I searched Caribbean deals and saw hundreds of budget friendly all-inclusive trips. After weighing the pros and cons of what seemed like endless options: http://www.cheapcaribbean.com, I decided one week in the DR would suffice. The website is like vacation deals on speed, but they had some good options (believe me I searched tons of sites!). The only kicker is the advertised price says it includes the flight, but final cost may vary from your airport, so some destinations are better than others depending on where you live.
Q: Punta Cana vs. Puerto Plata?
After reading the reviews, I gathered that Punta Cana has nicer beaches, but during peak "I need a warm weather vacation now!" season, I decided that saving $300+ was worth it and chose beautiful Puerto Plata:
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| Afternoon beach spot in Puerto Plata |
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| RIU Bachata is exactly as pictured. Note: The resort is connected to RIU Mambo & RIU Merengue. RIU Bachata is the newest and nicest, but you have access to all 3 - we made use of all the beaches! |
Our first room left much to be desired (1st floor/partial view/broken AC), so I put my Spanish to work and asked ever-so-nicely if they had anything a little higher up with an ocean view. After working in the hospitality industry, I've learned it's not what you ask for, it's how you ask, and a genuine thank you goes a long way. After all, the resort wasn't full and well-run hotels want you to be happy :D
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| Sunset from our 3rd floor balcony.. (Ignore pink bungalow, we did.) |
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| WB & BB: very happy with our balcony! |
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| Our Bungalow... (well, the green one behind it)... didn't get quite that lucky. |
Gotta love attempting photos when it's just two of you. I'm not a huge fan of "solo" shots, however the "long arm" in every picture trying to squeeze us in isn't perfect either. We did have a few fun photo shoots at the Gazebo though:
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| "Floppy Hat" |
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| Whitney rockin' the "solo" shot! |
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| "Beautifully Breezy" (just about lost the hat...) |
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| "Happy Feet" (not sure why my feet get so tan...) |
No need to wander far from our resort, but our vacation wouldn't have been complete without...
1) Early morning walks:
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| "Captivatingly Calm" |
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| "Sunrise" |
2) Mid-morning baking and swimming at the beach:
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| "Hi Whitney!" |
3) Afternoons reading (or naps) on the beach:
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| "Balmy Breeze" |
4) Cocktails from our bartender Edison and Cava on our balcony:
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| "Winning" |
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| "Bubbly on the Balcony" |
5) Clean rooms complete with folded animal towels:
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| "Elefante" |
6) Sunsets, sunsets, sunsets
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| "Sunset under a green spotlight" |
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| Puerto Plata Airport |
Overall, a week in Puerto Plata was just what we needed. I wouldn't say the resort was "wedding, honeymoon, or extra-special occasion friendly," but for a great price we had everything we needed for a week long beach vacation. Thoughts on RIU Bachata All-Inclusive:
The Good:
* All meals, beverages, alcohol, and activities included aside from spa
* Extraordinarily friendly staff: welcoming, attentive, & helpful
* Warm & sunny days despite the rainy weather forecast
* Offered sit-down restaurant options and buffets
* Daily room & resort cleaning (very well-maintained)
* Beautiful beach, nice pool area with swim-up bar, and small gym
* Easy transportation to/from airport arranged at the front desk
The Bad:
* The food and alcohol were plentiful, but nothing to write home about... though I like fruit, hard-boiled eggs, and salad greens anything beyond those options were iffy for my "non-buffet friendly" lifestyle
* Towel card system was annoying with only one area to get towels
* Activities, rendition of the Lion King, & "nightlife" were odd
* Some interesting clientele... (won't elaborate)
The Ugly:
* Topless women who well, just shouldn't have been topless
* One really annoying "excursion promoter" who just wouldn't let it go
* Musty smell from closets on our clothes when we got home
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| Nos vemos República Dominicana! |
Those pictures are gorgeous Beebs!!!
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