Has anyone been to punta cana (dominican republic)?

Question

I am thinking about going to Punta Cana - I was just wondering if it is safe around the city? What are some of the things you have to watch for (other than normal travel precautions)? Also, what are some of the great things? Please only those who know first hand or from someone they know.

I can research myself I need someone with true experience. Thanks

Answer 1

i went and had a great time. THere are many excursion and trips you can take for a few extra bucks. It's beautiful there, the people there are SOOOOOO nice. The food is actually pretty good.

Dont drink the water. Brush your teeth with bottled water.

Bring bread to the ocean. If you throw bits of bread the fish come right up to you. it's beautiful.

You'll get a fantastic tan. I'm still dark and I came home 3 weeks ago.

Always bargain prices atleast 40% off. They are VERY pushy so be careful.

When you go on excursions there are sometimes kids that will try to sell you bottled water. Make sure it hasn't bee opened before! Sometimes they take empty bottles and fill them up and try to sell it again. IT happened to me...good thing I noticed it and just used the water to cool me off.

Go 4-wheeling. SO mUch FUN!

snorkeling ofcourse is a must.

sugar cane fields! nuff said.

As for the city I'm guessing you mean Santo Domingo. THat's a good 2-3 hour drive from Punta Cana. I didnt have interest in going there unless you want a KFC or MCdonalds.

I wouldnt suggest venturing off the resort unless it's with a tour or excursion.

Don't convert your money to pesos.

If you're going with your family and have young children I suggest Breezes its very family friendly and the entertainment is directed towards children. If you're a couple--DONT GO THERE. the kids will drive you crazy. Secrets Excellence is supposed to be the best.

Finally, if you search the weather before hand; dont get discouraged. It said it was supposed to rain everyday on our vacation. IT rained two times, each time lasting 10 minutes.

:)

ENJOY! HOPE THIS HELPED!

Answer 2

I wouldn't call Punta Cana a city. There really isn't anything there but resorts and poor villages. I wouldn't go back. The resort was nice looking but the service was terrible and the people were so incredibly arrogant. There is nothing to do outside the resorts except go on tours and we went to a night club at another hotel. They do look it up pretty good at night because they seem to have trouble with muggings and sexual assaults. They also have some odd scams that they use on tourists. Apparently keno is the big one. I think I would have preferred Santa Domingo or something that was more of a city. Punta Cana is pretty dirty and poor. If I were to go to the Caribbean again I would try Cuba or even Mexico or Costa Rica as I was pretty unimpressed with Dominican.

Answer 3

I went to Punta Cana last August with my husband and daughter, she was 10 months at the time and i loved it. Im from Santo Domingo the capital but i haven't been to DR for 10 yrs, and because i have a baby and my husband i felt more comfortable in a resort. Where i stayed they had a show every night and the dinner was a themed buffet every night differently, excellent food. Some hotels are all inclusive and they have some activities that the hotel offers. Usually non-motorized activities are included. The rest you pay. I paid for horseback ridding, snorkling, four wheelers, and parasailing. I recommend horseback ridding and four wheelers. They take you to the beach on the horses and the four wheelers to the beach and a cave, inside the cave theres a lake/river kinda thing is ten feet deep, and completely dark theres a bit of light from the outside and the water is freezing but its awesome. And we did all of this with $1,000USD. That was our budget and when we came back we still had about $200 left and we bought people souveniers. We also went to the capital to visit my family, the capital has its safe points like any other city in the world, stay around the tourist. Also some hotels have clubs which are greatttt they play every type of music and you could request. Its greattttt you should really go and if you're over 18 you're an adult.

Answer 4

Go! me and my family went twice in a years time. did not have any problems. we stayed that the sunscapes resorts both times. me and my daughter went on trip to San Domingo which is the capital in Dominic Republic. there we seen police and military people. they were armed. but no violence was seen or felt. if you go on this trip you get to see the oldest church, old and new mixed together. but not enough time to shop. my husband and son went on a ATV tour. they had fun. the best trip was the outback safari this takes you a small village you get see how the people live. into the mountains, into the plains. they show you were they made a couple movies. and you get to go boogie boarding. if you go on this trip take some school supplies with you. the kids faces light up like it is Christmas. went snorkeling, para sailing, and there is other thing to do. we stayed at an all inclusive resort which was great the food was excellent. just don't drink the water. they give you bottled water to drink. we accidentally drank coffee that we made with the water out of the tap did not sick. i seen a lot of posting about punta cana being rough it is not. i think they are thinking of Haiti which is part of the island but a long ways away from punta cana. it is a 5 hour trip from Chicago, IL. the people are great.

Answer 5

PLEASE don't do either. Do yourself a favor and go to Cabarete although you fly into Puerto Plata Airport. Young sportsminded international crowd that plays hard during the day and parties all night on the beach at the different clubs. Cabarete is unlike every other town and city in the DR. All the beaches here are nice and we have hundreds and that is all Punta Cana has going for it. If you go to either Punta Cana or Puerto Plata and stay in a all inclusive you will spend all your time with uncultured fat tourists who think smoking cigarettes is an occupation.

Answer 6

Don't drink the water, I personally hated Punta Cana. Very deprived and depressed country side.

Answer 7

GO!!!!!!!!!! its the best down there. it is safe around the city. they have cop on all most ever street corner with guns or night sticks. but for me i felt more safe i did down there then i did in my own town. besides the normal travel precautions i would just say dont drink there water. drink the water that comes in a bottle or the restraints water(ice and water they give to ya in the cups.) some other great things is going to Santo Domingo. u got the old town and a new town mixed into one. i would say go out side of the hotel!!! just see the country is fun. do some excursions. my fav. were the outback safari, james bond(u drive a jet boat then go snorkling then go back on a boat) and swimming with string rays and sharks.
the dominican is just the best place.

Answer 8

Santo Domingo could be the capital of the Dominican Republic and the oldest European city in the Americas and if you wish to see one of the UNESCO World Heritage List then, this hotelbye is the place. Santo Domingo is really a collection of countries and neighborhoods. It's where in actuality the sounds of living, domino parts slapped on platforms, backfiring mufflers and horns from disorderly traffic. In one's heart of the town may be the Zona Colonial, wherever you will discover one of the oldest churches and the oldest remaining European. Also, in the Zona Colonial you will discover Gazcue, one of many city's oldest neighborhoods, filled with previous Victorian properties and tree-lined streets.

Answer 9

Went a few yers ago, beautiful resort. Had gates with armed guards, and our Apple Rep told us not to walk anywhere at night. Didn't see anything but small houses and desert on the ride from the airport. If you want to go somewhere, and stay at the resort, by all means, go. If you want nightlife outside of the resort, not a great pick. Most resorts there do, however, create their own clubs and nightlife.

Answer 10

i went to punta cana is really nice is really safe and it fun
go