Puerto Plata Vs Punta Cana

[Gorilla]

Looking for a vacation spot, leaning more towards Dominican republic then Mexico. Has anyone been to both or either one? Looking for a place which has more excursions and where we can hang out with locals.

[Mazstyle]

I think mexico is the better place to go if you want to hang out with the locals plus theres more to outside the resort, the dominican is more of a "stay on the resort" type place due to the fact they share the island with Haiti...

[RC-Cola]

I've been to both, in the Dominican very are very much based on the resort. The resorts are bunched together, 4 or 5 together and pretty much have whatever you want to do. Any excurisions off the resorts are by bus and are pretty regimented. The country is very poor and has a somewhat violent past. That being said, the beaches, the water and the weather are second to none.

Mexico is a little more open, the resorts are a little more spread out and the centre of towns are more set up for partying. They have large bars, lots of girls and a carefree attitude.

So if you're looking to party with some buddies, go to Mexico, if you want to relax on the beach, go to the Dominican, especially Punta Cana (much nicer than Puerto Plata).

[HRD2PLZ]

Went to Punta Cana a few years back. I had a great time partying on the beach. Stayed at a resort that also had a casino and a golf course, so I never found any reason to leave the resort. Definitely somewhere I would go back to :thumbsup:

[PremiereImports]

Went to Punta Cana in April and loved it. Make sure you stay at a resort that is at least 4+ star. Take some excursions too.

[ProjectR]

Never been to Punta Cana in the DR, but I've been to Cancun. Probably one of my best vacations I've ever had.

[evo916]

i went to puerto plata in november and mazatlan mexico awhile ago and id suggest going with a bunch of people from the resort or locals that work at the resort if you want to go explore the bar scene in the dominican, we went with about 8 europeans and it wasnt too sketchy but a couple of em went the night after and got robbed and beat up pretty bad, ruined their vacation, mexico gets my vote as there are alot more tourists around at night and i found its alot safer than the dominican

[eljefe]

Dominican Republic can be a nice vacation although I far prefer the Mayan Coast of Mexico. If you do go to Dominican ...Punta Cana is the Dominican choice for sure, Puerto Plata is older as a tourist destination and has many run down resorts and areas as well as a reoccuring Malaria Problem, just dirty in general.

[rip]

They are two fairly different vacations.

I went to both this year. In Feb. I went with 8 buddies and partied our asses off on spring break in Cancun. We stayed at a nice resort (which i recommend) where the food and the atmosphere was awesome. This was right after the hurricane so it was still fairly devastated, but was still an awesome time regardless.

I also went to Punta Cana in April of this year with my girlfriend. This was quite the opposite trip from partying with 8 dudes. Like others have said the beaches/water/resorts are awesome, and you hardly need to leave the resort.

So that being said, it is all a matter of what you are looking for.

Either way, research on www.tripadvisor.com and read some of the reviews and decide from there.

[GreenLude]

Originally posted by rip
They are two fairly different vacations.

I went to both this year. In Feb. I went with 8 buddies and partied our asses off on spring break in Cancun. We stayed at a nice resort (which i recommend) where the food and the atmosphere was awesome. This was right after the hurricane so it was still fairly devastated, but was still an awesome time regardless.

I also went to Punta Cana in April of this year with my girlfriend. This was quite the opposite trip from partying with 8 dudes. Like others have said the beaches/water/resorts are awesome, and you hardly need to leave the resort.


That's funny cause i did the same thing. One reading week it was Cancun with the boys and the other was Punta Cana with the Ex

In punta cana i stayed at the Occidental Grand Flamenco and it was mostly older people like 30-50 not even many families, it was an amazing place to stay but it would have been nice to be at one of the hotels with more young people.

[Gorilla]

Booked and ready to go.. I booked the Dominican Repubulic, Punta Cana (Platinum All suites) Leaving Sept 23. In the heart of Hurricane Season got insurance though so hopefully all goes well..

Thanks for all the help