After a year of amazing adventures including city breaks to the likes of Las Vegas and Prague, I was more than ready for a proper ‘chill’ holiday for my next getaway, and my first one of 2023!
My holidays usually always take place in our summertime, but I’ve always wanted to go away in our winter. The nights are dark, it’s cold, summer seems like forever away – what better reason is there to head on holiday at the start of the year?!
We wanted blazing sunshine and blue skies, so there was only one thing for it – the Caribbean. Our winter is the perfect time to head there, boasting beautiful temperatures all year round.
We debated between the likes of Mexico, Cuba and Jamaica – but finally settled on the Dominican Republic after we discovered a great deal to our chosen hotel – RIU Republica.
We wanted a longer holiday to really relax and unwind, and we found a brilliant price for an 11 night stay. It was considerably cheaper than the 14-night option, so it’s always worth playing around with the amount of nights to see if you can save!
Before I get into all the details, I’ll just say – this was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had! From the amazing weather to our beautiful hotel, the out-of-this-world entertainment on offer as well as exciting excursions, there was truly nothing I could fault with this gorgeous getaway.
The Dominican Republic certainly didn’t disappoint! Here’s everything we got up to and the reasons I’ll be heading back…
Flying on the Dreamliner
One of the biggest pros to a long haul holiday? Flying on the TUI Dreamliner! We flew out of Manchester and had pre-booked extra legroom seats, just to make it that little more comfy for our nine hour flight.
For me, the holiday started as soon as I stepped foot on that plane. With my personal TV screen in front of me loaded with the latest movies, TV shows and games, I was ready to sit back and relax!
Drinks are complimentary on long haul Dreamliner flights, so we kept refreshed with cans of Coke and Sprite, and enjoyed a tipple too – vodka and gin with juice, yes please!
Not long into the flight we tucked into our meal – delicious chicken in black bean sauce, with a cheesecake for dessert!
I watched Lightyear, one of the latest Disney releases, and after a nap, later tucked into our second serving of food – an afternoon snack of a sandwich and crisps. I didn’t even need the extra snacks I brought in my hand luggage!
Our hotel – RIU Republica
After being on a few holidays in the past where the evening entertainment was none existent or the same old- same old, me and my boyfriend Micky really wanted a hotel that delivered on relaxing days as well as lively nights. The RIU Republica offers both – in fact, it exceeded my expectations!
I’ve stayed in RIU hotels before and I have to say, I love this brand – these hotels have a real ‘holiday’ vibe to them, and they really do hit the nail on the head when it comes to serving up the perfect mix of both fun and chill. This one in particular is adults only, making it the perfect place to head to with a partner or group of friends. The hotel complex is spread out over a large area made up of lush greenery – it’s a treat just to walk around!
Where to start with the RIU Republica – there’s everything you could possibly want in this resort, and more!
Pools
There’s a whopping eight pools at this hotel – eight! Each has a different vibe, so you can pick your favourite and stay there or head to a different one each day. For us, we tested out a few and spent a few days by each. It kept our days from feeling same-y!
Three of the pools have swim-up bars – and we certainly took advantage of those. There’s no better way to cool down than in the pool with a cocktail!
One pool in particular was known as the ‘party’ pool, where you’d hear upbeat music being played, groups gathering to play games, as well as fun competitions being held where the guests could take on each other in a series of challenges!
Another of our favourite pools was located along from the party pool, right by the beach. Being practically on the beach but with a pool right beside you, and with the delicious aroma of the jerk chicken hut in the air (being only a few steps away) we happily claimed our spot here for a few days.
At the other side of the hotel, was what became our favourite pool. A much more relaxing affair, this pool was located by the waterslides and with only the sound of palm trees swishing above you, it was the perfect place to sit back and relax with a good book.
I love a good aqua fitness class, and took part in these daily. A few of the pools feature built-in sun loungers half submerged in the water, and I loved chilling on these with my book in hand.
