Our room alone was just the kind of sanctuary you fantasize about trudging through the winter slush in New York City (two hot-tubs, one indoor, the other on the terrace, a giant shower that could fit four, a super-comfortable bed in the master bedroom, two sofa beds in a living room for the kid, and, of course, a well-stocked mini-bar). For my son, the place might as well have been a palace; for me, it was the kind of place I imagined a Brett Easton Ellis character living in somewhere in Tribeca.

On our first day, we took a walk on the beach, but the overcast sky and wind made the beach unpleasant. And two steps past the hotel's guarded beach lurk a cadre of locals hustling shells, souvenirs the usual tourist drek, (you could probably score some A-rod level steroids if that was your thing) and they were a reminder that the real DR--a much grittier place--is kept at bay for tourists, making the Palma Real a little slice of Fantasy Island.

So since chilling on the beach was a no go because of the weather, my wife and I spent many a relaxing hour taking turns watching our son (he can't swim yet) suck up the courage to glide down the waterslides, while one of us would take a swim through the lagoon of pools. Or we would head off to the spa. Or watch my son play in the giant tower they have set up in the kid's playground where we met some other nice parents and kids.  No, this wasn't gambling in Monte Carlo in a tux, but with a three-year old son and pregnant wife to take care of, the lack of excitement was just fine by me.

The food at any all-inclusive deal like this is a mixed bag but it sure is bountiful. The breakfast buffet was pretty good (if you stayed away from the cardboard pancakes and went for the local specialties, like mangu, mashed fried plantains, and eggs made to order). And, this being the DR, the pork products were delicious at every stop. The Asian restaurant, Bana, was a little bland, but my son loved the theater of the teppanyaki show--"whoa! knives! fire!" (Note: A group we befriended tried the sushi and were underwhelmed). Better was the Mediterranean-themed restaurant, Vento, where the veal I had was tender, and the shrimp and cheese appetizer get high marks. The lamb chops I ordered at the Gabi club at the Reserve were juicy, and the ceviche was excellent. But, the best thing I had during our stay was the chicharron tacos at the Market Grill during lunch: pork from a spit served on a tortilla with fried onion and pineapple, a fantastic tropical lunch, with the added benefit of actually tasting like something a Dominican person might actually eat. In general, if you have doubts as to whether or not the chefs could pull something off, stay away. You were probably right to doubt in the first place.

So, with bad beach weather and some tension to work off, the wife and I both found ourselves at the spa, and we were not disappointed. I knew it was probably going to be deluxe when we saw ex-New York Giant and NFL hall-of-famer Harry Carson (trust me when I tell you: he used to crush dudes for a living) leaving the building with his wife looking as mellow as "The Dude" from The Big Lebowski. And I was right--it has a highly mellow vibe about it. The spa compound is a crazy chimera of ancient roman bath, yoga chic topped of with East Asian and South American motifs. It feels like a place Mr. Spock would get a rubdown and I mean that in a good way. Right next door to the Spa is a nice little gym with an array of cardio and weight machines and after a workout, jumping into the sauna steam room and the variety of pools was pretty sweet.

There were other fun activities besides eating, sleeping, and pooling: The best Michael Jackson cover artist of the Dominican Republic played one night (spot-on Billy Jean, true story); we went to a mini circus one evening with clowns and gymnastics; and in the main hotel, there's a casino that opens at night (no children allowed).  There were plenty of activities we didn't try like horseback riding, golf, and tennis. And, the ocean water was too rough for us to kayaks, snorkel, or windsurf. But all that was available in better conditions.

All in all, the Palma Real has a little bit of everything, but for us it really was a great place to bring the family, a good book, and a desire to chill out. Have a spa session, lounge by the pool, go to the beach and enjoy being away together. The real trick is to just allow yourself to let go and give into the fun of being stuck in a  completely artificial environment designed just to make you happy and relaxed. There's no point fighting it. And really, once you're there, why should you?