So it’s appropriate when I say Ocean Blue and Sand Resort in Punta Cana is aptly named. I’m also being honest when I say that I wanted to stay a lot longer.

When you ask anyone who’s stayed at the Ocean Blue and Sand Beach Resort in the Dominican Republic what they enjoyed most on their holiday, the answer is invariably the people. It’s always about the people. Whether you’re talking about the staff or the other vacationers, one thing is universal: good people equal good times.

In short, that’s what my recent stay at Ocean Blue and Sand Beach Resort near Punta Cana came down to. The staff were some of the nicest, happiest people I’ve ever met, and everyone walked around with a smile on their faces and a song on their lips.

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Now, I’ve been to bigger resorts and, truth be told, I’ve stayed in fancier hotels, however my stay at Ocean Blue and Sand Resort was one of the best in recent memory.

Sure, it might have something to do with the amazing meals I ate while I was there.

It might also have something to do with the people I met and the tasty cocktails I drank while at the resort.

It might even have been due to the amazing body massage I received at the onsite Despacio Spa Centre.

Perhaps it was just that my Privilege suite was clean, spacious and comfortable.

It’s probably simply due to the fact that every night, when my head finally hit my pillow after a long day of experiencing what the resort had to offer, I was comfortable and content and had some of the best sleeps I’ve had in years.

Choosing the right hotel

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I don’t usually write about hotel stays, however when you enjoy a place enough, it deserves to be mentioned.

As most all-inclusive vacationers can tell you, choosing the right hotel can often make or break a vacation. This is especially true when you spend the majority of your vacation time on the resort. Everyone can get by for a few days in uncomfortable surroundings, however when you stay someplace for a week or two, you need decent food and drink, a variety of entertainment and comfortable surroundings.

The Ocean Blue and Sand Resort has comfort and entertainment in spades. I can honestly say that during my time there, I was never bored. Whether I was walking the miles and miles of beautiful white sand beaches that flanked the hotel, or eating at one of the eight specialty onsite restaurants, I never grew tired of what the hotel offered.

Activities at Ocean Sand and Blue Resort

During the day there was the beach, two huge pools, the PADI diving center Dive It! complete with free water activities, two swim up bars, multiple water themed events and parties, a fitness center, unlimited drinks, and a great main buffet with foods catering to every diet and taste.

For the older kids, there’s the lively (and free) bowling center complete with pool tables and electronic games upstairs. Hands down, this was one of the nicest indoor play zones I’ve ever encountered on a resort anywhere. The building is chock full of table games including air hockey, Foosball, ping pong, a giant chess board and Nintendo Wiis.

Outside, there’s also the on-beach climbing wall, two huge pools as well as a kiddie pool, plus the tennis courts and archery lanes.

For those times when you need some adult time, the Ocean Blue and Sand Hotel has an amazing Kids Club called the Daisy Club for children ages 4 to 12 while the Teens Club is for ages 13 to 17. The Daisy Club building by the water was one of the prettiest little buildings I’ve ever seen complete with beds for nap time, row upon row of arts and crafts as well as a built in kitchen.

For coffee aficionados, there’s Mike’s Coffee Shop. This on site cafe deserves praise solely for the outstanding decor, never mind the tasty coffees, teas and snacks you can get that rival most upscale cafe’s. The fact that it’s all included in your stay makes it a great addition to an already great resort.

Despacio Spa Centre

The Despacio Spa Centre was a definite highlight during my stay there and the spa manager, Rosie, is one of the nicest people on the entire property. Not only did she make us feel relaxed and pampered but she also knows her beauty products.

The upscale Babor beauty line the spa caters to women, but also has a decent men’s line as well.

While I was staying at the Ocean Blue and Sand Resort I had the good fortune of witnessing two weddings on the property. Both looked amazing and the staff seemed to be going out of their way to make their day extra special, with lots of bridal parties making use of the spa the day of the wedding.

The food at Ocean Blue and Sand Resort

Even though I was a Privilege member, I often chose to have lunch in the central buffet, the El Carey & La Tortuga. With a huge revolving menu, you could go two weeks without eating the same thing twic,e and the food was always fresh and tasty.

