EXCLUSIVE Michelle Heaton reveals why her Dominican Republic family holiday to celebrate four years sober was so magical

Daily Mail​

04-05-2025

Last month, Michelle Heaton was looking better than ever as she flaunted her abs on the beach in the Dominican Republic.
To celebrate four years of sobriety, the Liberty X singer, 45, was spending a week at Casa de Campo Resort and Villas with her husband Hugh Hanley, and their two kids, Faith, 13, and 10-year-old AJ.
And now, in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Michelle has revealed why their family holiday was even more 'magical' than usual.
She tells us: 'Obviously, the first thing that made it special was where Casa de Campo is, and everything being so luxurious.
'It feels like you're somewhere that you're not meant to be. Like, could this be real?
'But, for us as a family, I was coming up to four years sober as well, so every time we go away now, it's just more magical, and we have moments that eclipse the moments in the past, which is great.
'We're making new memories together.'
'This was also the first holiday where the kids' iPads never came out and we had adult conversations,' Michelle continues. 'Faith had a phone because she likes to take photos and post them, now she's 13, but there was no screen time apart from the evenings when we were getting ready for bed.
She says: 'It feels like you're somewhere that you're not meant to be. Like, could this be real? But, for us as a family, I was coming up to four years sober as well, so every time we go away now, it's just more magical, and we have moments that eclipse the moments in the past'
'It was just brilliant!'
One of the largest resorts in the Caribbean, the 7,000-acre Casa de Campo is home to 255 villas, three miles of beaches, four marinas, football fields, a ranch with horses, three world championship golf courses, six restaurants, three pools, and so much more.
It's so big, in fact, that every room comes with a golf buggy – which Michelle laughs 'didn't go very fast'.
'It's insane how much is available, and how much is included in the all-inclusive price of the resort,' she adds. 'We did not tick all the boxes, we didn't do everything that we wanted to do, there just wasn't time!'
And Michelle says the reason Faith and AJ never asked for their iPads was due to how much was on offer, with the family throwing themselves into a huge range of activities, from clay pigeon shooting to speed boat rides and golf.
The highlight for Michelle was a boat trip to Isla Catalina, where the family spent the day snorkelling.
'That was the first time, we'd all gone snorkelling as a family,' she says. 'And that was really good fun to be able to do that together.
'Usually, one of the kids won't want to go in the sea, or I don't want to, and this time we really just all wanted to do the same things which was great.
'We even saw a stingray when we were snorkelling near some rocks – although we didn't get too close.'
The evenings, with the family all sat having dinner, were also Michelle's favourite part of the holiday, due to the 'exquisite' food available at the restaurants, all of which is included.
'The food is just another level,' she adds. 'It's just wonderful. Even at the buffet, for breakfast or lunch, you get served your food, so it doesn't feel like a buffet.'
'Also, being at the beach with the kids was so special,' she continues. 'A private beach makes such a difference in the Caribbean.
'There wasn't anybody coming up asking you if you want to buy constantly, which was a real nice breath of fresh air when you're on holiday.
'It definitely felt less touristy and a lot more local there, even though it's a resort.
'Because it's so big, it was so sparse, and you see different people all the time.'
Despite this, Michelle and her family still managed to make some friends at Casa de Campo, after AJ and Faith met another set of similar-age siblings at the resort's teenage camp, where 'the kids could go off and use the pool table and play darts and just come and go as they wished'.
She says: 'We spent the last couple of days together, us two families, which was lovely, and we had a final meal with them too.
'That makes a holiday for the children, when they make friends.'
Michelle and her family had such a good time at Casa de Campo they're already looking to return next year during the school holidays.
'We are definitely going back 100%,' she finishes. 'We could go back and experience all new things and still not be done with what's available.
'It was just the perfect trip. You couldn't wish for anything more.'