Punta Cana with Kids: 8 Days of Spring Break in a Swim-Up Suite at Majestic Mirage

Spring break in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: seven nights at one all-inclusive resort, with the pool outside our door, the sea, the resort’s restaurants and a show every night.

Punta Cana with kids: white gazebo and palm trees on the beach at Majestic Mirage, where we spent 7 nights
White gazebo and palm trees on the resort beach

This Punta Cana with kids itinerary covers the eight days and seven nights we spent at Majestic Mirage in the Dominican Republic over my kid’s spring break in April 2022.

  • 7 nightsApril 11 to 18
  • 1 resortMajestic Mirage
  • 6 showsfrom Michael Jackson to magic
  • 1 outinga snorkel boat trip

The trip in short

Before my kid’s spring break we went back and forth between Cancún and Punta Cana for a long time. Flights cost about the same, and resorts of the same class were a little cheaper in Punta Cana. Friends who had been were happy with it. We had already spent a little time in Mexico, so we picked Punta Cana for something different. It was our first time in the Dominican Republic.

Our family usually travels on foot, exploring as we go. But at that age, my kid was just as happy at a hotel pool, and so were we. For eight days our biggest decisions were which restaurant to try first, pool or beach, and what to drink.

Most days went the same way. A swim in the pool outside our room, a meal at the buffet or the café, back and forth between the beach and the big pool, then dinner at a restaurant we had booked. At night we watched a show and danced in the plaza. Simple days, and there was a calm in that simplicity. The longer I think about it, the more I realize how easy that week was.

What we ate and drank

Breakfast at the buffet was excellent. I still remember one server’s cheerful “ooh la la” every time a plate went out. The omelet station had a long row of fillings. Jamón, the Spanish cured ham, sat on the bone and was sliced thin to order. The seafood station had crab, shrimp and clams piled high.

The seafood station at the buffet
The seafood station at the buffet

There are bars all over the resort, so we picked up drinks as we walked around. We drank piña coladas most, then a rich strawberry drink and mojitos.

There was a bar in the pool and another by the beach.

The swim-up bar inside the pool
The swim-up bar inside the pool

For dinner we worked our way through the resort’s restaurants. All of them were good. The steakhouse, the teppanyaki grill and the Italian place are the ones I remember best.

What we did at the resort

The water was clear and clean, perfect for swimming. Something was always going on at the beach: a game of knocking down water bottles on a small table, beach volleyball, and bachata lessons. Bachata is the Dominican Republic’s own dance, and the local instructors moved in a way we could not begin to copy. When else would we try something like that? It became one of the good memories of the trip. Some nights the beach turned into a dance party, and my kid loved it.

The package came with a spa credit, so my wife and I had a couples massage at the resort spa.

In the sea, the inflatable water hammocks we brought got a lot of use. Just lying there and floating was enough.

The resort has a kids’ playroom. In the sports bar, the three of us often played billiards. At the neighboring resort, a group of kids jumped rope while chanting “Coca-Cola, Fanta,” and my kid joined right in. There were lizards everywhere around the resort, which my kid loved too.

There was a show every evening. In one, dancers performed to songs by famous singers like Michael Jackson. With several stages, different music drifted in from every direction, and people danced wherever it played. My wife and my kid danced too. Watching people sing and dance in the plaza was a pleasure of its own.

The Dominican staff were truly kind. We never had one bad moment, and we left with a warm impression. Someone was always painting, and any small scuff was fixed right away, so the resort always looked clean.

A path through the resort toward the beach
A path through the resort toward the beach

Choosing a resort in Punta Cana

All-inclusive resorts line the beaches of Punta Cana. Some are adults-only, some have strong kids’ programs, some are themed like a castle or a palace. How close you are to the sea, how far the resort stretches back from the beach and which building you stay in all change how a stay feels.

We compared price ranges across many resorts and decided to pick a good one within a single chain. We wanted a swim-up room, where the terrace steps straight into the pool, a location close to the sea, and a Jacuzzi the three of us could share. At first we booked a different resort. Then we realized the resort would also decide everything we ate for a week, so we moved up a level. That is how we ended up at Majestic Mirage Punta Cana. There are pricier, flashier resorts, but for us it struck the right balance.

