Thanksgiving in Punta Cana
This Thanksgiving the Ruba family traded in turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie for sunshine, sand and palm trees. To celebrate Mom and Dad's 30th anniversary and as a Christmas gift to us kids, Mom and Dad took us all to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Another cause for celebration was Dad's birthday on Nov. 30th. Holidays are a special time that allow us to spend quality time with family. I am very fortunate and appreciative of the five nights and six days I got to spend with my immediate family in this beautiful, tropical country.
Rather than focus on each day, which is somewhat difficult since they blend together, I'll write a little summary of the highlights of the trip...
The average daily temperature was 83 degrees. This was a much needed break from the early snow and unseasonably cold temperatures in Iowa.
The resort was The Excellence, located north of Punta Cana. It was an adult-only, all-inclusive resort. Mom picked this resort because it received good reviews and came recommended from her travel agent. From the minute we arrived (and the staff handed us champagne) to our departure, the resort and its people did not disappoint. Good job selecting this place, Mom!
Ryan and I were impressed by our room. Vaulted ceilings, jacuzzi tub, walk-in shower, several seating options and a king sized bed made for a comfortable and relaxing stay.
The drinks were fabulous. They definitely didn't skimp on the alcohol. The beer, El Presidente, was also good. They even had Coors Light, my parents' beer of choice. I think I drank my weight in mojitos. Sooo good. The resort had 10 bars so a drink was never far away. I think everyone in the family took their turn in being the "tipsy" one...
The resort had nine restaurants, each with a different flavor. Asian, French, Mexican, Italian, Spanish, American, Mediterranean. We were able to get to most of the the restaurants. One of our favorites was the restaurant that served tapas. It made for a good experience with a taste of just about everything we love. Appetizers are our thing!
There were a few areas of the resort that were under construction. It was not only a bit of an eye sore but also a distraction as the sounds of saws and chisels could be heard from some areas of the pool. Speaking of pools, they were pretty awesome here. There was a long one that ran from the rooms near ours all the way to the lobby. It was surrounded by beach huts, beds and lounge chairs. The second pool was smaller, more remote and had a cascading wall of water. We enjoyed both of them. It was fun sitting around or floating within the water, with a drink in hand with the family. As Ryan would say, it was like a pool party!
The ocean was pretty rough but that didn't stop us from going in. This was Jess' first time seeing the ocean and she loved it. The beaches were full of washed up seaweed (the brown stuff in the photos). I had never seen that before.
We booked an all-day excursion that was to include 4x4 boogie rides, a beach lunch, a stop at a lagoon and snorkeling from a catamaran. It ended up being an unorganized trip that included a lot of waiting around. The agent that sold us the adventure was wrong about the snorkeling. No snorkeling. We were so mad. It was a waste of a day and none of us got to see the beautiful reefs of the Dominican! What do you do?!
We also signed up for a deep sea fishing excursion. Unlike the day before, the staff was friendly and the trip was well planned. We were really excited to hit the water and catch some fish. Unfortunately, our excitement soon dissipated and was replaced with sea sickness. Mom got sick and the girls and myself were very queasy. The crashing waves and the smell of diesel were not a good combination. Before we turned the boat around, Ryan did catch a Barracuda. We went on Dad's birthday and he was really excited, so we all felt bad that he didn't get to experience it. After this disaster of an experience, I declared "Excursions: 2. Ruba Family: 0". Luckily, the girls and Mom and Dad had a fun time zip-lining the next day. Ryan and I opted to stay behind since we went on our honeymoon.
For Dad's birthday (without any prompting), the resort decorated his room with balloons and left a delicious birthday cake in his room that we devoured later on in the evening. It was a fun day celebrating!
Without boring with any more of my recap (I realize it has already gotten long!), I want to close with saying that this trip meant more to me than a relaxing time away from work, the cold temperatures and everyday stresses. It was a once-in-a-lifetime vacation with people that I love more than anything. We laughed, reminisced and, most of all, enjoyed one another's company. I remember at one point sitting on the side of the pool and looking at my family in a moment of laughter and thinking, "remember this, cherish this, this exact moment, this trip, because it is times like this that make life so great" ... and smiled to myself. I want to thank Mom and Dad for making it happen. Saying thank-you really isn't enough. We loved the trip and love who we spent it with even more.
Okay. I guess I'm not done! Having only gone to one other all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, Ryan and I found ourselves comparing our experience there to what we were experiencing in Punta Cuna. Here's our official comparison of The Excellence, Punta Cuna and Couples Swept Away, Negril, that I wanted to share with you.
The Beach. Hands down, the beach was better at Couples. The water was calmer and the beaches were sandy white. The Food. I really enjoyed the jerk chicken, casual dining options and desserts at Couples, yet the diversity and quality of food at TheExcellence gives it the nod. The Excellence had limited restaurant options for lunch and breakfast, however. Yet, they did not require reservations at any of the restaurants, which was a plus. The People. Ryan and I have different opinions on this (he liked the people of Dominican better), but I'd probably consider this to be a tie for me. The Resort. The Excellence wins this one for its more modern and larger facilities. Our room was nicer here but our view and balcony was better at Couples.
In the end, the places each had a different vibe. Couples is a relaxing, calm place that embodies romance. This was exactly what we wanted for our honeymoon. It was all about just Ryan and I, the newlyweds. The Excellence puts entertainment at the forefront for its guests. This was perfect for us and our family. Lots of fun had by all. My recommendation? Both, of course!