A Punta Cana Family Getaway: The Nickelodeon Resort
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Dolphin Island
The next day, we enjoyed the same breakfast in our room, then met our shuttle bus and headed to Dolphin Island. This was only a 20-minute drive from our resort. There are several options to choose from at this attraction, and we chose the Action experience. We all were instructed to put on life preservers and boarded a boat that took us out to sea to a series of containment pools where the dolphins live. We stepped into the pool and onto a ledge, and our dolphin, Luna, swam by several times allowing us to pet her. She also clapped her hands, and when we waved our hands like music directors, she sang. The highlight was when we individually swam out midway into the pool and she swam up to us, gave kisses, then allowed us to hold onto her fins as she swam each of us back to the platform ledge. Our daughter was too timid to swim out on her own, so she and her dad did that part together.
My boyfriend and I then snorkeled for a few minutes in a pool with sharks and manta rays. I was freaked out and saw only one shark because visibility was poor--but it was enough for me, and I happily hopped out of that pool and rejoined my daughter. Once the group was done snorkeling we took the boat to shore where you could buy photo packages and hang out on the beach while waiting for the bus ride back to the hotel.
Back at Nickelodeon, we enjoyed lunch at Brgrs.PH, which has great burgers, including a famous version that is family sized. After lunch we went to one of the big infinity pools with a swim-up bar, and our daughter made friends with some of the other kids there. Later we requested a tour of SpongeBob SquarePants’ Pineapple house. This villa has two bedrooms and indoor and outdoor living areas, including a garden, patio, infinity pool, and private butlers! Our daughter was tickled to be able to take a peek inside this awesome villa.
Afterward, we made our way back to the Aqua Nick and played on the slides, while I mostly floated in the lazy river. For dinner that night we went to Wok Wok and enjoyed fine Asian cuisine and sake. The entertainment that night was a show, meet and greet, and dance party with Paw Patrol’s Marshall and Chase along with Dora the Explorer and Boots. The kids went nuts over these guys--it was adorable to see. Later that evening we watched a live Michael Jackson tribute.
On our final morning, we only had a few hours to spend before our bus took us to the airport. We finally tried breakfast out of our room at the buffet restaurant Sugarcane, at which the range of offerings was amazing and everything I tried was delicious. Afterwards we took a quick dip in the pool and then sadly packed up our suitcases and made our way to our bus. We wished we had stayed another day. There were so many activities we still wanted to do, so we’ll have to come back. This resort is luxury, which is reflected in its cost; however there are always promotions that help bring down the price. Of the three vacations to all-inclusive resorts my family has made to Punta Cana, the food and quality at Nickelodeon Resort was tops by far.
Tips for Visiting Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana
- Bring your own sunscreen to avoid paying a premium for it onsite.
- You can easily stay at the resort and never leave; however the day trips we did were fantastic. If you can only do one, La Hacienda Park was our favorite.
- The resort grounds are sprawling, so bring comfortable shoes. You can also be escorted by golf carts that regularly circle the property.
- Bring a stroller if you have little ones.
- Resort attire is required at the restaurants at night, so pack a sundress and button down.
- Most everyone speaks a little English, although it was fun practicing our Spanish when possible.
- Bring $10 cash per person for entry tax at the airport.
- Nickelodeon Resort only accepts Visa and Mastercard. They also take US dollars.
- Pool towels are provided, so no need to pack towels.
- Pack your own life jacket or water wings if your child uses them; these are available for sale onsite but not free.
- The luggage weight limit is less in the Caribbean than domestic flights and most other countries, so check with your airline to see their policy to avoid any extra weight fees.
Looking for fun closer to home? Download our guide to the best NY-area family day trips.