Majestic Mirage is in Arena Gorda, at the northern end of Bávaro Beach. It sits next to two sister resorts in the same chain, Majestic Elegance and Majestic Colonial, and it is the newest of the three. Every room is a suite. The resort is split into the Family Club, open to all ages, and the Mirage Club, for guests 18 and over. Every suite comes with a butler, and room service is included around the clock. We stayed in the Family Club.

BávaroMacao BeachMajestic MirageArena Gorda BeachPunta Cana AirportPUJ21 km in a straight lineabout 24 km by roadAtlantic Ocean5kmN
Majestic Mirage on Arena Gorda Beach, about 21 km (13 mi) north of Punta Cana International Airport as the crow flies

Our room, a swim-up suite

Ours was a ground-floor one-bedroom suite. The sliding door opened onto a terrace with a stone Jacuzzi and a rattan sofa. Beyond it, on the lawn, was a curtained Bali bed, and past that a long, narrow pool. The ground-floor rooms line this pool, so the water is a few steps from the door. Our swim-up room in Phuket was such a good memory that we chose one again here.

The long swim-up pool running past the suites
The long swim-up pool running past the suites

My kid jumped into that water several times a day. Even when we were out around the resort, we kept coming back to the room for a swim, and during breaks my kid played the Nintendo we had brought from home.

The beach was about a five-minute walk from our room. On the way you pass the big pool with its swim-up bar, and there are restaurants and bars by the beach, so the walk never felt long. The buffet, the plaza with restaurants, the theater and the playroom, the outdoor stage, the kids’ club and the spa where we had our massage were all close to the room as well.

Our roomswim-up suiteBig poolswim-up barLobby and plazarestaurants, theater, playroomSpaPickleballKids’ clubOutdoor stagerestaurants and barsBeachAtlantic Ocean100mN
The main spots around our room, and the walk to the beach

We reached our butler on WhatsApp, so whenever we needed something, a message was enough. Room service would also bring breakfast, and some mornings we ate on the terrace while my kid played in the Jacuzzi.

Breakfast delivered to the terrace, with the Jacuzzi behind
Breakfast delivered to the terrace, with the Jacuzzi behind

The sister resorts next door

Staying at the Mirage, we could also use some of the facilities at Elegance and Colonial. My kid spent hours in the kids’ water area at the neighboring resort. We ate at one of the others once, but we liked the food at the Mirage better and stayed with it after that. That was possible when we stayed in April 2022, but what the resorts share today is worth asking about before you book.

The Splash Kids Club, shared by all three resorts, is on the Colonial side. We never left my kid at the kids’ club; we always played together. Colonial went into renovation in April 2026, and its reopening is November 12, 2026 (press release).

The three resorts side by side

We only stayed at the Mirage, so the Elegance and the Colonial come from public sources, set out on the same criteria.

ColonialEleganceMirage
FeelThe liveliest of the three, a common family pickA little quieterThe newest of the three (opened December 2016), all suites
Dining7 restaurants, 7 pools6 restaurants, including teppanyaki and steak8 restaurants, 6 of them à la carte (resort site)
RoomsAll rooms refurbished, 30 new Family Suites, reopening November 12, 2026All 598 rooms refurbished in 2023Every room is a suite, with a butler and 24-hour room service
KidsNew Caribbean Water Park (slides, lazy river) and the Splash Kids ClubFamily sectionFamily Club open to all ages
Adults onlyColonial Club (18+)Elegance Club (18+)Mirage Club (18+)

All three sit side by side on the same stretch of beach. One travel blog ranks the Mirage at the top of the chain, the Elegance in the middle and the Colonial at the bottom, but that is a single source, not an official ranking. Restaurant and pool counts for the Colonial and Elegance come from a 2024 travel-agency guide, and the Colonial renovation details from the May 2026 press release (as of October 2026).