An added touch that really surprised me was the poolside waiter service at a couple of the pools. Attentive staff made their way around the enormous pools daily, taking drinks orders and returning back with them in a flash. At other times they would come around with massive trays filled with glasses of sangria – so delicious! On a few days they even came around with trays of fresh fruit – I could never pass up the fresh passionfruit!
The Beach
This hotel sits right on its own private stretch of Arena Gorda Beach. One minute you’re laid by a trio of pools, the next, you’ll feel the sand between your toes as you head through the palm tree-lined path towards the alluring Atlantic sea.
Being on the Atlantic side, the sea can be rather choppy – but it still makes for a refreshing swim. Me and Micky had fun jumping the waves before enjoying a walk on the white sands, taking in our surroundings – turquoise waters, the wind in our hair, and beautiful blue skies. What more could you want?
Hotel staff run activities on the beach throughout the day too, so you can have fun playing a group game like ring toss or taking on beach dance lessons. Bar staff come along the beach handing out drinks here too – which we thought was a lovely added touch!
Not that they needed to of course, as the beach bar is perfectly placed to grab a refreshing cocktail at a moment’s notice. This bar did the best mango daiquiri – one of our favourite drinks of the holiday!
There’s also a net set up nearby for a brilliant game of beach volleyball, as well as goals where we played penalty shootout and beach football. We had fun bringing out our competitive side playing table tennis here too – whether you wanted to chill on a sunbed staring at the sea or burn off some energy, the beach area has it all!
Jerk Chicken
This was so good it deserves its very own section! As we made our way onto the beach for the first time, we were greeted with the amazing aromas of jerk spices in the air. We could smell it before we saw it!
The jerk chicken hut serves up (you guessed it) fresh jerk chicken every day from midday right through ‘til late afternoon.
We found it to be the perfect snack, and were lured there most days! Some days we’d take it into the main restaurant and have it alongside a delicious salad too. With meat falling off the bone, all in delicious mix of herbs and spices, it certainly gave us a taste of the Caribbean.
You’ll never go hungry here!
If that’s got your tummy rumbling, wait ‘til you hear about all the other food on offer! This hotel takes All Inclusive to a whole new level. There are NO shortages of places to eat at the RIU Republica. You truly are spoiled for choice!
Main Buffets
There’s two main buffets at this hotel, being at separate sides of the resort. The main one is considerably larger, and has more choice. The other one was nearer our room, perfect for when we fancied a lie in with the option to pop for a quick breakfast later.
The choice of food was phenomenal. At breakfast you could head to the egg station, where you’d be cooked up a fresh omelette or your eggs just how you like them! Then you’d find all the usual savoury stuff like bacon and sausages, for a proper hearty breakfast.
On top that, you could take your pick from pancakes and churros coated in sugar, all alongside a variety of toppings, or opt for slices of the freshest fruit I’ve ever seen. Rows and rows of melon, mango, and passionfruit (grown right there on the island!)
Add that to a beautiful bread selection, pretty pastries, yoghurts and even a smorgasbord of cheese, hams, and salmon – you could eat something different here every day without fail.
Lunchtimes and dinner were equally as impressive. With various stations to tempt you – fish, pasta, meat, vegetarian, Asian and Mexican – we found it difficult to narrow down what we wanted to eat. It all looked so good!
Micky ate his body weight in meat from the grill station – steaks, pork loins, chicken skewers – while I was always tempted by the Asian station and the delicious chow mein noodles.
I’ve never eaten so healthy on a holiday either, and that was thanks to the spectacular salad bar at both buffets. The massive selection of fresh ingredients made it all look so inviting!
Desserts were always a joy too – assortments of cakes, tarts, donuts, puddings and chocolates in a range of colours, with an ice cream and ice lolly station nearby for that final ‘sweet fix’. It’s safe to say we came out the main buffets feeling full!
