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In March, I visited Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, an up-and-coming tourist destination that is already quite popular with Vacations To Go customers. It was my first trip to this western Caribbean island southeast of Cuba, and I hope it won't be my last.

I stayed at the Iberostar Bavaro, an all-inclusive beachfront property about a half hour from the Punta Cana airport. Iberostar is a large and successful operator of hotels throughout the world, based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Vacations To Go represents all Iberostar properties in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Arriving at the large, open-air reception area, our transfer bus was met by cheerful representatives offering a cool drink and a fast and efficient check-in. I was off to my room in moments, crossing a man-made lagoon and strolling down a palm-lined walkway flanked by dozens of pastel-colored, two-story bungalows.

All the rooms at the Iberostar Bavaro are spacious mini-suites with sitting area, private balcony and a refrigerator stocked with beverages. The sprawling property is beautifully landscaped and immaculately clean, with peacocks and pink flamingos roaming free, lending an exotic and elegant grace to the setting.

There are several specialty restaurants on the grounds, available by reservation only, as well as the main restaurant, where meals are served buffet-style without reservations. The food was varied and good at all the venues, though I particularly enjoyed the steakhouse and the Mediterranean restaurant.

Dress in the buffet restaurant is casual, and in the specialty restaurants it is a bit sharper. Jackets are not required, and even though I took one, I never put it on.

All food and drinks (including alcoholic drinks) are included in the upfront price, so it is not necessary to carry money.

The sandy beach and the expansive pool are the centers of activity during the day. The pool is bordered by a grill and the steakhouse restaurant and features a swim-up bar and a water volleyball area. There is beach volleyball as well, everyone welcome, and kids fill the table tennis courts throughout the day.

The beaches are beautiful and the water is clear and warm, even in the winter. There is a spa on the property and a fitness room with cardio equipment and free weights. There is also a casino, a disco and an Internet center.

There were quite a few Brits and Europeans on the island, and on my day of departure, I noticed several flights were headed to Europe and one to Moscow, along with numerous flights to the U.S. and Canada. It may be in our backyard, but the Dominican Republic appears to be as well-known in Europe and South America as it is here.

The native language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish, but the friendly staff at the hotel speak English as well, and probably a few other languages.

The Dominican Republic is among the least expensive Caribbean islands, so even upscale properties like the Iberostar Bavaro offer great value for the money when one considers all that is included in the upfront price.

I was there during spring break and the resort was nearly full, but there were no lines anywhere and the few college students were far outnumbered by families and couples. Keep that in mind for next spring break, or better yet, visit the resort at a cheaper time of year, between now and December 22.

To read more about the Iberostar Bavaro, or check rates and availability, click here. For a list of all of our Iberostar hotels, click here. And for a complete list of properties in Punta Cana or the Dominican Republic, click here.

Here are this week's Top Resort Deals, our favorite picks during the next 90 days at the world's most popular destinations. To obtain air-inclusive quotes from US gateways, simply click on any FastDeal # below, select your airport city and click "Price with Air".

Top 10 Budget Resort Deals

1) Bahamas, 4 nights at Port Lucaya Resort & Yacht Club, a 3-star resort on Grand Bahama Island, arriving July 23, starting at $204 per person based on double occupancy ($408 per room), FastDeal #R10150

2) Yucatan Mexico, 4 nights at Viva Wyndham Maya, a 3-star All-Inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, arriving June 18, starting at $348 per person based on double occupancy ($696 per room), FastDeal #R10068

3) Grenada, 4 nights at Grenadian by Rex Resorts, a 3-star All-Inclusive resort in Point Salines, arriving July 2, starting at $409 per person based on double occupancy ($818 per room), FastDeal #R10173

4) Pacific Mexico, 7 nights at El Cid Granada Country Club, a 3-star All-Inclusive resort in Mazatlan, arriving July 6, starting at $465 per person based on double occupancy ($930 per room), FastDeal #R10004

5) Yucatan Mexico, 7 nights at Oasis Palm Beach, a 3-star All-Inclusive resort in Cancun, arriving June 28, starting at $490 per person based on double occupancy ($980 per room), FastDeal #R10023

6) United States, 7 nights at Parc Corniche Condominium, a 3-star resort in Orlando, Florida, arriving July 12, starting at $492 per person based on double occupancy ($984 per room), FastDeal #R10086

7) Yucatan Mexico, 7 nights at Blue Bay Club, a 3-star All-Inclusive resort in Cancun, arriving June 21, starting at $511 per person based on double occupancy ($1,022 per room), FastDeal #R10032

8) Jamaica, 7 nights at Starfish Trelawny Resort & Spa, a 3-star All-Inclusive resort in Runaway Bay, arriving June 8, starting at $511 per person based on double occupancy ($1,022 per room), FastDeal #R10101

9) Hawaii, 7 nights at Aqua Waikiki Wave, a 3-star resort in Honolulu, Oahu, arriving July 19, starting at $518 per person based on double occupancy ($1,036 per room), FastDeal #R10081

10) Canada, 7 nights at Pinnacle International Hotel Whistler, a 3-star resort in Whistler, British Columbia, arriving June 15, starting at $592 per person based on double occupancy ($1,184 per room), FastDeal #R10074

