Overview
Dominican Republic Reviews: Honest Truths from Black Travelers
Green Book global is the only website and app that has authentic Dominican Republic reviews from the perspective of Black Travelers. If you want to know where to stay, where to eat, what to do etc. but also what it’s like Traveling While Black in the Dominican Republic, then these reviews and travel tips will be essential to your trip planning.
Quick Summary:
Dominican Republic reviews from the community highlight the island’s diverse regions as a top Caribbean destination. The eastern part of the island, particularly Punta Cana, is renowned for its all-inclusive resorts and beautiful beaches like Bavaro Beach, perfect for swimming and water sports. The north coast, with towns such as Puerto Plata and Cabarete, offers excellent windsurfing and kitesurfing opportunities. Santo Domingo, the capital, is rich in history and culture, boasting the Zona Colonial, a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with historic buildings and museums. If you are looking for some adventure, enjoy zip-lining, hiking in the Cordillera Central mountains, and exploring caves like Los Tres Ojos. For nightlife, there are numerous clubs, bars, and casinos, especially in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo. Food enthusiasts will find a culinary scene rich with flavors, from fresh seafood to traditional dishes like mofongo and sancocho.
Interesting Facts:
- Merengue and Bachata: The country is the birthplace of merengue and bachata music and dance. These genres are a significant part of the nation’s culture and have gained international popularity.
- Baseball Passion: Baseball is the most popular sport in the Dominican Republic. The country has produced many Major League Baseball (MLB) stars, including David Ortiz, Pedro Martínez, and Sammy Sosa.
- Hispaniola Island: The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. It is one of only two islands in the Caribbean that is shared by two countries; the other is Saint Martin, shared by France and the Netherlands.
Our Dominican Republic reviews often commend the warm hospitality of the locals, making every visitor’s experience memorable and special
Want to see reviews for more cities? Click this link to see destinations reviews for other cities in the Caribbean
I traveled to DR to attend a friend’s daughter destination wedding in La Romana. I stayed for seven glorious days at 5 star 7,000 acre Casa de Campo Resort, an hour from the Punta Cana Airport. It is known for its private accommodations in luxury villas and large rooms with an even larger terrace to relax. I hear JLo and Robin Thicke along with other stars have been there, and I even saw a high profile baseball Hall of Famer there, incredible! Its all inclusive accommodations include horseback riding, excellent, premium service, and a swim up bar to boot! , The cuisine was top-notch than other all inclusive resorts I’ve been to. The Breakfast presentation is the best. Traditional Dominican breakfast like eggs, salami, avocado and mashed plantains on one side and everything else on the other. Just a smorgasbord of choices. I am always observant in how the employees treat us and others. They seem professional and accommodating, especially at check in and housekeeping. This is a just top of the food chain when it comes to Caribbean luxury.
Affordability. That is what comes to mind when I think of this beautiful and tranquil little city (Las Terrenas) on the north eastern part of the Dominican Republic. I’m sure that prices have increased a bit since the last time I visited, but whatever the increase, the hospitality, tranquility and peace of mind you experience there is worth every penny.
Dominican Republic Punta Cana-Was the best vacation ever. My family and I stayed at the Royalton Bavaro. We went for our 25 Wedding anniversary. We also renewed our vows. The hotel was family friendly and so big you never felt crowed. They had events each night and during the day. We had all-inclusive, it was great because we didn’t have to send any extra money. Everyone was polite and wanted to help us. Never felt discriminated against while in Punta Cana.
DR is still one of my favorite relaxation destinations. I’m sure a lot has to do with it being our honeymoon vacation and we were able to link up with friends at the end of our trip for the icing on the cake. We stayed at Paradisus Punta Cana Resort which was all-inclusive. We went in September which is generally the lower season and it was nothing short of perfect. Great restaurants, great people (many people spoke to my husband and me in Spanish assuming we were locals), great nightlife experiences and shows at the resort, as well as plenty to see and do off the resort. It was very, very romantic. It will always be one of my favorites :)
Punta Cana is just fun. We stayed at a resort property. We zip lined. Visited a rain forest. Rode in dune buggies. Swam in a fresh water lagoon. And just relaxed. The food is amazing. The people are friendly and the costs are low. Just beware of drinks with coconut milk .
It’s a nice getaway for 3-4 days. Activity booking can be done at the resort or prior to going. I went on a girls trip and we had a blast.
This is the kind of country where you get everything in one, the fancy and sophisticated, the good and fun & the bad and ugly. There’s a lot to do, you will never get bored. There’s a whole mixture of cultures, on one corner you’re in latino land and on another you’re in the US. And that’s also infrastructurally. But traveling while black is On a whole different level. Racism is a strong word and i won’t say that but there is a level of colorism there for sure. Aside from that it’s a great place for vacation, family oriented, so much to do with kids and i’d definitely recommend
Dominican Republic OMG so much fun I enjoyed the people, food and fell in love with the culture!! I stayed at CHIC all inclusive resort. Here are things I did while there!!
Things to do –
Drink a lot at the hotel
They had a lot of activities at the resort pop parties night life etc
Monaco Beach
Swam with stingrays
Did a boat ride to the middle of the ocean to have drinks and listen to music
ATV riding
Natural Pool & Caves
Best Restaurant “La Casita De Yeya”
Stayed at Catalonia in Punta Cana for a girls/birthday trip. The hotel overall was well kept, in some I’d say it was an above average hotel. The service however, was amazing! All the workers were young and were really relatable. I think it also helped that most of us spoke Spanish so it made the connection better. The food was good, there are about 5-6 restaurants on the resort so you can keep your options open.
I stayed at the bavaro hotel in punta cana it was an all inclusive hotel with several restaurants and several pools.
The beach area was ok could of been cleaner and you get harassed by the locals trying to sell items sometimes.
One thing i can say is you are able to find great deals on adventures such as ATV, booze cruises and other water activities via the locals instead of going through the hotel.
There was several local restaurant outside of the resort literally across the street that had great authentic Dominican dishes.
As far as night life goes the hotel had a club which were open to guests as well as the locals and was fun for the most part.
I would return to this location for the affordability I feel you get a great deal for a great price.
While I am sure staying at an Airbnb or hostel is completely doable, I would definitely recommend splurging on an all inclusive resort for the Dominican Republic. It usually gives you a nice mixture of great food, great drinks, and nightlife. You can also schedule different adventures to do like zip lining or horseback riding through the resort you choose. The beaches are beautiful and extremely relaxing atmospheres, especially if you stay at an all inclusive, perfect for a romantic getaway. While resorts can be pricey, if you explore outside of them, it is definitely cheaper. It has been a few years since I’ve been, my only concerns now with supporting our their relations with Haiti and how overall the country treats people with darker skin, well I know this isn’t a concern for everyone it is something to consider
I am a daughter to Dominican parents and have been going to the motherland since I was 1 or 2 years old, it’s only right I leave this review. What isn’t there to do in the DR? First things first, do notttt stay in your hotel if you want the full experience! But also be very cautious while doing so. Find tours that take you deep into the different cities. My people are very friendly and love to put a smile on your face. The more you interact with the locals, the better of a time you will have. As for the more touristy part- there are excursions for days! Punta Cana is known as the top city for adventure and excursions. However, you can go to Santo Domingo, in the boca chica strip, and find excursions to do there as well. Plus they have really nice and affordable restaurants. In Samana, you can go on an excursion to see whales. If you want to interact with locals and not be worried about being cautious all the time, visit San Juan de la Maguana. It’s a small city but the crime rate is really really low. You can go to the main park in the center of the city, drink a few beers, have some really good street food and dance all night long!
