Where We Be
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| Is Bavaro Beach one of the top ten beaches in the world? Well, it's in the running anyway! This isolated stretch was just a short stroll from our resort. |
| Punta Cana, Dominican Republic |
We'd heard of the powdery white sands, pristine
beaches, and luxurious all-inclusive resorts of
Punta Cana, but this was our first chance to
experience it for ourselves -- and it didn't
disappoint. We stayed at Barcelo Bavaro Beach
Resort, ideally situated along Bavaro Beach
itself, which is frequently in the running as one
of the top ten beaches in the world. This was
our chance to reconnect with my brother and
his family while enjoying a temporary respite
from reality. Here, all our meals were cooked for
us, all drinks were included, the pool was just
steps away from our room, and the beach
beckoned just beyond. Sunrise walks, gourmet
meals, delightful swims -- you get the idea.
Nothing wrong with a "packaged paradise" from
time to time! We loved our five days here, which
was just long enough to soak up the all-inclu-
sive vibe. We'd recommend this kind of trip if
you're traveling with family or friends and just
want to keep things easy, hang out, and relax.
beaches, and luxurious all-inclusive resorts of
Punta Cana, but this was our first chance to
experience it for ourselves -- and it didn't
disappoint. We stayed at Barcelo Bavaro Beach
Resort, ideally situated along Bavaro Beach
itself, which is frequently in the running as one
of the top ten beaches in the world. This was
our chance to reconnect with my brother and
his family while enjoying a temporary respite
from reality. Here, all our meals were cooked for
us, all drinks were included, the pool was just
steps away from our room, and the beach
beckoned just beyond. Sunrise walks, gourmet
meals, delightful swims -- you get the idea.
Nothing wrong with a "packaged paradise" from
time to time! We loved our five days here, which
was just long enough to soak up the all-inclu-
sive vibe. We'd recommend this kind of trip if
you're traveling with family or friends and just
want to keep things easy, hang out, and relax.
| But first the resort! This is the delightful pool at Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort (adults only). |
| The sun peeks through the open-air buffet at daybreak. The buffet is fine for breakfast and lunch, but don't miss out on having dinner at Chez Gourmet. |
| Another view of Bavaro Beach, as seen from a pier that juts out into the ocean |
| Our resort is just to the left. The staff is scrupulous about removing any sargassum grass each day. |
| Sunrise is the ideal time for a beach walk, before the heat of the day kicks in |
| There are plenty of other places to hang out at the resort, especially after dinner when there's live music playing |
| Water loungers make for an awesome way to relax your cares away |
| My nieces and nephew, all grown up! As a point of comparison, check out this post from 2008. |
| Aerial photo courtesy of Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort |
| The whole clan together. From left to right (after the two of us), we have Trent, Sydney, Diane, Dave, and Logan. |
| This trip gave us the chance to reconnect with my brother Dave and his family. Dave's wife hired a professional photographer to take these pictures (more below). |
| Just the boys |
| Being with family made our time at Punta Cana so much more fun |
| Aww! |