Top 10 Moderate Resort Deals

1) Barbados, 7 nights at Amaryllis Beach Resort, a 4-star resort in Christ Church, arriving July 20, starting at $413 per person based on double occupancy ($826 per room), FastDeal #R10182

2) Yucatan Mexico, 7 nights at Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows, a 4-star resort in Merida, arriving July 12, starting at $452 per person based on double occupancy ($904 per room), FastDeal #R10045

3) Martinique, 4 nights at Pierre et Vacances Village de Sainte-Luce, a 4-star resort in Sainte-Luce, arriving July 9, starting at $507 per person based on double occupancy ($1,014 per room), FastDeal #R10170

4) Pacific Mexico, 7 nights at Barcelo Huatulco Beach Resort, a 4-star All-Inclusive resort in Huatulco, arriving June 14, starting at $567 per person based on double occupancy ($1,134 per room), FastDeal #R10016

5) Yucatan Mexico, 7 nights at Royal Solaris Cancun, a 4-star All-Inclusive resort in Cancun, arriving June 8, starting at $572 per person based on double occupancy ($1,144 per room), FastDeal #R10042

6) Dominican Republic, 7 nights at Breezes Puerto Plata Resort & Spa, a 4-star All-Inclusive resort in Puerto Plata, arriving June 28, starting at $565 per person based on double occupancy ($1,130 per room), FastDeal #R10153

7) Yucatan Mexico, 7 nights at Barcelo Maya Colonial & Tropical Beach, a 4-star All-Inclusive resort in Puerto Aventuras, arriving June 1, starting at $693 per person based on double occupancy ($1,386 per room), FastDeal #R10050

8) Bermuda, 4 nights at 9 Beaches Resort, a 4-star resort in Sandys Parish, arriving July 16, starting at $748 per person based on double occupancy ($1,496 per room), FastDeal #R10185

9) Jamaica, 4 nights at Sunset at the Palms Resort & Spa, a 3.5-star All-Inclusive resort in Negril, arriving July 2, starting at $751 per person based on double occupancy ($1,502 per room), FastDeal #R10110

10) US Virgin Islands, 7 nights at Sapphire Beach Condominium Resort, a 4-star resort in St. Thomas, arriving July 13, starting at $811 per person based on double occupancy ($1,622 per room), FastDeal #R10175

Top 10 Luxury Resort Deals

1) Yucatan Mexico, 7 nights at Sandos Playacar Beach Resort, a 5-star All-Inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, arriving June 8, starting at $595 per person based on double occupancy ($1,190 per room), FastDeal #R10052

2) Pacific Mexico, 7 nights at Sol Melia Azul Ixtapa, a 5-star All-Inclusive resort in Ixtapa, arriving July 13, starting at $724 per person based on double occupancy ($1,448 per room), FastDeal #R10020

3) Turks & Caicos, 4 nights at The Regent Palms, Turks and Caicos, a 5.5-star resort in Providenciales, arriving July 30, starting at $780 per person based on double occupancy ($1,560 per room), FastDeal #R10091

4) Yucatan Mexico, 4 nights at Azul Beach Hotel, a 5-star All-Inclusive resort in Cancun, arriving June 11, starting at $856 per person based on double occupancy ($1,712 per room), FastDeal #R10070

5) Bahamas, 7 nights at Atlantis Paradise Island, a 5-star resort on Paradise Island, arriving June 7, starting at $929 per person based on double occupancy ($1,858 per room), FastDeal #R10149

6) Aruba, 7 nights at Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino, a 5-star resort in Palm Beach, arriving July 19, starting at $930 per person based on double occupancy ($1,860 per room), FastDeal #R10194

7) Yucatan Mexico, 7 nights at Omni Cancun Hotel & Villas, a 5-star All-Inclusive resort in Cancun, arriving July 5, starting at $997 per person based on double occupancy ($1,994 per room), FastDeal #R10060

8) Jamaica, 4 nights at Beaches Negril Beach Resort & Spa, an All-Inclusive resort in Negril, arriving July 16, starting at $1,088 per person based on double occupancy ($2,176 per room), FastDeal #R10158

9) Dominican Republic, 7 nights at Paradisus Punta Cana, a 5-star All-Inclusive resort in Punta Cana, arriving June 1, starting at $1,071 per person based on double occupancy ($2,142 per room), FastDeal #R10155

10) Jamaica, 7 nights at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach & Villa Resort, an All-Inclusive resort in Ocho Rios, arriving May 31, starting at $1,188 per person based on double occupancy ($2,376 per room), FastDeal #R10147

For a list of charter air and resort specials from selected gateways, click here.

If you see a resort that interests you, call us toll free at 800-998-6925 (US and Canada), and a travel counselor will answer your questions or make a reservation, with or without connecting air from any US or Canadian airport.

Customers from the UK, please call toll free 0800 279 8084. All other international customers, please e-mail or call us at 001-713-974-2121.

For escorted tours worldwide, or air/hotel packages to Europe, click here. For the world's best selection of deeply discounted cruises, click here.

Please e-mail me your comments, suggestions and questions at alanfox@resortvacationstogo.com and I will respond the same day.

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Sincerely,

R. Alan Fox
Chairman & CEO
Vacations To Go