Punta Cana: Beach Days & Poolside Laughs

Written By Julisa Tindall

Laughter, good wine, and even better company — a soft glow, full hearts, and easy joy in the simplest moments.

Shared Joy Series

📍Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | 📅 June 17–21, 2021
🛏 Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa

After more than a year of canceled plans, closed borders, and the weight of uncertainty, stepping off the plane in Punta Cana felt like breathing again. This was my first trip after the height of COVID-19, and it was all about joy, freedom, and connection. I went with Leah, one of my close friends from grad school, and her childhood friend Deja, who quickly became my friend too. From the moment we met, it felt easy, like the three of us had always known each other.

🌊 The Breathless Experience

We stayed at Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa, an all-inclusive resort that felt like the perfect backdrop for what we needed: sun, rest, and fun. Every day had its own rhythm, but in the best way — wake up, wander to the pool or beach, eat and drink whenever we felt like it, dance, laugh, repeat. There was no itinerary, no rush, no pressure to “do it all.” Instead, the beauty was in not needing a plan at all.

💆🏾‍♀️ Little Luxuries

One day, we decided to indulge in a spa day, complete with massages that melted away the stress of the past year. It was slow, peaceful, and restorative — a sharp but welcome contrast to the lively nights of music, laughter, and movement that defined the rest of the trip.

I also brought along disposable cameras, which was a fun throwback. The photos weren’t polished —grainy, off-centered, sometimes blurry — but that almost made them better. They captured the carefree energy of the trip, proof that not everything has to be picture-perfect to be meaningful. Low-quality pictures, high-quality times.

🤝 Shared Joy

What I remember most isn’t one specific activity or moment, but the feeling: the sun on our skin, the sound of laughter we couldn’t stop, the freedom of being fully present with friends who made it easy to just be. We met new people, shared stories, and soaked up every bit of that tropical energy.

This trip wasn’t about adventure or sightseeing — it was about connection and ease. After so much isolation, sharing space and joy with Leah and Deja felt like medicine. Breathless gave us the backdrop, but the real memory was us.

Thanks for reading! You can find more moments, memories, and adventure over on Instagram: @_GracefullyWandering

Julisa Tindall