- lsktravelz@gmail.com
Are you planning a trip to Punta Cana? I had not considered visiting the Dominican Republic until my cousin announced she wanted to renew her vows in Punta Cana. Although we spent five nights in the Dominican Republic, we spent two nights at Four Points and three nights at Breathless.
If you do not know, I am a loyal SWA customer. My current status is A-List Preferred. I no longer worry about logging into the website early to snag the A group boarding pass. If you are looking for an airline travel rewards program, and fly at least 25 times yearly, sign up for Rapid Rewards. 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 returning flight. Seven days before the flight back to Chicago, the fare decreased. Three days later, I saw the fare decrease again. If you find a lower price, you will receive a travel fund for the difference when you rebook the flight. Because I used points, 9,545 points were credited to my account. Kim received a $107 travel fund. Check your travel rewards programs.
I checked my hotel rewards accounts and discovered I had enough points in the Marriott Bonvoy account for a two-night stay at Four Points by Sheraton. Although the hotel is near the airport, the Sheraton offers a complimentary shuttle. The Mabi Restaurant & Lounge is on site. Felix checked us in delivering excellent customer service. A fitness center and outdoor pool are available. When I opened the door to the room, I needed the key card to turn on the lights. The room is updated, but no fridge or microwave. Water is delivered daily, and we received a 2:00PM checkout because of my status through American Express Platinum. Again, check your travel credit card benefits when planning a trip.
Access to the private beach at Playa Blanca Punta Cana Resort & Club is not on the website. Complimentary transportation is available between 10:00AM-6:30PM. It is hot in July. Make sure you pack travel-sized sunscreen if you do not check your luggage. We also learned about Happy Hour at Mabi. If you want to enjoy margaritas for $3.50, stop by the restaurant from 5:00PM-8:00PM. We also enjoyed the charcuterie board and churrasco.
Punta Cana Village is 600ft from Four Points Sheraton. If you want to immerse yourself in the culture, walk across the street. There were unique shops and lots of restaurants. We stopped by The Wallz for photos, the pharmacy to pick up sunscreen, and checked out clothing at one of the boutiques. Although we were happy with the dining options at the hotel, we wanted to dine at one of the restaurants offering Happy Hour from 7:00PM-8:00PM. The experience was not the same. The margaritas contained too much sour mix, and the glasses were smaller. The tortilla chips were not homemade, and the salsa was definitely from a jar or can. In addition, we waited 45 minutes for tamales which were 85% masa and 15% meat. We were disappointed with this meal.
If you are adventurous, take the unofficial path behind the hotel and walk to the mall. We were pleasantly surprised at the store offerings. The mall does not look inviting from the exterior, but the inside is bright and airy. If you need a Starbucks fix, take a walk outside the mall, and if you need to pick up groceries, stop by the store across from the mall. Finally, if you are traveling with small children, stop by the play area in the mall, and baseball fans can enjoy a batting cage.
Did you know about the IBTIS tax? There is an 18% tax for goods and services in the Dominican Republic and a service charge at restaurants. I did not do my research before traveling. When I questioned the charges at Mabi, I did not understand the response. Two days later, I realized the difference between the service charge (gratuity) and the tax when a server returned our money. I told her to keep the tip. However, I was bothered the service charge for the meal at Mabi was only $6. Well, the suggested tip rate in the Dominican is 10%. You can tip an extra 10% if the service is good.
We spent two nights at Four Points by Sheraton, and if I travel to the Dominican Republic in the future, I will stay here again. The location is perfect for solo travelers too. By the way, if you book with Marriott Bonvoy points, you do not pay resort fees. As always, the budget is below.