I stayed at the Grand Bahia Principe Aquamarine. The cost was around $285 per night if booked through the property’s website and shared transportation was included, but I took a private transfer for around $100 round trip to avoid the wait. The property itself was nice; however, I wouldn’t stay there again. The Grand Bahia brand has about 7 different resort building on the property which makes it huge. You either have to walk long distance or take the shuttle. They have different activities going on a different location which is good; but no so good after a few drink and you’re trying to look at the map and find that location. The food was definitely NOT good. The excursions are what made Punta Cana a great trip. I would go back again, but not stay at the same resort.
I went on a girls trip (about 12 of us) to Punta Cana, DR and had a great time. From the time I landed, myself and my travel mates were treated with respect and like we were part of the family; and treated no differently than any other races. We stayed at Riu Naiboa for 7 days and there were adults and kids from all over such as Germany, Spain and Italy and we were all treated the same on and off of the resort!!! We met 2 really dope locals who gave us great deals and took us on a tour off of the resort and they made us feel safe and took us to the most delicious restaurant in town (always make local friends). Most of the locals there look African American, so we fit right in, and had a ball! Definitely would go again, and remember, there is safety in numbers my loves!!!
I went to Punta Cana with friends because they had a time share. It was mandatory to get the all inclusive and I do recommend it if you’re going to stay there. It was called AlSol Del Mar in Cap Cana the link http://www.alsoldelmar.com/ it was about $600/night per room and we had 4 people living there. We stayed for 7 days and 6 nights. Despite not being a large drinker, it just made the stay there so much easier. Punta Cana is unique because it is strongly advisable to stay on the resort and it doesn’t feel like you’re getting to experience much of the culture. There are a few travel tours but the main reason to go to Punta Cana is to stay at the hotel and take in the amazing views and relaxation that it has to offer. The water is beautiful and some of the time shares have partnerships so you can go to multiple and use your all inclusive option. I went to work on my Spanish and everyone there was kind and extremely friendly. There’s no issue traveling while black because the people in Dominican Republic come in all shades and have so many different backgrounds. We tried going out one night but the weather was really bad and there wasn’t much going on.
There are a ton of excursions to do. I had the time of my life in Punta Cana. Everything is beautiful. We went horseback riding, snorkeling and swam in caves.
I traveled to Punta Cana Dominican Republic in May 2019 for my 25th Twenty Fine Birthday with my bestfriend! We stayed at the Riu Resort which I would 100% recommend to any one! The resort offered beautiful beach access with over 5 pools to choose from, as well as a pool in walking distance where the resort hosted daily/nightly Foam pool parties with all inclusive drinks! Punta Cana has some of the most beautiful beaches with the clearest waters if you’re a beach person like me. This is def a place you want to put on your bucket list!
My first solo trip was to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and it was very relaxing. Since I’d never traveled out of the country alone before this, I was highly cautious and spent my entire trip at “The Level at Melia Caribe” resort. This resort has adult-only areas, pools and buildings to assure that your trip is relaxing and kid-free. Upon arrival, I was greeted with a butler, who became my DR bestie! The biggest downside of the trip was that hotel food and drinks were pretty mediocre. I, unfortunately, did not venture off of the resort to experience the local cuisine but would encourage others to do so, since I’ve heard great things. Outside of this, I enjoyed relaxing on the beach most days and visiting the resort spa which has an outdoor shower and massage tiki (very Instagram-worthy). There was also morning yoga outdoors to participate in each morning and a man that walked the beach daily with colorful parrots that you can take photos with. Overall Punta Cana felt like a very ideal place for a relaxing beach getaway or romantic bae-cation.
Dominican Republic was very fun! Me and my friend (both of us are females) stayed at an Airbnb close to the beach in Punta Cana. That was the best decision. We got to see the true culture and experience real traditional mom and pop shop Dominican food. Everyone was kind and welcoming and we didn’t have any bad experiences. We rented a scooter and toured Punta Cana. The mall was very big and nice. Everything was affordable and there are plenty of things to do, we found local excursions that were decently priced. I highly recommend this island!
Airbnb: Punta Cana, La Altagracia, DO, Bavaro, Dominican Republic
This Airbnb was in the heart of Punta Canta and a 3 minute walk from the beach and local restaurants!
I feel this like many places in the Caribbean are always great. Great for many reasons but especially to see brown people. I was treated well. Many people on the resort which I stayed spoke Some English and were able to give good tips and ideas of things to do. I stayed at Rui all inclusive resorts-Punta Cana. As I’ve traveled abroad more I wouldn’t recommend Rui. However if you are looking for an affordable decent time the resort is not bad by any means- just not luxurious .I traveled to the DR about two years ago and had a great time. I felt the trip was very affordable and as A first timer out of the country… it is a great place for first timers. If you are traveling from the US , the flights can be direct and short. I did not venture much outside of the resort , however our resort had a shuttle that took you to nearby shops. I did atv ride with the concierge at Rui and it was fun as well. Overall great trip for the price. !
I went to Punta Cana a couple years back and stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel and it was absolutely amazing! It was an all-inclusive and that’s the type of vibe I like. Eat and drink whenever I want! The cool thing about the resort is that there’s a family side and an adult side. So if you’ve got kids, there is an entire section with activities and amenities tailored just for them to be able to enjoy themselves. And for all the adults that don’t have kids yet, like myself, there’s an entire section dedicated for that demographic as well. The one thing that can be overwhelming is how HUGE the property is! My lady and I literally had to take a shuttle cart from our room to the lobby and it was about a 10 minute ride lol. But the size of the property allowed for it to have about 5+ pools, tennis courts and an outdoor basketball court which was dope considering a bunch of my baller friends were also on the trip as well, so we got to hoop! There was daily entertainment and of course a bunch of excursions that the hotel had tables set up to help book for us. I did this trip through a travel club called DreamTrips, so the cool thing is that the trip was super affordable amounting to just under $500 per person for 5 days and 4 nights with $1,500 resort credit for excursions in which we only had to pay the 15% tax on. A lot of the trip was a blur but I definitely remember zip lining and going to a water park and party cruise and I also got a massage (your boy had to get that rundown haha!). All in all, Punta Cana definitely lives up to it’s hype and the Hard Rock Hotel made the experience that much sweeter because of the luxury and quality service and amenities! I definitely recommend staying at the Hard Rock the next time you go!
– Monty (@montylans on IG)
I visited Punta Cana in Feb. Prior to traveling a did have a few concerns in regards to me traveling alone, and being black. I stayed at the Ocean El Faro All inclusive resort. When I arrived they were very friendly and welcoming. I stayed 5 nights and paid $ 889 for flight and hotel and round trip transfer from the airport. All on book it.com flight, hotel, transfers included. 6 payments! My fav site. I love Groupon! It came handy for Dubai. Balling on a budget lol. I was there I had never felt more confident about my dark skin. The men/ women payed compliments daily on how beautiful my skin was. Some of the Dominicans skin looked just like mine. It was very safe! I learned had to salsa poolside. One of the best solo trips to date!
I went to Punta Cana 3 times! The first time was years ago with my mother and sister, the second was a girls trip with my friends after graduating college, and the third was a big family trip for my aunt’s birthday and my cousin graduating college. Of course I stayed in a different hotel each time so I’ll talk about each one.
Caribe Club Princess Beach Resort & Spa
This was a very family friendly resort. They had many activities for both children and adults. 6 restaurants, 4 bars, 2 different pools (with all inclusive service you can access the pools at their sister hotel), 2 adult clubs, 1 kids club, a casino, mini golf and many other sports, as well as multiple water sports. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The food also wasn’t too bad. As far as price I’m unsure since I stayed here for the mother daughters trip and my mom had paid for everything.
