Punta Cana is in the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic. It is best known for its beaches facing both the Caribbean and Atlantic Oceans. Punta Cana has an estimated population of 100,000, and I venture that the townspeople are happy to see all of the tourists.
We got to know the staff at the resort, and they got to know us, and after a few days, we felt right at home. When we dined at our resort, we dined al fresco (there was no indoor dining room). A local chef, with locally grown ingredients, prepared the food. It was delicious.
The resort did not have any fancy grounds, but it did have a pool, one of my favorite places to hang out and read, while we are on vacation. Our teenage kids ran into other teenagers and enjoyed jumping in and out of the pool.
Punta Cana’s downtown features a colorful square and the usual tourist shops. The people were very friendly and even though it was not the height of the season, there were places to eat on the beach.
When we got home my son, (who is usually not a fan of beach vacations) said that it was ‘the best vacation we ever had’. So do not overlook the little resorts when you plan for your travels, forget the number of stars as a definitive guide. You might see local children running and playing in the neighborhoods, and families engaged in their daily routines. Even in a tourist Mecca, real life with real people beats a swanky (and at times impersonal) resort, each and every time.
What I remember most about that trip was walking on the beach and swimming in the pool. And that rum was thrown at us whenever there was a free second. And of course, the wonderful family time!