When it comes to my vacation personality, I wouldn’t call myself an explorer. My goal is to pack in as much relaxation as possible, as often as possible. I aspire to be the single, wealthy aunt who only comes home to tell her family about her latest vacation. On my recent trip to the Riu Palace Macau in Punta Cana with Sunwing Vacations, I realized my vacation dreams with even more luxury than I could have hoped for. After five days at the adults-only, all-inclusive resort, I felt rejuvenated and like myself.
The lobby bar at Riu Macau.
Everything at the newly renovated Riu Palace Macau is designed to make guests feel at home. My room featured chic neutral tones, soothing aromatherapy infusions, and a king-size bed with crisp white sheets. When I opened the sliding glass doors to the patio and saw the pool overlooking towering palm trees, I was in full vacation mode.
One of the resort’s deluxe junior suites.
At the nearby beach, palm trees dot the beautiful landscape, providing shade for guests dozing in lounge chairs. In the private elite club area, I enjoyed reading on my Bali bed surrounded by lush vegetation. As a non-alcoholic, I appreciated the extensive mocktail menu, especially the refreshing cocktail that combined pineapple and mint. As I’m one to snack throughout the day, it was nice to have 24/7 room service to grab a club sandwich when I had a midnight craving.
The beachfront pool at the Riu Palace Macau.
But breakfast quickly became the meal I looked forward to most. At the buffet, the croissant French toast with fresh watermelon juice became my favorite. For those who don’t like buffets, there is a quiet, private area on the patio where elite club guests can order dishes like eggs Benedict à la carte.
On the third day of my stay, I headed to Splash World Water Park. Featuring five different water slides, the park is open to all Riu guests, and also has a kids’ park (Riu Palace Macau is adults-only, but there’s a family-friendly Riu resort nearby). My fellow travellers screaming on the water slides made me laugh, but I stuck to my relaxation policy and chilled out under the water cascading from the fake palm trees in the splash pad area.
My friends then headed off in search of more adventure with NexusTours, a tour provider that offers a variety of excursions, including sand buggy tours, catamaran cruises, and snorkeling. While they returned raving about how much fun they had, I wouldn’t trade my afternoon for anything: I’d booked a massage at Renova Spa. Although I didn’t spend enough time on the hydrotherapy circuit (which features two hot and cold plunge pools and a pool with jet showers), lying on a plush massage table while a therapist gently massaged my tired muscles took my vacation to a whole new level.
The pool at the Renova Spa at the Riu Macau.
On our final evening, our group gathered for a fusion dinner at Crystal, an open-air restaurant overlooking the beach. The first course was an avocado and lobster dish I still dream about. In total, we ate at four different restaurants during our stay (there are six on-site, including one exclusively for elite club guests), but Crystal was my favorite. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a great meal under the stars while watching the waves crash.
Crystal Restaurant at the Riu Palace.
I put on my bikini and took one last dip in the pool before getting ready for bed. I felt a sense of peace and gratitude in my heart. I kept thinking about a phrase I saw written on the wall of the spa lounge: “Keep taking time for yourself until you get back to normal.” I hope to carry this mentality with me on future vacations.
Lora Grady traveled as a guest of Sunwing Vacations, but the company has not reviewed or endorsed this article.