A few of the highlights were a fresh fruit and veggie smoothie bar where you choose your own fruit & veggie concoction, as well as a vegetarian and gluten free zone featuring healthier eats.

The buffet also includes a pasta bar complete with chef, an omelette bar in the mornings and for dessert there are tons of choices as well as three rotating flavors of ice cream.

While I was in Punta Cana, I also had the opportunity to sample most of the resort’s specialty restaurants. The majority of the specialty restaurants are near the entrance of the resort and the area is always happening, especially at night.

One of the best meals we had was at the french restaurant, the Blue Moon Restaurant (Note: this is the only formal restaurant on the resort with a dress code for men requiring pants and closed toe footwear). I ordered the filet mignon and it was delicious while many at our table enjoyed the seafood special.

For a fun meal, the Sensai Restaurant was a hit with all of us. This Japanese styled restaurant had four chefs, one in each corner, and their antics and skill at flipping things had everyone laughing and cheering them on. The warm saki they served had a nice light taste and the food was delicious.

The first night we arrived, we ate at the Italian restaurant, Il Mascherati Di Venezia. The restaurant had a nice decor, the servers were super nice and it had some great dessert options, however the highlight of the night was probably the flaming sambuca display.

We never had the time to sample the fare at Margarita (Mexican food), Route 66 (a la carte American style) or the El Bodegon Steak House, however judging from the quality of the other restaurants, I’m sure they would be delicious as well.

In the evenings, there were the entertaining nightly shows, the lounge, the ultra late night Wave Disco Bar, the piano bar, the Ocean Tower Casino or the always happening main lobby to relax in. Most nights, after the nightly show, a group of the entertainers would make their way to the huge lobby and dance with anyone brave enough to get off their lounger. It generally made for an entertaining evening.

For late night eats, the all night Over Time Sports Bar was a great place to grab a plate of fries and a drink and had the bar had big screen TVs playing sporting events from around the world.

The people at Ocean Blue and Sand Resort

As great as the room, food and activities were at the Ocean Blue and Sand Resort, it was the people working there that made my stay memorable. I can honestly say I don’t remember the last time I saw so many happy workers in one place.

Everyone had a smile on their face and the waiters, bartenders and staff were always quick to laugh and sing while catering to our every need. It was refreshing to see and made staying at the resort a true joy.

We also got to see familiar faces in the restaurants as most of the servers switched locations from time to time, and they were always quick to remember us and even quicker to make us laugh.

Privilege

For an extra fee, guests can upgrade to be part of Privilege. As part of the Privilege group, I was given a few more options like a nicer room, access to the Privilege Lounge and Privilege restaurant as well as private beach beds and 24 hour a la carte room service.

It also gave me discounts on spa services and rentals, private check ins and check outs, turn down service and reservations with priority seating in all specialty restaurants.

Notes

There are a few things of note that make the Ocean Blue and Sand Resort especially appealing to families. Besides for the great Daisy Club and Teens Club, unlike most places on the island, the resort allows five guests per room. The Teen Club is open from 10 am to midnight and the bowling lanes are 10 pin.

Standard rooms include room service from 11 to 11, while Privilege offers 24 hour room service and turn down service.

Due to some large storms this past fall, the once gorgeous beach took some damage, however they were already being repaired while we were there and I’m told they’re almost back to what they once were.

In case of an emergency, the resort has a medical center on site that’s open from 8 am to 8 pm with 24 hour emergency services.

There’s also free WiFi available throughout the resort and there are no reservations needed at any of the restaurants, however you can reserve if you’re Privilege class. If you want, you can eat at the same specialty restaurant every night of your stay, however there can be lines, especially at both the Sensai restaurant, where they put on a show while you eat (approx 45 minutes) and the French restaurant due to its upscale appeal.

Special thanks to Virgilio and Rosie as well as Elsie for inviting me to come down and for expertly choosing some delicious wines to go with all our meals.

Between the hotel, the staff and all the people I met while there, this was definitely a holiday to remember!

Want to stay at Ocean Blue and Sand Resort in Punta Cana?

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One of the pluses to being based in North America is that getting down to the Caribbean is relatively simple. With hundreds of gorgeous islands, finding an amazing beach in the Caribbean is a piece of cake.

