How to enjoy the beach?
 

Hi All,

My Punta Cana vacation is coming up and with my fractured knee, I am extremely nervous about being bored out of my mind!! I'm very active and vacations always revolve around going to places where I can walk all day and see sights. I have literally never done a beach vacation in my entire adult life.

So, now that I'm forced to sit on the beach, my question to all you beach goers is: What the heck do you do on vacation?

My colleagues have told me just to sit and read a book while I sip a cocktail or two, but I'm not sure if I can do this for very long. What else can I do? What do you do on the beach other than sports that require standing?



Thanks

I'm the same way, but my wife loves "beachy" vacations so I have to keep her happy so I book beach vacations in between our city expeditions. Honestly, the book recommendation is the best bet. Take frequent naps. Go into the water. Don't forget the sunscreen!

LOL sounds like I'll be drinking heavily :D

I understand where you're coming from. I, too, find it hard to enjoy "beach bum" type vacations. My style of outdoors travel always involves activity-- constant seeing and doing. When I try simply to sit in a beach chair or swing in a hammock like so many other beach resort-goers enjoy, I get bored within 30 minutes!

That said, I have learned how to slow down and enjoy do-nothing days on the beach. Yes, it really does require effort! I have to focus on letting all my other cares slip away. A couple stiff drinks helps a lot with that. :) And having a book to read or some music to listen to helps shift me into relaxation mode. ...Basically it's the same combo I use on long flights!

This A-type personality will have issues, but yes I agree that learning how to relax is a necessary skill. LOL I don't usually relax too much on the flights, I just drink a lot and watch movies or take an Ambien and pass out.. preferably the latter.

Punta Cana isn't a real good place to go to do other things than read and drink anyway. (I'm not a beach person, but honestly, being able to read on the beach or on the balcony in 80 degree weather in the middle of December worked out pretty well for me.)

I love beachside holidays, but hate the beach.

Lying around reading and drinking is in your future.

See if you can't include some sailing/motoring around on boats as an alternative to the beachside/poolside chair....

Good to know I'm not missing out on much in Punta Cana. We chose it because it was cheap and we didn't want to spend a lot on a vacation that I can't easily enjoy.

I like the boating option.. we'll see if they have that. It says that there is kayaking on the hotel website, so that's a start.

Set up some spa appointments. Not sure if you are male or female but spas have treatments for both genders. Get a massage. Relax with some good books / podcasts / etc.

Kayaking might work depending on how you can move your leg. Also, are you in a cast (can't get it wet?) or a brace?

Or renting a small powerpoint for some relaxing on the water. Do you like to fish? You could hire a deep sea fishing tour. Most have seats.

I read, go to the spa, chat with people I meet, doze, listen to music (on headphones!) and (and it is very bad of me!) think about longer term work projects! Many hotels also have wifi that works on the beach / around the pool. You could download some TV shows etc. to watch as well.

Most beach resorts have activities during the day, say, poker tournaments, cocktail making classes, trivia, wine tastings, language lessons etc.

I broke my knee badly some years ago, so from my 'lessons learned', you might find hanging around the pool easier than the beach (the sand can be a PITA to walk on with a broken limb because it moves under you), you may want to ask the hotel for an accessible room (ground floor - many of the hotels don't have elevators) with a seat in the shower, close to the pool area (some of the resorts are pretty big). On the plane you might want to book an upgrade. If you don't, please please tell the person in front of you about your busted knee, and ask them to let you know before they recline (you do not want the seat hitting your knee!) I booked bulkhead when I flew with a duff knee, and then after take off rested my leg on my carry on bag. The ability to do that will depend on the aircraft tho.

If you do boating, you should go to a marina to get on and off (many of them board from either in the water, or a little shuttle boat out to the larger boat, both of which would be very hard to get in to with a bust knee (big step, full weight on one leg, moving surface).)

Also watch out for wet floors. It can get rainy in Punta Cana, and a lot of the hotel floors are polished marble, which gets pretty lethal when wet. Pack shoes with very good grip, and maybe order room service if it gets really wet!

Oh one more thing, you will likely have to come down steps (no air bridge) at Punta Cana airport, so if you will have trouble, let the airline know in advance.

Good ideas and I am taking note of all of them! Thankfully I don't have a cast so I won't have limitations on getting my leg wet.

Regarding the plane comment, that TERRIFIES me. I am flying Copa.. not my favorite airline, but I got a great deal. I am really hoping that I don't have to walk down stairs, especially not those rickety metal ones.

I hear you. I can't stand the beach but the wife, that's a different story.... I don't tan AT ALL, just burn, and can't stand being hot and sweaty. In addition I always seem to be the target for every biting insect that lives out its miserable life on the beach and I physically hate the feeling of sand stuck to my skin with suntan cream. It is pure torture for me. Hopefully you'll be able to enjoy a few drinks and snooze the day away under an umbrella. Ah what a waste oF time!