IFA Villas Bavaro Resort & Spa
This hotel is all inclusive, but definitely more for adults. There were many different restaurants and bars, but my friends and I spent most of our time at pizzeria & bar because that was the only thing open really late at night. The hotel is right on the beach so they had many different water sports to choose from. We were able to book excursions right in our hotel lobby which was very convenient. Overall the place was nice. We had booked this trip through a friend’s travel agency so it was very inexpensive trip with flights included.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana
I stayed at this hotel a year ago for the big family vacation. This was by far my favorite hotel. They literally have everything you can think of at the resort so we didn’t have to leave for much except for an excursion. Of course the food was good. They had a live band one night so it was like a big concert outside. There was 1 club and many different bars and restaurants to choose from. My favorite part was the escape room that was on-site. The spa there is breathtaking and I have yet to find one anywhere that can top it.
I visited Punta Cana twice, once on a mother daughter trip and another time on a romantic trip with a partner. Each time there were amble opportunities to relax and unwind on the beach, at the pool, hotel spa’s, and restaurants. I did not experience any issues with traveling while black, however I did stay at very nice high end ressorts which I feel catered to their guest. When leaving the resort taking a horse back riding excursion and visiting the local mall I was greeted and treated with respect. I know some people who have had the exact opposite experience however, I have to say Punta Cana was great on two occasions. I would recommend staying at 5 star resorts as I feel this is the reason my experience was a bit different than some of travelers. However, the nightlife is lacking a bit.. some hotels have clubs but none are overloaded with fun in my personal opinion and experience. The city does have a club “Coco Bongo” which is fun but that’s about as good as it gets if you ask me.
I booked a trip through Cheap Caribbean to the Dominican Republic. My friends and I stayed at the Lifestyle Resort in Puerta Plata. It was a group of hotels on the property which allowed us to change scenery without leaving. It was all inclusive. The food was good at the resort restaurants but we wanted local food. We were warned to stay at the resort and only leave with a travel group. The room was clean and the service superb. There were several functions at the resort, foam party, Las Vegas worthy performance our last night. There were clubs and karaoke. The beach was serene and canopy beds by the ocean made me feel like royalty. The hotel booked our tour into the city to a museum where we had cigars and mamajuana, market are and a cable car to the top of Mt. Isabel de Torres to see the statue of Jesus. Our guides were knowledgeable and made us feel safe.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED MY VISIT TO THE DR!!! I took my mum and I on a 3 day trip to Santo Domingo in the middle of February. We stayed in a boutique in Santo Domingo and a beach resort in Playa Juan Dolio. So SD has mostly brown and black people. Everyone was so friendly to my mother and I. I’ve never received so many compliments from random people lol. As a dark skinned black woman, it felt particularly great! We always spoke Spanish first to everyone and would ask them to help us with the sentences and pronunciations. It totally created a laughter filled environment. We ate locally every single time and each time the food was amazing! We had fish dishes, plantain dishes, this incredible oxtail dish (can’t remember any of the names). Santo Domingo is rich in history! Particularly colonial history. It’s a heavy tourist scene. Playa Juan Dolio is a beach town and is lot slower and quieter. Which is why we spent the rest of our trip there.
We splurged a little bit for this trip since it was my niece’s first time leaving the USA. We stayed at Barcelo Bavaro Palace, which was a little more pricey than some of the other resorts. I’m glad we spent the extra money because the amenities were impeccable!! The resort is an oceanfront property that boasts a pool bar, bowling alley, billiards room, spa services, a night club, casino, nightly shows, and so much more. We paid for the Premium level, which allowed us to eat in spaces that wasn’t open to all. The one downside was the buffet restaurant had a dress code for lunch and dinner. A dress code that seemed to only be enforced depending upon the color of your skin. We were able to save some money on the trip by adding the Honey extension to our browser; we experienced even more savings by booking through the resort’s site instead of third party.
We ended up doing two excursions: Monkeyland Tour and Dinner in the Sky.
If you visit Punta Cana and decide to do the Monkeyland tour with Runners Adventures, here are some things to note (because our resort booked this excursion and left out some key information)
1. The location is approximately 45 minutes outside of Punta Cana and costs around $76/person.
2. The tour at a minimum will last around 5 hours due the commute, picking up folks at different resorts, monkey tour, and an additional cultural demonstration. We realized this once the tour was over and visited the companies site. However, the concierge at our resort told us it would last 3 hours.
3. The monkey tour itself was probably around 30 minutes.
4. BRING WATER and/or an alcoholic beverage of your choice! Especially since the transportation is a safari-like truck. (No AC)
Now, had I known all of that information I probably wouldn’t have gone! BUT, the choice is yours!
The second excursion was Dinner in the Sky at Hard Rock Cafe. It was an amazing experience! Hands down in the top 15 things I’ve done in my LIFE. They hoist you into the air for a marvelous 3 course dinner that includes wine and if you’re lucky champagne! This experience is available in multiple countries around the world!
Tip‼ Let the photographer take all the pictures your heart desires. If it’s the same as Punta Cana, you’ll thank me later because they will charge you a set fee for all of the photos they take of you and deliver them via email.
I am of Caribbean descent so I am a little bias. I also love to try new foods and I eat just about everything, you name it, I eat it! The food in the Dominican was amazing! I stayed in Puerto Plata at the VH Atmosphere and in Sosua (sadly I don’t remember the name of the resort, I stayed there because of an over booking on my flight… Lucky me!) and the food was very similar to what I am used to, roast breadfruit, boiled green banana, fried plantain, a lot of rice and meat, plus I got to experience new flavours as they have spanish influence in their food with the paellas and seafood stews, those were to die for! 10/10 recommend.
This is not my first time in the Dominican Republic but it was my first time staying and visiting La Romana. I stayed in the beautiful Casa de Campo Resort and Villas. The resort was absolutely gorgeous and there was so much to do and see in La Romana. My advice is to NOT bring your kids to their local beach; (clothing is OPTIONAL). I had a fantastic time from the food, the people, the history and the excursions. I would definitely recommend this trip because I know I’ll be coming back very soon. ??
Great experience staying in Punta Cana. Stayed at the Bahia Principe Bavaro. But IF travelling with kids, I recommended Bahia Principe Fantasia. They’re all clustered together, but some better than others. The weather is wonderful, water wasnt as choppy as Cancun, which was good! Locals were welcoming! Country was pretty affordable. Great food and awesome music!! I recommended anyone who wants a good time to travel to Punta Cana!! I will definitely go back. Also, if you smoke, be careful, the guards/police are iffy. Jamaica was perfect for that tho!!
I went on a girls trip to Punta Cana. We flew into Santo Domingo because it was cheaper and got a van to drive us to Punta Cana. We stayed in an Airbnb in a reeeeally nice neighborhood! A villa! Absolutely beautiful! A gated community which was really nice. It had a grocery store and a small “village” strip mall type situation with several places to eat. We booked 2 excursions. One was to Sanoa Island with an open bar catamaran that was lit! The second one was to Ranchos Palmeras which was amazing! We went zip lining, horse back riding, 4 wheel buggy driving, and an extreme swing. A beautiful trip! And it is owned by a beautiful family. Ask for Andres!
I found a awesome villa 15 minutes away from the airport in Cap Cana! Private Pool, Private back yard & beautiful beach just 5 minutes away on Airbnb.
Playa Juanillo is a $5 roundtrip taxi ride away, beautiful beach with food and entertainment. I ate at Little John Restaurant.
