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I am still feeling breathless in Punta Cana. We caught a taxi from Four Points by Sheraton Puntacana Village to Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa. Because we wanted to spend extra time in the Dominican, I booked the reservation at Breathless on the back end of our summer vacation.
I am a loyal SWA traveler. When I planned my trip to Punta Cana, I charged my arriving flight to my SWA credit card and redeemed Rapid Reward points for the departing flight. A week before the departing flight, I discovered a price change. If you find a lower fare, you will receive a travel fund for the difference when you rebook the flight. While in Punta Cana, I discovered the price went down again. Because I used points, 9,545 points were credited to my account. I also received a travel fund for the arriving flight. Kim received $107. Check your travel rewards programs to make an informed decision when you book your next flight. If you fly SWA, check your fare even on the day of your flight.
I enjoyed my conversation with the Hyatt customer service representative. If you are unaware, Breathless is now part of Hyatt’s portfolio of all-inclusive brands. Of course, I used my Hyatt credit card to pay for the reservation to earn rewards points and credit as a Brand Explorer. When you reserve a room at five unique Hyatt brands in one year, you will receive a free night award at a category 1-4 hotel.
The resort is about 30 minutes from the airport. Everyone greeted us with a smile and appeared genuinely happy to work at Breathless. Our room was not ready. Even though I am not a fan of the buffet-style setup, I enjoyed fresh fruit, roasted chicken, grilled fish, and seafood paella while we waited for our room. By the way, you will need a reservation for Silk City, the hibachi restaurant. If you want a snack or coffee, stop by The Nook Cafe. It is open 24 hours.
Even though this is an older property, the room was clean and in good condition. In addition, there was a separate door for the toilet and bidet. Finally, there is a whirlpool on the balcony. We discovered an issue when it was time to go to bed. The fitted sheet on my bed had a rip in the center. It took two hours for someone to bring a clean sheet and make up the bed again. For our inconvenience, we received access to the Xhale Club, and room service delivered breakfast with a bottle of champagne. We met our Butler the following day and enjoyed cocktails and refreshments at Xhale Club.
Our room was a short walk to the beach. Although clouds were trying to obscure my view, I could still see the sun rising over the horizon. We watched daily entertainment at the Freestyle Pool, and Kim participated in the bubble party and attended a lobby party. Although the noise from the party pool subsided around 6:00PM, guests partied until 2:00AM in the lobby. As I mentioned in another post, I always carry earplugs.
We are in the Dominican Republic for a vow renewal. We attended the wedding 21 years ago, and I was so excited to be with her again for this occasion. Because we were at Breathless, the sister property, Kim and I took a golf cart to Dreams. We watched the ceremony on the beach, toasted the bride and groom, and dined at Capriccio Italian Restaurant.
We visited the lounge in Terminal B. The lounge is near Gate 24, and we were boarding at Gate 21. Although the VIP Lounge is small, seating is well-spaced. There is a mixture of hot and cold items. I enjoyed pasta and neatly cut fruit in a cocktail glass. Guests are limited to two cocktails. Do you want to swim before your flight? An outdoor pool is available. Check your travel credit card benefits before you book your next flight.
Even though I like traveling solo, I like having a travel buddy. When I travel with my sisters, we rotate the bill for food. If I buy lunch, someone else will buy dinner. The person who pays the bill does not leave the tip. Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa is all-inclusive, so we rotated the tips. If you want to read more about how I use rewards to travel, visit my website.
Whether you spend three days near the airport or enjoy an all-inclusive resort, review the budget below to help plan your trip.
