Just booked a vacation to Punta Cana
 

Second half of June. Anyone ever been down there? Experiences? Suggestions?

"All inclusive" (breakfast/lunch/dinner/all-u-can-drink) 10 nights in an upgraded room, trip insurance, and airfare for 2 came out to a smidge over $3500, which was $500 under our initial budget. She was pulling hard for Hawaii for weeks, and she got frustrated as hell that she couldn't even get into a motel 6 for under 4k once we factored in airfare. Once I convinced her to let go of the idea of Hawaii she was let-down at first, but as soon as I showed her this package she nearly hit the ceiling in excitement.

Anything I need to plan for/watch out for while we're there?

Don't expect all-inclusive food and service to always be excellent. Once you've paid it can be as good or bad as they want to make it. The incentive is lost at that point. Check Tripadvisor for the skinny on anyplace you are looking to go. Where are you staying?

I used to live in the DR. Never went to Punta Cana though, the island is beautiful, and the people are pretty nice. You could spend the entire trip laying on the beach in front of your hotel and have a great trip. You could also go check out some of the cool stuff on the island, although that would mean you would be exposed to the real world. If that doesn't scare you, google it and have fun.

MT has a member that lives there, Rafa isn't as active as he used to be, but he was logged on within the last week. From the few conversations I had with him, he seemed pretty cool. PM him, he may have some good tips.

I went to Punta Cana a couple years ago. Had a great time! From what I remember, everything was really nice, the food was not bad at all (at least at the place I went to), and the beaches are beautiful.

A place called "Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe"

Here's a delta vacations promo vid...


Picked the place to be a "relaxing" vacation instead of a touristy vacation. With 10 nights scheduled, we'll probably spend 2 days touring and the other 7 days sitting under a palm tree on the beach - if I can manage to keep from getting sunburnt that is.

Chilling is good.

Rafa lives in the capital city at the other end of the country from "Cane Point."

We booked for Punta Cana this year to; I made sure to book an Adults Only all-inclusive :)

We really wanted to go first week in June, but I'm out for training for the whole first half of the month.

You'll love it. We booked Grand Palladium Riviera Maya this year cause you get the same thing for 1k less. Because Mexico lol

I'll never travel to Mexico.

I'm glad to see more people that are going there. This will be my first time to island. I've gone to Jamaica, and St Lucia, and Martinique. We thought of the Bahamas but that was a lot more expensive and I like the seclusion of DR. it's like empty but for an airport and the resorts.

My wife and I went to Punta Cana for our Honeymoon. We stayed at the "Majestic Punta Cana" if I remember correctly, I remember the Bavaro being nearby.

We did 7 nights, 8 days and that was just about right. We were ready to go home. 10 nights is a pretty long time, hopefully you won't be too sick of the food at the resort by then. I remember the dinners being pretty good, there was enough variety in sit down restaurants. But breakfast and lunch were basically the same stuff every day so that got old after a bit.

We really liked Punta Cana and it was better than Cancun (which we visited later).

We did two tours. One was horseback riding on the beach, which was like an hour bus ride to the Rancho. The bus ride was absolute misery (our stomachs were having isssues...) but the horseback riding was amazing. We also did a snorkeling excursion that was pretty cool. We went out on a catamaran tour and they took you to like two spots to snorkel. One was their own blocked off area where you swam with nurse sharks and stingrays (sans stingers...). We liked both of the excursions, however, once you get outside of the resort areas the DR is definitely a third world country. I wouldn't be going into town just the two of you at night time, that sort of thing.

If you're a drinker, ask (beg, steal, etc.) for the upgraded liquor wrist bands. We got ours included so we could drink name brand stuff for free. The "well" liquors they have are pretty awful, but okay in the fruity mixed stuff.

I think the DR is perfect if your main goal is to sit on the beach and veg out.

Enjoy

I just booked Jamaica for my honeymoon and it cost us $2500 all inclusive

Do tell.

We've gone to a BUNCH of places and the higher end all inclusive resorts are ridiculously similar between PC and RM. (keep in mind I'm not saying cancun, which is quite a bit a step down from RM)

I'm not knocking DR at all, and would probably go there over Mexico if the price was the same, but not sure if its worth the premium.

Can you give an unbiased comparison?

Caneel Bay, Allure Package, Garden View.

Disney Wilderness Lodge for a week, then the above = best vacation.

Punta Cana is on our list however, Paul and Artieparty went there and loved it.

my room comes with whatever liquor/wine/beer/juice i ask for. has both a minibar and wet bar.

they'd enjoy anyhtign so long as together.

Thats the place I stayed at!!!!

I really like the Barcelo Bavaro resorts, also went to one in Riviera Maya, Mexico which was wonderful.

You'll enjoy it!

Also, you asked what to prepare yourself for.

Well, prepare to see some nasty old euro grandma boobs.

The DR seems to attract a decent number of european and canadian visiters, some who are of the topless tanning variety.

Rest assured, most of the boobs you will see won't be nice to look at.

