Our Flightie Mallory just returned from her trip with WestJet Vacations to beautiful Punta Cana and La Romana. As fabulous as the hotels were, she takes us off the resort and shares her favourite excursions. From the catamaran cruises to the floating spa’s, it’s understandable why Mallory didn’t want to leave:
Our trip began with direct flights from Ottawa to Punta Cana. It was such a nice change to have more legroom when going on an all- inclusive; you don’t feel jammed into the plane with Westjet and their customer service is amazing! If you have never flown with Westjet before, you will notice a fun and friendly environment. Just a friendly reminder that meals are not included but can be purchased on board. You can also bring your own food on the plane in case you’re hungry.
We first went to La Romana which is about an hour and a half drive from the Punta Cana Airport. The drive allows you to experience a bit of the Dominican culture before relaxing in a resort style atmosphere. The beaches in La Romana are beautiful! This is also the best area to watch the sunset on the beach… breathtaking!
I was lucky enough to experience two different excursions while in the Dominican; the first one was about a 10 minute drive from La Romana and would be about an hour and a half from Punta Cana. This excursion was to Saona Island, and what a beautiful island! We took a catamaran on the way to Saona. Friendly tip: hold on to your belongings or bring a bag because this is one windy ride! The wind doesn’t make it cold since the sun is beating down, but just a hazard for anything light! On the Catamaran you have the option of the sun or the shade and there are drinks on board as well as dance lessons. Once you arrive to Saona Island, the afternoon is completely yours!
You can swim in the turquoise waters, lay on the beach chairs, or go for a nice walk. Lunch is provided as a BBQ buffet with lots of great choices. Oh and did I mention that rum, beer and water are also included all day?! On the way back to La Romana, we took a speed boat and stopped in an area that houses many star fish. Here you are able to take pictures with them and discover some new things you may not have known about these sea creatures.
The second excursion we went on was called Dr. Fish and was SO worth it! This tour took about 20 minutes to get to from our hotel in Punta Cana. On this tour you are on a floating spa and there are five different stations you rotate between while here. The different stations were:
- Foot Detox– relax with a plate of fruit while your toxins are removed through your feet.
- Yoga/Pilates– Enjoy a quick session in the sun.
- Massage– be pampered with a full body massage, maybe even get lucky and have your hair French braided mid-way through (my masseuse surprised me!)
- Lounging– float around in the ocean on inflatable lounge chairs or relax on bean bag chairs on board.
- Dr. Fish– The highlight of this excursion; you get to experience the little fish that feast at your calluses..this is such a neat experience and tickles like crazy, be prepared to let out a scream or two!
This excursion includes a light lunch as well as juices and is a great way to start off your day.
I would recommend Dominican Republic to just about anyone; familes, couples, and singles! If you are looking for more of a relaxing environment La Romana is nice and quiet. If you would prefer to be in a livelier atmosphere with lots of hotel options, than Punta Cana would be the place to go!
Want more information about these excursions or booking your next vacation to the Dominican Republic? Mallory McKnight is an International Travel Consultant at our Bayshore location in Ottawa Ontario and can be reached by e-mail or calling 1-866-388-4284.