Booking and getting there

We booked the resort as a Costco Travel package. It included seven nights at the resort, a private car between the airport and the resort, and a spa credit. What comes with an all-inclusive package varies a lot, so read the details before you choose. We were happy with ours.

We booked flights separately from the package. The gateway is Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ).

From the airport to Arena Gorda is about 27 km (17 mi), roughly 35 minutes by car. In the van that picked us up, a note about tipping the driver was taped to the windshield.

If you want data outside the resort Wi-Fi, an eSIM is easy to set up before you go.

Day-by-day summary

Apr. 11 to 18Majestic Mirage 7 nights

A short look at what we did each day.

Day by day

What we did each day, from Day 1 to Day 8.

Day 1, Monday, April 11Arrival in Punta Cana: warm air and the pool outside our door

Day 1 / 8

We landed late in the afternoon, went straight into the pool outside our room, and at the first show of the trip my kid danced through almost all of it.

The numbers on the chips match the numbered headings. Circle colors: restaurants (orange), shows and places (brown), sea and pools (teal).

Afternoon
Punta Cana AirportMirage check-in1Swim-up pool
Evening
2Buffet3Michael Jackson show

HotelArrival and check-inAround 5 p.m., 35 minutes by car from the airport

We landed in Punta Cana around 4:30 p.m. On the way down, green hills and white clouds filled the window. Outside the terminal the air was warm and humid. Years later, arriving at another beach, my wife still thought of that first breath of air, the warmth and the humidity. A car we had booked ahead took us to the resort. Food was laid out in the lobby, and while we checked in, my kid played in a kids’ corner nearby.

The view from the plane on the way into Punta Cana
The view from the plane on the way into Punta Cana
Sandwiches and fruit laid out in the lobby
Sandwiches and fruit laid out in the lobby

1The swim-up pool outside our roomEvening

The moment we got to the room, my kid stepped off the terrace and into the pool.

The long pool in front of the suites
The long pool in front of the suites

2Dinner at the buffet7:30 p.m.

Our first dinner was at the buffet.

The cake station at the buffet
The cake station at the buffet
A salad bar with a long row of salads
A salad bar with a long row of salads

3Michael Jackson tribute showAround 10 p.m., outdoor stage

At night, dancers performed to Michael Jackson songs on the outdoor stage. My kid danced along in the aisle at the back of the seating almost until the end. After that, other guests recognized my kid and waved hello, and we kept trading greetings with them until our last day.

A tribute performer dancing on the MJ stage
A tribute performer dancing on the MJ stage

Where we slept: Majestic Mirage Punta Cana, night 1 of 7

Day 2, Tuesday, April 12A lap of the resort, and a circus show at night

Day 2 / 8

We walked down to the beach and found the kids’ water area at the resort next door.

Daytime
Room1Beach2Kids’ water area next door
Night
3Circus show

1The walk to the beach1:30 p.m.

We followed the paths through the resort to the beach. Pools kept appearing along the way, so we could hop into any of them. They were all well kept. On the beach stood a white gazebo, with the sea beyond.

A resort sign announcing that night’s show
A resort sign announcing that night’s show

2The kids’ water area at the neighboring resortAfternoon

In the afternoon we went to the kids’ water area at the neighboring resort. It has a pirate theme, with a slide shaped like rocks and another patterned like snake scales.

The kids’ water area at the neighboring resort
The kids’ water area at the neighboring resort
The pirate-themed section
The pirate-themed section

3Circus show9:30 p.m., indoor theater

At 9:30 p.m. we watched a circus show in the indoor theater, with an aerial rig set up over the stage.

The indoor theater where the circus show was held
The indoor theater where the circus show was held

Where we slept: Majestic Mirage Punta Cana, night 2 of 7

Day 3, Wednesday, April 13Room service on the terrace, steak for dinner

Day 3 / 8

Breakfast on our terrace, then an easy day between the beach and the bar.

Morning
Terrace breakfast1Pool outside our room
Afternoon
2Open-air lunch3Beach4Bar
Evening
5Don Jaume Steakhouse

HotelRoom service breakfast on the terrace10:30 a.m.

