It’s a new year and what better way to start it off than to escape for a tropical getaway? January is definitely the most depressing month of the year and the freezing cold weather this year doesn’t help. Is it just me or has this been the coldest winter so far? Well, either way, there’s a reason January is the most popular month to escape to a tropical paradise. As for me, I was lucky enough to do an all-inclusive to the Domincan Republic a couple months ago because nothing beats grabbing a great travel deal during the off-season.
My sister and I decided to go to Be Live Collection Marien Beach Resort in Puerto Plata. I must admit I wasn’t a fan of the resort at first but I think that also had to do with the fact we landed on a Monday and when it had just finished raining. A tip for fellow travelers: try to arrive a bit later in the week when the resort tends to be more lively and the younger crowd arrives – as opposed to being surrounded by couples who don’t want to be bothered – if your objective is to meet new people and have a good time!
That being said, after a few days of resort life, it really grew on me! I wasn’t too keen on having nothing to do all day but we soon got used to our usual activities which consisted of eating, going to the beach, lounging by the pool, hanging out in the room and more eating. On our second day, we did some exploring after discovering our beach was a bit on the underwhelming side and ended up sneaking onto neighbouring resorts. This was all very exciting of course until we got caught and got sent back to Be Live. Another tip: all resorts in the Dominican have their own wristbands to differentiate their guests so trespass at your own risk 😉
One of the worst things about our resort was definitely the food but after spending seven days there, I’m not going to lie – we actually got used to it. I’d have to say the only passable meal the buffet served was breakfast. I even got up early just to make it in time to get my own customized omelet and grab a few slices of mango. I do have to mention the mango was delicious! They usually went like hot cakes though. Aside from breakfast, we also tried the a la carte restaurants and the Brazillian steakhouse was definitely the best meal we had while on vacation. The grilled pineapple was hands down my favourite!
During our time in the Dominican, we also ventured on two excursions to see what this beautiful island has to offer. On one of them, we traveled all the way to the other side of the island to do some snorkeling. It was a two-hour bus ride but it was definitely worth it as we finally got to experience the white sand beaches and crystal clear water we had initially come to the Dominican for. Once we got off the bus, we lounged on a boat with snacks and champagne until we reached this tiny strip of an island called Paradise Island.
I must admit I didn’t make it very deep into the water for snorkeling as I can’t swim but just being able to explore and enjoy the time at the beach was enough to make the experience an unforgettable one. And plus, during our excursion, I had the yummiest pina colada of my life and feasted on a lobster dinner that gave us a nice break from the food at the resort.
One of the best parts of the excursion was definitely enjoying that bubbly while cruising through the Atlantic Ocean with the beautiful view of the mountains in the distance. At one point, they even stopped the boat so we could enjoy some cocktails while taking a dip in the endless stretch of clear water surrounding us. The best part of vacationing in the Caribbean? The water is so comfortingly warm, you don’t need to worry about your body freezing up to the cold temperatures like back in Toronto.
The majority of our days were spent at the beach at our resort. On our second last night there, I convinced my sister to go skinny dipping with me. It’s been on my bucket list for the longest time and what better time to cross that off my list than in the Dominican? Tip for future skinny dippers: try to go during sunset before it gets too dark so you can really take in the view and it’s best to undress while in the water so you can avoid any embarrassing encounters with fellow beachgoers!
One of the highlights of the trip was definitely walking in on the epic foam party we almost missed out on! We spent so much time at the beach during the day that we didn’t even know of the activities happening by the pool. We managed to enjoy the last bit of it but note to self, definitely check the bulletin for upcoming events in the future! All in all, it was a very memorable trip. If you’re looking for a tropical getaway where you get to do essentially nothing all day except eat, drink and tan, definitely look into booking an all-inclusive!
Be Live Collection Marien Beach Resort
Carretera Luperón, Km. 4,5, Complejo turístico Costa Dorada, Puerto Plata 57000, Dominican Republic
1 Comment
Wow! What a beautiful landscape. It sounds like you and your sister had a lot of fun. Jealous!!