Did you know that Lola, from Lola’s Diner is having a ‘Cabin Fever Margaritaville Carnival‘ going on right now? This is a great way to share some great vacation stories – or even make one up! For us EntreCard users, she’s giving away prizes, people! The party goes until the 22nd, so you still have time to join in on the Fever! 😉I thought I’d share one of my favorite vacations – the first ‘real’ vacation that hubby and I took back in 2002. We went to Punta Cana in the Caribbean to an ‘All-Inclusive’ Resort. This was the first time either of us had experienced this type of resort – and we’ve decided it’s the only way to go for any future ‘real’ vacations, especially since we experienced a not-so-fun cruise a few years later…that story will be a later post… 😉
This is the picture of the Resort we stayed at:
It has a beautiful (huge) open-air lobby where you check in – and they held a ‘Welcome Party’ our first night with incredible music and dancers (sorry about the quality of the pictures – or lack thereof – I had a sucky camera in 2002):
Our room was huge and comfy, with cathedral ceilings and a balcony that had a great partial view of the beach:
Our balcony was the perfect place to have our early morning coffee – or to chill out with Pina Colada’s after a day soaking up the sun on the beach:
The water was warm and inviting, and the beach was perfect:
At night, they had an outdoor theater and had some wonderful Las Vegas-type shows:
We enjoyed strolling around the grounds and checking out the ducks that lived in the pond:
Besides simply hanging out on the beach all day every day enjoying our Pina Colada’s, we did do one ‘excursion’ trip – a “Jungle Tour” that was an all-day event in an open top bus through the jungles. We were able to tour some of the ‘locals’ houses and was even served lunch by one very nice accomodating family. Unfortunately, those pictures were in the had drive crash that happened a few years ago, but I did salvage these few from our Jungle Tour…our ‘Jungle Guide’ was the nicest and funniest ever! 🙂 Hubby had participated in a Charity Event, ‘Locks of Love‘ and had his head shaved just about a month before our vacation – his hair had partially grown back in time for our vacation – he was glad it was so short, he stayed nice and cool throughout the week! 😉
Yes, I did have my hair put into the fun braids – they had to have 2 women working on my head’o’hair, and it still took them three hours to get it done…but I loved it, I didn’t have to worry about having a ‘bad hair day’ at any time during our trip! 😉
There was a horse on one of the beaches during our ‘Jungle Tour’ – I had to take a picture of it, because hubby’s afraid of them…and well, I had to annoy him by making a big deal out of it…*snicker!*Our final day while waiting for the shuttle to take us back to the airport, hubby played some music on the fairly deserted beach:
We had such a great time that we decided we would be back…we enjoyed the resort (everyone needs to have a vacation where you’re waited on hand and foot!), and the people who worked at the resort were absolutely wonderful. We did go back – to the same resort – exactly 5 years later. While we were vacationing in 2002, we had no idea I was 3 months pregnant – so it was a special treat for us to bring the Princess Nagger along with us 5 years later. Those pictures I’ll post in a later post! 😉
Oh I am sure Princess has a great time being pampered! I know i would! Sounds like a great time! Wish I could enjoy some of that right now… he cold & snow has me down!
Urrggghhh…you had a better vacation than the one I posted….
Love the Bo look!
Looks like a great vacation! The vacation I posted was on a cruise and we are planning to also go back in 5 years. Some vacations are just meant to be repeated! Too cute about your daughter too!
Looks like a great vacation. Hubs and I haven’t had a real vacation since our honeymoon. We went to Estes Park Colorado for a week and had the best time ever. Now our vacations consist of dragging the kids to some relatives house to visit. I think this year we may take a family vacation just us 4. Something without an agenda or someone else to go visit or keep a schedule with. I think we are overdue for that.
Ahhh thanks for the picture share. The view was a HUGE improvement on the snow filled one outside my window right now.
Awesome pictures, it’s so beautiful there 🙂
oh how cool! I am going to dig some vacation pictures out this weekend and do something this week like that- I definitely have cabin fever!
That looks like heaven, absolute heaven… and is seriously making me rethink my decision to head out into the 30 degree weather tonight…
We SO need a vacation like that! Jealous!!! =)
Wow, what an amazing vacation you had. Such a beautiful place. I sure could use a vacation. It’s been a while for us. Thanks for sharing your fun memories.
What I wouldn’t do to be there right now!
@Jenn@mylifewiththecrazies: Oh, the Princess Nagger definitely had a great time being pampered – I’ll have to post the pictures of our 2007 vacation she got to ‘officially’ join us on… 🙂 I’m jonesin’ to go on another one like that…I could use some basking in the warm sun on a beach right about now! 😉
@I am Harriet: Yeah, but yours was COOL with your daughters! 🙂 Yeah, that Bo look was fun! 😉
@Cher: I absolutely agree that some vacations are just meant to be repeated! That’ll be cool if you guys get to go back on the cruise in 5 years – I like that you guys took Royal Caribbean…I’m trying to talk my hubby into trying another cruise – specifically Royal Caribbean since my brother and his wife have ONLY sailed with them…I’ve been on 4 cruises, hubby’s only been on 1, and the 1 we went on was Carnival…which I had a bad experience on in the past and didn’t want to go Carnival again, but we got talked into it by the friends we were going to vacation with… The thing I do like about All Inclusive Resorts over a cruise is that EVERYTHING is ‘free’ – for about the same price of a cruise…so we could drink freely without any extra cost…heh, heh! 🙂 But I’d still like to have my hubby try ONE more cruise on a different cruise line so he can at least have a pleasant experience! 😉 That’d be cool if you guys planned a second honeymoon for your 5th anniversary! 😉
@Chris: It definitely was a great vacation! 🙂 I’ve heard Estes Park Colorado is wonderful! That would be cool if you guys were able to take a vacation with just the 4 of you – vacations without an agenda or the need to schedule your time to visit everyone makes for a very relaxing time! 😉 Sounds like you guys are definitely overdue for a vacation like that! 😉
@Megryansmom: LOL! Glad I could help with some visual aids to take your mind off the snowy scene outside your window… 😉
@Firefly: Thanks, Firefly! It is really beautiful there – and the people are SO Nice! 🙂
@Journey on! by Kelleye: Oh, yes, please do dig some vacation pictures – I want to see! 🙂
@LiLu: It was absolute heaven… LOL about making you rethink heading out in the 30 degree weather tonight… 😉
@Megan: You guys absolutely need a vacation like this! You deserve it! 🙂
@Michelle: It was definitely amazing and beautiful…and relaxing! 🙂 I’m hoping we can go back again in 2012 – you know, to do another 5-year repeat visit…although, if we can swing it before then, I certainly wouldn’t be against doing it sooner than later! 😉
@Kat: I couldn’t agree with you more, Kat! 🙂
You’re really making me need a vacation by showing me these pictures. It looks like such a great time and I love the hair braids! We went to Sandals in the Bahamas for our honeymoon and then again for our first anniversary but then the kids came along and ruined the chance of another vacation for 18 years. 😉
Great original pix love the post!
fyi I’m pretty sure your comments are no follow, i’m using seo quake and it says they are no follow. just thought you would like to know.