That morning breakfast came by room service, and we ate on the terrace, looking out over the pool and the Bali bed.

A room service breakfast on the terrace by the pool
A room service breakfast on the terrace by the pool

1The pool outside our roomMorning

After breakfast we stayed in the pool outside our room. We floated the water hammocks we had brought and lay back on them.

A water hammock floating in the pool outside our room
A water hammock floating in the pool outside our room

2Lunch at the open-air restaurant by the beach1:45 p.m.

Lunch was pasta at a restaurant near the beach, open on all sides under a roof.

Lunch at the open-air restaurant
Lunch at the open-air restaurant

3The beach2:30 p.m.

In front of the white gazebo, palm trees leaned in the wind. The sea was clear, with almost no seaweed.

Clear water by the gazebo, with no seaweed
Clear water by the gazebo, with no seaweed

In the afternoon we floated both hammocks in the sea and lay side by side.

A water hammock floating in the sea by the gazebo
A water hammock floating in the sea by the gazebo

4A drink at the bar4 p.m.

Between swims we stopped at a bar for frozen drinks.

Frozen drinks from the bar
Frozen drinks from the bar

5Don Jaume SteakhouseEvening

Dinner was at Don Jaume, the resort’s Argentine-style steakhouse, with stone walls and a high timber ceiling. The steak came with roasted potatoes and corn, and my wife and I had white wine and then red. I still call it the best steak I have ever eaten. Around opening time, people lined up outside.

Steak, roasted potatoes and corn at Don Jaume
Steak, roasted potatoes and corn at Don Jaume

Where we slept: Majestic Mirage Punta Cana, night 3 of 7

Day 4, Thursday, April 14Lunch at the beach buffet, and Don Jaume again

Day 4 / 8

Back and forth between the beach and the pools, then a medley show at night.

Morning
1Dessert station
Midday
2Beach buffet3Big pool and swim-up barTerrace Jacuzzi
Afternoon
4Spa massage
Evening
5Don Jaume6Sports bar7Show Just MIRAGE

1The dessert station10 a.m.

Around 10 a.m. we stopped at the dessert station for cookies, cupcakes and chocolate. I think that was breakfast that day.

Cookies and cupcakes at the dessert station
Cookies and cupcakes at the dessert station

2Lunch at the beach buffet1:15 p.m.

Lunch was at the buffet facing the sea. From the terrace out front, the water showed between the palms.

A plate from the beach buffet
A plate from the beach buffet
The sea from the restaurant terrace
The sea from the restaurant terrace

3The big pool and the terrace JacuzziAfternoon

In the afternoon we swam in the big pool, the one with a swim-up bar where you sit in the water with a drink, then went back to the room for the terrace Jacuzzi. We had brought a ball that bounces off the water, and it was perfect for the pool.

The big pool, ringed by palms and thatched umbrellas
The big pool, ringed by palms and thatched umbrellas
A ball that skips and bounces on water
A ball that skips and bounces on water

4A massage at the spa3:45 p.m.

In the afternoon we crossed a wooden bridge to the thatched spa building. With the spa credit from our package, my wife and I had a couples massage.

The wooden bridge to the thatched spa building
The wooden bridge to the thatched spa building

5Back to Don JaumeEvening

We went back to Don Jaume for dinner, and once again had steak with a glass of wine for the grown-ups.

Stone walls and a timber ceiling at Don Jaume
Stone walls and a timber ceiling at Don Jaume
That night’s steak with mashed potatoes
That night’s steak with mashed potatoes

6Draft Sports BarNight

After dinner the three of us played billiards at the sports bar.

The entrance to Draft Sports Bar
The entrance to Draft Sports Bar

7Show Just MIRAGENight, indoor theater

At night, the indoor theater put on “Show Just MIRAGE,” a medley of hit songs. Michael Jackson, the Beatles and the Latin pop hit “Havana” all came one after another.

