Punta Cana- Anyone been there? Suggestions?

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Punta Cana- Anyone been there? Suggestions?

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my standard answer is dont go.

i hate mexico, it is a shite hole. of all the resort type places in mexico, i have yet to go to one that is worth it

Pros-

1. Very beautiful beaches and water.
2. Very competitive AI area. Literally, dozens and dozens it seems in a 20 mile stretch. They do a good job of catering to your on site experience.

Cons-

1. Beach vendors are very pushy and often rude. Not the ones who walk the beach with a backpack. I mean the ones who have little shacks grouped together in a row. Walk in one and every vendor sitting out on a stool at their front will damn near demand you walk through theirs as you exit the previous one. And most sell the same junk trinkets as the next guy. Not saying don't go in them...just be prepared for some rude behavior.

2. Safety. While not Jamaica, that area is unsafe to venture out as a couple or by yourself unless you are pretty fluent in Spanish. The shuttle from the airport to the resort is about a 35 minute ride that will take you through several poverty stricken villages. There were armed guards sitting at several corners to insure the well being of the tourists as the shuttles pass through. At least that is what the driver told me.

3. The closest town to go to for any kind of shopping/local cuisine is Bavarro. Again, would not go by myself or as a couple unless I spoke their language well. There are shuttles that will come to your resort and pick you up, along with others, to take you as a group to Bavarro. We went to a specialty jeweler store, with others, to look at pieces made from a local gem called Larimar. It is indigenous to the area and looks like turquoise.

4. Food is average at the main eateries on site. But like any AI, you can pay out of pocket to eat at their one or two upscale restaurants.

5. Hopefully, you have a place with multiple pools. The one where we stayed had a pool closer to the beach that blasted the same 5-6 dance club songs all day. The one farther inland was where we posted up after day 2.


Punta Cana is great for relaxing by the pool and beach all day with a drink in hand. Not great if you like to get out everyday and explore. If you are just going to chill and relax, it is money well spent.

Stayed at the Riu Palace. Pretty nice. Topless beaches, unfortunately the women running around topless tend to be in desperate need of clothing. A ton of Europeans vacation there