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DR Trip: Dreams Punta Cana resort, beachfront
Image by churl
I have been to Secrets resorts before, so I had a good idea what to expect.
Preferred Club:
I decided to sign up for the Preferred Club, mainly for 2 reasons: the reserved beach area and the free wireless. As it turns out, it was well worth the extra cost. The Preferred Club got me a bottle of champagne on my first night and last, special concierge services, use of the Preferred Club lounge which had snacks and premium alcohol available as well as free computer use, and I'm not sure, but I think I got a special dinner out of it as well. There were also resort specials offered to Preferred Club. And cannot forget free wireless. The staff at the Preferred Club lounge were great and very helpful.
Hotel room:
My room was clean and well appointed, first floor in building #7. My view was of the main walkway, which was disappointing. Mini bar well stocked. Some snacks, not renewed daily, but available on request. Safe was not working, but someone fixed it within 20 minutes of asking. Warning about the water: do not drink! Plentiful bottled water is available in room. Room service available 24 hours but limited menu.
Beach & pool:
The beach was gorgeous and weather fantastic. It was kept clean and maintained. There were lots of activities at the beach and it was very relaxing. There were a lot of palm trees so it made sun exposure a little tricky sometimes. It was busy during my stay and sometimes had to hunt a bit for beach chairs. The Preferred Club area was actually kinda small, and filled up like the rest of the beach. Still, I had better luck in the reserved area. The pool is gigantic and stretches the length of the resort, but not really deep, and really crowded. I did not even bother.
Restaurants:
There are several restaurants. I went to the Sea Side Grill (steak), Oceana (seafood), World Cafe (buffet). Also open were El Patio (Mexican) and Himitsu (Japanese). I was very satisfied with restaurants for dinner. The Sea Side Grill staff was extremely friendly and I went for my last night's dinner, which the concierge arranged. They made a special meal for me off menu which was great. I think this was a perk of the Preferred Club. My only complaint is I would've loved to try some authentic Dominican food.
Things to do:
I did not go on any excursions. As a solo traveler, it's not worth my time. At the resort, the entertainment staff put on a great show every night, and the casino was passable, but I was not happy with the dealers. Merchants come in twice a week to sell souvenirs. This resort is in the middle of nowhere, so there's nowhere to go on foot, but it does mean that a stroll on the beach can go for a mile without being bothered. There are games and activities littered through the resort, and daily notices to the rooms with information. They even had a small Catholic mass on Sunday (in Spanish) which was nice. The spa was excellent and massage skillful. They had sauna and a jacuzzi, but I didn't use. The fitness center was good and had all the basics. There were lots of kids activities and they were generally kept away from the adult areas, which was nice for me.
Overall:
I would go again if I was with someone. The resort was a pleasure and the staff very helpful. I had lots of little problems which were all handled quickly and efficiently. I think that the Preferred Club made this a great experience.
If You Hit A Home Run I Will Give You Fireworks
Image by jfravel
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