Punta Cana All-Inclusive

[Regis]

Looking at heading to the Dominican Republic and staying in Punta Cana at an all adult all inclusive.

Anyone with experience and suggestions?

And no, we're not stuck on Punta Cana but we're going with my SIL and hubby and they're on a more limited budget than we are.  They're not YMers.  

[wvugurl26]

I wasn't a fan of Dreams Palm Beach. It was okay but not my favorite. I wouldn't pay to go again. I enjoy the Beaches/Sandals resorts more.

[flamingo]

We are going to Punta Cana next week. It will be the second time I've been there and like the 4th or 5th time DH has been. 

We are staying at Riu hotel. It's really a complex of hotels, some higher class/fancier than others, which also comes with a high price tag. It's all inclusive, which is the only way I want to travel to the Caribbean. Food/meals stress me out and DH is uber passive aggressive about it, so all inclusive it is. And, my understanding of it (from my DH who has stayed at this complex before) is that the all inclusive aspect works at all the hotels in the complex. Hoping it gives us a little more variety in terms of food, alcohol, view from the pool/beach, etc.

We were really happy with the deal we got for Punta Cana. Of all the places we looked to go, we felt it gave it the most bang for our buck. And, it should be really warm. Our main goal is a warm vacation where we can sit at the pool or beach in our bathing suits for a week.

Have fun planning your trip!

[Deleted]

Talk $1 bills for tips. In the Dominican if you don't tip you won't get served. It doesn't take a lot, but you have to tip.

[wvugurl26]

I've found it depends on the resort chain. When I went to Beaches in Jamaica they couldn't accept tips. They'd lose their jobs for that. We tried to tip several people who'd been very helpful and they refused it. Now Dreams in Punta Cana they accepted them.

[Cookies Galore]

Feb 11, 2016 10:12:12 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I wasn't a fan of Dreams Palm Beach. It was okay but not my favorite. I wouldn't pay to go again. I enjoy the Beaches/Sandals resorts more.

I felt the same about Dreams La Romana (Caribbean side of DR, we prefer sea to ocean). People were great, drinks were delicious, but the food in the buffet (breakfast and lunch) was not. We did like the French and Mediterranean restaurants. Admittedly, I guess I would be lumped in as a picky eater since I don't eat meat. There's a lot of meat.
La Romana is cheaper than Punta Cana (at least when we went) and it's where all the snorkeling is, so that's why we chose it.

If friends wanted to go on an AI trip to DR, we would try another resort/location. Whenever we go back to Aruba it will be apartment all the way. There are so many good places to eat there, and there are no issues with the drinking water. Half the fun of a vacation for me is researching restaurants.

[Cookies Galore]

imawino is a regular all-inclusive traveler. She might have some recommendations.

[wvugurl26]

Yeah the buffet wasn't the best. I liked it in Jamaica though. The individual restaurants were better. I did wonder about the non meat eaters there. I also liked the snorkeling better in Jamaica. The water was just so choppy in Punta Cana that it wasn't enjoyable.

[wvugurl26]

I'm going to Sandals in the Bahamas in November. It looks like a better place to me.

[Cookies Galore]

Feb 11, 2016 12:49:17 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

Yeah the buffet wasn't the best. I liked it in Jamaica though. The individual restaurants were better. I did wonder about the non meat eaters there. I also liked the snorkeling better in Jamaica. The water was just so choppy in Punta Cana that it wasn't enjoyable.

That's why we didn't go to Punta Cana!

[wvugurl26]

Yeah I definitely failed at doing my research on that one. We got Disney points gifted to us to cover the room so at least it wasn't full price. I didn't want to go back to Jamaica so soon and that's how we ended up in Punta Cana. Plus two weeks out from gallbladder surgery any water might have been rough to me! Definitely didn't plan that!

[wvugurl26]

Feb 11, 2016 15:33:09 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

Feb 11, 2016 12:50:33 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I'm going to Sandals in the Bahamas in November. It looks like a better place to me.

I've been to that one.   It was for a wedding,  so I can't really evaluate it like I normally would, that and we were only there for 4 days (which once you take into account the travel was really only like 2 1/2 days.


