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Last updated 3 weeks ago
There are many reasons to choose an all-inclusive resort.
For some, it’s endless amounts of food and drink, for others it’s spending hours by the pool, while the rest of you might just want to lounge in paradise while enjoying all the luxury amenities, including free room service.
Our recent trip to the Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa checked all the boxes and more, and honestly, we couldn’t think of a better way to kick off summer.
From the smooth airport pick-up to checking into my room, I was treated like royalty and not just another tourist in a long line.
Greeted with a welcome cocktail and the friendliest bellboy I’ve ever met, Francel showed me to my stay for the week, a spacious ocean-view room just a few steps from where I’d have private access to Bavaro Beach, the Dominican Republic’s most famous beach.
Tucked away from the noisy motorbike-crammed streets and famous nightclubs of Punta Cana, this luxurious 5-star resort offers a private haven and one of the most blissful beach vacations in the Caribbean.
Bon Appetit: 18 restaurants to choose from
Let’s start with the endless food options… and sometimes a few cold drinks too.
But first, know that there are four separate resorts that are all part of one grand complex. In addition to the Grand Palace (where I stayed), there are:
TRS Turquesa Grand Grand Palladium Punta Cana Grand Palladium Bavaro Suites
If you are staying with the All Inclusive package, you will have access to all restaurants regardless of where you are staying, except for the four restaurants that are exclusive to TRS guests.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed starting my day with breakfast at Las Torres every day.
Some resorts have buffets that leave you wondering what’s on your plate, but not here.
With made-to-order omelets, a crepe station, a selection of fresh fruit, and amazingly delicious cappuccinos (yes, I’m a coffee snob!), this was a place I’d go to every day.
For lunch, we ate steaks at the beachside Helios Beach Club one day and ate endless amounts of pizza the next, but it’s at dinner that the resort’s diverse international cuisine really shines.
From interactive Japanese teppanyaki to flavorful Indian dishes to sumptuous pasta topped with truffles and caviar, you can’t go wrong.
There are also Healthy Habits Bars for those who can’t resist a “cheat day” during the holidays – no judgement here, mine just means more sugar and carbs!
I highly recommend trying the fresh slices of suckling pig served during Las Torres’ dinner service – so tender and flavorful.
While some people may use vacations as an excuse to catch up on sleep, I’m the kind of person who wants to make the most of every moment and experience it all.
My nightly haunt was the only 24-hour establishment on the premises, Extra Time Sports Bar, and once the handcrafted cocktails at Hemingway’s were finished, the night continued at Extra Time.
Here you never know where the night ends and the morning begins: at any time you can watch your favorite team play while enjoying a wide selection of snacks and cold Presidente.
If I go missing, please find me in the “secret pool”
The “Secret Pool” may not be that secret, but the great thing about it is that it’s a haven for anyone wanting to escape the screaming kids and have some adult time.
It’s a family-friendly resort, so you’re bound to bump into kids, but there’s also plenty of space to relax in peace and enjoy an adult beverage.
The Secret Pool was by far our favorite place to hang out during the day, with a swim-up bar that specializes in piña coladas, shaded cabanas, and lots of space, and crowds were never an issue.
Of course, there were multiple pools dotted around this luxurious resort, but this one stood out the most for how exclusive it felt.
Located opposite the TRS, this site is for those wanting to relax and undisturbed and in that regard it far exceeded expectations.
Fun in the mud? 10/10 spa day!
Not everyone goes to a spa on vacation, but you’d be missing out if you didn’t purchase a day pass to Zentropia Spa and Wellness.
The entire program on offer is one of a kind, and the 30-minute massage was one of the best I’ve ever had – and this coming from someone who was transformed into a human pretzel in Bangkok.
Immediately after the massage, you will be served a hot tea and await a truly unique experience you may never have had before.
Zentropia takes its creed from Katy Perry, who believes in hot and cold therapy: after a shower for hygiene reasons, you’re escorted to a sauna and then to an “ice room.”
Swinging between extreme temperature opposites may sound painful in words, but it’s surprisingly fun.
Afterwards, my favourite, I head to the steam room for a perfect finishing touch with a menthol spritz, before relaxing in the Jacuzzi to recharge my batteries.
Finally, you’re led to a hidden area of the spa where you’re lathered with organic clay masks, each with a different health benefit, and then seated on rocks, Flintstones-style.
These colorful mud baths may look a little silly at first glance, but they’re surprisingly calming – although, oddly enough given the spa route, it can be hard to get it all off afterwards with unpredictable hot and cold showers.
Choose a private beach or a great day trip
As part of the “Palladium Experience,” you’ll have exclusive access to over a half-mile of beach, not only the most famous beach in the Dominican Republic, but one of the most popular in the entire Caribbean.
Bavaro Beach lives up to its reputation with crystal clear waters and soft sand, and is undoubtedly a beautiful beach.
Unfortunately, this time of year Mother Nature has other plans, turning this paradise beach into a game of seaweed-filled “the floor is lava”!
That means it’s sargassum season. The weather may be good or bad, the beaches are great for sunbathing and swimming, but somewhere along the line you’ll encounter that nasty brown algae called sargassum.
Although I enjoyed walking and swimming on the beautiful Blue Flag beaches, the highlight of the trip for me was our day trip to Saona Island.
Away from luxury resorts, tourist throngs and, best of all, free of sargassum, our time on this postcard-perfect island was well worth the hours of bus and boat travel.
The sea and beach are really beautiful and great for snorkelling, especially seeing lots of starfish, although I would strongly advise against touching them as they are a protected species.
Travel Off Path is a guest of the Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa and has collaborated in creating this itinerary by hosting some of the accommodations and attractions. Our opinions, recommendations and suggestions are our own.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author alone and not of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or any other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