You can also visit ‘The Sanctuary Cap Cana’ which is a huge resort typically $400-$800 per night but since you’re already staying down the street why not go say Hi for free. (Wink Wink lol)
I’ve been to Punta Cana twice. Once while staying in an all inclusive resort and the other time staying with a local resident in an Airbnb. I tend to flee away from tourist traps when traveling, so I definitely enjoyed the airbnb experience a lot more. I really got the chance to get a taste of the real DR. Staying with a local, I was able to recieve tips on where to buy real and cheap Dominican food, good local bars, and other non-touristic places to visit. The Airbnb was in an apartment complex near a lot of neighborhoods and local restaurants. The food is very cheap here if you eat where the locals eat. I was able to get good authentic Dominican food for only a few pesos a meal! I traveled solo and I felt completely safe walking the streets and using the public transportation system (very cheap) to get around. Not a lot of people speak English in the non-touristic parts of Punta Cana, so If you travel this way, definitely brush up on your Spanish or have google translator handy. I did book one day trip to Isla Saona and I highly recommend! You travel by Catamaran party boat and visit a natural pool (very clear and beautiful water) where you can snorkel and hangout for awhile, then they take you to Isla Saona which is gorgeous! Food and drinks are all included. I found that different people payed different prices for the Isla Saona day trip so definitely bargain and negotiate the price! I would definitely recommend visiting DR. I had a great experience both in the resort setting and Airbnb setting, but if you’re looking to see, taste, and experience the real DR, I recommend staying out of the hotel and resort areas.
I traveled to DR with my sister for my birthday in 2017. We stayed in Punta Cana at the Luxury Bahía Príncipe and loved it. On this resort you have access to about four or five sister resorts. You can go to their beaches and experience their restaurants. There are plenty of different excursions you can do. We went on a boat party and our guide parked in the middle of the ocean and we just snorkeled and partied. They do think that black people are Dominican and are really friendly to black people in general. I did get the worst sunburn of my life here. So when traveling make sure you wear lots of sun block!
I would definitely recommend DR. It was fun and relaxing!
Dominican Republic was amazing i stayed in Punta Cana the food , people and atmosphere everything was great. I strongly Recommend everyone to visit and also to check out all the activities that the island have to offer , I stayed At an all inclusive hotel which was wonderful and ideal The staff made a great difference from being at a regular good all inclusive to an outstanding one. Kudos to the team at Paradisus for making our experience an excellent one!
There was a lot to do in DR! I would definitely recommend a resort because we stayed in an Airbnb and it was difficult getting a taxi. We end up getting a reliable taxi turned friend named Franklin and it worked out well I have his WhatsApp if you need it. But there is a lot to do like Isla Saona which was absolutely stunning!!! The food was amazing I mean every meal. This is not a place I would visit again simply because there are so many other carribean cities to explore with more afro culture. But it is worth a visit definitely.
I went to Punta Cana and Santo Domingo recently and it was an amazing experience. My friends and I chose to stay in 2 bedrooms villas where we each at our own suite in the Balvaro area through our personal receptionist which worked out to about $160 per person. Punta Cana is definitely a tourist oriented area so if you want the true Domican Republic local experience I recommend staying in Santo Domingo but in Punta Cana there are lots of beaches, restaurants and excursions to do. The food is great and very affordable! Definitely try out “Christerio” restaurant if you’re in Punta Cana, its a great spot for all meals and the people are super nice! In Balvaro everything is close and in walking distance. In addition, we had personal drivers look out for us and take to and back to our villa. Macao beach is a beautiful spot to relax at after riding ATVs through Punta Cana. I felt very safe the entire time i was in Punta Cana. As for “travelling while black” I did not feel like people were racist on this trip, but when i went to Blue Mall in Santo Domingo i did feel like i was being watched a bit too much. Outside of that everyone was very nice & made us feel at home with no problems.
I visited Puerto Plata, DR in 2011 and stayed in a condo booked through a time share (probably on Airbnb or HomeAway now). I went with a friends family and I didn’t book the stay myself so I don’t know the name of the condo – but it was very nice. A close walk to some local restaurants and Playa Cofresi, a small (sometimes quiet) but beautiful beach. I remember the area being referred to as the more family-friendly part of the DR – in comparison to other party cities like Punta Cana. But Puerto Plata was still a lot of fun for my 19 year old self! Local food was DELICIOUS and cheap. There are countless beaches to visit. The people are warm and welcoming. And there’s a lot of different activities. If you’re looking for an adventure, I’d recommend visiting the 27 Waterfalls at Rio Damajagua – a complex of 27 waterfalls that includes a guided tour, hiking, swimming, and sliding down the falls. Typically, groups book through their resort and only visit the first 7 waterfalls. (Trust me, 7 is more than enough!) If you go, be prepared for a lot of walking! They will tell you everything you need to know. The tour guides were super sweet and even offered to take our pics throughout the tour. At some points the waterfall adventure got a little scary – like when we had to swim through a small cave – but the guides were with us every step of the way and kept me calm. In the end it was all worth it— The waterfalls were so beautiful! It was definitely the highlight of my trip.
I went to Punta Cana recently and it was an amazing experience. My girlfriends and I chose to stay in a 2 bedroom villa in the cap cana area through air b n b which worked out to about $72 per person. Punta Cana is definitely a tourist oriented area so if you want the true DR local experience I recommend staying in Santo Domingo but in punta cana there are lots of beaches, restaurants and activities to do. The food is great and very affordable! Definitely try out “Vale” restaurant if you’re in punta cana, its a great spot for all meals and the people are super nice! Scape park was the adventure park we decided to try and it was a great day of activities I 100% recommend it. In cap cana everything is close but not walking distance so I’m glad we rented a car upon arrival. Juanillo beach is a beautiful spot to relax at. I felt very safe the entire time i was in punta cana. As for “travelling while black” I only felt like people were racist ONCE on this trip and it was in the Nike store in Blue Mall. Outside of that everyone was very nice & made us feel at home with no problems.
Punta Cana, DR. Amazing place, beautiful beach, very affordable, very safe, plenty to do such as atvs, Jet skiis, parasailing, good traditional Dominican food and beautiful people! Been 3 times already, def somewhere I can see myself every couple years if not every year for vacation!
I’ve been to the Dominican twice and each time was an AMAZING experience! If you like more of a touristy vibe hit Punta Cana, if your wanting more of an authentic experience, Santo Domingo is perfect. The DR has some of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen, they’re so nice and so humble. I stayed directly across the street from the ocean in a one bedroom Airbnb for $40 a night, ate at local stands in the area, and went out to the disco (club) and spent little to nothing. American dollars can get you far in Santo Domingo so there’s really no reason to say no if the opportunity to go presents itself. This is the Airbnb I stayed in, so nice and convenient https://abnb.me/8vugCqZUfW !
I decided on Punta Cana and I’m glad I did. I highly recommend choosing the Isle Saona excursion on the catamaran. It was probably the best excursion I ever been on. With excursion you’re taken to a natural swimming pool in the middle of the ocean. If you’re not scared of heights. I highly recommend going zip lining as well. The views while zip lining were unbelievable.
I decided on Puerto Plata for my 25th birthday getaway. My husband and I were ultimately treated like royalty at the Lifestyle Tropical. Wether we lounged by the pool or on the beach waiters ran to bring us drinks and snacks. Being an all inclusive resort we needed for nothing. I highly suggest puerto plata and the lifestyle tropical!