Just a lil heads up...

ill be too busy eating and drinking to worry about boobies.

I've definitely experienced the fact that, in general, boobs that aren't worth hiding, are also not worth seeing.

Also thinking about taking a day to go SCUBA diving - my PADI advanced open water and EANx cards haven't been taken out of my safe since earning them in the Red Sea 4 years ago.

We've been to Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Negril the past two Novembers, great service and food both times.

However, Breezes in Nassau a few years ago was terrible.

No joke.

My wife and I's entire goal at an All-Inclusive is to make them lose money on us through our alcohol consumption.

Just saw this thread. I do indeed live in the DR.

If you want any info please pm me. I can assist you while you're here. Don't move around the area on your own. Security is getting worse.

The hotel you're staying at is pretty good.

The beach is just outstanding.

Rafa

Paul and Artie rented a car and drove to Santo Domingo where they proceeded to eat at my house and we drove around the city that day. They visited a couple of the local tourist attractions and we really enjoyed their company.

Anyone of you planning on coming or coming to visit are welcomed to do the same thing and we'll pick you up upon entering the city.

We'll provide lunch at our home.

Braineack, careful moving around the area.

Rafa

I have a really close friend who is an avid scuba diver. I can ask him to assist you.

He's currently in Australia and New Zealand on holiday.

Damn, really? I never thought of DR as a place to worry about.

Drug trade.

I consider "everywhere" to be a place to worry about - so I make sure to stay paranoid at all times when I'm "everywhere". I'll most likely stick to the touristy area, no plans for anything like "backpacking" or "seeing the country".

Rafa, when your buddy gets home, ask him if there are any "best places" to dive there in the middle of June - I understand there is a vast difference between Bavaro, Half an hour north, and half an hour south depending on the season.

And pirates.

Will do. I'll let you know.

BTW, it's ok to move around during the day. Just don't drive around on your own at night.

I'll also check which "group tour" is currently available worth trying.

Frugal Braineack: Where did you book?

I was researching an AI trip to punta cana a couple years ago and am creating a budget now for a trip in 2015.

by the area, you mean the beach where I'll be drunk, and passed out in a food como?

Excellence.

You'll be fine there. I mean the small villages around the hotels. The most notorious one is called "Veron" and it's the one closest the airport. With the new road they just opened you don't have to pass through it.

When you come over shoot me a pm. I'll provide you my cel phone # and my email address so you can contact me at any time.

I started contacting people there to find out what local tours are worth trying. I'll let you know in this thread.

thanks brah. but like maniac said, my entire goal is to have them lose money on me through food/drinks.

You are a light weight drinker, they will not loose money on your booze intake. I mean it only took like 3 beers to convince you to make Hustler a mod.


Rafa you should totally get Scott drunk and have him make you a mod.

Dirty Bananas is my drink of choice.

Those are good in the morning for the inevitable hangover.

However, I'm usually at double Vodka tonics by 10:30 in the morning or so.

Just tell the waitress to bring me another any time she walks my way.

i like fruity drinks.

There is always a huge selection of sugar-laden, faux fruit drinks for the amateurs.

sounds awesome!

Just don't eat the space cake.

That made for an incredibly un-enjoyable evening.

I heard they make the portion sizes small, so I plan on ordering like 3-4 entrees a night. I'm a big fan of all-inclusives.

Yeah, our Thanksgiving meal was small enough we all ordered 2 plates of it.

BTW Space Cake = hash brownie

how could that be unenjoyable?

i don't plan on leaving the resort...maybe for an excursion.

Because we weren't instructed on dosing requirements. 4 of us split one, ate it all at once, then were wrecked. When we saw the guy the next day we asked him if it was laced,

Fireman - "No, how much did you eat"
Me - "We ate all of it"
Fireman - "OOOHHHHH NNNNOOOOOOOO. Just a small bite"

Essentially the space cake should have lasted 4 of us all day nibbling on it.


Depending on the resort, the beach will be private, semi-private, public.

Where we stayed in the Bahamas was right next to a public beach, so we got harrassed all day non-stop by vendors, etc. I swear the guy was selling tobacco with seeds in it.

Sandals Montego Bay - completely private beach. There were guys in tiny canoes that would paddle up close to the beach to sell "Green" or "white"

Sandals Negril - First 10 feet back from the water is public, so vendors can walk up and down the beach, however, there a few security guards to keep them from stopping you and bugging you if you said no.

That was the best setup, we watched a guy go pull a lobster out of the ocean, grill it, and sell it to us. It was amazing.

I worked at Club Med Punta Cana for 3 months back in '99. The windsurfing was absurd... flat water inside the reef to learn, and small wave action at the reef for air.

The beaches were second only to my time in the Turks and Caicos... absolute ridiculousness, makes anywhere in Hawaii look like a Siberian oil port.

Stay away from French Canadian chicks... they are 100% soaking wet horny as long as they're breathing and don't care if you're married/whatever. The ones with short hair are stronger than you and batshit crazy as fuck. On the plus side, they will pull your shorts down, dick out, have you spent and then disappear before your chick gets back from the bathroom, so be careful around them or roll the dice.

hahaha!

