Travel | Do you like Pina Colada?

After about 5 hours of flight in tiny planes (one of which had propellers) and sleeping overnight in the Ottawa airport, we’ve finally arrived back in Montreal from the Dominican Republic. We were in the Majestic Colonial, Punta Cana, for a small family destination wedding and I am burnt to a crisp (I look a little like an Oompa Loompa).

The beaches of Punta Cana are fantastic. Nice soft sand to walk bare foot. Large waves crashing the shore line. Hot sun, but strong cool breezes, so you don’t overheat. The waves made for great surf conditions, which is the one excursion we opted for. I had no idea surfing was that tough! No I’m not talking about the balancing part; just getting out into the ocean walking against the pounding waves was tougher than riding the waves back to shore. It was a full body workout that I felt for days after. The waves were so stong I got cuts on my hands from all the wipeout … and boy were there a LOT of wipeouts.

The Majestic Colonial was a nice quite resort, perfect for a family. I felt really young there as the average age seemed to be 60. It was also unfortunate because the older women get, the more likely they’ll tan topless. :O

It was great to get away from all the snow. I’ve never gone on vacation in the dead of winter before and I think I like it! However, I don’t think I’m a resort type of guy, you can lay on the beach for only so long before you get antsy to do something active. And the food … oh man … mass produced buffets just don’t cooperate with me anymore. However, I couldn’t get enough of the all you can eat desserts!

Weddings occur at the resort twice daily; once in the morning and once in the late afternoon. it’s definitely a popular option. I can see the benefits of a destination wedding. You can have a more intimate party with only close family members. Making a guest list can be an ordeal, but having a destination wedding removes all the politics that can be involved. It’s always said that the easiest way to have a wedding on a budget is to lower the guest count, so a destination wedding can definitely be cost effective. Forget about all the decorations because sand, water, and palm trees are all the decor you’ll need. No need to rent a tux because no one wears a tie at a beach wedding! Many couple spend their honeymoon at an all-inclusive beach resort for the rest and relaxation, so combining it with your wedding can be a no-brainer. The benefits are definitely there, so if you’re planning your party it bears consideration.

The Punta Cana beaches are just a string of resorts and just one resort over seemed to be where all the young people were at. The music was always blasting and there was always a party. On the last day we walked over and saw a huge party like it was Caribana!