I took a girls trip to Punta Cana and I must say, Punta Cana has a lot to offer. Upon arrival, I was very pleased with the beauty of the island. We stayed in a gorgeous Airbnb which had it’s own private pool in the backyard. The place was amazing and was very very affordable (the entire trip was quite affordable compared to other islands!). The highlights of my trip were 1) taking day trip to Santo Domingo, 2) visiting the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park & Reserve, and 3) the dune buggy excursion. First, I highly recommend taking a day trip to Santo Domingo, you really get some insight into the local culture of the country there. It’s quite a busy city, very opposite of the relaxing and calm Punta Cana. However the food and people were worth the experience. FYI, I don’t recommend driving yourself there. The traffic rules there are very different from the U.S. and the driving gets very hectic. Second, visiting the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park & Reserve is also a must do. There is a beautiful clear blue lagoon with huge fish swimming around that you have to see for yourself. It’s quite a site! Lastly, for the thrill seekers, be sure to sign up for the dune buggy excursion. You get dirty but it’s very fun!
I’ve been to Dominican twice now. Both times in Punta Cana, the first time as a girls trip the second as a couples trip. I enjoyed both times! Dominican is a relaxing spot with very chill vibes. The first time I stayed at Breathless which definitely has party vibes and I love the hotel. Good food, right by the beach and lovely hospitality. We took two excursions, one to Soana island and also Coco bongo. Would not recommend coco bongo but that could just be my opinion. We were there for so long we felt trapped because our bus dropped us 10 pm and came back at 5 am. Besides this, we enjoyed DR. During my second trip, i stayed at the Catalonia and we got a villa, absolutely beautiful with our own infinity pool. We went to do the la hacienda excursion for $99 usd, 7 things in one package, horse riding, dune buggy, zip lining and more. It was a jam packed day! Lots of history shared and a lot of adrenaline filled adventures.
I recently went to Puerto Plata, DR for my birthday and had a ball at the All Inclusive “Tropical Lifestyle Resort.” I took my fiancée, mother and step-father with me. The layout on the Cofreshi Beach was amazing. The food was very good on the resort. I punished the “Miami Vice and Bahama Mama” alcoholic beverages all trip lol. I did an excursion to Paradise Island. It’s a small island in the North Atlantic Ocean where you have to take a boat to get to it. It was something I have never experienced before. I also visited the Jesus the Redeemer Statue, similar to the one In Rio. This all around a very relaxing vacation with the family. Definitely highly recommend ppl visiting.
Breathless is an amazing resort! The food was delicious at every one of their restaurants, the night life and entertainment was fun and exciting every single night, the grounds of the resort were breathtaking, and the staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. ‘Luis The Best’, who is apart of their ETeam, was such a fun and uplifting guy and really made sure you were taken care of and having a great time. Multiple times while relaxing around the resort, I was checked in on and asked if everything with my room was okay. When I told them about my broken TV, they sent a gentleman right away to correct the issue. For going on this 5 day trip completely alone, I never once felt by myself as the staff made me feel at home and as if each one of them was a long time friend of mine. I would highly recommend this resort to anyone who is looking for a relaxing, tropical, and exciting getaway! My expectations were exceeded! I definitely plan to visit again one day! :)
If you are traveling to DR with a group looking to party with friends I would avoid punta Cana. This city is mainly for couples interested in a relaxing getaway. If you are looking for a relaxing getaway this is the place for you! Also the food is rather expensive compared to other Caribbean destinations
So this was a vacation where I island hopped. We stopped in Amber Cove and y’all, the views! We did a two hour ATV excursion and although we got pretty dirty, it was well worth it. Our tour guides took us up mountains where we were able to get amazing views of the water from up top. Ladies, the men here are pretty cute and friendly! Loved it here and can’t wait to go back!
The price to the ATV was about $130
And the name was shore excursions group.
I really enjoyed my stay at Natura Park Eco Resort while in Punta Canta. I spent most of my time hanging out on the beach and eating. I did plan some excursions through the resort which were very fun. Horseback riding, atv riding, and zip lining were all my favorites. I definitely plan to visit again.
I went to Punta Cana last month for my moms 50th it was 6 of us we had a great time the local food was awesome. Great hospitality from the staff and the drivers there go out of there way help you navigate through the city
I went to domican republic as a last minute girls trip to get away for 4 days. And it was the best thing! Cheap drinks. Good food. And endless water sports. For intermediate travels I do suggest getting into the neighborhoods and out of the resorts to get a better idea of how rough the people have it
I stayed at the Hard Rock Cafe in Punta Cana. Five star resort and the atmosphere is incredible. The resort is connected to the beach and they have foam pool parties almost every day. We went on an excursion to swim with sharks and stingrays, one of the best experiences of my life. The food was ok.There was a Jacuzzi in the room with a nice view. The resort is awesome.
Me and couple of my friends went back in June 2016 and it was an amazing visit we got an Airbnb right of the beach it was a really good price affordable we did local stuff on the beach first few days like snorkeling and renting these small motor boats which was all under $75 together we also rented mopeds for our trip it was like $50-$75 for the whole time we were there. We pretty much went to all the clubs and hit up this local strip club that all the rappers go to when in town they had pics of drake Dmx Lil Wayne etc. yea this was definitely a guys trip. They also have this casino combined with a club plays hip hop music pretty much all clubs played hip hop. Lastly we did the go cart tour which is pretty cool they take you to this place where there selling items such as raw coconut oil homemade cigars liqueurs spices etc then you continue on the tour towards the beach going through dirt areas once you get to this beach you relax for I think hour or two then head back. Overall being black in the DR is easy they call us brothers of different mother.
I traveled to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic with a friend of mine. We stayed at the Riu Republic Hotel. There wasn’t many black people at the hotel, we did see some throughout the city of course. The food was decent, a mix of Caribbean and common American dishes. I’m my opinion, there was much to do. If you’re looking for extreme adventure Punta Cana may not be the best spot. I recommend it for relaxation though. We were able to do a fun dune buggy adventure that allowed us to drive the countryside and village. If you don’t like being dirty, I wouldn’t recommend trying this activity. You will be COVERED in Dominican mud. :) We also did a outback adventure tour tat took us through different areas of the city and we were able to visit the home of a Dominican family. This was the best part and most interesting. We were able to see their way of living and watch homage coconut oil being made. Overall, it was a good trip. It was also pretty affordable.
Went on a solo trip here in May. Stayed at TRS Turquesa. Beautiful property and excellent food. There was not much entertainment, but it was relaxing and the pool was nearly empty. Most of the workers are flirtatious and will try to get your number. Paid $199 for the royal swim with photo package at dolphin discovery. Went on a half day tour to the countryside and Higuey for $55. Went inside a typical Dominican home and saw their farm (coffee and tobacco). The beach is beautiful and clean. There are shops along the beach if you walk out of the resort area and tour operators. I am not a resort person. If I return, I would stay at a hotel or Airbnb and rent a car to explore the country on my own. The tour packages to visit Montana Redonda and El Limon waterfall were expensive, so I didn’t go.
I went to Puerto Plata in November 2017 for a friend’s wedding. I traveled with a group of friends and stayed at a resort. I usually don’t enjoy resort type vacations, but it was very relaxing. One of the highlights was taking a boat from the resort to an small island across the way. On the deserted beach, our group rode horses along the beach and then had the opportunity to swim with the horses.
There were not a lot of tourist friendly activities outside of the resort, so traveling with a group was ideal because we were able to create our own fun in the evenings by just hanging out at the resorts bars. It definitely was not a party go-er experience, but a lot of fun with a group. Probably more suitable for a romantic vacation.
I went to Punta Cana, DR in August of 2018. We stayed at the RIU Republica. The nightlife on the resort was fun and so was the nightlife in the city. We went to a club called Drink Point. Lots of Spanish but they also played American music. Lots of fun.
