Travel: Playa Grande Beach Club

With a quick weekend getaway on the horizon, I have travel on my mind. The anticipation had me thinking about my most recent trip. It had been way too long since I had traveled with girlfriends, so this past spring a handful of friends and I did a mid-winter getaway for a long weekend. I always worry that 2-3 days away is more bother than it’s worth, but let me tell you – I am now convinced that even 48 hours in the sunshine can do wonders for a Northeast living soul. We took a direct flight to the Dominican Republic and spent the most exceptional three nights at the Playa Grande Beach Club. Playa Grande was decorated by designer Celery Kemble, who is also an investor in the resort. Each and every building is stunning and thoughtfully decorated, while also feeling authentic to the Dominican Republic vibe. We had a beautiful bungalow to ourselves, and it was located a stones throw away from the gorgeous mile long beach where the resort is located. The food was sourced locally, and the cocktails were fabulous. The resort offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the main building, and private yoga or workout classes can be scheduled. The best part of the trip was watching the sunset from lounge chairs while sipping fresh made margaritas and catching up. It was the perfect balance of things to do and pure relaxation. The menu is limited but each time we asked the staff to serve us something tasty, they came up with the most delicious treats. And just in case you forget your sunglasses or espadrilles, the resort has a lovely little gift shop.

I love that the resort invests in and collaborates with the local community. You get the sense that the resort is run by locals with a strong sense of pride in what they do, and the guests experience. You can learn more about their philanthropic work here. And I apologize in advance for overdoing it on the photo front. It was just too pretty not to capture every detail. I particularly loved the copper basins by the door to our bungalow – such a thoughtful touch that kept us from tracking sand into our home. And the tile and woodwork throughout the whole resort were spectacular. If you are looking for a direct flight that’s less than 4 hours away – landing you in paradise, Playa Grande should be your next trip.