Show Just MIRAGE in the indoor theater
Show Just MIRAGE in the indoor theater
The “Havana” number
The “Havana” number

Where we slept: Majestic Mirage Punta Cana, night 4 of 7

Day 5, Friday, April 15Panini at the café, pickleball, and the beach at dusk

Day 5 / 8

We started at the café, went between the sea and the courts, and watched a Caribbean show at night.

Daytime
1Café Español2Beach
Afternoon
3Pickleball court4Beach at dusk
Evening
5Terrace restaurant6TRIBUTO show

1Café Español

The café at the resort serves coffee and other drinks. We had a panini and a chicken wrap.

A panini and a chicken wrap at Café Español
A panini and a chicken wrap at Café Español
Iced coffee
Iced coffee

2The sea12:40 p.m.

The colors of the sky and the sea were beautiful.

Clear water under a few clouds
Clear water under a few clouds

3The pickleball court4:40 p.m.

We played pickleball on the resort court. The resort’s current listing still includes a pickleball court with free group lessons (as of October 2026). Paddles and balls were available at the resort, but if you pack your own pickleball paddles or ping-pong paddles, you can play whenever you like without going to borrow them.

The resort court where we played pickleball
The resort court where we played pickleball

4The beach at dusk6 p.m.

At dusk we walked down to the beach. Low clouds hung beyond the wind-bent palms.

Wind-bent palms on the beach at dusk
Wind-bent palms on the beach at dusk

5Open-air terrace restaurant8 p.m.

Dinner was at an open-air terrace restaurant on the resort grounds.

Salad and beer on the terrace dinner table
Salad and beer on the terrace dinner table

6TRIBUTO showNight

At night we watched “TRIBUTO.” Tributo is Spanish for tribute, and each show is built on one singer’s songs. That night it was Juan Luis Guerra, the Dominican singer famous for merengue and bachata. Dancers in Caribbean costumes and a drum section filled the stage, and my kid danced in the aisle again.

Dancers and the band at TRIBUTO
Dancers and the band at TRIBUTO
The Juan Luis Guerra tribute on stage
The Juan Luis Guerra tribute on stage

Where we slept: Majestic Mirage Punta Cana, night 5 of 7

Day 6, Saturday, April 16A teppanyaki show and a full moon over the sea

Day 6 / 8

An afternoon on the beach, teppanyaki for dinner, and a short walk to the sea at night.

Afternoon
Drinks outside our room1Beach
Evening
2Kabuki teppanyaki3Full moon over the sea4CHA-CHA show

HotelDrinks outside our room4:45 p.m.

Cold drinks on the table by the Bali bed
Cold drinks on the table by the Bali bed

1The beach5:20 p.m.

Late in the afternoon we swam in clear water under a beautiful sky.

Thatched umbrellas and loungers on the beach
Thatched umbrellas and loungers on the beach

2Kabuki teppanyakiEvening

Dinner was teppanyaki at Kabuki, the Japanese restaurant. When the chef tossed a bite of meat across the grill, my kid opened wide to catch it. The chef’s aim was good and so was my kid’s catch. The fried rice came off the grill shaped like a heart, and everyone around the grill was in a good mood by the end. The grown-ups had cold beer with dinner.

The teppanyaki show at Kabuki
The teppanyaki show at Kabuki
Fried rice shaped into a heart on the grill
Fried rice shaped into a heart on the grill

3A full moon over the sea7:30 p.m.

We wanted to see the sea at night, so we walked out for a few minutes. A full moon hung over the water.

A full moon over the sea at night
A full moon over the sea at night

4The CHA-CHA show and the plazaNight

At night we watched “CHA-CHA” in the indoor theater, then listened to a singer on the gazebo stage in the plaza. The gazebo had a mood all its own, different from the theater.

The CHA-CHA show
The CHA-CHA show
A singer on the gazebo stage in the plaza
A singer on the gazebo stage in the plaza

Where we slept: Majestic Mirage Punta Cana, night 6 of 7

Day 7, Sunday, April 17Easter: T-shirt painting and a snorkel boat

Day 7 / 8

On Easter morning we painted T-shirts on the beach, then took a boat out to snorkel. It was the only time we left the resort all week.

