Should We Stay or Should We Go - Our Travel Journal

We met Princess in January, 2022, when we first arrived at our extended-stay rental in Punta Cana. She was laying outside the entrance to the lobby of the condominium complex.  To be honest, we didn't pay much attention to her those first few days, as we were coming and going.  She was a street dog who appeared to just be hanging around. As the days went on, we noticed that someone had given her a dog bed, laid outside the complex. She loved it, spending most of her days curled up in it. A few weeks later, someone else bought her a dog house.  At that point we began asking questions about Princess, and learned her story. Princess was the original resident of the land where the condo complex now stood. Once the complex was completed, she continued to hang around the entrance.  The condo owners decided to take care of her and honor her as the original occupant.  She was well taken care of with all the food, and left-overs she could ever want.  They took ...

Photo by Olga ga on Unsplash My favourite thing to do while we're in Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, is to swim with one of the ocean's most majestic creatures, the sea turtles. Punta Cana offers an unforgettable experience where you can swim with sea turtles in their natural habitat. It was a discovery that we only made a couple of years ago along a stretch of beach that we walk a couple of times a week. Punta Cana, located on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, is renowned for its idyllic beaches and diverse aquatic ecosystems. The warm, calm waters of the Caribbean Sea provide an ideal environment for a variety of marine life, including the beloved sea turtles. These gentle creatures can be spotted swimming in the shallows, making them easy to observe and interact with. These beautiful turtles , the Loggerhead and the Green Sea Turtle,  are protected in the region. The Dominican Republic has taken significant steps to conserve sea turtle populations which co...

The most common question we get when we mention that we're retired and spend our winters in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, is "What do you do all day?" Well, here’s a glimpse into a typical day in our life. Most days, we don’t set an alarm and simply get up when we wake up. Usually, that’s around 7 a.m., when life starts to pick up outside on the streets. We catch the news, scroll through our devices, and enjoy our tea and breakfast. At some point during this routine, we look outside and decide whether it's going to be a beach day or a pool day. These are some pretty major decisions to make! If it's a pool day, we’ll still head to the beach for a 6 km walk, maybe stopping for a quick swim at the turnaround point. Afterward, we return to the condo and spend the afternoon relaxing and socializing by the pool. If it’s a beach day, we might pack a lunch and walk down the beach to one of our favorite spots. We lay out our towels under a palm tree and enjoy the day swi...

As a snowbird retiree — one of those from the snowy north who loves escaping the cold during the winter months — the top priority when choosing a destination is often grocery shopping. It can be a challenge experience, and one that can make or break a location particularly if there are dietary concerns. Punta Cana offers a variety of supermarkets where both locals and visitors can find a wide range of products. Unlike the larger grocery chains in North America, each store in the area may have its own unique selection of items. After spending four winters here, we’ve developed a regular routine for where we like to shop, and know where we need to go to get what we need. Ciccolella Within El Cortecito (the beach side community we stay in Punta Cana) there is a small grocery store called Ciccolella. It is a small space, but they carry almost everything we need. It is within walking distance to most places within the community, making it a perfect spot to stop in and pick up what we need b...

I feel like we were really lucky with our first winter in Punta Cana. We didn’t know much about the area, but we picked the location and the rental because we knew the owners and felt confident it would be a great choice. It was a beautiful 2-bedroom, newly built condo in the beachside village of El Cortecito. El Cortecito in Punta Cana is a charming neighborhood that offers a unique combination of local culture, beautiful beaches, good restaurants, and a relaxed atmosphere. It's a perfect place to spend three months out of the snow.  Vacation rentals are an increasingly popular option for extended stays in El Cortecito.  There are plenty of rentals that offer all the comforts of home, with added benefits like kitchens, laundry facilities, and private spaces. The options are many, making it easy to find something that works for many budgets.  Top Benefits of Vacation Rentals: Cost-Effective: Renting for an extended period often works out to be more affordable than b...

  When it comes to winter escapes, we retirees are always on the lookout for destinations that offer not just warmth and relaxation but also an affordable, comfortable lifestyle. Punta Cana, located in the Dominican Republic, stands out as one of the top choices for those seeking to enjoy an extended winter stay. Among the many charming areas in Punta Cana, El Cortecito (a beachside village located on Bavaro Beach) is a popular choice for retirees. Here’s why: 1. Ideal Climate for Year-Round Comfort Punta Cana is famous for its year-round warm tropical climate.  While much of the world braces for freezing temperatures in the winter months, people can enjoy pleasant, sunny days with temperatures ranging between 24°C - 29°C. The comfortable temperatures allow for outdoor activities year-round, whether it's strolling along the beach, enjoying a round of golf, or simply relaxing by the pool. The refreshing ocean breeze is an added bonus, helping to keep the environment pleasan...

  As we were coming up to our retirement years, we spent a fair bit of time talking about what we wanted our retirement to look like.  We are proud Canadians, having no desire to live anywhere else, but John, in particular, was eager to escape the harsh Canadian winters and spend two or three months out of the cold. Our original plan, one that we may circle back to in a few years, was to enjoy each winter in a different location, taking that three months to explore and get to know each place. The one thing we knew for sure was that we had no interest in going to Florida.  Most of our thoughts were on the Caribbean and Mexico. If it had great weather and a beach it would meet the criteria. As stated in one of our first blog posts, shortly after retiring we were thrown into the world wide pandemic. Just prior, we were fortunate enough to celebrate our retirement with an amazing 2-month trip that consisted of two separate cruises. After arriving back home we, along with the ...