Serving Up Fun
Upon arriving in the exquisite paradise that is Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, it was clear that service was of the highest importance to everyone we interacted with. Although, there was one more operative motive to the hosting approach in the Dominican, and that was fun.
If you’re looking for stuffy and bland service that is all about getting the job done, then you will be disappointed by what you receive at TRS Turquesa Hotel. If you’re looking for excellence infused with personality, enjoyment, and genuine care, then you’ll get bucket loads.
As part of the wider Palladium Hotel Group and situated on-site at the Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts, TRS Turquesa is an adults-only, five-star hotel that will leave you wanting for nothing. Each resident has access to their own butler service, which left me feeling like I was in an episode of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – tell me that’s not dream living?
And there was something extraordinary about how TRS Turquesa looked after their guests; they have the saying of turning “guests into family”, and from the moment I stepped onto the property to the moment I left, I felt this welcoming warmth – like I was home. And when you’ve travelled halfway around the world to a brand-new destination, this is precisely what one needs.
My butler Randy was exceptionally attentive to ensure I always had anything I could need, from a daily itinerary of all the activities the hotel had to offer to on-site restaurant recommendations and even weather updates – an essential addition given the changing nature of the Caribbean heat.
Sleeping in Paradise
I had the privilege of staying in one of TRS Turquesa’s Junior Poolside Suites, which to my surprise, also included an ocean view. With my luggage carried up to my room, a bottle of champagne opened, and luxury chocolates to dive into, I was in heaven from the get-go.
The Junior Suite is beyond spacious, adorned with a private balcony overlooking fantastic views and your own lounge area with a table to dine at should you wish to take advantage of the in-room butler food service for those quieter nights. If you’re away but can’t leave your work at home, then you can easily set up a mini office on the generous desk space provided, which I happily took advantage of on many early mornings!
And as for sleep, the TRS Turquesa beds do not lack one thing most, and that is space. As a five-foot-nothing woman, I felt like I could starfish in all directions and never quite find the end of any part of the bed, and each night their gracious turndown service left me chocolates and honey shots to ease a restful night’s sleep.
Exactly what you want after a long day of Caribbean excitement in the DR!
The rooms also come complete with a whirlpool bath and shower and other amenities such as a daily refillable mini bar included in your room price, a clothes steamer, a safe and laundry service should you need to use it.
Dining Destinations
If you’re anything like me, you’re a complete foodie who uses your holiday time to experience as much cuisine as humanly possible – well, TRS Turquesa and the Grand Palladium Hotels & Resort have got you covered. With over 40 restaurants and bars on-site alone, you need never leave the resort to get your fix of everything your cravings could desire.
Helios beach club fast became my haunt of choice, especially for breakfast and lunch, serving up a luscious buffet of charcuterie meats, tuna sashimi, cheeses from across the globe and all the fresh fruit and roasted vegetables you could desire. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner service, you can also order from an al a carte menu if the buffet choices are not to your taste or you fancy something a little more classic like a burger and fries. Lunch service at Helios is where the food shines, each day offering something new and exciting, whether it be seared Octopus, Dominican-style barbequed pork hot off the coals, or Spanish Paella prepared in front of you.
Suppose variety is the spice of your life. In that case, you can experience TRS Turquesa and The Grand Palladium’s ode to Japanese and Asian fusion cuisine by spending an evening at the restaurant Kusko and Sumptuori. The food presentation was out of this world, with sushi served in all the rainbow colours and even on steaming mini boats while fried rice and stir-fry are cooked in front of you as you delve into conversation over your favourite cocktails.
And if fish isn’t your thing, La Paisana, the Argentinian-inspired restaurant, will soothe those meat cravings like no other. Here you’ll find classic beef and vegetarian Spanish empanadillas, charcuterie, delicate cuts of sirloin steak, and slow-cooked beef short ribs with the extra comfort of mash and sweet potatoes. By the end of this trip, the food coma was creeping in, but it never stopped me from indulging in a bite of dessert – La Paisana’s warm caramel cookies were definitely one to remember!
Dancing in the DR
If there’s one thing I will take away from visiting TRS Turquesa Hotel, The Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts and the Dominican, it’s that people know how to move. Dancing is embedded in everyone’s spirit, and their exertion of utter joy is mesmerising and infectious.
At TRS Turquesa and The Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts, I was invited to dance on a rooftop to a live saxophonist, then on stage following the Chic Cabaret performance and to take in the Dominican party spirit at The New 20s party – an event you can attend each week. If you enjoy making a fool of yourself as I do, you’re also free to have a dance-off at Hemingway Bar.
Without a doubt, the fun experienced and laughter shared were out of this world – back home in the UK, it’s easy to feel reserved and hold back, but in the Dominican, they are in the business of a good time, and my word, that’s exactly what you get. An extra special shout-out to Santos and Yoan from TRS Turquesa for keeping the fun flowing from start to finish!
Outside of this exceptional complex, however, I implore you to go on an excursion to Isla Sahona. Around a sixty-minute drive to the port and a thirty-minute cruise to the island, you’ll experience paradise’s true meaning. We stopped for a quick snorkelling session in between, followed by much-needed refreshments and music in a stunning natural pool, and then onto the picture-perfect private beaches of Isla Sahona. On many occasions, I had to rub my eyes to check that I wasn’t looking at a postcard. Isla Sahona’s beauty will take your breath away, and if you don’t return feeling utterly relaxed, you might have to move to the DR permanently!
Experiencing Excellence
The best thing about staying at TRS Turquesa Hotel and The Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts, though, is that you need never leave the property if you so wish. The amenities and activities available to guests are abundant, and you feel like you’re co-existing with a small village of escapists. However, the vast expanse of the properties means you never feel imposed upon and have plenty of space to explore. Activities on offer include blissful morning yoga on the beach and heart-pumping Bachata dance lessons. If you fancy soaking up the sun, there’s an endless run of private beach for you to walk at your leisure. If you’re up for getting out on the water, I recommend the group paddleboarding – it’s far more challenging than it looks, but you’ll have a great time working up an appetite!
For those who want the added splash of luxury and zen, you can disappear into Zentropia Palladium Spa and Wellness for an afternoon, where you’ll find all the usual spa amenities such as a cold-water plunge pool, hydrotherapy pool and cabanas to lounge with a glass of fizz. Zentropia offers a host of treatments, from massages to facials and even hair care.
You’ll experience many things at TRS Turquesa Hotel and Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts, but boredom is not one of them.
Don’t forget me, Dominican.
Everyone knows that the Caribbean is the epitome of paradise, but there’s something quite special about the Dominican, and I wholeheartedly believe it’s the people. The Dominican Republic’s culture embraces everything it means to be human, and I genuinely feel nothing is done without love in this beautiful country.
With great thanks to TRS Turquesa and The Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts for helping me fall deeply in love with this stunning island and its people.
Until next time,
Demi x
TRS Junior Suite prices start from $150 per night per person – this is an all-inclusive rate.
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