I am afraid you might have the stairs to contend with - only terminal B has air bridges (and I am not sure every flight gets to use them, not sure) the others still use the stairs. It looks from a quick glance, that Copa is not terminal B.

They may be able to arrange for someone to carry you on / off? Although if it were me I would wear a pair of old jeans and come down the steps on my butt rather than have someone carry me and risk knocking my knee (and yes, I did have people carry me when I had my bust knee, but not in an airline setting). You might also be able to manage a slow hop up / down (take advantage of pre-boarding, and stay on the plane until everyone else is off so you can take your time). You could request a wheelechair for use in getting from the plane through the airport (it can be a bit crazy at times, so this might reduce your time stood in line).

Ha ha ha.. yup I'll also need a TON of sunscreen. The one thing that's keeping this bearable is the thought that I have two choices: Either sit around my house, or sit around the beach.

I'll have a drink for you ;)

Baby powder is your friend - seriously, I hate that sand stuck to me feeling, but if you dust some baby powder, it magically stops sticking.

There is likely a pool at the resort, Perhaps they have "noodles" on which you can lie back and even do some gentle exercises in the pool. If you are not in a cast, try walking in the pool. It will help strengthen your quads and feels good. Walk forwards and backwards (if dr says ok). Good luck,

Good point about checking with my Dr. I know that I'm completely non weight-bearing on land, but I don't know about water. Maybe there are therapeutic exercises I can do while having fun.

I was doing water exercises in the pool on Maui 7 weeks after a total knee replacement. :) Water exercises are great and non-weight bearing. They also get you moving almost aerobically. Talk to your doctor and/or a physical therapist.
Wishing you the best of luck. I loved my water exercises and continued after we returned home.

Well, I'm not a type-A personality. Not even close. And I know how to relax. I relax around home quite frequently. The issue for me is finding enjoyment in doing nothing when I'm spending significant sums of money and precious vacation days in an exotic location surrounded by countless exciting things to see and do. Just sit there and read? I can do that the other 358 days of the year!

If the resort has kayaks, they are also likely to have floatation vests, a word with a manager might procure one for you to use during the week so you can float peacefully.

I need a "like" button for the posts on this thread. I'm feeling better about the trip already.. even if it would not be my preference to do under other circumstances.

How to enjoy the beach?
 

go diving. easy on the joints.


then have a few drinks

repeat!

If you plan on reading, remember to bring a real book or a kindle paperwhite. The kindles and ipods that show video aren't very good in sun, but the kindle paperwhites rule! Go Amazon.

Same here. Went to Punta Cana on a grad trip and despite multiple excursions and plenty of friends around I was bored by day 2 from inactivity. Also took a 2 day break on Ko Samui on a hectic 6 week SE Asia trip thinking I'd like to just relax on the beach. Booooored. I don't really drink either so that takes away the biggest activity. Love to read but it's better on a plane or train while going somewhere new or in bed after an exhausting day scouring a new locale with something to see besides a beach and luxury resort miles from any authentic interesting experiences. I can sit on my couch all day and enjoy it but using my vacation time and money to go to an exotic place, I want and need to spend every minute possible seeing new things and explore.

How to enjoy the beach?
 

Take a Zanax

As a master scuba diver, I ask you to please ignore that advice. First of all diving could potentially re-injure your knee. Secondly, drinking and diving don't mix. Ever. You should be sober the night before and then wait at least 24 hours after diving before having an alcoholic drink as it can change your blood chemistry and you can get the bends even if you stayed conservative on your tables.

leave the beach?
http://www.puntacana.com/to-do.html
http://www.puntacana.com/monthly-events.html

also in Dominican republic >
http://www.casadecampo.com.do/

DR tourism site (not just beach) >
http://www.godominicanrepublic.com/

Happy to help. :)

LOL.. I will probably avoid the medication, but I might need it. I assume I'll be drinking and snorkeling but probably not together..

@yytleisure - yikes!! Your scenario is what I am hoping to avoid. Hopefully with some new ideas, I will be successful. If not...then my husband will probably be miserable. :)

I was in a large group in DR so didn't avail of any options to seek out some alternative sights so my experience doesn't have to be replicated! It's a personal preference so hopefully you can tailor something to your liking. I also come from a borderline subarctic climate so hot and humid is not my cup of tea either. I should try to be more positive but just adding another point of view for you!

Order a beach umbrella
 

Aside from umbrellas in your drinks, order an umbrella for the beach or pool for all day. I'm an all-day beach kind of gal but it requires some shade from the sun. My husband isn't much for laying at the beach all day but the umbrella makes it more bearable for him. Good luck!