Went down to Punta Cana for a wedding and had a great time! Stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel & resort which had basically everything, even a casino. The countryside is slighlty barren, built built for excursions. Nightlife at Coco Bongo was poppin as well. The food at the resort was great(to us), and we had own our section of private beach. All the excursions you want are set up at the hotel, except for parasailing. But even that’s easy to set up. We did the ATVs and hit the coffee & cigar plantation, Macao Beach(beware the vendors asking to photograph you, as they want $20), and swam in Taino cave. Resort had some type of party every day while we were there, and all the rooms had jacuzzis in them. Bring Off spray or the gnats/mosquitoes will eat you alive.
I am Dominican, I have traveled to Dominican Republic various times and have visited many different cities, Santiago, Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Samana, Higuey and so on. I am not saying this because this is my country, but Dominican Republic truly offers the best hospitality. At any resort I have stayed at the staff have been the kindest, most energetic, funniest and helping. They welcome everyone with open hands and are always looking to have a good time. The beaches are beautiful no matter where you go. You will not be disappointed when you stay in a Dominican Resort. Below I will include the places in which I have stayed:
Punta Cana: Dreams Punta Cana as well as Paridisus
Samana: Grand Paradise Samana-an Amhsa Marina Resort-All Inclusive, Las Galeras
Las Terrenas: AirBnb Hilltop Refuge Las Terrenas Hosted by Justin
I stayed at the Hard Rock Cafe in Punta Cana and it was an amazing experience. Its a five star resort and the atmosphere was incredible. The resort is connected to the beach and they have foam pool parties almost everyday. We went on an excursion to swim with sharks and sting-rays, one of the best experiences of my life. The food was ok at the resort, I’ve had better. Other than the food everything was top notch. There was a jacuzzi in the room with a nice view. The resort is awesome.
Dominican Republic is one of my favorite places I’ve been with very beautiful people. The the various types of ethnicities, the food, the music, and traditions. My overall experience was positive. Most citizens of the island are very close and usually treat each other like family. It is a beautiful country that has everything from big mountains to deserts so I encourage you to visit.
I went with a group for a little over a week. We did part of the time in a regular hotel and the other part in an all inclusive hotel. First part of the trip we ventured out with a local guy we met at the club and just took advantage of what the country had to offered. He is a native of the DR and just knows the country inside out. We hiked, went horse back riding, historic sites seeing, beautiful beaches, historical baseball fields where a lot of legendary players use to play. Players like David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Robinson Cano, Albert Pujols, Sammy Sosa, Manny Ramirez, etc. And one day he rented a bus for just out group. Took us to Santo Domingo, Higuey, and La Romana and even took us to some places most tourist people wouldn’t know about. One place I absolutely recommend for one of the greatest views you’ll ever see in your life is Montaña Redonda Miches. When you get to the top of the mountain the view on there is truly impeccable. I don’t even think pictures does it justice.
The food in DR is the best I’ve had thus far in all my travels. Especially the plantanos (plantains) and the chicken. The chicken to this day I’ve never had better and it’s everywhere you go in the DR especially when you go to the local Catinas (hole in the wall restaurant). The seasoning, flavoring, and naturalness I can still taste as I write this. They also have this traditional drink called the Mama Juana. Mama Juana is a drink from the Dominican Republic that is concocted by allowing rum, red wine, and honey to soak in a bottle with tree bark and herbs. The taste is similar to port wine and the color is a deep red.
The all inclusive we stayed at was Catalonia Bavaro Beach, Golf & Casino Resort. Everything was in the hotel, very beautiful, friendly staff, and a beautiful beach and pools. This was more to relax and just kind of be lazy. Enjoyed it a lot especially after doing a lot of adventurous things.
The price to the DR is fair especially if you plan it ahead of time. Out first hotel was cheap and basic. We ate at local restaurants and ate a lot of street foods. The flight there was reasonable especially for the win frame we went (December 30th-January 9th).
I have been to a few countries in the Caribbean but the Dominican Republic is definitely my favorite! This country has it all! The food is to die for! During my last trip I got the opportunity to visit Saona Island and it is beyond beautiful! The captain of the boat also made a stop in the middle of the ocean where they have this “natural pool” where you can get off your boat and party with other tourists. That was so much fun! The water in this country is so clear and the vibes throughout the resorts and the Capital is lovely!
My recent to Punta Cana was my sister birthday.It was 6 girls and we stayed for 5 days at the Bravero Princess Resort.We booked two bedroom and it was just beautiful the room had a jacuzzi and include the all inclusive planehich means everything was included food,beverage and non-motorized sports.The resort had 9 different restaurants but we only got to eat at 5 of them for dinner.our favorite was the Japanese restaurant and the buffet because you get to choose whatever you want and you make your own pasta.There was so much choices at breakfast.they had a omelet station,pancake station,sandwich station and so Everytime everything you could get for breakfast was there.they had natural juices also the room included a full minibar.There was so much to do at the resort that we only booked two excursions.we did the horse riding one and the day trip to saona island.Be aware boom everything through a certified agent because there’s a lot of scams there.Peole will lie to you about getting a cheaper price.its not true rather be safe than sorry.overall we lived the resort will definetly go back.
This has to be one of my most relaxing vacations. I stayed 7 days on a resort complex with access to 5 other resorts and their amenities. The weather in the day time was perfect, but it rained heavily every night. There is a great mix of options for everyone. Beach activities and massages, water sport activities, wild night life and so much more. I recommend buying some excursions to venture out and get a little adventure. I will visit again for sure.
We got married in Punta Cana and it was perfect! We had lots of activities to chose from ( boat tour, saona island, clubs, romantic diner on the beach). We only stayed for a week so we didn’t have the chance to try everything but in overall great expression! The people were nice to us because we were tourists , but I’m not sure as how they treat the local Black community . Our pictures are magical will all the romantic sets !
We all got sick towards the end of the trip though because of the food… If you’re stomach is not used to foreing food, Pepto Bismol will be your best friend!
Punta Cana, DR was an amazing trip. My girlfriend and I spent 6 days there and there was so much to do. I recommend doing the excursions. We started our vacation visiting La Soana, then we did a boogie excursion, and finished with zip lining. All activities were extremely affordable and super fun. This was an amazing time definitely a top travel destination.
During this boogie trip, my girlfriend and I had visited the coffee and cocoa plantations, had tasted local products and had a chance to see how cigars are made. We were all dirty, we made a stop at the beautiful beach of Macao to cool off before heading back to a beautiful place (Taina Cave Macao).
.
DR is a great place to go for a guy or girls trip. It’s affordable and has lots of all-inclusive resorts. The food is great, nightlife is poppin. You’ll fall in love with Bacahata music.
I lived and worked in the Dominican Rep. during 2011, but I make it a point to travel back for vacation every year. I lived in Punta Cana (PC), which is known for its resports and beaches. PC is definitely the more expensive part of the island, but it you book your flight early enough you can find a good deal. You may also be able to find a good hotel/resort bundle for an all inclusive stay. Nightlife in PC is typically what ever bar or club that is linked to the resort/hotel. Some people like to venture off of the hotel/resort grounds and find other clubs in the area. One really good club is Oro which is The club at the hard rock resort. The history of PC is pretty short, it is relatively new in regards to the rest of the island. PC prides it self on being a sustainable in eco-friendly community.
My favorite place in the Dominican republic is the capital, cento Domingo. This is the first city discovered by Christopher Columbus in his search of the New World. It is home to the oldest cathedral in North America, and is full of old world history and charm. My favorite place to be in Santo Domingo is Zona colonial. You can spend all day there shopping and eating and walking the strip. There are also many museums and walking tours.
