The Riu Merengue, Dominican Republic

Today is the one-year anniversary since I've been to the Dominican Republic, so I thought I'd commemorate by sharing my experience.

We stayed at the Riu Merengue, an all-inclusive resort located in Puerto Plata. We chose this resort based on the pricing and the reviews on Expedia. It was one of the least expensive places, but had the best reviews by far.

Our research paid off, because everything about the place was great:

Amazing Staff:What they say about the Carribean lifestyle must be true, because every single one of the staff was the happiest and friendliest I've ever seen. It was so nice to be greeted with a smile and they also went above and beyond to meet our requests.

We weren't psyched with our room being on the perimeter, as it was next to a loud transformer, so they switched us out immediately, giving us our pick of rooms and even giving us a tour of each.

Fun Activities...or not: At every hour of the day, there was some kind of activity going on, be it water aerobics or salsa lessons. Not to mention the complementary activities available: snorkeling, paddle boating, canoeing, etc. For a fee, you can take excursions out into the country or go horseback riding...definitely an adventure!

They have a full gym and also a street full of souvenier shops for shopaholics.

In the evening, the staff puts on live shows to entertain the guests and live music is played throughout.

If you're more into relaxation, there's plenty of room to lounge by the pool, lie on the beach or explore the extensive grounds (see pictures posted of the pool and the cove/1 mile beach all three resorts share). And don't forget the AMAZING massages right on the beach. An absolute MUST. Plus, the rooms are really nice and all come with spacious balconies.

Variety is the Spice of Life; The Merengue is one of three hotels that share the property and you are allowed to travel to each resort freely. This significantly ups the options when it comes to dining and entertainment.

...and did I mention it's ALL-INCLUSIVE: all the food and drink you imagine. Fan favorite:Dr. Funk.

*TIP: If you have a weak stomach, go easy on the foreign dishes. They use a different type of cooking oil and some react to it. By day 3, I had to go on the BRAT (bananas, rice, apple sauce, toast) diet because of the stomach cramps! Luckily, there is an abundance of bananas and rice, the DR's two main crops.

Excursions: There are many opportunities to go see the Dominican countryside. We had such good time at the resort, we only went on one, but I'd highly recommend it. It was a trip to "Paradise Island" (pictured here). It was the best snorkeling and most beautiful water I've ever seen.

However, the real adventure is getting there. First, you go on a 2-3 hour journey through the mountains, where the roads are not paved. We had a few touch-and-go moment there. Then, upon arrival to the coast, you go on a 1/2 hour boat ride on fishing boats (pictured). It was exhilirating and terrifying at the same time; you're flying through the deep ocean at breakneck speed, jumping waves and getting soaked.

However....on a more serious note....

The Dominican is an impoverished country:

Although the resort was beautiful and the country itself is breathtaking, the state of poverty it is in is heartbreaking. Even on our horseback ride, once we left the resort property, the beautiful beach was marred with garbage. The people live in shacks that are the size of my bedroom at home and the cities are delapitated and rundown. It is a real wake-up call, but it amazed me even more that the natives are so happy and friendly. It is definitely an emotional experience, but I think a necessary one because it opens your eyes to how good you really have it.