 

That's what I'm going for. I'm thinking fly in Tuesday, wedding Saturday, fly out Sunday. It looks nice anyway. I looked at going from 5 days to 7 and it added an extra $1000 to the price tag. I think five will be sufficient for a place I didn't plan on going in 2016.

[Miss Tequila]

I stayed at a gorgeous all inclusive in Punta Cana 2 or 3 years ago...I even had a butler! It was an adults only resort and everything was absolutely perfect...except I had the ex with me to ruin the pictures!lol

[wvugurl26]

Photo shop misstequila!! I've seen ones where a girl did that and replaced him with a tree in the picture.

We went to Ochos Rios last time. I'll keep that one in mind. I really want to go to Aruba next. But I think it's Australia first.

[Cookies Galore]

Feb 11, 2016 18:02:13 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

Photo shop misstequila!! I've seen ones where a girl did that and replaced him with a tree in the picture.

We went to Ochos Rios last time. I'll keep that one in mind. I really want to go to Aruba next. But I think it's Australia first.

Definitely Australia!
Aruba is incredible. I want to hit the rest of the ABC islands, but Aruba is a fantastic island. I definitely want to go back on a regular basis.

[Miss Tequila]

Feb 11, 2016 18:02:13 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

Photo shop misstequila!! I've seen ones where a girl did that and replaced him with a tree in the picture.

We went to Ochos Rios last time. I'll keep that one in mind. I really want to go to Aruba next. But I think it's Australia first.

LOL!! That's a great idea!

Loved Aruba. Ochos Rios was nice but not my favorite. I have never been to Australia.

[Regis]

Feb 11, 2016 16:25:26 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I stayed at a gorgeous all inclusive in Punta Cana 2 or 3 years ago...I even had a butler! It was an adults only resort and everything was absolutely perfect...except I had the ex with me to ruin the pictures!lol

Which one?

[garion2003]

I was at the Hard Rock in Punta Cana - I was the guest at a work 'rewards' trip type of thing. Resort was HUGE, way too big. Pools were nice but not sure we ever got to the ocean.

[Value Buy]

Feb 11, 2016 10:32:44 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Talk $1 bills for tips. In the Dominican if you don't tip you won't get served. It doesn't take a lot, but you have to tip.

Canadian, or American dollars?

[Value Buy]

Feb 12, 2016 10:54:32 GMT -5 garion2003 said:

I was at the Hard Rock in Punta Cana - I was the guest at a work 'rewards' trip type of thing. Resort was HUGE, way too big. Pools were nice but not sure we ever got to the ocean.

Too many Pina Coladas?

[imawino]

Feb 11, 2016 12:02:14 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

imawino is a regular all-inclusive traveler. She might have some recommendations.

No particularly specific ones. I'll say that we have been to several all inclusive resorts and I really enjoy the Secrets and Excellence properties. They are adults only, so no annoying kids! LOL. Although we have done Dreams twice (when we took our kids) and the kids really weren't much of an issue after all.

We have been to the Riviera Maya area of Mexico, west coast of Mexico (Huatulco), Jamaica and Punta Cana, DR. I enjoyed Punta Cana the least of all. The resorts just were not nearly as nice, and neither was the beach.   That said, they were significantly cheaper, and we still had a really good time overall.  Just not as good as the other places.

I'm pretty "meh" on Jamaica as a whole, no desire to go back. Riviera Maya area of Mexico is fantastic. We stayed at Secrets Silversands, Secrets Capri and Excellence Riviera Maya. The beaches are amazing, the food was good, the spas were fantastic and the people were fun and friendly. There are also cute little towns to venture into if you get tired of the resort, like Puerto Morelos and  Playa del Carmen. 

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I'm old.

I'm a Club Med alum. :-)~. Beads anyone?

[imawino]

Feb 12, 2016 13:39:14 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

I'm old.

I'm a Club Med alum. :-)~. Beads anyone?

Did you show your boobies for those??  

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Feb 12, 2016 13:44:11 GMT -5 imawino said:

Feb 12, 2016 13:39:14 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

I'm old.

I'm a Club Med alum. :-)~. Beads anyone?

Did you show your boobies for those??  

I have teenage boys so I cannot answer directly. ;-)

I think I even remember some of the dances and cheers we had to do to avoid being abused by the staff...