Speciality restaurants
On top of all the flavoursome cuisine at the buffets, you’ve got a ridiculous selection of speciality eateries to choose from too! There’s an Italian, two steakhouses, an Indian, a Spanish eatery, an Asian concept as well as two Kulinariums.
We ate at the steakhouse twice – this three course feast was fantastic. We had a caesar salad and mozzarella dippers to start, then tucked in to 12oz ribeye steaks which were cooked to perfection, finished off with a chocolate brownie for dessert. Delicious!
Another favourite was the Asian restaurant – the selection and quality of food was amazing. Succulent sweet and sour pork, chicken satay skewers, fluffy egg fried rice, saucy noodles and crispy spring rolls. For full on flavours, this was tough to beat!
You can eat at the specialty restaurants as many times as you like during your stay and you only need to book the steakhouses – the rest you can just walk right up and you’ll be allocated a table.
Most of the speciality restaurants are also buffet style – we loved this as we could help ourselves to as much of the things we loved as we wanted! The steakhouses are full waiter service however, which made for a nice change.
Bars
From the food, to the drinks. We loved how many different bars and seating areas there were at the hotel – meaning you could do your very own bar crawl between them!
And when it came to the drinks, I was really impressed. I’ve been to All Inclusives in the past where the cocktails are pre-made and pretty poor, but I was really pleased with the quality of drinks at this hotel.
The drinks menu was extensive – with a great selection of cocktails! My favourites were the mango and strawberry daiquiris, a speciality cocktail called Doctor Funk and a colourful sip of a Sami Sosa, a classic Punta Cana concoction!
I couldn’t resist the martini’s either, which came in a few varieties – chocolate, espresso and apple! Not only that, but every morning I’d start off my day with a refreshing iced coffee by the pool (with or without some Baileys in!)
Each bar has a different vibe, so you could change up where you went for drinks every night. On an evening, there were six different bars to choose from. Our favourite was the Macao Bar, located in the centre of the resort and surrounded by gorgeous views of the lush green landscape of the hotel grounds.
Another favourite spot to enjoy a drink was the Sports Bar, complete with pool tables, air hockey tables, and an array of plasma TV’s showcasing all kinds of sport. This bar is open 24 hours and serves up snacks all night long, too! Midnight munchies? No problem! Burgers are ready and waiting to tuck into, as are sandwiches, fruit, donuts, and the cheesiest nachos!
Top tip: we took our own drinks containers to keep our drinks cool in. The bartenders were more than happy to fill them up with any kind of drink, giving us larger drinks than the standard cups every time. Win-win!
Dancing the night away in the Dominican
We chose this hotel purely because of the nightlife it offered – and it certainly didn’t disappoint! Every Wednesday, the hotel holds a themed party from 7pm – 11pm. The weeks alternate between a White Party theme and a Neon Party theme. With our 11 night stay, we got to enjoy both!
These aren’t your average hotel parties – this hotel goes all out! The main stage area is decorated with extravagant bunting, dancers on podiums, and even a resident DJ playing all the latest tunes. Add that to strobe lighting, special effects and live performers – we’re talking drummers splashing neon paint into the air – and you’ve got all the ingredients of a fantastic night!
If you don’t want the party to end you can carry it on at RIU Republica’s very own Pacha nightclub. Drinks in here are still all inclusive and the tunes keep going ‘til 2am!
There’s also a beach party held weekly too, every Sunday night. Dancing on the sand, the moon shimmering high in the sky, with the sea in the distance – it’s certainly a unique experience. If you love nothing more than a few drinks and a dance on holiday like us, this hotel cannot be beaten!
These night time parties take place in one area of the hotel, with the smaller stage and bar area offering alternate entertainment if you’re fancying something more low key. We loved having both options!
Other entertainment
Party nights aside, we enjoyed the other entertainment put on by the hotel too. From a Michael Jackson impersonator (alongside a whole team of ‘Zombies’ performing ‘Thriller’ in all its glory) to a set of acrobats demonstrating daring stunts, we sang along and sat in awe at the other shows on offer.
