Agua Resort & Spa Punta Cana

My first full day in the Dominican Republic just so happens to be a national holiday: El Día de Restauración (Restoration Day). Pretty much Independence Day #2 for Dominicans. The first Independence Day is in February when the DR gained independence from Haitian rule. The second (Aug 16) is Independence from Spain which occupied the country for two years after their first Independence from Haiti. Anyway, enough with the history. Let me now explain to you ...

The flight into Punta Cana lands at 5:20pm local time (same as EST) in a thatch-roofed airport where a group of 90% gringos/Europeans are bustled through a series of strange touristy obstacles. First I am very abruptly photographed between two beautiful Dominican women wearing tons of makeup, cerulean blue 'traditional' (?) costume-like dresses and chiquita-banana fruit hats. Mind you, they looked like they hated every minute of ...

Hi Everyone, I know that it's been a while since I wrote anything here, I've been busy and of course I was away on holiday for a week. So what was supposed to be a vacation to Cozumel Mexico turned out to be a holiday to Punta Cana Dominican Republic which was actually pretty awesome! I myself love the DR and this was my 5th time there and again loved it, though it was my first time to Punta Cana. We ...

 We landed safe and sound in the DR and are enjoying a relaxing 4 days together at a resort in Punta Cana.  We are weaving in a block of schooling time in the morning and in the afternoon...otherwis e it feels like we are on springbreak and that we will be heading home in a few days.   The kids are not always eager pupils, but overall we are settling into something of a rhythm.   Ross and I are enjoying reading the kids books on the explorers ...

We just returned March 29th from 2 fantastic weeks at the Grand Palladium Palace in Punta Cana, DR. This is our 6th all inclusive and we have to say it is the best so far. The service and the food and the resort were all top notch. We have nothing but praise for this resort. Don't listen to any of the naysayers. This resort is incredible and the beach is amazing. There are 2 pools in each of the 3 resorts within the complex you have access to ...

... we'd be targeted because we were Americans. I was particularly nervous when I opened my suitcase and saw the headlines from The Washington Post peeping out of my suitcase pocket. I learned later that Sara was confident we'd be waved through because we were Americans. Such different perspectives! Anyway, we were allowed to leave after this rather perfunctory search (for drugs?). I vowed never to tell my mother about the ...

Just a few weeks after we got back from Europe, we took another drip down to the Dominican Republic. We stayed in Punta Cana for a few days and, in a complete departure from our Europe trip, did essentially nothing. We went scuba diving, enjoyed the beautiful beaches, and ...

... the sun went away and the rain clouds came out. It started raining - and for the rest of the trip it only stopped sporadically.

We hadn't really budgeted for the overpriced excursions as we were fresh out of college and making no money at this point - we really just intended to veg by the pool and now that wasn't an option. Luckily, I had some books and I was able ...

On our first full day at the resort the weather was gorgeous - our soul intentions for this trip was to sit pool side and not move...utter relaxation...we managed to do a full day of this!

The pool was nice and it was the off season so it wasn't very crowded at all. Overall it was a great day and we enjoyed it very much.

We had dinner at the restaurant and this is ...

My post graduation trip with my college roommate was taken to Dominican Republic - never once have I ever wanted to come home from a trip early, especially a 1 week trip, but there is a first time for everything.

Now, in complete disclosure I will say that had I done a little more pre-trip research I may have enjoyed my time in DR more, or have chosen to go someplace else. How I was young and this was my first trip I had ever planned on my ...