Finding a great beach is especially easy if you happen to be visiting one of the biggest countries in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic. Comprising over half of the island of Hispaniola, the Dominican Republic has over 250 miles of coastline and hundreds of beaches.

If you’re thinking of going there (and you should), here is a list of some of the best beaches you’ll find in the Dominican Republic as well as a few places to stay, and a few things to do while you’re there.

Punta Cana

You would think that showing up on top ten best beaches in the world lists regularly for a couple of decades would diminish Punta Cana’s reputation, but it’s hard to deny the appeal of 20 miles of gorgeous white sand and clear turquoise water.

The beach in Punta Cana is as nice as it is famous. It’s also one of the busiest in the country considering more people visit this area than anywhere else in the Caribbean.

Book bus or minivan from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana.

The majority of the resort-loving vacationers come to walk the miles of wide beautiful beach and enjoy the crystal clear water, however what gets them returning every year are the conveniences staying on a large resort offers.

To stay in the heart of Punta Cana, you can check out some all-inclusive Dominican Republic hotels and resorts and enjoy everything that makes these resorts famous. From five-star restaurants to night time extravaganzas, organized water sports on the beach to lounging in swimming pools the size of football fields, staying at a resort has nice perks. Oh yeah, it also doesn’t hurt that once you get there you don’t need to pull your wallet out ever again, because when you stay at an all-inclusive resort, there are also unlimited food and unlimited cocktails.

For families, most resorts also have a kids’ club where children can while away the day hanging out with other kids.

For those so inclined, there are a myriad of organised day trips around Punta Cana, so you can try everything from 4×4 adventures, to swimming with dolphins, to exploring the nearby towns and historic sites.

Playa Bavaro

Playa Bavaro is rapidly becoming one of the the DR’s most sought after beach areas in Punta Cana. It’s set on the East Coast, where the stunning Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.

The beach at Playa Bavaro is wide, with stunning aquamarine water and soft white sand. There’s plenty to see and do here, with locals and tourists alike enjoying the beach and activities. It’s a wonderful place to soak up the natural beauty.

Playa Boca Chica

If you’re in the capital city of Santo Domingo, and need to get your feet wet, there’s no better beach than nearby Playa Boca Chica.

Protected by a reef a 1/4 mile out, the water at Boca Chica Beach is some of the calmest you’ll find in the Dominican Republic. Popular with locals and tourists alike, this palm fringed oasis of cheap restaurants and busy beach bars will have you grooving to the sweet sounds of merengue and bachata music.

There are tons of activities and water sports and if you’re looking for a happening beach this is the one to go to.

Playa Rincon

If you need more than sand and surf to make your day complete, you might enjoy the views of Playa Rincon.

Found on the eastern coast of the island, on the Samana peninsula, surrounded by lush jungle greenery and high seaside cliffs, you’ll need to go on a bit of a trek to reach the surf at Playa Rincon. Once there, enjoy the seclusion and check out the snorkeling before grabbing a bite to eat at one of the few small restaurants found along the beach.

It might be a hike, but I guarantee you’ll enjoy yourself once you get there.

Juan Dolio

Santo Domingo’s other main beach, the more upscale Juan Dolio is a little less crowded, a little less lively and a little more natural than its more famous sister beach Boca Chica.

Set along rows of coconut trees, the beach of Juan Dolio feels a little more unspoiled as well. There are also decent restaurants and higher end shopping nearby to help tourists spend their money.

Macao Beach

Really just a subset of Punta Cana, Macao Beach is UNESCO approved and offers some of the best surf for beginners in the Dominican Republic.

The very popular and highly rated Macao Surf Camp can be found here and practically guarantees a good time while learning to ride the waves.

Playa Dorada

Situated on the north coast conveniently close to Puerto Plata, the up and coming resort strung Playa Dorada (aka Golden Beach) offers everything for lovers of all-inclusive resorts.

Clear water and golden sand line Puerto Plata’s busiest beach and there are dozens of things to do on and around the water, as well as take day trips into Puerto Plata for great shopping and dining.

