Christmas time in the Dominican Republic

We took a relatively quick direct flight from Chicago O'Hare to Punta Cana ( 5 hours ) and an hour car service to the resort.

We arrived late afternoon and after settling into our villa, we explored the resort and ate at one of the resort restaurants.

We started our day with a delicious breakfast prepared by the cook in our villa, with views of the golf course and the ocean in the distance.

We then headed to the beach on our golf carts ( included with the villa rental ) grabbed our towels from the little hut at the entrance and enjoyed a few hours in the sun on our lounge chairs, reading & swimming.

There's 2 food trucks and 1 restaurant at the beach for food and drinks. A couple of little shops for summer clothes, sunscreens etc. and a delicious ice cream parlour which of course we indulged in !

In the evening, we went to a restaurant in Altos de Chavon - a replica 16th century Mediterranean village in the heart of the countryside. The whole town was all illuminated for Christmas and it felt magical with a cute little church at the centre of it.

For breakfast we tried the main resort restaurant and it was delicious with lots of healthy options and fresh juices.

We decided to go back to Altos de Chavon to see it during the day since it was so lovely at night time.

The little village is worth a visit during the day, cobblestone alleys with charming art galleries , jewellers, restaurants and cafes.

The Grecian style amphitheatre is impressive. It hosts concerts, events and performances. Unfortunately, no concerts at Christmas time.

We returned to our villa to enjoy the rest of the day by the pool, chilling and soaking up the sun.

In the evening, we dined in La Casita, spanish inspired restaurant in the marina. The location was stunning - open air and watching the yachts coming and going.

Day trip to Catalina island - white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters !

We enjoyed the 40 mins catamaran ride over to the island where sun loungers, umbrellas and towels were waiting for us.

The stunning beach and lush surrounding was paradise.

We took our snorkelling gear and headed to the clear and warm waters where we saw the most colourful fishes.

For lunch, we had ordered picnic boxes from the resort - a mix of sandwiches, fresh fruits and dessert.

Of course, you can't enjoy lunch on an island without a coconut water !

In our last full day, we did a mix of poolside relaxation & chilling at the beach.

The boys golfed in one of the resort golf courses and they truly enjoyed it.

I spent a few hours afternoon at the spa spoiling myself !

After our day of relaxation, we had a delightful evening at the beachfront restaurant overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

The open air setting and the and great vibes around us was the perfect way to end our stay in the Dominican Republic !

Our flight back to Chicago was early morning. We just had time for a quick breakfast at the villa and say goodbye to the staff who took such good care of us!