Morning
1Easter breakfast2T-shirt painting on the beach
Afternoon
3Snorkel boat4Egg decorating5Playroom
Evening
6La Rinascita7Magic show and plaza

1Easter morning

It was Easter weekend, and the resort was decorated for it. Staff in bunny ears welcomed guests at the breakfast buffet, and there was egg decorating and a bunny-shaped cake.

2T-shirt painting on the beach

On the beach you could paint a plain white T-shirt and keep it. My kid painted a lobster. We picked a size up, so it got plenty of wear afterward.

T-shirt painting on the beach
T-shirt painting on the beach
My kid’s lobster
My kid’s lobster

3Boat snorkelingAround 2 p.m., from the beach

We signed up on the beach and took a boat out to snorkel. Underwater we swam over a school of fish as thin and pointed as needles.

Our guide at the wheel, with the resort coast in the distance
Our guide at the wheel, with the resort coast in the distance
A school of fish on the snorkel trip
A school of fish on the snorkel trip
A fish seen underwater
A fish seen underwater

A snorkel set that fits your kid’s face makes things easier.

We booked ours on the beach, but you can also book a snorkel cruise ahead with hotel pickup.

If you want to book ahead and go farther, the classic Punta Cana trip is Saona Island (Isla Saona). It is part of East National Park, and the boats stop on the way at a shallow sandbar with starfish, known as the natural pool.

4Easter egg decorating3:45 p.m.

In the afternoon there was Easter egg decorating by the pool. My kid colored an egg with markers, then, with help from a staff member, brushed on glue and sprinkled glitter over it.

Coloring an egg with markers
Coloring an egg with markers
Sprinkling on the glitter
Sprinkling on the glitter
The Easter egg my kid colored
The Easter egg my kid colored

5The playroom before dinner6 p.m.

Before dinner my kid and I played in the resort playroom.

The kids’ playroom at the resort
The kids’ playroom at the resort

6La Rinascita7:30 p.m.

Dinner was at La Rinascita, the Italian restaurant, with purple patterned sofas and murals of Italian buildings. The pizza and pasta were wonderful.

Pizza and a meat dish at La Rinascita
Pizza and a meat dish at La Rinascita

Walking past the buffet, we saw Easter chocolate eggs piled high.

Easter chocolate eggs piled up at the buffet
Easter chocolate eggs piled up at the buffet

7The magic show and the plaza at night11 p.m.

At night we watched the magic show, then went out to the plaza under the string lights. Music was playing again and people were dancing.

The plaza at night under string lights
The plaza at night under string lights

Where we slept: Majestic Mirage Punta Cana, night 7 of 7

Day 8, Monday, April 18One last swim, then home

Day 8 / 8

On a cloudy morning, my kid had one last swim in the pool outside our room before we checked out and left for the airport.

Morning
1One last swimCheckout
Afternoon
Punta Cana AirportHome

1One last swim and checkout11 a.m.

Our last day started cloudy. My kid still jumped into the pool outside our room one last time. We packed, checked out and rode to the airport the same way we had come.

The resort plaza under a gray sky on our last morning
The resort plaza under a gray sky on our last morning

A friend made at the resort

During the week my kid became close to another child we kept running into, from an Argentine family who lived in Panama. At first the two kept catching each other’s eye and looking away. Soon they were friends, swimming, digging in the sand and running around together. Thanks to that friend, my kid felt at home at the resort the whole time. Their flight left around the same time as ours, so we got to say goodbye once more at the airport.

Back home, my kid teared up at the thought of never seeing that friend again, and still remembers them.

TravelFlying homeDeparted 3:30 p.m.

As the plane left Punta Cana, beaches ringed by coral reef ran along below the window. Even from the air the water was a clear emerald, and I already missed being in it. We were home after midnight.

Emerald water and coral reef along the Punta Cana coast
Emerald water and coral reef along the Punta Cana coast

Know before you go

Punta Cana weather in April

It was mostly sunny while we were there, warm all day at 24–28°C (75–82°F). It clouded over on the afternoons of April 14 and 17 and on the morning we left, but it never rained. Spending a week in that bright, steady weather with my kid was the best part of the trip.