Playa Sosua

Puerto Plata’s second busiest beach is Playa Sosua (Sosua Beach). Popular with the locals (especially on Sundays), this U-shaped beach has souvenir and snack shacks aplenty and is a great choice if your looking for a city/beach style vacation.

There’s also decent snorkeling right off the beach for a city style beach, so that says a lot for the water quality.

Cabarete

Known as the best hotspot for windsurfing and kiteboarding in all the Caribbean, the laid back surf town of Cabarete on the north coast caters to everything a water adventure junkie craves. From big wind to big waves, if you’re looking for someplace to get your adrenaline running, Cabarete is the place for you.

At night, the chill vibes of the one street town offers great dining and a lively night scene. Cabarete is also one of the most budget friendly locations in the Dominican Republic, and is a great place to relax if you want to get away from the big resorts that line most of the busier beaches.

Cayo Levantado

Found just off the south coast of the Semana Peninsula, the island of Cayo Levantado isn’t the easiest to get to. That said, it’s beaches are amazing and the lush jungle greenery that surrounds them makes it one of the prettiest in all of the Dominican Republic.

With not a lot of facilities, the beaches at Cayo Levantado are some of the most secluded in all the country, with hiking trails crisscrossing the island joining the three main beaches.

To get there, you can hire a boat or take a short ferry across. You can also book a whale watching tour from January until March that tours the Bay of Semana that stops off at Cayo Levantado for lunch.

Bahia de las Aguilas

Also known as Eagle Bay Beach or the Bay of Eagles, no matter how you say it, Bahia de las Aguilas  is a gorgeous eight km long strip of unspoiled paradise.

Found in the southwestern most corner of the country closest to Haiti, Bahia de las Aguilas isn’t the easiest place to get to. 25 kilometers from the nearest town, Padernales and over 300 kilometers from Santo Domingo, you need to pack a lunch when you go there, since the beach is as empty now as it was 200 years ago.

Located in Jaragua National Park, this protected stretch of beach is teeming with sea life and is often considered the nicest beach in the country by the Dominican people. It also has no facilities, no hotels, no restaurants and almost no people, so if you’re craving your own little private stretch of paradise then this is the beach for you.

You can bargain for a 15-20 minute boat ride or a 15-20 minute 4×4 ride (seasonal) out of Cabo Rojo, which borders the park entrance, however make sure you have everything you need when you get there because you’ll be on your own.

Also don’t forget to bring your snorkel gear since the beach at Bahia de las Aguilas has some extraordinary sea life right off the beach and is probably the best site in the country for snorkeling.

Who can blame them when the weather, the water and the relaxing lifestyle all converge to give them a trip they’ll always remember. From its dozens of freshly manicured world class golf courses to its string of spas and boutique shops that Sulis Minerva herself would envy, Punta Cana has everything that a modern paradise seeking tourist could want.

Though this area isn’t a thrifty backpackers ideal destination in regards to cost, there are many reasons for even the hard core traveller to venture into this area. Did I tell you about the gorgeous clear aquamarine ocean yet? Or how about the miles and miles of pristine white sand beaches that are so fine that stone ground flour gets jealous? Maybe I need to remind you of the perpetual mid 20 to 30°C climate and the long dry season? How about the relaxed lifestyle and the Spanish speaking locals who will welcome both you and your money equally with open arms, a perpetual smile and quick joke to share?

Convinced yet? You should be, because Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is the picture perfect postcard of a beach vacation. With tons of direct flights from all over the globe, getting there is as simple as booking your one way flight. The nicest part of it all is that within an hour of arriving you can be sinking your barefoot toes into the marvellous white sands while your bartender brings you fruity concoctions spiced with one of the islands deliciously sweet famous rums.

Travel Tip: This area is as famously known for its beaches as it is for its prices. All inclusive hotels litter the area with many running into the thousands for the night. While we were there we met a traveller who stayed on for months by continually booking über cheap last minute all inclusive getaways. Even including airfare in those last minute deals, he was still paying much less than any single hotels going rate for drop-ins. The only thing he would do is make sure that he could take the deal without needing to be on a plane. Most travel shops didn’t have a problem with that, and a few even gave him partial credit back for the flights he didn’t need to take. He had been doing that for several years every winter while travelling the country and getting to see first hand what each area had to offer.