I don't know about you, but when I think of taking a family vacation, relaxation is something I want, but know may not always be easy to find..... until NOW! Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana by Karisma, in the beautiful country of the Dominican Republic, does just that! They have wrapped "family vacation," "relaxation," and "all-inclusive" into one, and it is really something to see and experience!
The author has been hosted to facilitate this review. All thoughts are her own.
Let's talk about the 4 reasons you should book your next stay at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana!
1) The Food!
Taste the deliciousness of the Dominican Republic! When you arrive, you are immediately greeted with a tasty beverage and are shown all of the amazing places you can go to eat! There is something for the whole family — enough for everyone to get something different and something they would enjoy! I loved that I could try something new at every meal and enjoyed it all!
Kick start your day at Joe Merchants to get your favorite latte, sealed with a heart shape artistic design on top every morning.
The breakfast buffet at The Boathouse is incredible with a wide variety of Dominican options as well as what you'd consider some typical American options. The kids can get donuts, bagels, cereal, fruit… you name it! You can have a custom omelet or a custom shake made just for you. This was the largest buffet I have seen with so many diet-friendly and kid-friendly options. I could get anything here and be satisfied!
Speaking of satisfied….. let me tell you about the room service! Do you have picky eaters or need to get your kids a nap or have some rest time hanging out in your hotel room? The room service food was just as delicious as the buffet! Personally, I ordered avocado toast and a custom omelet and loved how easy it was to relax on my patio to enjoy a delicious meal. After a late night of karaoke, the hamburger that I ordered after midnight was a welcomed sight a few minutes after I got back to my room. I really appreciate how easy the app makes it to order room service!
Looking for great dining options? You're covered with an Italian restaurant, a steakhouse, Asian cuisine, and more! The quality and the flavors of the food are way above average! One of my favorites was Italian pizza with calamari and shrimp on top!
I also loved that the restaurants had crayons and coloring books to keep kids engaged during the meal. There were also high chairs for the younger ones as well.
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2) The Pools!
The pools are beautiful and so inviting to get into! There are areas of the pool that are very shallow for non-swimmers and deep enough for your full-fledged swimmers to be on the go while the adults can just stand and enjoy! There is a splash pad available for even your youngest to enjoy the water too!
The best part? Entertainment is also provided at the pool by the staff. Dancing to top hits, they provide a very enjoyable show while you are swimming and/or relaxing in the pool. You can also join in the fun at the foam party with a DJ and dancers to help you have a great time and feel like a kid again!
The swim up bar is not far, and I loved how easy it was to get a drink! Plus there are wait staff all around who come by to see if you want anything to drink.
There were so many different options available at the pool in addition to the swim up bar. You could opt to get a floating burger tray or a floating taco tray and have your lunch in the pool, for an additional charge, and a little something special added to your trip.
Don’t enjoy the water? No problem! Just lay back in one of the many lounge chairs available while your family goes for a swim! Want to go to the beach instead? No problem, it's just a short walk to enjoy the sand on your feet at the beach and watch or swim in the ocean!
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3) The Entertainment
The entertainment at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana is nothing short of incredible and delightfully entertaining for all ages. Multiple times a day the staff breaks out into a dance number (Lady Gaga anyone?) and they give their all to the number. The foam party in the pool features dancers, a DJ, and plenty of foam — making such a memorable and fun experience. The evening festivities are also fun for the whole family and vary from night to night so there are plenty of great options.
We all know vacations can be exhausting which makes the "Parakeet's Kids Club" for ages 4-12 the perfect place for kiddos to hang out for a bit while parents have some downtime. The Kids' Club has a daily schedule that includes going to the pool, finger painting, building a sand castle, various competitions and a pajama party at the end of the night! Inside the Parakeets Kids' Club, there is an outdoor play set and a ton of activities/toys to enjoy in the club itself.
If you have children smaller than age 4, the Parakeets Kid's Club has times available for parents to bring their younger children in to stay and play with them in the club so you can beat the heat with a little indoor play.
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4) The Staff!
The hospitality and customer service of the staff is incredible. When we first got there, we were greeted with a delicious passion fruit margarita drink (my favorite of this trip!) from Tom, the bartender at Compass Bar. Sara, at the front desk, made the check-in process so quick and easy. The staff then took our luggage to our room and explained everything we needed with a map of the resort.
The room key is on a wristband that you wear the whole time, so I never needed my wallet for anything while I was in the resort. The room key also comes with points for the shop at Joe Merchants to purchase things like extra snacks and some souvenirs to take home.
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Overall, Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana by Karisma has incorporated all the pieces of what it means to me to have a relaxing family vacation.