Whizz down slides
Just because this hotel is adults only doesn’t mean there’s any need to miss out on having fun in the sun! RIU Republica has its own water park boasting a variety of exhilarating slides – a set of speed racers, two tunnel slides and a mini kamikaze.
We had loads of fun speeding down them and landing into the splash pool – it was a nice way to change things up after plenty of relaxing!
Our room
We were really impressed with our room – an upgrade on arrival meant we were given a spot in a quiet area of the hotel, overlooking the stunning grassy grounds. A large space with a king-sized bed, separate seating area, en-suite and balcony, we felt comfortable in our room from the moment we arrived.
Rooms here come complete with your very own mini bar, with optics filled with a selection of spirits – vodka, rum, gin and whisky. We said ‘cheers’ from the moment we arrived! Upon arrival our fridge was stocked up with water and a selection of branded soft drinks – Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and 7up. These were re-stocked every two days by housekeeping, meaning we always had drinks at hand in the room after a long day soaking up the sun.
We were impressed with the level of detail housekeeping went to every day – we loved returning to see what creation was decorating our bed each day!
With free Wi-fi throughout all the hotel too, we loved chilling out in our room and occasionally streaming the odd programme we wanted to catch up on from back home.
Pool Parties
Now for one of the highlights of our whole holiday – the pool parties! Fridays and Mondays are a fun affair here – we’re talking one-of-a-kind events filled with good music, good people, and good vibes!
RIU Republica is one of a few RIU hotels residing in Punta Cana, and on Fridays and Mondays, hotel guests can come together at the purpose-built RIU Party Complex. It’s an amazing venue designed specifically for pool parties, featuring multiple bars, a duo of pools, and decorated accordingly for the theme each week.
Forget the likes of Ocean Beach in Ibiza – the RIU Party Pool Complex (quite literally) blows it out of the water! With foam spilling overhead onto the crowd, beating music, all in the blazing sunshine – you feel like a VIP at an exclusive party. Add that to staff shooting shots from water pistols, dancers at every turn, confetti canyons, disco balls, and gigantic inflatable balloons and balls being bounced around, and you’ve got a unique party atmosphere!
We dressed suitably in neon pink swimwear for the Friday, and I opted for a jungle-looking swimming costume for Monday’s party. I’d been prepared and even packed my stash of festival glitters in my suitcase, so I went all-out and made my way to the party covered in sparkle to complete the look.
RIU Republica puts on free shuttle buses to and from the pool party venue, which is only a ten minute journey each way. Not only that but your All Inclusive status still applies here too, so all drinks from G&Ts to colourful cocktails are included for the duration of the party.
Having been to similar daytime parties in other countries, after paying a hefty entrance fee with pricey drinks on top, I couldn’t believe all of this was included in our holiday cost. Absolutely amazing value for the experience on offer – it’s safe to say we had a blast!
Tipping
A quick note on tipping – a lot of Americans frequent this hotel, being a much shorter flight for them than it is for us Brits in the UK. With that, tipping is quite common place here. It’s not expected of course – you’re All Inclusive, and you’ve paid for all the services and facilities here.
We did however take a small amount of American dollars (they accept this currency just as much if not more than the Dominican Peso) specifically for tips, and dished them out as and when we felt we received exceptional service.
Bartenders who remembered our drinks order at a busy bar, housekeeping with their creative designs, and waiters who couldn’t take away my plate quick enough or would have a new drink ready as I finished my final sip.
It was hard not to tip on every occasion – we felt the service we received across our whole 11 nights was exceptional. The staff here physically couldn’t do enough for you!
Excursions;
Coco Bongo
You can’t come to Punta Cana without visiting Coco Bongo! If you’ve been to the only other Coco Bongos in Cancun, Mexico, you’ll know what all the fuss is about.
