A strange thing has been happening to me the older I’ve gotten: I’m becoming more of a scaredy-cat.
When I was 19, I hopped on a plane for my first-ever plane ride. I flew directly into Paris, the largest airport in the world, completely alone. It was only 2005, so I didn’t even have a working cell phone to guide my way. Somehow, teenage me, alone in another country without knowing a soul, felt zero fear.
Fast forward to almost 40-year-old me, a mother, facing down the prospect of visiting the all-inclusive Nickelodeon Resort in Punta Cana, arguably paradise on earth, and I was practically having a panic attack. As a parenting writer, I had a chance to visit the luxury resort on a press trip, but the prospect of taking three kids to another country by myself completely terrified me.
What if something went wrong? What if someone got sick? What if I got sick? Would dragging them to a different country completely alone be a miserable experience that they would someday end up in therapy for, hashing out that time they watched their mother have a total mental breakdown?
Nearly every part of me wanted to stay in our warm, comfortable little bubble at home, but I decided to be the example I want my kids to have.
I decided to be brave and take the adventure. And I’m so glad I did. My kids and I had an absolute blast at the Nickelodeon Resort in Punta Cana, and now, it’s a memory we will have forever.
Granted, traveling to paradise certainly helped ease my fear.
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Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana
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- Themed restaurants (that’s my kids dining in the ‘Spacewalker’ restaurant, where they enjoyed futuristic food and delicious mocktails)
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A full waterpark with a lazy river
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Swim-up bars (the kids are welcome, and all the bartenders had zero issues dishing out mocktails or soda to my kiddos)
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Pools right outside your room (childproof doors are included, don’t worry!)
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A beautiful beach
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An on-site play place
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Free arcade (this was my 13-year-old son’s favorite!)
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24/7 room service
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An all-you-can-eat ice cream + coffee shop (we may have visited 4 times in one day, and we have no regrets!)
Because the resort was Nickelodeon themed, they also offer their famous “Slimed” package. My kids begged to get ‘slimed,’ and while I was less than enthusiastic about the experience, I knew it would be one for the memory book.
The sliming is fairly affordable, around $50 for a family, and the resort makes it a memorable experience, bringing out workers who dance and do back flips and calling attention to the whole water park to watch you get slimed.
I still have no idea what’s actually in that slime, but I will tell you this: it’s a lot colder than I thought it would be, and thankfully, it does rinse off easily.
I would 1000% stay at the Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana again with my kids.
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While I am not an expert, I will tell you this: I have been to Disney twice with my kids before, and while that was an experience in itself, staying at the Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana actually felt like a vacation.
Being able to wake up, order room service, and enjoy breakfast and a coffee poolside (literally right outside our room!) while my kids swam, only to join them in the pool and wade to the connected swim up bar and food truck, where I enjoyed delicious fresh ceviche, and spend an afternoon in the free arcade before hitting the waterpark, were experiences that felt enriching and relaxing.
I’m proud of myself for taking the trip, and I’m proud of how I learned that even when things go wrong while traveling, I can handle them.
For instance, at one point, I definitely locked myself and all of the kids outside of our room without our keys, and in another, we got a little lost, but you know what? I realized in those moments that my kids actually want to help me. We became a little team working together, and it was one of those ‘aha’ moments as a mom when you realize that your kids really are listening and learning from you.
I think as moms, we often feel alone, but it was a good reminder that sometimes, when we need it the most, our kids can pitch in and be on our side. My kids wanted to help and encourage me, and it was such a nice realization that we are raising humans for the long haul, not just endlessly sacrificing for kids who don’t see our efforts.
Being in a new environment, away from our typical routine, helped us all see each other in new lights.
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Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana
I learned a lot traveling alone with my kids, too. It was nice to spend that kind of alone time with them, and frankly, it made me feel like I can handle anything from now on.
Next up? I am considering booking my first cruise with my oldest daughter, who is graduating from high school in a few months. The sky (or the sea?) is the limit for this mom! As long as there is coffee and unlimited ice cream in my travels, of course.
