Day 4 (November 13, 2017): Sometimes the best experiences are the short ones!

With a noon checkout and a 4pm flight, we decided to make it an early last day of this mini-vacation and to squeeze as much out as possible.  Out of bed at 6:30, the first ones at the breakfast buffet, and on the beach by 8!  We enjoyed the amazing breeze, just watching the waves roll in, and then enjoyed the pool for the first time.  I also did a short (3km) run down the beach -- the sand was perfect for running.

We checked out right at noon, but the hotel allowed us one last lunch as part of our all-inclusive package -- which was nice of them.  
We didn't eat a lot of DR food, but this Dominican stew at lunchtime was delicious! Heavy on the chicken and beef. 

The food, the ambiance, the services, the grounds -- everything has been top notch.  We initially had some misgivings about having booked such a large resort (as I mentioned earlier, it has the capacity for 4000 people!).  But it's such a well-oiled and well-maintained machine, it worked out fine.  Here are a few pictures of the facilities, given the ole' adage, "A picture's worth 1000 words..."
The Melia Caribe Tropical: highly recommended. 
Our villa.  There are dozens of these buildings, each containing 24 rooms.



We stopped at a shopping mall on the way to Punta Cana Airport, returned the rental car without a hitch, and then joined the thousands of other passengers in check-in, security and customs formalities. 
Christmas decorations - like this Texas-sized Santa at the mall - just seem out of place in a tropical climate. 

There was still time for a stop at a quiet business lounge at the crazy-busy Punta Cana Airport before boarding our packed Westjet flight to Toronto.  Our connection this evening will get us home to Halifax at 1AM, so I imagine a bleary-eyed Dave at the office in the morning!  (Pam is off on Tuesday mornings, lucky gal!)

Let's be clear: the smile does NOT mean Pam is happy to be heading home! We could have stayed for another week, easily. 
 
Punta Cana's airport sports an open-air concept and resembles a series of tiki huts. 

We had heard many bad things about the DR, in terms of getting sick, the driving, and the shallowness of the all-inclusive resort industry there.  But we loved the resort, the beaches are second to none, the driving wasn't bad, and the country has a rich history and much to offer.  Definitely a great choice for our 2017 November long weekend, and a spot we would highly recommend if you haven't been.
Our last look at the DR!

Thanks for tuning in to this short blog.  Always a pleasure to have you along for the trip!

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