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Punta Cana

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic · January 2024

Stayed: Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana, five nights, all-inclusive
Paid with: Hyatt points, a free night award for a Junior Suite
Where: 18.69° N · 68.43° W

Where I stayed · Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana

A few days in January to get some beach and warmth in the middle of winter. I don’t drink, so I don’t go to all-inclusives to party, but I appreciate not having to think or make decisions. It’s nice to relax and have everything covered.

The room

The bed and the balcony doors

The room from the other side, with a window into the bathroom

The balcony over the gardens

The pools and palms from the balcony

The bathroom

The vanity and the jetted tub

The toilet, the shower and the sink

The coffee corner

Meals

Everything included

Breakfast: eggs, salami, fried cheese and mashed plantain

Lunch: grilled chicken with rice and beans

A burger with grilled pineapple

Flautas

Steak with a baked potato and corn

Dessert

Duck leg with vegetables

The beach

Thatched umbrellas and loungers on the beach

The beach and the beach bar

A picnic table in the shade by the beach

Leaving · The VIP Lounge at the Punta Cana airport

The lounge with the pool at the Punta Cana airport. I had to show that I’ve been there. It’s kind of a classic place to check off for award travel people. It’s just called the VIP Lounge, and you can get in with Priority Pass, so it’s very easy.

Inside and the terrace

Brendan on a sofa in the lounge

The terrace over the gates

The terrace with planes at the gates

A Delta 737 taxiing past the gates

An American 737 and an Air Canada 787 on the taxiway

The pool

Up on the roof, over the runway

The pool and loungers with an Air Canada 787 behind

Lounge chairs on the turf, the Air Canada 787 going by

The pool under heavy clouds

The pool along the mosaic wall

Coming next: video of the lounge.