to bail so I just went with Andres. I really wasn't sure what to expect, but had a couple pre-game drinks to loosen up. Surprisingly it was actually a fun night, and right from the get-go we got pulled to the dance floor by some older attractive blond ladies. There were many pretty girls on the dance floor, however no more than about 20 or so. We stayed until about 12:30 when we felt the dancefloor was thinning out.

Tuesday

That morning I intended to go for a run but didn't sleep too well and felt a little hungover. So instead I joined mom and dad for breakfast at the Supreme Buffet. After this we spent the entire morning at the beach. I got some good reading, relaxing, and swim in. Mom and Andres got their hair done in braids that morning. I mustered up some energy to play volleyball with Gabriel. It was very hot and sunny that day, and while it was fun, it was also very exhausting. For lunch we once again went to the Supreme Buffet, then back to the hotel to rest a bit. Gabriel continued to get drunk at the pool bar. 

That evening we walked around for a bit by the beach then had some drinks near the lobby bar. For dinner we went back to the Taino Caribbean Restaurant and this time decided to get the Mexican food. I was getting quite burnt out on the Caribbean seafood, so decided to order a hamburger with fries (dad did the same). Our waitress brought us some bonus drinks which included a tasty sangria and group shots of mamajuana. After this we went to the souvenir shops on Caribbean street where I bought some trinkets. We then went to the Circus show for a little bit, but mom was getting sleepy so we called it an early night.

Wednesday

That morning I slept much better and started my dad off with another 4 mile run at the gym. Luckily I was able to ask Andres to bring me some donuts from the buffet, since I knew I would be too sweaty to enter. After a shower we briefly went to the beach but then back to the room to get some things ready for our journey home. At 11 o'clock Gabriel and I had a massage booked at the spa. This was my first ever massage and while it was not included in the all-inclusive package, I decided to treat myself. Before the massage there was a spa bathing process, which included the sauna, some cold and vibrating showers, a Turkish bath, a dip in the pool. The Spa pool was incredible with it's cold tub, hot tub, and jet fountains all of which we got to enjoy with some mimosas. 

After the bath we met our masseuses, disrobed, and sat on our bed. I shared a room with Gabriel, so decided to keep my swim shorts on. At first we laid face down and it took me a little bit too get comfortable, especially due to my runny nose. I eventually let go though, and really enjoyed the thorough deep tissue massage that pretty much covered every part of our body. It went by very quick. My only complaint was I had wished it was a more personal experience to perhaps root out some soreness from running. We tipped our masseuses then joined everyone for our last lunch at the Beach Buffett. Mom made a complaint after witnesses one of the employees get berated by their manager. 

After lunch we spent some good time lounging and swimming at the beach. I went on a long walk with Andres to see some of the other resorts. After this I took a very long swim in the ocean, knowing it would be my last one there. That evening we dressed up nicely since we had reservations at the French restaurant and pants were required. Before dinner we went to the lobby bar, and listened to some live piano. One of the songs the guy played was Never Enough from the Greatest Showman. I decided to order white wine for a change. We took some more photos by the lobby bar and sat outside for a little bit before dinner. 

The French restaurant was called Le Gourmet, and I found it to be hands down the best quality at the resort. For appetizer I ordered a unique asparagus/egg soup which I found to be quite tasty and some mushroom ravioli. Gabriel and Andres ordered the Mango soup which they also enjoyed. For dinner mom, dad, and myself ordered the NY steak prime rib, while Gabriel and Andres ordered some lamb chops, and Ofelia ordered some fish. Everyone enjoyed their food except Ofelia. It was a very enjoyable evening and we had some engaging conversation about woke culture and the Israel-Palestine conflict. The dessert was a bit sub-par, but everything else was quite good. I left the restaurant feeling quite tipsy from all the wine I had drank.

After dinner we got to the theatre early to get good seats for the Michael Jackson show. Gabriel and I played several more games of pool. Before the show started Andres was recruited to come up on stage and compete in a Michael Jackson dance off. He actually did pretty well, but finished second. The show was incredible with the lead performer who danced and looked just like MJ and had some incredible acrobatic back-up dancers. The songs performed were Jam, Smooth Criminal, Bad, Beat it, Thriller, and Heal the World. It was hands down the best show of the week and the perfect ending to the perfect trip. 

Thursday

We scheduled taxi pickup to the airport at around 12pm so had a little bit of time to kill in the hotel before we left. I slept in a little extra and joined everyone for breakfast around 8:30am (even though I thought we should have breakfast much later). Mom and dad were up early however as they got up to watch the sunrise. After breakfast we walked around the hotel one last time and took lots of pictures. We then got back to our rooms, packed up, met the bell boy, and checked out of the hotel. Our taxi driver was once again very talkative and spoke in Spanish with mom and Ofelia the whole trip. This time checking in was much easier since I filled out the E-tickets correctly and we got our boarding passes.

We got some pizza for lunch at the airport, then boarded and left by around 3pm. I watched a couple movies on the flight, Chevalier and Waterboy. We landed by around 7:30pm and parted ways with Andres and Gabriel. We then caught our shuttle back to the hotel, and then began our late night drive from Chicago to Fort Wayne. We had dinner at Taco Bell in Valparaiso, and arrived to Fort Wayne by around 1am. The next morning I headed back home to Zionsville. It was a very relaxing trip and the week just flew by. I also think it was a great value considering how much we drank and ate each day. I would certainly want to do this resort experience again sometime.