The Art of Vacationing

Warm sand between your toes, diving into cool blue lagoons, cocktails on the beach, bright sunshine across your skin. These are, to me, the aspects of a perfect vacation, although I would be equally happy on a couch in the springtime or lying in dew-damp grass with chickens around me. 

This time though I’m experiencing the former, and being ready for a perfect vacation means feeling and looking my best, starting with building a wardrobe. Pack for the vacation you’re going on – don’t pack summer dresses if you’re going skiing – in this case a tropical vacation needs lots of sun dresses, several bathing suits and short shorts I finally fit again after 3 years. 

You probably don’t need as much as you think you do – I think I’ve worn 3 outfits out of the 15 I packed so far – because I’m in swimsuits for 7 hours of the day and sportswear that I’ve rented from the hotel for another hour. Then it’s an outfit for breakfast and I switch outfits for dinner. 

I’ve talked about balance and healthy habits before and I’m going to tell you now it is hard to do that on vacation. Being the only person counting calories, trying to make sure I drink enough water and exercising when I could be lying on a beach? It is really hard. Especially when doing a group vacation and everyone is living it up and you have to decide between a Pina Colada and a large dinner. 

Here’s what it comes down to – do you feel like you’re missing out? I didn’t. Yes some days I had to make different choices based on my habits but did I feel better overall? Absolutely. My digestion is more regular, I feel like I’m reaching my goals and I’m still getting to enjoy drinks, desserts and all those things you want to have on vacation without post-vacation guilt.

So where am I that I’m drinking Pina Coladas at 11 am on a Wednesday? The Westin Punta Cana Resort & Club. This is part of a larger complex of resorts in the Dominican Republic, and it’s my first experience at an “all inclusive” resort. Here, there’s no reason to leave, everything is available on site – bar, restaurant, cigars. I do not promote smoking, it’s not good for you and when I did have a cigar it was a bit much for me and I spent 2 days recovering from the way it made me feel. Just… don’t smoke kids. 

The one reason to go off the resort? Nature. I had a pair of mated American Kestrels outside my balcony which was great but if you’re into birding or nature walks there’s a lot to see on the island. I highly recommend going to the Indiginous Eyes Ecological Reserve and going on tours to see Tody’s, Hummingbirds and Ridgeway Hawks. It also has five lagoons to swim in, yes the first is the most beautiful but when I went the next 4 were way better swimming holes as most people had their fill at the first lagoon. 

When travel is once again a good idea I highly recommend you come here, soak up some sun and feel like you’re living your best life.