How we got there!
This trip was a little different than originally expected. Our planned destination was Paris but Covid did a good job of ruining a lot of international travel. We had tickets booked and were ready to go but as the date approached and the country was closed, we flipped a lot of things around and ended up in the Dominican Republic. We flew into Punta Cana and got a ride to Bravado. It ended up being an amazing place and a beautiful island!
What we did!
After switching our trip around we went for an all-inclusive in Bravado. We ended up getting a great deal on a week-long all-inclusive and it was incredible.
While there we wandered the beaches, ate lots of food, and relaxed like we were in heaven.
We also did an off-resort excursion and took dune buggies through the countryside and then to a private beach. We always have mixed feelings about excursions, but it actually turned out to be a really good experience. Unfortunately, it was also super sad. While riding through the countryside we had a lot of kids running up to us asking for money, food, or anything we had. It was super sad to see the state of these kids as well as their living situations but also extremely eye-opening.
We also did a catamaran ride to a couple of hotspots. It was alright but it was basically a booze cruise and the sites weren’t that great. Be aware if you’re considering a catamaran tour. I’m sure there are great ones on the island but we, unfortunately, didn’t choose one of them.
Where we stayed!
We stayed in the Meliá Punta Cana Beach Wellness Inclusive – Adults only and it was amazing! We don’t have any experience with D.R. resorts but it ended up being a really good one. The food was great, the landscaping was beautiful, and we were in paradise!
It was made even better by the fact that covid had resorts limited to 40% and there were very few people making it nice and relaxing!
We found the resort through Expedia and then we actually called them with questions. They asked us about the pricing and then gave us a better rate than online. They told us to always call the resorts because they’ll be better. It ended up being $700 per person for 7 days. Pretty hard to beat for such a great resort.
It’s always worth calling the resorts and asking for better rates.
Where we ate!
The resort. For good or bad we only ate resort food. We figured if you’re paying for all-inclusive, it’d be dumb to leave and pay for food elsewhere. Plus they had great food and we were quite content. They had a handful of restaurants, great buffets, and delicious desserts.
Gluten-Free in the Dominican Republic!
Resorts are getting better and better as they want to attract all types of guests. This resort did a great job of offering gluten-free and for having plenty of options. Never be afraid to try somewhere knew.
What we learned!
There are a ridiculous amount of hagglers on the beach. It’s unfortunate because it kills the vibe at times.
Haiti is the bordering country and has lots of economical issues. This sends many of them to the DR and to its beaches. Just be aware and ignore the hagglers.