Breathless Punta Cana 2021 - Part I - Travel and Arrival

Now that we're allowed to travel again, I booked a quick trip to let you all know what it's like. 

The details:

• Air Canada Business Class (Seat 2C A320)
• Breathless Punta Cana Xhale Club

They are telling people to arrive 3 hours before their flight in order to get through the enhanced COVID security and screening. Great, except that means that you can't take the UP Express on the weekend if your flight is before 9:30am. Mine was scheduled for 30 minutes earlier than that, so I Ubered out.

There was no special NEXUS line, but there was one for business class, so I could have taken the train, but better to have and not need, than to need and not have. I was second in line. Not bad. And I didn't get felt up this time, since they had the body scanner available.

Once through security, and reassembled, sadness struck. None of the lounges would be open before my flight. The Maple Leaf Lounge would open at 11:00, the Premium Plaza Lounge at 14:00, and the AC Signature Lounge at 15:00 (I'm assuming no eligible flights were leaving before then).

Boarding was on time, and just a little more complicated, since I had to show not only my boarding pass and passport, but also my QR code for Dominican Republic immigration. However, when I got to my seat, I discovered that it was so well designed, that my bulkhead seat actually had a well in the bulkhead, so I didn't have to stow my carry on overhead. (Note that the bulkhead seat on the other side does not have this amenity.

One thing to note was that, at the time of booking, this was a Rouge flight, later changed to Air Canada proper, so the service seemed to be somewhere between the two: no hot towels, no hot nuts, and no drinks on the ground, but an impeccable and attentive flight attendant, serving hot food and endless drinks. Speaking of hot food, the menu for breakfast was a choice of an omelette or pancakes, both of which came with yogurt, croissant, fruit salad, chicken sausage, and the regular fixings. The vegetarian option seemed to be "don't eat the sausage".

Since we are no longer limited to beer, wine and soft drinks, I selected vodka soda as my accompaniment. Nothing like getting the party started prior to arriving at your destination. 😉 The service was, of course, excellent, and I had lots of space to spread out and be comfortable.

The immigration process for the Dominican Republic must be done in advance through their website: Eticket. It combines immigration, customs, and health questionnaire in one simple form. When complete, if you are eligible to be let in, it gives you a QR code which you must show before boarding the flight. They may also offer paper forms on the plane, but they are unnecessary unless your phone dies, since you have already completed them online. If you are vaccinated, the procedure is smooth as glass, and you will soon find yourself looking for your transportation.

The transfer company I selected Whatsapped me the above photo so I would recognise the fixer who took me to my driver. I had booked private transportation, because it's more hygienic, and usually quicker. It didn't take me long to arrive at Breathless in the Uvero Alto area. 

When I arrived, I told the bell captain that I was Xhale Club, so I and my luggage were whisked to the Xhale Club lounge to be checked in. 

They were quite busy with a large group checking in, but I did get my room before I finished my glass, so it was all good. I also met my butler, Elis. She was not a butler in the traditional sense of the word, but rather a concierge who handled all my requests, etc. through Whatsapp. She would make reservations for me, and provide me with all the information I needed.

I was assigned a Junior King Suite that looked at one of the pools.  The door entered into a long hall, with the bathroom and courtesy minibar on one side, and the closet on the other. At the end was the bed/living room.

As is evident from the below picture, there was nightly turndown service, complete with a Hershey's "kiss goodnight". Although, why the turndown housekeeper kept putting the remote on the bed was confusing to me, since there are so many things to do at the resort that don't involve television.

The lovely thing about the ground floor room was that it not only had the normal conversation set on the patio/lanai, it also had a couple of loungers.  And, of course, the hot tub. My neck was extremely grateful.

Next - Part II - Resort Life