In Cabarete, to dance merengue and bachata, you can go to Ojo’s on Thursday nights. But if you want to mingle with the locals, you need to go to a car wash or to a tipico in Sabaneta. There you’ll be able to mingle with all locals. The party start around 1am until the sun comes up.
Sketchy but cool. La Romana has nice beaches and there is a private island we visited off the coast of La Romana that was gorgeous. Cant remember the name of it but there are about 20 people that live on the island and an older local made plantains, rice and chicken for us! Dreams Punta Cana Resort was nothing special and a typical all-inclusive resort with watered down drinks and mediocre service. I wasn’t impressed with the DR and likely wont return unless I catch a bizarre deal I can’t pass up.
I went to the Dominican Republic to a resort in Punta Cana, and although everything on the resort was all-inclusive, out of the resort everything was very cheap. There were always vendors selling items on the beach, and around the resort. The food was authentic and great, no complaints. The only thing that gets annoying are workers continuously asking for tips and vendors who want you to buy all the time. Otherwise I enjoyed the few days I spent on this island.
One of my favorite trips, would definitely go back again. Loved the chill island vibes and walking the beach at sunset was so relaxing. Food was amazing and had a decent nightlife. We got a party bus with other tourists, and stopped at some local clubs and ended the night with going to Coco Bongo, which is a must do! The party bus cost $50 per person and was called party bus punta cana.
Dominican Republic is one of those easy to do tourist countries. Lots of beaches, bars, restaurants and clubs. If you want to see a bit more of the people, the local cuisine, a bit ore authenticity get into Santo Domingo. It’s an old city with rich history.
I went to Puna Cana for a destination wedding so we stayed at a beautiful all-inclusive resort. The beaches on the island are beyond beautiful with white sand and turquoise waters. The sun rays are like no other, gently baking you to a golden hue.
We road ATVs thru the city and got to see the natives and shop at some local craft shops. The food is amazing! They have the best seafood and biggest lobsters I’ve ever seen.
I think it’s a great place to visit for couples or groups of friends. I would love to visit again.
Recently went to DR for a wedding stayed at the Dreams Resort Punta Cana, we had an amazing time. Not my first time to DR but very memorable. The beaches are beautiful, extremely romantic and affordable. The food is yummy, don’t be afraid to venture off the resort so many great restaurants and authentic cuisine. As for adventure so many excursions to do from ATV’s, horseback riding or enjoy a city tour. DR always fun times!!
I was in Punta Cana for 3 days.
I stayed at Onyx Now with a friend. It is an all inclusive resort and we tried all the authentic foods and drinks.
The Bahamas Mama, Mama Wana were awesome.
We had access to the beach, the parrots and monkeys were brought over on Friday for guest to play around with, take pictures of, and with.
You can have someone take your pictures because the hotel agent take will some but they will be charged to your room.
If you missed the Friday one, they so come around on Saturday and you can bargain the prices.
Their are some great souvenirs items brought over to the beach by the locals.
The concierge can set up your timeshare meeting if you are into that, and some horse riding time if you want. I personally did do both.
You can use the Viator app to set up the town tours, which I didn’t do, for I wanted to relax and enjoy my resort amenities.
Perfect get away to the Dominican Republic. The people was so nice. The food was great, and I love the cocktails by the pool. My stay at the Hard Rock Punta Cana was amazing! My suite was set for romance and relaxation. I enjoyed the hydro spa tube for two in my hotel suite. For adventure I took a slingshot racing through the highways to explore the other close cities in the Dominican. The sea aquarium and snorkeling was mind blowing. I went to walk the bottom of the ocean to see the reel. The colorful fish swim right up to me. After all my adventures I had a chance to enjoy an 80 minute aromatherapy spa at the Hard Rock spa in the resort . This was a trip of a life time and I had a blast! You have to try it!
I’ve always wanted to go to the DR and I decided it was time for my birthday. I chose Punta Cana as my preferred destination and it lived to up to my expectations.
I didn’t waste time starting my first adventure with the Dune Buggies, those things are lots of fun and prepare to get muddy. When they tell you not to wear white, listen! That dirst has cow dung in it lol. A personal tip would be to bring a scarf or bandana to cover your face, but if you forget, they sell them for $5. Being the hustler that I am though I hackles the price for $3. On the same tour, they take you to a coffee farm where they show you how to make coffee and you have the opportunity to taste some amazing local coffees, teas, hot chocolate. The same tour takes you to Hoya Azul ( Blue Hole). This is the highlight of the day. You can dive into this dark hole inside a cave if you’re brave enough. Side note be prepared for the kids asking for change, in the farm areas it’s quite sad and hard to say no. So bring some change you can give to them.
Next adventure was to the very picturesque Saona Island. We took a speed boat to the island and returned by catamaran. I did a bit of snorkeling, found a star fish and enjoyed a very tasty and filing lunch on the Island. The water and beach was the best on this island and they also had onsite masseuses while you sip on a fresh pina coladas in a pineapple shell.
I also tried zip lining for the first time, even though they almost killed me on the last water zipliine, thankfully I lived to tell the tale.
Food in the DR was ok for the most part, but if you really want good food, as always, the local eatery’s are your best option. The food off the resort was amazing! The food on the resort, not so much. For my birthday i got to splurge on an afternoon at the Pearl Beach Club, great views , good food and great ambience. I also got to enjoy a fancy dinner at Boca Marina in Boca Chica, money well spent and met all expectations. This food is worth every single dollar! The staff working are a little stuck up, but don’t mind them. As soon as you sink your teeth into that food you will forget all about them!
So before i talk about all the things to do in Punta Cana, I must talk about where we stayed. While I usually sing praises of air bnb, and other, non resort/hotel venues, our stay in the Melia Caribe Tropical resort was phenomenal. The staff was amazing, the vibes of the resort were top notch. And it smells phenomenal the moment you set foot inside.
In terms of excursions they have every water sport you can imagine, from snorkeling to jet skis to paragliding.
On terrain excursion include ATV rides which is probably the most fun you and a group will have while visiting DR. Prepare to get dirty!
And also, I’d recommend booking a booze cruise. It’s literally a party on a boat. They usually will provide liquor, you would just pay the admission fee. We were given lunch and driven to a standing pool in the ocean where several boats stopped and everybody just danced and partied. A blast!
Your money will go far here. Tip a server a dollar or two and they will be yours for the entire day refilling your drink. All inclusive is the way to go when booking a resort here.
Amazing night life. Make sure you go visit Santo Domingo, not just punta cana. It has so much to offer. Just be safe ?
I visited DR and stayed at the Barceló resort, which was all inclusive food drinks all day. The island was full of options for activities, at the resort they actually have an excursion office to help you figure out things to do on the island. While I was there I swam with sharks, sting rays, and dolphins all for $75. The barceló resort also had shows, clubbing and activities every night so you really didn’t have to leave the resort to feel the culture of the island if you didn’t want to. The only downside to my stay was the buffet eating options, the food was not held at the proper temperatures although there actual sit down dining st the resort was very delicious ?
Dominicans Republic has so much to offer. Don’t limit yourself to Punta Cana. Head over to La Romana, Santo Domingo (capital), Puerto Plata – Cabarete or Las Terrenas (my favorite). All of those places will have gorgeous beaches full of relaxing options and ragers! If you want to take it easy or make poor decisions there’s something for you. The people are lovely and the food is delicious. The cherry on top is that it’s cheap cheap cheap! Make it over to DR…you won’t regret it.
I highly recommend visiting the Dominican Republic. It is very affordable for food, things to do, nightlife, and adventure.
