Nothing soothes the soul quite like a girls trip — plus I’ve been LONG overdue for a long weekend of relaxation and fun. So when Breathless Resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic reached out, I didn’t hesitate to dive right in.
My sweet friend and fellow Houston blogger, Madison Payne, was thrilled to join me on the trip. Neither of us had been to the DR before, but had heard that it was becoming a new hotspot for beach vacations.
From the moment we arrived at Breathless, we were greeted with smiles and hospitality! Madison & I were whisked away in a golf cart for a quick tour of the property (it’s massive!) and taken to the Exhale Club — an upgraded, VIP experience that you can select when booking your reservation at Breathless. I highly recommend selecting Xhale (more on that in a bit!)
THE AMENITIES
Breathless Punta Cana is a MASSIVE resort — it’s very walkable but you can ask for a golf cart ride if needed. The paths are well-lit at night, there’s staff everywhere to help you out if you’re lost, and wherever you stay, you can bet that a pool and food will be just a few steps from your door!
There’s a state of the art spa, a stunning fitness center, an amphitheater area for nightly performances, and more!
Breathless has 750 guest suites, full of contemporary, colorful interiors and spacious layouts. There was plenty of breathing room for Madison & I, and we were thrilled to see all the counter space in the large bathroom as well (it takes a lot for two girls to get ready!) Our balcony view was nothing short of phenomenal, and we loved sitting outside listening to the ocean AND scoping out the big pool scene before heading down.
THE VIP EXPERIENCE
If you upgrade to the VIP experience, you will also have access to a lounge for Xhale members only! Not only does it offer additional privacy and expanded pool and lazy river access, the clubhouse also starts serving alcohol earlier (and later) than the other bars, plus yummy grab & go food that make it easy to indulge at your convenience! There is also a bar on the beach just for Xhale guests, providing another layer of convenience when you need a refreshment but want to keep your sand in the toes awhile longer.
We were also thrilled to find out that we had a butler, David, who would help make our every wish come thru during our stay. Whether we wanted coffee and champagne in the morning, needed dinner reservations, or had any questions at all. Having a go-to point of contact made us feel comfortable and kept the entire stay seamless!
THE FOOD
Madison & I were happy to sample as much food as possible — the French bistro, the Mexican cocina, a buffet, and a whole lot of room service! Room service quickly became our favorite feature, because we were often able to eat while getting ready for the day / night, or able to have a late bite after enjoying the resort’s nightlife. I loved the Ceasar Salad and the Margherita Pizza on the late-night menu!
THE DRINKS
At Breathless (and next door at Now Onyx too) all of your beverages are included. Madison and I quickly got acquainted with the local beer, El Presidente, which is an easy-to-drink light beer that hits the spot every time. We also enjoyed our share of Champagne, frozen cocktails, and wine — all in the name of research of course! 🙂
The bars are spread conveniently across the resorts and swim up pool bars mean you don’t even have to hop out of the water to get a refill.
THE PARTIES
Breathless hosts a variety of parties, and many of the returning guests we talked to said the party-atmosphere sets the resort apart from others in Punta Cana. Guests in their 20s danced right alongside others in their 60s — everyone is there to have fun!
We experienced a Breathless Foam Party our first night there and it was a blast — picture foam shooting out of cannons into and across a huge pool, bass-pumping dance music and lights, and guests playing in the suds or danced alongside the water.
Parties aren’t limited to the night — an afternoon champagne toast turns into champagne showers, as men in swimsuits pop celebratory bottles and launch into a dance formation to wow the afternoon pool crowd. Each day at Breathless features unique programming, parties, and performances. But ultimately the choice is yours: with a property this large, there’s plenty of opportunity to get in on the excitement or take in the beautiful views and relax.
THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY OPTION
One of the most appealing aspects of Breathless is that it’s right next to (a very, very short walking distance from) NOW Onyx Resort, a family-friendly beachfront resort.
Now Onyx opened three years ago (and a huge section of it just opened in Nov 2019!) so it is brand new, modern, beautiful, and TONS of fun. It features a huge waterpark-style lazy river, several water slides, stunning swim-up bars, and tons of rooms with terraces that open directly to the newest pool! Add in 20 more restaurants, lots of pools, and even more beautiful beachfront, and it’s another slice of paradise.
I couldn’t help but feel drawn toward this beautiful property and immediately envisioned coming back to stay here with my boys. It was very kid-friendly, but not at all limited to just families.
THE SAFETY
Many of you asked if we felt safe in the Dominican considering previous media reports of safety concerns. I can tell you with 1000% certainty that I never felt anything less than safe, comfortable, and taken care of while at Breathless & Now Onyx. The staff we interacted with were kind, courteous, and respectful, and the other guests we met were fun, friendly, and personable. We met several people that became our vacation pals, and it was easy to make plans to meet at a pool or bar or the beach and swap stories everyday.
Also, there were multiple nights that I walked back to the room by myself, and never once worried about safety. My best advice — wherever you are, at home or abroad — is to always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings.
THE SUMMARY
The beauty of Breathless is it’s an all-inclusive resort: no need to pay for each meal, each drink, even room service — everything is included! This makes it so much easier to savor your time and experience without worrying about paying the tab.
Breathless and Now Onyx share an impressive beachfront. The sand is stunning, the water is gorgeous and warm — it’s the ideal beach for tanning, relaxing, and playing in the water too! Chic cabanas are also available to rent, and we enjoyed living it up one afternoon in our two-story cabana overlooking the beach!
The Breathless / Now Onyx Resorts setup is especially appealing to me. Both resorts are HUGE with countless pools and restaurants to choose from. Even though they’re two different resorts, they are just steps apart and when staying at one, you have access to the other, so it’s a two-for-one! I would *love* to come back again and stay at Onyx so I can bring my kids and watch them play in the sand or splash around in the lazy river.
Special thanks to Breathless Resort for hosting us on this incredible vacation. Please let me know if any of you have questions about Punta Cana, Breathless, or Now Onyx — I’d be happy to help!
XOXO,
Keli