April averagesPunta Cana
Daytime highAbout 30°C (86°F)
Nighttime lowAbout 22°C (72°F)
Sea temperatureAbout 26°C (79°F)
RainfallAbout 73 mm (2.9 in)
Days with rainAbout 11 days

Long-term April averages from weather2travel. The UV index is extreme.

Sargassum seaweed

Brown sargassum seaweed washes up on Caribbean beaches in season. In mid-April, when we went, there was almost none. Sargassum usually starts building in April and May, peaks from June to August, and varies a lot from year to year. If you are going in summer, look up recent reports before you leave.

Entry documents

Every passenger flying into or out of the Dominican Republic must fill out the e-Ticket, an online entry and exit form. It is free on the official site (eticket.migracion.gob.do); sites that charge for it are not official. The tourist card that used to be paid at the airport is now built into the airfare.

US and Canadian citizens do not need a visa for a tourist stay of up to 30 days. The US State Department asks for a passport valid for six months from arrival; Canada says a passport valid for the length of your stay is enough for tourists, through December 31, 2026. Check travel.state.gov or travel.gc.ca before you fly (as of October 2026).

Restaurant reservations and the dress code

The Mirage has eight restaurants, counting the buffet. Kabuki’s teppanyaki grill has only nine tables, so reserve as soon as you arrive. How many times you can eat at the à la carte restaurants, where you order from a menu, can vary by resort and season, so check with the resort when you arrive.

Some dinner restaurants have a dress code. The resort currently asks men to wear a collared shirt, long pants and closed shoes in the evening, and no tank tops (official dining page, as of October 2026).

  • BuffetThe Marketplace
  • BeachfrontSeasideBuffet by day, seafood at dinner
  • SteakhouseDon Jaume Steakhouse
  • JapaneseKabukiTeppanyaki needs a reservation
  • ItalianLa Rinascita
  • GourmetL’EssenceAges 12 and up
  • Café and barCafé Español, Draft Sports Bar

From the 2021 resort fact sheet and the official site, as of October 2026

With kids

The Splash Kids Club, shared by the three resorts, takes ages 4 to 12 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Babyland, for ages 0 to 3 with a parent, is separate. Colonial, where the kids’ club is, has a reopening date of November 12, 2026, so if you go soon after, ask ahead whether the kids’ club is open.

Money and tipping

The currency is the Dominican peso (DOP), but resorts and tourist areas also take US dollar bills. Booking sites say gratuities are included in the rate, but many guests still leave small tips for housekeeping and at the bar. The airport van had a note about tipping the driver.

If we went back

For a first trip to Punta Cana, this resort is a good choice. If we could go back and choose again, I think we would pick it again. Still, Punta Cana has so many resorts that next time I would like to try another one along the coast.

Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone

The resort offered a tour to Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. It takes a full day, and it sounded like fun. But this time we wanted to enjoy everything the all-inclusive had to offer, and with a young kid we wanted plenty of swimming and easy days. So as a family we decided to leave it for another time.

The Colonial Zone (Zona Colonial) of Santo Domingo is one of the first cities Europeans built in the Americas, and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990. Next time I would like to give it a day. It would show us a different Dominican Republic from the one we saw inside a resort.

Jungle buggies and a cave swim

For a day away from the sea, a popular choice is a buggy ride on dirt roads, a swim in a cave pool (a cenote) and a stop at Macao Beach.

Scuba diving

A friend we met later in the US went to Punta Cana and said the scuba diving trip was the highlight, and that diving there in particular felt special. The best-known dive spot near Punta Cana is Catalina Island (Isla Catalina) to the south, with a coral wall called “The Wall” and a fish-filled site called “The Aquarium.”

FAQ

How long is the drive from Punta Cana airport to the resorts?

Arena Gorda is about 27 km (17 mi), roughly 35 minutes by car. Shared shuttles that stop at several hotels take about an hour. We used the private car included in our resort package.

