Grand Palladium Beachfront
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The Dominican government safeguards this area due to its rich, untamed natural beauty – and though I expected to see incredible landscapes, I was still blown away by the lush mangroves, colourful coral reefs and palm-fringed beaches. Despite its modest size of only 42 square miles, Saona draws more visitors than all the country’s national parks combined – and I’m not surprised.
A quick Catamaran trip organised by a fun local crew (who kept spirits high with plenty of music and Dominican dance lessons during the journey) took us across the ocean to Soana, where I spent the day lunching, lounging and dipping in and out of the ultra-clear waters. Heaven.
Back in Punta Cana, I stayed at the Grand Palladium Palace Resort Spa and Casino in Bavaro – found on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic – where I was spoiled for choice on ways to explore the island. A mere 30 minutes from the airport, the resort is conveniently close to natural reserves and tourist attractions. But for those that prefer to fly and flop (hey, no judgement here) there’s a mammoth 14 restaurants and – wait for it – 25 bars that could quite happily see you never leaving the resort.
Guests of the Grand Palladium are also granted access to sister properties the Grand Palladium Bavaro Suites Resort and Spa and the Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort and Spa, which you can leisurely travel between using the on-demand golf carts which are found across the grounds.
For those seeking an activity-packed holiday, the resort offers everything from yoga classes to dance lessons, water aerobics and cocktail-making sessions – plus there are plenty of sports facilities. Full disclosure: I opted for the ‘chill’ aspect of the resort each and every day, but the option’s there if you want it.
On days when I wanted a break from the sun, the Zentropia Spa was my chosen sanctuary. My highlight was a mud treatment — surprisingly soothing, FYI – a photograph of me covered in mud in one of my favourite white swimsuits(!) serves as a fun memento. After exploring the hydrotherapy treatments and pools, I also booked in for a deep tissue massage, which was perfect for relieving my tense muscles leftover from the long-haul flight.
My advice? Forget about all Caribbean islands, go to the Dominican Republic. Don’t sleep on the Dominican Republic if you’re booking your next Caribbean holiday – and make sure you factor a day trip to Saona Island on your itinerary too.
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