Wowza!!! This vacation is by far "the best" vacation ever!! I have to admit I was reluctant to go to outside US with just 3 girls traveling but I was amazed of how much fun we had!!!Once a year, I always want to go somewhere tropical. It is usually Hawaii but back in 2008, we went to the US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas and St. John) and I fell inlove with the Caribbean beaches. Initially, I was captivated with Aruba but while browsing vacation packages, I came across Punta Cana vacation packages so I immediately googled it and checked out reviews at tripadvisor. I saw the white sand beaches with turquoise water and I was mesmerized!!
Flight was 8-9 hours with layover at ATL. Turbulance was tad dreadful when we got to punta Cana but I was too busy watching the flights featured movie ( But i felt queasy when we landed). Punta cana airport is open air and weather is humid (note to self: No skinny jeans) Airport transfer to hotel was a bit long but that's because they only have 2 way lanes road. The surrounding is so lush and not commercialize.
Then we finally arrived at Majestic elegance (adult only, family friendly hotel is Majestic Colonial next to ours). Employee handed us cool wet hand towels to wipe off our sticky sweats. Lol. Check in was a bit long but the zinger is: we got a room with pool view!! Yeheyy!! I notice a little bit language barrier with the hotel employees though but they try all their best to communicate with you and cater to your needs.
Gosh!! I cannot wait to change to my summer clothes coz it was so hot and I felt so sticky wearing my skinny jeans. The room was super nice!!! In my opinion, it is way better than the 5 star Grand Wailea hotel in Maui. So love the weather, love the hotel, love the room, now time to check out the beach.
And it looks postcard ready!!!! Wow!! It is what I imagined it to be!!! White sand beach and turquoise water!! Palapas everywhere and beach chairs to work on your tan. Employees come to you and take your drinks order. Did I mention it's free? Well that's one of the perks for doing an all inclusive vacation package.
I'm an all inclusive vacation virgin and now that I experienced it, my standards went up again and I just have to do his type of vacation in the future. There was superfluous of food (Buffet and gourmet) and it feels good not think about spending money on your vacation. We tipped our servers, housekeeper, spinning teacher, bell boy, cook and bus driver whenever they provide their service even though package says gratuities included.
The hotel was full of activities. They have games eveyday, water aerobics, spinning class, shows at night, beach side activities and the must see performance is the Michael Jackson show.
Restaurants serves good food except the See by Sea restaurant. But the lobster was good, well in my standard and it feels good eating dinner with ocean breeze cooling you off. My favorites are Asedita which is the steak restaurant and Flavours which is buffet (we go here for breakfast and lunch). Italian has a nice ambience and 9 doors Tapenyaki was superb. Fresh food cooked in front of you is just amazing!!!
I got a $100 credit to do activities and we chose to do zipline. We got picked from our hotel @8am. Really early because the place is more than 1 hour ride. And if you think that the zipline is the highlight of the activitiy, you got it wrong. It was the bumpy ride up the mountains. Lol. That was an adventure!! The scenery was so lush and we get to see how the locals live. The drive reminds me of our province in the Philippines. Undeveloped area and people are poor. Little boys handing out flowers just so thy can get tips. Some of them run on rocky road without shoes and 1 boy tripped in desperation to catch us and get a tip. So sad and makes me appreciate what I have back home. The boy got a good tip though when we saw him on our trip back to our hotels.
Zipline!!! Ahhhh... I can finally cross that out on my bucket list. That was pure adrenaline rush!! Well I have to admit I was terrified when the zipline guide showed us the map of the different platforms, the heights and lengths of the cables and the hikes we have to do but after the first try out, I was ready for more!!! I think I was more scared of wearing that smelly helmet and gloves. Lol. The zipline people are so nice and they helped me feel safe.
Last day, we went to get a massage at the hotels spa. I got a free 25 minute massage from booking my hotel at Costco so I took advantage of it. Janice and Eds joined me and we had a very relaxing massage. Well I wasn't all relaxed because I had all these imaginations running in my head despite the relaxing sound of the ocean and the masseuse instruction to "just relax". I was giggling here and there. And don't get me started on the underwear story. LMAO.
Last day was hard for all of us because we enjoyed the trip so much! We went there expecting the worst because of the past mixed reviews we read at tripadvisor BUT I was pleasantly surprise how superb this vacation was. No food poising, no complains on the service, no complains on the rooms. I guess we are just not that hard to please.
We all came back chocolate! lol.
