Have you ever heard the saying "Parents don't really go on vacation, they just take care of their kids in a different city"? As the mom of two young boys, I can totally relate. Traveling with kids is equal amounts of work and fun, and, if I'm being honest, it's so exhausting that sometimes I'd almost rather stay home.
Until now.
Nickelodeon Resorts Punta Cana is a five-star, all-inclusive resort specifically designed with families in mind. That means your vacation will actually be a vacation. My family recently had the opportunity to spend four nights at this beautiful Caribbean beachfront resort. From the accommodations to the service to the food, they exceeded our expectations.
Here are five reasons you should visit with your family.
1. The Service
From the moment we arrived, the team at the resort went above and beyond to make sure our entire stay was perfection. It was the little things that truly made the difference, like the front desk team greeting us with refreshing slime smoothies and cool towels when we arrived from the airport; the housekeeper delivering child-sized Spongebob robes for the kids to snuggle up in before bed; and the cabana attendant entertaining our kids on the beach with a bag of sand toys while my husband and I relaxed in an oceanside cabana. (Yup, the adults actually relaxed on a family vacation!)
2. The Rooms
Yes, this is a Nickelodeon resort, but here you'll find only luxury accommodations designed with families in mind. Think marble bathrooms with both freestanding tubs and rainforest shower heads, enough beds to accommodate a family of six, and -- for those whose kids never want to get out of the water -- a terrace with direct access to a private pool.
Jumping in our pool was the first thing my kids did every morning and the last thing they did every night. Ask them and they'll tell you it was absolutely a highlight of their vacation. And, while the kids swam, hubby and I lounged (yes, lounged) on our private patio with refreshing frozen drinks.
Traveling with an infant or toddler? No worries, because they have them covered, too. You won't need to lug along your essentials because everything you need will be waiting in your room, including a Chicco stroller, highchair, bottle warmer, baby monitor, and even baby food.
3. The Food
This isn't your typical resort menu. At Nickelodeon Resort, you'll find more than 12 gourmet inclusive dining options, from lavish food displays (think enhanced buffets) to pool-side cafes. There's even a really nice coffee bar. But our favorite part? Eating dinner in a different gourmet restaurant each night, each one with its own theme and gorgeous decor. From Verdello (a Sicilian kitchen) to Wok Wok (Asian cuisine) to Spacewalker (yup, our server was dressed as an astronaut!), every single meal was fresh, delicious, and went well beyond what we anticipated.
And if you decide you want a midnight snack, Nickelodeon has you covered with 24-hour room service!
4. The Fun
This is Nickelodeon, after all! In addition to the beach and the infinity pool, the resort also has its own themed waterpark, Aqua Nick, complete with waterslides, a water play area, a lazy river ride and lifeguards who like to get in on the fun -- meaning they'll engage your kids on the water slides or in the spray park while you watch from the comfort of your nearby beach chair (are you sensing a theme, yet?).
When you've had enough of the sun, you can head to the Sports Hub to play pool in the clubhouse or check out one of the many events on your daily schedule of activities, including games on the beach, nightly entertainment, and character meet and greets with Spongebob and friends or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles -- just to name a few.
If you really want to get into the Nickelodeon spirit, you'll want to get slimed! There are private slime times available daily for an extra fee, or free mass slime times available each day in the waterpark, when a giant bucket filled to the brim with green slime soaks everyone standing under it. Because nothing says making memories like getting slimed together, right?
5. The Kid's Club
Finally, if there's one thing every parent needs on a family vacation, it's a little time away from the kids, right? Nickelodeon gets it. They had us covered with their Just Kidding kid's club, a fun space that offers supervised activities for children ages 4-12. Your kids will find a huge ball pit; a video game station; and a daily schedule of fun activities, including cooking classes, crafts, and scavenger hunts. And parents, trust me when I say you won't feel guilty about leaving your kids there, because your kids will love it! There were plenty of times we'd show up to pick up the kids and they'd ask to stay for another hour.
You can use your kid-free time to visit the spa, learn archery in the Sports Hub, take a dance lesson, or enjoy one of the many fruity frozen drinks -- all included in your stay.
Traveling with a child 3 or younger? Babysitting service is also available!
Bottom line? Nickelodeon Resorts Punta Cana truly understands what makes a great family vacation, and time and time again will go out of their way to deliver. So thank you, Nickelodeon, for a vacation that actually felt like a vacation!
The author and her family were guests of Nickelodeon Resort Punta Cana for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions are her own.
