With her oldest son about to turn 10 years old, Melissa Leong was craving a chance to connect with him and create some new ‘firsts,’ those special moments that result in long-lasting memories.
“I could feel my tween sliding away,” said the Canadian media personality, money expert and Sunwing Vacations spokesperson. “I’ve already forgotten so many of his lasts. The last time I carried him in my arms. The last time he let me tickle him. The last time he asked for snuggles or to clear a room of monsters before he entered.”
As her two boys continue to grow, Melissa welcomed a tropical escape to decompress, and she instinctively knew Sunwing had the answer — one that fit her family’s budget and still offered plenty of destination choices, with the right mix of relaxation time for her and fun in the sun for her active kids.
Sunwing offers hundreds of to the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America, including popular destinations such as Cancun, Punta Cana, Montego Bay, Negril and Varadero. Best yet, it takes the guesswork out of travel with one simple upfront price which includes flights, hotels (along with food and beverages at the resort) and in-destination airport transfers through its partner, NexusTours.
“The all-inclusive nature of a Sunwing vacation is a game-changer for busy families,” said Leong. “Our family loves them because everything is taken care of, from meals to activities, and it’s bundled together in a single price which makes budgeting so much easier. Sunwing’s all-inclusive model means that you can budget with fewer surprise expenses, and if you’re flexible on dates, their convenient allows you to find the best price for your vacation. The value of a Sunwing vacation is honestly unmatched, because not only can you save on your package so you can do more in whichever destination you choose, you have access to other included perks, like their exclusive collection of family-friendly ™, where kids of a certain age can stay, play and eat for free. There’s also a selection of resorts where you pay to stay at one resort but can visit and access the facilities at a neighbouring property.”
And that is what they did. With her two sons in tow — the younger brother is five years old — they went on an all-inclusive getaway with Sunwing to the Dominican Republic, staying at the top-rated, five star and family-friendly , where they had the ability to also access the neighbouring .
“The kids were obsessed with the water park at Royalton Splash Punta Cana. My 9-year-old rode all nine of the monster slides and tubes, while my 5-year-old played on the splash pad and mini slides. They’d meet at the wave pool and at the bar for slushies,” she said.
Leong said the attention to detail and level of hospitality at the resorts was stellar. Throughout the family’s January stay, the cleaning staff at Royalton Punta Cana made her kids towel animals, posed their stuffed animals and put her robe and slippers in thoughtful places. And the beach staff found them loungers every day. And, when Leong came down with a medical issue unrelated to travel, the staff treated her like family — with genuine kindness and care.
“My travel insurance costs me a nominal amount, but the previous two times that I needed medical care abroad, the bill was in the thousands,” she said. Her tip to vacationing families? “Always make sure you have insurance before you fly or check what is offered through your credit card or employer. Also, before seeking care, call your insurance provider — they may have preferred clinics and can notify them ahead of your arrival.”
Sunwing’s exclusive plans help customers prepare for the unexpected. You can cancel or make a change to your travel date or vacation up to three hours before departure. For even more protection for emergency medical coverage or trip interruption coverage, you can add on Manulife Travel Insurance, as well!
Melissa also recommends that families vacationing at an all-inclusive aim to book dinners at the resort’s à la carte restaurants as soon as you arrive because popular times can book up quickly and you generally don’t want your kids eating at, say, 9 p.m. “Finally, I always mention if we’re celebrating something; over the years, we’ve gotten upgrades such as preferred room categories, added amenities or specialty treats in our room or at dinner,” she said.
And, it turns out, Royalton Punta Cana was the perfect place for the entire family to reconnect with each other in a world free from screens, to-do lists and after-school programs. Plus, they were able to maximize the value on their overall vacation experience and explore the grounds of both Royalton properties (for the price of one!).
They photographed iguanas in the gardens, enjoyed eating at some of the 12 à la carte restaurants, rode all of the monster slides at Splash Water World water park — one of the largest resort water parks in the Caribbean — and spent hours building sandcastles on the world famous Bavaro Beach.
And Leong added to their ‘firsts.’ There was the first time her son ordered a freshly grilled lobster tail at the resort buffet and proclaimed that it tasted like shrimp. The first time they plunged down a sky-high water slide and then perfected their technique to torpedo into the pool with maximum speed and splash.
“I learned that he’s got an eye for patterns and puzzles when we almost escaped the immersive and well-crafted Temple of Secrets at Royalton Splash Punta Cana, his first escape room experience. I learned that he appreciates music — Michael Jackson, Madonna and the rock shows at Royalton Punta Cana’s theatre — more than he enjoys performance art; the fire dancers, circus acts and acrobats by the pool and the beach, preferred by my youngest.”
“On our last night at the resort, my big kid was falling asleep as I was explaining the plot to Mission: Impossible as it played in Spanish on the television in our hotel room. In the darkened room, he mumbled over his shoulder, ‘Mom, can you hug me?’” Leong said. “We left with the core memories that I had been so fervently hoping for.”
With Sunwing Vacations, you save more so you can do more. To learn about Sunwing’s all-inclusive Royalton Luxury Resorts packages in the Caribbean and Mexico, visit .
