I Went to a Resort (And It Was Fun... Really!)
By Harry Alvarez | February, 13 2025
First of all, let’s clear something up—this was not a sponsored trip. No resort reached out and offered me a free stay in exchange for a glowing review. This trip was about something much more personal: my sons’ 9th birthday.
With my travel schedule packed and the realization setting in that I’d be away for their actual birthday, I found myself at a crossroads. Do I fly home between conferences just for a couple of days? Do I beat myself up for being a “bad dad”? Or do I surprise them with a getaway of their own? The choice became clear: we’d pick them up from school a few weeks before their birthday and whisk them away to a resort near Punta Cana. The actual location? Not the point. The experience? That’s what really matters. When we picked them up, we even set off confetti bombs in the car. To this day, I still see and cherish the remnants every time I go to the car wash.
The Kids’ Perspective: Water Slides, Nostalgia, and Street Fighter
For my sons, the resort’s biggest selling point was simple: water slides. Lots and lots of water slides. It was the kind of “cheesy” themed resort designed just as much to trigger our 90s nostalgia as it was to entertain kids. My wife and I found ourselves reluctantly charmed—me dancing involuntarily to a kids' remix of my favorite high school song, and later, rediscovering my Street Fighter skills in the game lounge while our sons ran around making fast friends.
The Reputation of Resorts (And Why It’s Complicated)
Resorts often get a bad reputation, sometimes deservedly so.
Food & drinks? Hit or miss.
Service? It depends.
Overall quality? Well, that varies greatly.
But beyond the usual complaints about underwhelming buffets and questionable cocktails, there’s a deeper critique about the way resorts operate. These are self-contained bubbles where visitors can enjoy paradise without ever stepping foot outside. The only locals many guests interact with are staff members serving them drinks or making towel animals in their rooms.
Interacting with the "Outside World"
For many resort-goers, the beach is their one point of contact with the local community. Here, vendors sell trinkets, offer hair braiding, or provide massages—services you can also find inside the resort walls, just at a marked-up price. Some tourists see these encounters as an opportunity to support the local economy. Others, conditioned by cautionary tales and resort-side warnings, see them as something to avoid.
The truth? Fear is manufactured. A narrative of distrust is embedded into the all-inclusive experience. Guests are subtly (and sometimes overtly) encouraged to stay within the safety of the resort’s gates, where everything is pre-packaged, pre-approved, and pre-sanitized for consumption.
A Peek Behind the Bar (And a Surprising Sustainability Lesson)
One of the most surprising observations? The way drinks were served. Unlike the mountains of single-use plastic waste you might expect, bartenders had a deliberate system in place: half-full margaritas, piña coladas, and mai tais—abandoned by guests—were dumped out, and their cups were quickly but thoroughly washed in a massive sink before being put back into circulation. This wasn’t some careless oversight—it was an intentional practice to cut down on plastic waste. While it meant extra work for the staff, it was done in a way that didn’t seem to jeopardize cleanliness. It was an unspoken sustainability effort that, frankly, made a lot of sense.
The Staff and the Vibe
If there was one unexpected highlight, it was the employees. Every interaction was filled with warmth, and I never sensed any animosity—something that can’t always be said for resort environments. There was a genuine feeling that this was a good enough place to work.
And the guests? Surprisingly diverse. The resort wasn’t just packed with North American tourists. It was a beautiful mix of local Dominicans enjoying a weekend getaway, Dominicans from abroad reconnecting with their homeland, travelers from across Latin America, Black Americans, and White Americans. It was refreshing to see such a range of experiences coexisting in this space.
Encouraging a Little Stepping Out
If there’s one takeaway I’d offer to future resort travelers, it’s this: step outside the gates. Even if just for a little while. The Dominican Republic isn’t just beaches, pools, and all-you-can-eat buffets. It’s vibrant communities, rich history, and breathtaking landscapes that deserve to be experienced beyond the curated perfection of an all-inclusive.
Our resort trip was fun. It was easy, comfortable, and convenient—a great way to celebrate a birthday. But it was also a reminder of the bubble that many travelers stay in. There’s an entire world beyond those manicured gardens and towering water slides. And if you’re already in paradise, why not take a few steps further to explore it?