I’d been to the Mexican one before, so I knew what I was in for – but it was my boyfriend Micky’s first time attending. It’s safe to say – he loved it!
Far from your average club, Coco Bongo is part bar, part show, and we were treated to all kinds of musical performances – from chart-topping Queen hits to numbers from Elvis. Add that to amazing acrobatic displays, comedy skits from Beetlejuice and an open bar, and you’ve got a unique and fun night out!
We were picked up directly from our hotel and dropped off at closing time, which was around 1am. We booked this directly on GOTUI.co.uk, which made it super easy in terms of receiving our tickets and all the info we needed.
Adventure Boogies
There were some really exciting excursions on offer in and around Punta Cana – but we finally settled on Adventure Boogies – and we’re so pleased we did!
After being picked up at our hotel, we were welcomed by our buggy tour guides and ushered into our home on wheels for the day – our adventure buggy!
I set out driving first – and what a blast it was! We made our way through the beautiful Dominican Republic countryside, all the way to a local nature reserve. And this is where things got fun – it was time to go off-road!
I floored our little buggy and had us whizzing along the rocky road surface. It felt like we were in a racing car game! Me and Micky swapped places so he could have a drive, and he had us splashing into muddy puddles, revving the engine as we flew past trickling rivers and pretty palm trees. If you want to see the landscape of this island in style, this is the way to do it!
After our adrenaline pumping drive out, we pulled into what looked like the most beautiful gardens I’ve ever seen. For somewhere so hot, this Caribbean island manages to stay so green and full of life!
We were greeted by locals playing a catchy tune on the drums, before being led to the entrance of a stunning cenote. And there’s only one word for this sight – wow!
The hidden-away cave revealed a natural pool of shimmering water, surrounded by spectacular stalagmites lit up beautifully by a few lights and the small bit of daylight leaking in from the sky above. It was breathtakingly beautiful!
We’d come dressed with our swim gear under our clothes, so we wasted no time in getting in the water! It was wonderfully refreshing, especially standing under the natural waterfall. Nature’s very own shower!
A photographer made his way around the water taking pictures of the various groups – so we came away with lovely photos of our time in such a magical place. And there was even a DJ at the top of the cave playing songs for us to enjoy as we swam about!
After drying off, we were taken to a shaded area to enjoy some snacks made from local produce. The pineapple here is simply the best we’ve ever tasted – so fresh and juicy – and we even had pineapple wine to wash it all down with! The fruity white went down a treat.
We then met our next tour guide, who told us all about local products on the island – Dominican Cocoa and Mama Joana, a spiced alcoholic drink made from rum, red wine, honey, tree bark, and herbs!
We got to sample both and I have to say, the hot chocolate I tasted made from the Dominican cocoa was simply de-li-cious! So much so that I bought a big bag to bring home, perfect for re-living my holiday discoveries when I’m sat wrapped up on the couch!
After our tasting, we were led to a viewing area where we got to watch an amazing dance from a local tribe group. It was mesmerising! It really gave us an insight into the fascinating culture of this country, and was the perfect way to round off an action-packed day.
We drove back to the buggy compound on a real high, having experienced so much in the space of just a few hours. If you only do one excursion whilst in Punta Cana, this has to be it!
Republica – Ready to Go (again!)
All in all, I can safely say the Dominican Republic and the RIU Republica in particular exceeded my expectations. We wanted a holiday filled with rest, relaxation, but with plenty of opportunities for lots of laughs, drinks, and dancing. This place hit the nail on the head, and I’d head back in a heartbeat!
On top of that we got a real feel for this idyllic island on our excursions, tried local products and had experiences of a lifetime. If you think I’m now converted to enjoying a wonderful winter holiday to somewhere spectacularly sunny – you’d be right!
Check out our best deals to the Dominican Republic or RIU Republica – it should be somewhere everyone visits once!
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