From Teresa Plowright,
Your Guide to Family Vacations.
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Background about Natura Park Eco-Resort & Spa

The Dominican Republic is becoming prominent for family vacations, and all-inclusives in the Punta Cana area are especially popular. Punta Cana is in the southeast of the country and is known for long sweeps of white-sand beach.

The Natura Park Eco-Resort resort is between Bavaro Beach and Laguna Bavaro, 1/2 mile from the fishing village Cabeza De Toro, and 20 minutes from the airport. Natura Park is part of Blau Hotels and Resorts, a European company with properties in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

Features of Natura Park Eco-Resort

As the name suggests, this place aims to create a beautiful environment, with flowers and lush landscaping, ponds, open-air restaurants, and the use of local stones, coconut, wood and cane. Visitors' commments praise the grounds and the setting is the main drawing point.

Natura Park has 510 rooms with balcony or patio in 13 two-story Dominican-style buildings, and twenty suites with oceanview. The resort has one buffet restaurant and three "a la carte".

Facilities and activities:

• pool has swim-up bar and children's area
• sports include tennis, sunfish sailing, snorkeling, paddle boats, wind-surfing, jogging trail, archery, biking, fitness centre
• for an extra charge, fishing, horseback riding, diving, and sailing and tennis lessons are available; also various excursions
• activities include dance lessons, aquagym, beach volleyball, water-polo, and at night, folkloric shows, music, theme nights, mini-disco for kids
• "Metamorphosis Spa" has a sauna and flower bath

For kids:

Mini-Club Blaudi is for ages 2 to 12. Natura Park also offers babysitting during the day (for additional fee), and free cribs.

Kids like seeing the birds (peacocks, ducks, flamingos) roaming the grounds or in the lagoons; the main buffet has a basket of bread for feeding the birds and fish.

Keep in mind about Natura Park:

• king beds are limited, so reserve specifically if this is important
• kids' club for toddlers is a plus -- typically the minimum age is four-- but it's a small operation, especially off-season. (Check visitor comments for updates.)
• as at many resorts, the all-inclusive plan has limited a la carte dining so reserve quickly
• food may not be available every hour of the day
• European visitors may go topless; also, Europe spring break at end of February may bring crowds
• some visitors' comments complain about seaweed; others say "it's cleaned daily", and "hey, it's a beach"

This brief profile is meant to introduce this resort to family vacationers; please note that the writer has not visited in person. Always check resort sites for updates.

Check prices for Natura Park, at Kayak.com