travel Dominican republic

The Tropical Destination That Dreams Are Made Of - Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort

This post is sponsored by Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort.

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Anyone else feel like time speeds up when you are on vacation? My tropical getaway to Puerto Plata came and went way too fast! I suppose the upside to that is I can start planning when to go back. 

Let me tell you about my experience visiting Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort from start to finish. 

I flew from New York City (JFK) to Santiago (STI) direct on JetBlue. There are two airports near Puerto Plata - Cibao International Airport (STI) and Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP). POP is closer to Puerto Plata, but the flights into that airport are significantly more expensive than flights into STI. Whichever airport you choose, Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort provides FREE VIP transfer from the airport to the resort.

Once I exited the terminal, I was greeted by my driver holding a sign with my name on it. He picked myself and my guest up in a beautiful GNC Suburban and whisked us away to the resort. The drive was about an hour long but it was awesome to see how beautiful the countryside of the Dominican Republic was on our way.

Upon arriving to the resort, we were greeted with welcome drinks and check-in was a breeze! Our room was ready and we were escorted to our room.

We were lucky enough to have an ocean view room with a swim-up pool. It was stunning! From our back patio, we were able to see it all - the mountains, the ocean, and breathtaking sunsets. There is also a trail that leads up a hill to the most gorgeous lookout spot.

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Our few days at Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort were filled with relaxation, lots of swimming, laying out, and food of course.

The property has three a-la-carte restaurants - Zao (Teppanyaki & Sushi restaurant), La Grappa (Italian restaurant), and Embers (steakhouse). There is also Larimar, which is the buffet open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are also tons of options for snacks or a quick bite - a coffee shop, an ice cream shop, sports bar (they have the best chicken fingers), a snack bar by the pool, and a pizza parlor. Your options for meals and snacks are endless! 

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Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort also has lots of options for fitness. The gym is awesome - it’s much bigger than most gyms I have come across in hotels/resorts and has equipment to meet all of your fitness needs. You can run on a treadmill while looking out at the ocean or you can hit the squat rack to get that booty ready for the beach! They also offer beach yoga and pilates some days - be sure to ask at the front desk to see what kind of group workouts they have planned during your stay.

Our mornings started out with an early morning workout followed by breakfast and fresh green juice at Larimar. The rest of our days were spent by the pool, at the pool bar (one of my favorite parts) or on the beach. There is a swim-up pool bar so you don’t even have to get out of the pool for a drink! I’m a big Pina colada girl so it was beyond awesome to get them while still in the pool. 

If you like to relax on vacation, great! This is the spot for you. If you are an activities person, great! This is also the spot for you.

Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort also offers FREE kayaking, paddle boarding, and snorkeling on the beach. We look the kayaks out one afternoon and had so much fun kayaking over the waves and getting a tan on the water. There are also so many colorful reef fish swimming around in the Caribbean that are so fun to look at. Be sure to grab a snorkel and explore!

The most exciting activity we did during our trip was an excursion organized by the staff at Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort. There is a staff of vacation planners that can help you pick and book excursions off the property so you can explore more of the beautiful island.

We went to the Damajagua Waterfalls for a hike and a REALLY good time. It was just myself, my date, and our tour guide. We took about a 20-30 minute hike up the mountain and arrived at the top of a beautiful waterfall. The fresh water springs were breathtaking. The water was crystal clear and the jumps we did were about 15ft high. I was first to jump in - I love an adrenaline rush! 

We spent that morning jumping into waterfalls and sliding down others. It was such an amazing experience and although I don’t have photos (couldn’t bring my phone for obvious reasons), I have memories to last a lifetime. I highly recommend this excursion if you are visiting Puerto Plata! It was only 20 minutes away from the resort.

One of my other favorite experiences from my stay at Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort was the romantic dinner they prepared for myself and my date. It truly was the most romantic dinner setting I have ever seen! It was just the two of us on the beach at sundown. We were presented with one dish at a time and went through 5 courses - fruit sushi to start, then on to soup, then a sampling of seafood, then our entrees were steak and lobster, and we finished off with dessert. It was the most romantic dinner in the most beautiful place. A night I will remember forever! If you are headed to Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort with your honey, be sure to set this up. It would be the best surprise for your date! 

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When I think back at my trip, what I remember the most was the staff. The service was unmatched! We were always so well taken care of and everyone was so warm and friendly. They made me feel at home.

