It's Showtime: Who’s Got the Best Evening Entertainment? 🎭
- Rachael Jackson
- Jan 21
- 6 min read
Hey friends, it’s Rae! 👋 Back at it with part four of my family vacation showdown, and today we're diving into something that always gets me excited: resort theater shows! I know, I know—some of you might be thinking, “Shows? Meh. I’m just here for the beach.” But for me and my family, the nightly show is a key part of the vacation. It's not just about the quality of the performance (though it’s always a bonus when they’re amazing ). It's about the whole experience—the music, the energy, the audience vibe, and let’s be real, the people-watching!
It’s our little nightly ritual—a place to go, something official to do after dinner and a long day of doing absolutely freaking nothing. So, if you’re like us and think a great show can really add to the vacation magic, let’s dive in and compare!
Mexico’s Mayan Riviera: Staged to Perfection 🎭
Alright, let’s kick things off with Mexico—specifically the Riviera Maya, where we’ve found some of the best resort entertainment. We've been here at least three times for two weeks at a time and what we have found is that at Grand Sirenis, the shows are a nightly must. Seriously. We’re talking a massive outdoor theatre where we can sit back, relax, and enjoy everything from the Beach Show (which is fire and I'm not just using hip lingo) to the 80s rock show that will soothe that Gen X soul. Not to mention the Michael Jackson show? It's a real thriller.
It's not just about the performances—it's the energy. The buzz. The feeling of coming together after a day of sun and sand to enjoy something fun as a family. The theater setup is perfect. It's open-air yet covered, allowing you to enjoy the tropical breeze while maintaining a formal atmosphere, unlike a makeshift lobby performance. And I'm not sure if they still do this, but I believe they used to have a resort entertainment group that worked with various resorts to deliver professional-level shows, including tribute performances, musical productions, and themed spectaculars. This might explain their consistency. Regardless, we've spent many nights at this resort, laughing, clapping, and sometimes just people-watching (honestly, nothing beats their shows.) Also, special mention to their kids club, which is the best we've ever come across. Whether it's Lion King, Dirty Dancing, Grease, or Coco. They do an amazing job incorporating the kids into the shows. If you've followed me on social media for a long time, you've probably seen clips of us at these shows. We've been going to Grand Sirenis since my youngest was a baby, and I can't recommend it enough!🏖️
Next up, let's talk about Bahia Principe which is just down the road from Sirenis. This is where we ventured in 2022. Entertainment here was also good, with shows every night except the silent disco night. The shows were solid—definitely in line with Grand Sirenis. As I said, I believe some of the resorts use the same entertainment group for a couple of the professional-level shows and I'm pretty sure Bahia is one of them. The reason we like Grand Sirenis over Bahia though is not just the quality of the other shows but the seating here was tough to get, and the bar service was slow. Still, it gave us something fun to look forward to, whether it was magic, acrobatics, or one of their Rock-themed shows. And the kids club participated one or two of the nights in the same manner as the Grand Sirenis, so that's always amusing to watch. I believe it was Frozen or Moana, or maybe both.
Next up, let’s talk about Ocean Riviera Paradise. We checked this resort out in 2023, mainly for the monkeys and the stylish decor. It's also in the Mayan Riviera, only it's not quite as far down the strip as the other two. Now, this place could’ve been amazing—but here’s the catch: They only offered shows three times a week. And the theatre itself was gorgeous—we’re talking a 20s Art Deco vibe that made me feel like I was stepping into an old Hollywood movie. But... three shows out of seven days? I thought this was supposed to be paradise. They did have bowling, though it was heavily booked, they also had a silent disco in the plaza. And if you've ever tried a silent disco, you know it's a-lot like playing with a torn balloon that can't hold air. i don't know who decided silent dancing was going to be a thing, but I'm not a fan. I mean, half the fun of dancing in my opinion, is screaming the lyrics at the top of my lungs. I guess it's fun to watch for the spectators because we all look so ridiculous silently bopping along to a beat that no one else can hear while occasionally screeching like cats but it's also just mean. Case in point: see us below.
Now for the love of Dominican Republic, Get Your Game Face On
Now I've been doing this annual 'get out of the snow' vacation thing for twenty-six years and so I've been to the D.R many times, mostly to the Playa Dorado beach area in Puerta Plata and from what I remember the shows were good but they didn't have the white sand beach so last year we decided to try Punta Cana. And honestly, we had a hard time finding resorts that offered consistent theater shows. We ruled out a bunch of budget-friendly options (looking at you, Princess Resorts) because there was either zero mention of entertainment or the reviews stated it was basically just silly contests. As much as we love people watching, we do appreciate the balance of structure. So we ended up at the Royalton Splash, where the entertainment was there but it was, let’s say, charmingly modest. They had a small show in a hut, which was cute but didn’t quite deliver the same level of excitement as Mexico’s offerings.
As Diamond Club members, we did get some perks, like access to the Punta Cana side with better beaches and restaurants. But when it came to the theater shows? There were only two performances in the actual theater: a circus show and a Michael Jackson tribute. Both were good, but the quantity just wasn’t there. "Give me five more, por favor."
So with only two shows that week, the rest of the entertainment was obviously outdoors—live music, which was fine, but again, not the same energy as a dedicated theatre show.
We did end up playing cards one night as we watched the show under the moon. That was fun. Lots of laughs and bonding with the kids which is never a bad time.
And Viv and I danced on the platform during the music show which was a rocking good time. We just would have liked more nights like this. Would I go back? Yes, of course I would... did you see that beach?
Drumroll please. The Verdict: As of right now we think Mexico's Got the Best Show in Town 🎤🏆
When it comes to the whole theatre show experience, the Riviera Maya has really nailed it. Grand Sirenis and Bahia Principe know how to deliver an awesome show with great energy, good music, and a vibethat just makes the whole family feel connected. Dominican Republic—well, we’re not done searching. However, as of right now, if you’re into resort shows as much as we are, Mexico is the place to be.
But honestly, either way, we just love having something to do at night with the whole crew. It’s all about the experience, the laughs, and connecting with each other.
We're really hoping this year's trip to Costa Mujeras is just as successful. We have picked a resort that meets our show criteria so fingers crossed.
What about you? Are you into theater shows on vacation, or are you all about the beach life? Let me know in the comments—always love hearing from fellow travelers! 🌟
Until next time,
Rae 💕
#Dominican Republic resort entertainment #Grand Sirenis theater show review
#theater shows at resorts #theatre shows at resorts #Canadiansabroad #Canadianswhotravel
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