No way!

Maybe if the price wasn't to be a mod I'd consider it.

BTW Scott, you mentioned a Resort in "Punta Cana", not Bavaro. Which one so I can check. Punta Cana and Bavaro are close by but are not the same location. The beach in Punta Cana is totally different than the one in Bavaro.

The one in Punta Cana is where Sam Navy said he stayed at. Even though Club Med is practically broke now.

It's probably Bavaro. It's about 1hour from the airport on the "northern" side of the island.

the website said punta cana, so what do i know. Excellence Punta Cana - Excellence Group Resorts

honestly, when people say locations in Maryland, I have no clue what they are talking about...and I bet you'd have no clue what difference I am saying when I say Rockville or Bethesda, nor do I.

I believe it is a public beach, but it has a private area for the high rollers like myself, but I've read they dont really secure it so it's pointless. So vendors might bother us, I'm not too fond of that, but when they quickly discover how cheap and rude I am, I'm sure they'll catch on quick and leave us alone.

Also, the particular area on the resort is at doesnt have much coral, so people complain about waves, which I dont really mind, and they say you can walk east on the beach a bit off campus and get calm waters and good snorkeling. I'm scared of the water anyways...

We looked at other resorts closer to the airport in PC, but we required an all-inclusive, adults-only resort and that narrowed the field a bit, but this place gets crazy good reviews and was a pretty good value compared to some of the rest in DR and other islands.

If you can recommend anything cool outside the resort let me know. We aren't much of site-seers, I take my laziness to a whole new level when I go on vacation.

Ok; you're at what is called "Uvero Alto Beach". See attached map.

Much better beach than Bavaro. Good choice. It's definitely far away.

In the DR, all beaches are public by Law but vendors won't bother you there. Only by agreement with the resort and only for a few hours 1 afternoon a week may they sell their wares. And they can't bother you.

I'll check with friends working in that area if there are any excursions worth trying and get back to you.

I like waves too but careful with those. It's not so much the waves but the underwater current.

from the reviews I've read this makes sense. It seems that the vendors that are bothering people on the beach are the same that the resort offers up for booking; like the horseback and tours and crap.

I'm from the East Coast, I'm used to the riptide.

We've thought of private transportation back to the resort form the hotel, think that's a good idea? I've read the roads are complete crap and if the bus is dropping off at other resorts it can take much longer than an hour. But I'd feel more safe with other tourists in this situation. I dont want to hire a private driver, then have him take me to his secret sex liar, and have him rape me and my wife and try to ransom us off, but then kill us when he realizes we have no money, nor do our friends/family.

hahahahahaha! :bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl: That one is for the private driver comment. hehehe

Roads are indeed pretty crappy and especially on that part of Punta Cana. Not worth private transportation. Plus, those guys are really highway robbers when it comes to charging tourists for their services. I can check with some friends and get back to you. Don't forget, the owner of the company running the airport used to be my closest friend. When he was poor hahaha. I'll contact him and ask. Maybe I can get you something cheaper and still private like a minivan.

Our experience has always been one bus per resort.

In other words, you get on a bus going to your resort, it doesn't make any other stops.

I feel like this wasnt the case for me last time I was in Jamaca and St. Lucia. However, when I did Sandals in St. Lucia, it was just the one bus.

It's okay though, my flight coming in leaves at like 5:45am from Dulles...I get in well before check in.

Yes, and they insist that you call them "Captain" Jack Sparrow. Not just Jack.

I like the way you think, any place can be dangerous if you don't pay attention to your sorroundings

The Dominican Republic is a developing country, not third world. Might I suggest you visit neighboring Haiti and learn the difference? Those little towns outside resorts are ghetto, your comment is akin to someone visiting Compton in California, Detroit in Michigan, or Liberty City here in Miami and assuming the entire US is like that. If you haven't traveled the country and seen the cities and the nice parts, you end up with a narrow view. Every country has its bad areas and places you shouldn't go at night.

Hmmm, maybe we lucked out?

Either way, I'll be curious to hear your experience. I'm too lazy to look back through the thread, when are you going?

We haven't decided where we are going this November yet and we are trying to coordinate with a Canadian couple we met last year.

I'll post after I go.


tl;dr. I didnt post when that is.

Jamaica's alright, if you wanna get in the middle of a knife fight
Jamaica's alright, if you wanna get AIDS or dysentery
Jamaica's alright, if you wanna be mugged or murdered
Jamaica's alright, if you're a misogynist, or a homophobe

Jamaica's alright, if you like only one kind of music
Jamaica's alright, if you like small bananas and spiders
Jamaica's alright, if you wanna buy drugs from your hotel room
Jamaica's alright, if you want your hand lopped off by a machete

But I was wanting to rob you and sleep naked in your bed with your kitties while you were away.

I was well aware of this and I'm taking precautions.