How do you choose a Punta Cana resort with kids?

First check whether a resort is adults-only, then compare the distance to the sea, where your building sits within the resort, and the kids’ programs. Our top priorities were a swim-up room, a Jacuzzi and being close to the sea.

What does all-inclusive cover?

Meals and drinks at the resort are included, but airport transfers, spa credits and restaurant rules vary from package to package. Read what is included before you book.

Is it boring if you never leave the resort?

With a kid, it was easier, if anything. Between the pools and the sea, beach games, evening shows and the playroom, there was plenty to do. Our only trip outside was one snorkel boat.

Is April a good time for Punta Cana with kids?

In mid-April it was mostly sunny and warm, with almost no seaweed. Seaweed varies a lot from year to year, so look up recent reports before you go.

Which airport do you fly into?

Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). The resorts in Bávaro and Arena Gorda are about half an hour away by car.

Wrapping up

For Punta Cana with kids, one resort and seven slow days turned out to be just right. Over my kid’s spring break, we spent seven nights at Majestic Mirage. Looking back, it still feels like a dream, and I find myself thinking about it every so often.

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Appendix

What we packed and booked

A list you can tick off before you leave. The buttons go to the item or the booking page.

To pack

Documents

Water

  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon
  • Amazon

Sun

  • Amazon
  • Amazon

Games and sports

  • Amazon
  • PickleballPing-pong

Clothes

To book

  • ExpediaGetYourGuide
  • Trip.com
  • SnorkelSaona
  • Airalo

Punta Cana with kids: 8-day itinerary checklist

In order, so you can tick it off as you go. The hotel is listed again on every day we stayed there.

Day 1Mon, Apr. 11Arrival
  • MoveFly into Punta Cana (PUJ)Landed around 4:30 p.m.Flights
  • MoveAirport to resortPrivate car, 35 minutesTransfer
  • HotelCheck in at Majestic MirageNight 1Book
  • FoodDinner at the buffet
  • PlaceMichael Jackson tribute showOutdoor stage
Day 2Tue, Apr. 12Getting to know the resort
  • PlaceBeach and the white gazebo
  • PlaceKids’ water area next door
  • PlaceCircus show9:30 p.m.
  • HotelMajestic MirageNight 2Book
Day 3Wed, Apr. 13Terrace breakfast and steak
  • FoodRoom service breakfast on the terrace
  • FoodLunch at the open-air restaurant
  • PlaceBeach and bar
  • FoodDon Jaume Steakhouse
  • HotelMajestic MirageNight 3Book
Day 4Thu, Apr. 14Beach buffet and a medley show
  • FoodLunch at the beach buffet
  • PlaceBig pool and terrace Jacuzzi
  • FoodDon Jaume Steakhouse
  • PlaceBilliards at the sports bar, Show Just MIRAGE
  • HotelMajestic MirageNight 4Book
Day 5Fri, Apr. 15Pickleball and dusk on the beach
  • FoodPanini at Café Español
  • PlacePickleball on the resort courtPaddles
  • PlaceThe beach at dusk
  • FoodTerrace restaurant
  • PlaceTRIBUTO show
  • HotelMajestic MirageNight 5Book
Day 6Sat, Apr. 16Teppanyaki and a full moon
  • PlaceBeach
  • FoodKabuki teppanyakiReserve ahead
  • PlaceFull moon over the sea
  • PlaceCHA-CHA show and the plaza
  • HotelMajestic MirageNight 6Book
Day 7Sun, Apr. 17Easter and a snorkel boat
  • PlaceT-shirt painting on the beach
  • TourBoat snorkelingBooked on the beachSnorkel
  • PlacePlayroom
  • FoodLa Rinascita
  • PlaceMagic show and the plaza at night
  • HotelMajestic MirageNight 7Book
Day 8Mon, Apr. 18Home
  • PlaceLast swim and checkout
  • MoveResort to airportPrivate carTransfer
  • MoveFly home from Punta Cana (PUJ)Departed 3:30 p.m.Flights

Sources

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