Taking the Kids: Getting slimed at the new Nick Resort Punta Cana
And relaxing -- far more so than renting a beach house, said Nathalie Atkins, "where I do everything I do at home, but in a prettier place."
As this is a new resort, families gave a pass to little things -- evening shows too late for young guests, for example, or the lack of beach toys and children's cutlery -- little fixes which management is already working on.
The staff isn't all well versed in English. But it's good, parents said, for English-speaking kids to learn that everyone in the world doesn't speak their language. Besides, the staff went so far out of their way to be helpful and kind to the kids, whether on the beach or the Vino Vino bar where kids were served all varieties of mocktails. (Have you ever had a Batman?)
The resort shares the beach, one of its pools and restaurants in the Gourmet Village with the new Sensatori Resort, which is marketed to those in Britain and Europe. There seemed plenty of room for everyone at the expansive property with guests mingling at the pool and in the evening, listing to music outdoors in the Gourmet Village.
The restaurants, except for one, are designed for families to eat together -- everywhere from the Sugercane buffet, inspired by the food markets of Latin America, Spacewalker where the staff are in costume, there are special light and sound effects and the food is designed to reflect what astronauts would eat in space to the Brgrs.PH with its indoor food truck, which kids love checking out. (There's a Machete Burger built for the whole family). Take your pick of Asian fusion at Wok Wok, Sicilian at Verdello or the beach-front Zest where the "Pajama Jam" character breakfasts take place (just $5 per person) and at lunch there was a kids' buffet with burgers, mac and cheese and a chocolate fountain and marshmallows for dessert.
It's no wonder, said Nathalie Atkins, "We're all sad to leave."
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(For more on Eileen's visit to the Nickelodeon Resort, read her trip diaries on TakingtheKids.com. Follow @takingthekids on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.)
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