DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
THE PARTY ONE
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana
WITH SO MANY ALLINCLUSIVE RESORTS HERE, HOW DO YOU
CHOOSE? Simple: we went for a five-star offering, well, everything. Want poolside foam parties, cheesy pressup competitions and Jason Derulo blaring through huge speakers telling you to Swalla? Then you’ll be happy at Hard Rock. That sound like your idea of hell? Well, you’ll still be happy at Hard Rock, as there are lots of peaceful places to escape to, including the Eden pool (one of 13 pools!), an adult-only area where we spent days swaying in a hammock listening to live DJs, with a cocktail in one hand and a plate of sushi in the other. That said, who needs a pool when every room has a jacuzzi tub at the end of the bed?
OK, I WANT TO ROCK IN THE CARIBBEAN, BUT WHAT’S ACTUALLY INCLUDED? Meals, drinks and a whole lot of music. You can perform in a rock band and hire a guitar then teach yourself to play it using TV tutorials in your room. It doesn’t matter if the only thing you’ve ever learned is Hot Cross Buns on the recorder, you, too, can learn to shred like a rock star. Also, unlike lots of all-inclusive resorts, you can dine at the posher à la carte restaurants without an extra charge. Oh, and you have to try a shot of local tipple Mama Juana – tastes like cough syrup and red wine, supposedly ‘cures all ailments.’ Except maybe the hangover it gives you – then it’s the cause of all ailments.
WHAT’S THE CROWD LIKE? The Dominican Republic is to Floridians what Majorca is to us Brits (read: you’ll meet lots of Americans), so you’ll probably end up dancing in Oro Nightclub with sorority sisters all in sparkly tiaras for Ashley’s bachelorette party! Congrats, Ashley, whoever you are!
HOW ALL-INCLUSIVE IS IT REALLY? Very! We were given $500 resort credit to spend on excursions, culinary experiences, activities and treatments in the salon (how much you get depends on the length of your stay – from five days to two weeks) and you pay just 20% of the cost yourself. You can also have unlimited treatments in The Rock Spa, too – you only pay a fifth of the price. We went for a fullbody massage. Three times.
WHAT’S THE CATCH? The resort shops can be super-expensive – and prices are hiked up by 20% if you try to spend your resort credits in there. A box of 12 tampons will set you back $20. Bloody nightmare.