All in all, my trip to Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort was perfect. It was such a relaxing trip that I will always remember. Puerto Plata now holds a special place in my heart and I absolutely can’t wait to go back one day. If you are in need of a tropical vacation, this place is for you! 

The Ultimate Guide To The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana

This post is sponsored by The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana.

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You read about my personal experience at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, but now it’s time to plan YOUR trip.

With 10 restaurants, 23 bars, 13 pools, and unlimited options for activities, you really can’t go wrong. I’m just here to help you weigh your options and make the best of your stay at the Hard Rock in Punta Cana.

FOOD:

  • 24-Hour Room Service

    • Need I say more? There were a couple of times during my stay when I just wanted a slice of Oreo cheesecake at 2am or to have breakfast in bed. The room service menu is on the small side, but has enough to satisfy you for any meal at any time of day (or night). I highly recommend that Oreo cheesecake or the chicken fingers.

  • Bistro Med

    • I had appetizers before dinner at Bistro Med one evening while I waited for my dinner reservation at another restaurant on the property. This is a Mediterranean and Lebanese spot perfect for a quick meal or something to snack on.

  • Ciao

    • The Italian restaurant on the property. I only had time to visit Ciao for breakfast one morning and would highly recommend it. There are TONS of options from this buffet-style restaurant. I had a plate of pancakes, fruits, pastries, ham, and eggs but that's just a small sample of the buffet options. I can’t speak personally to the dinner menu, but have heard incredible things. Try dinner at Ciao for me and report back!

  • Ipanema

    • Ipanema is a Brazilian style restaurant with an open view. I came here for dinner and was blown away by the meal I had. It was buffet-style - we filled our plates to the brim with fresh vegetables, pasta salad, and lots of grilled chicken. Our waiter came around to serve us Brazilian steak. I have a story of a sweet moment from my dinner here and you can read about it in this post if you haven’t already.

  • Los Gallos

    • We had EASILY the most fun dinner here. Los Gallos is an Latin/American restaurant. I had a burrito for dinner and my friend Ellen had tacos. We both were beyond satisfied with our meals. The best part of this restaurant was the tequila man! There was a man walking around the restaurant with a cart of different flavors of tequila and he was so much fun! I tried every flavor except the spicy pepper flavors… LOL. Needless to say, we had a fantastic time there.

THINGS TO DO ON THE PROPERTY:

  • Beach Cabanas (also known as Bali Beds)

    • The day that I spent on a Bali Bed on the beach was probably my favorite day. We had our own day bed (which is covered - so you can relax in the shade), and two lounge chairs in front of our Bali Bed to lay in the sun. Each Bali bed comes a cooler too, which is stocked for you with water, beer, sodas, and a bottle of wine or champagne. We opted for white wine. In my opinion, there is no better way to enjoy the beach. This is a MUST DO.

  • Events happening on-site

    • There is always something exciting going on somewhere on the property. Check on this calendar on the website so you can see what kind of activities they have going on! During my stay, there were concerts, foam parties at the pool, karaoke nights, etc.

  • Enjoy the 13 pools

    • … Or at least some of them! I didn’t make it to all 13 pools, but I loved the few that I did swim in. There are different pools for different purposes. To further explain, some pools are quiet pools which are nice if you are looking for a quiet spot to relax and read a great book. There is also a family pool which is perfect for families with kids. But for the record, you’re never too old for a water slide! And there’s a lazy river. Lazy rivers are one of my favorite things ever. You can’t miss that one!

  • Spa day?

    • Sadly, I didn’t have enough time to experience the spa for myself. However, I talked to people during my stay who did have a spa day and they raved about the experience! The spa has 54 treatment rooms (plenty of room for a massage or a facial), steam room, clay steam room, dry sauna, sensation showers, and jacuzzis. This is definitely on my to-do list for my next visit.

  • Take an excursion off the property

    • There are vacation planners on-site at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana who can help you book an excursion off the property so you can explore more of the beautiful island. You can choose from activities like swimming with dolphins, beach horseback riding, an off rider adventure, zip lining, snorkeling, etc. I chose snorkeling!

The property is enormous and clearly, your options are endless. The best thing you can do is explore and make sure to make friends with the staff. I have never come across so many warm, friendly people! I think that was the highlight for me.

If you end up visiting the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, please let me know in the comments below! I would love to hear about your trip.

xoxo,

Liv