I had to do a review of DR being that it was the first country I visited, the one that visited most and also I got married here in Punta Cana.
Looking for an awesome destination wedding Chic Punta Cana will not disappoint. They made our vision of a dream wedding a reality and kept everything very professional. There are lots of options for wedding packages for those who want to keep it small or do it up big. We had 44 wedding guest and they were able to accommodate our whole wedding party during the busy month on July!
Recently visited Punta Cana DR, and I must say the country is simply breathless and beautiful.
Clean beaches, beautiful sunsets, amazing ambiance and friendly people.
I stayed at the RIU hotel all inclusive constant service of tropical drinks, coconuts snacks etc every 30mins. The hotel had entertaining dancers and comedy shows.
The buffet was mostly seafood but overall it was fresh and delicious
Dominican Republic reminded me so much home with it’s outdoors country vibes. I’m from Alabama but it took me to go to Dominican Republic to milk a cow and feed a goat, lol. I have visited Dominican Repiblic twice and I have stayed at the Royalton and Nickelodeon Resort. If you have kids, they would fall in love with Nickelodeon and both resorts has excellent food and great customer service.
Punta Cana is a wonderful place to visit. The atmosphere and ambience will have you feeling like Royalty. I stayed at a Resort called The Royalton. The rooms were updated and the views are breathtaking. The all white sand beach will have you not wanting to return home. The staff catered to our needs. We had a blast.
Fellas if you want to show your wife or girlfriend a good time take her to Bavaro Beach. Stay at the Barcelo Bavaro Palace. I got married here and the service was top notch. Also the excursions are fantastic.
Nightlife is big. Lots of excursions to chose from. Beautiful island. But not a favorite. But affordable.
Republica Dominicana lo tiene todo! Dr is amazing place their people are so welcoming and humble. Dr is really affordable if you plan ahead of time, mostly all resort or hotels have a person that can help you book any excursion or activity you want to do. This time i decided to do 4 wheelers they charge $150 for 2 people from 8am – 2pm they took us to a old haitian village, then to a amazing cave according to them that where the sea used to be and now its miles and miles away, at the end of the tour you are able to have a relaxing time at a beautiful beach take pictures and talk to locals. another amazing experience is going to Isla Saona is an amazing island they also do tours for about $150 dollars depending where you are punta cana or santo domingo. I actually did it on my own taking public transportation to take me where the boats leave and there i spoke to a person who does tours and charge $1200 pesos ($25dollar) and only pay like $70 dollars for 2 people for everything. But be safe and do it with the hotel if they should help you better. the night life in Dr is amazing people never stop dancing if you stop the next person will come alone and ask if you want to dance…. you better say yes and dance the night away. enjoy a amazing Mangu with cheese (queso de hoja) and you will remember me forever…
I had an amazing time in the DR. My friend and I stayed in puerto plata. We went dirt bike riding for 3 hours, we stopped at a local farm where we saw some amazing fruits, veggies, and local coffee. The staff at our hotel were welcoming and nice. I honestly have not one complaint! I stayed at the Bahia Principe. Our stay was very welcoming and I would recommend anyone to visit this beautiful Island!
I had a great experience in DR. Me and 8 of my friends stayed in Puerto Plata which has a lot less tourists than places like Punta Cana. You get to get a true experience of the Dominican culture. We also opted for a villa from Airbnb rather than the resort/hotel and it was amazing. It was about $150 per person for a 5 day trip and we also had a chef that came with the property. Super close to the beach and everything was no more than 15mins away.
I have nothing but good things to say about the DR. We stayed at the Royalton-Punta Cama and the service, facility, and amentities were all good. In the day, we enjoyed the amazing daily activities(volleyball, dancing in the pool, Zumba,etc) hosted by the staff and the water park. At night the resort put on great shows and the dance club played the nicest tunes all night. The excursion were great and very safe and the daily/nightly food selection was very tasty. My only qualm was learning the history of the Dominicans and the Hatiatians..and how they are treated as a result..and the amount of money they get for all the hard work.
I landed in Punta Cana, the airport was pretty cool! it was literally built like a hut! A huge hut, but please already have transportation set up! I was told that there was a 10$ tourist bus that would take me from punta cana to santo domingo .. which is a 3 hour ride. After arriving at 3 :30 pm, they informed me that the last tourist bus left at 3, so I paid 140$ for a personal taxi. lesson learned. Also , I would NOT suggest renting a car, there are NO TRAFFIC LAWS, authorities only come when there is an accident. You are allowed to drive backwards if you want, please ….do not rent a car that is a huge liability!
I went to the Dominican Republic in October of 2017. Oferall, I had a good time! I went to a friend who was born and raised there, and we stayed with her cousin right in the capital of Santo Domingo. We rented a car (she’s a good driver, if you aren’t, hire someone or take taxi’s! There are essentially no rules on the road!) I am very low-maintenance so I didn’t mind taking cold showers! The mosquitoes were really bad for me, my legs were so marked up! (Carry repellent). The beach areas were nice, but I liked hiking in Limon the best! Food is good and fairly cheap! Best tostones and fried chicken I’ve had outside the USA. lol I hear the resorts are AMAZING so I’ll have to check them out next time around. I would go back!
I’ve visited Puerto Plata two times and enjoyed my stays. My favorite adventure was a horse back ride through the sugar cane fields to the ocean followed by an authentic dominican meal cooked on the beach. The ride was very peaceful through the fields followed by the exhilarating experience of taking the saddles off and riding bareback into the ocean!!! Can you say wow?!
Our meal was simple but absolutely delicious! It was cooked by a local with a little shack right next to the water. Rice, fresh fish fries and cold beer! I would highly recommend this experience.
The beaches, the beaches, the beaches! Some of the most beautiful blue beaches I’ve ever seen was in DR. Running barefoot in the sand and on the roads, my trip was for three days and most of my trip was spent in a hammock ! Highest level of comfort I’ve experienced since Tobago.
I visited the Puerto Plata in The DR over Memorial Day weekend (Mothers Day in the DR).
I found a nice man to pick us up via TripAdvisor and he was at the airport when I arrived and took us right to our resort. He had Rum and Coke waiting for us when we got in his van and told us all about Puerto Plata on the way. He also did tours of the city at the lower price than some of the solicited tour groups and received rave reviews. So he picked us up the next day and we went of a city tour.
Our Resort: Sunscape– It was a beautiful place. The food was good. A good amount of entertainment. and the beach was right behind it. They kept the resort area blocked off to the city to keep locals out.
Beaches: The beach was nice however, there had many licensed solicitors roaming around as you were trying to relax. They were quite aggressive and didn’t mind walking up to you as you were sleep or resting. Probably the biggest negative about the resort/ city.
All in all, Puerto Plata has been my favorite Caribbean destination so far. Its beautiful green forest and beautiful people really made the country enjoyable.
I stayed in Santo Domingo at the Hilton Embassy Suites. Free breakfast and complimentary drinks were served in the evening. The rooms were huge and clean. If I ever go back to Santo Domingo I will return to the Hilton just to see the beautiful views from the rooftop pool!
This review is specifically for The Royalton Punta Cana. My stay at this resort was wonderful! Everyone took great care of me and exceeded all expectations. My room had a spectacular view of the ocean that was the perfect scenery for a relaxing atmosphere. I would go again in a heartbeat!
I will also have a special place in my heart for the Dominican Republic because I got married here in September 2017. Not only is the Dominicans republic affordable but the culture is so enticing. We got married at the Dreams Palm Beach and loved the hospitality. I was told that the Hard Rock Hotel was the way to go if you decide to go down there. I will return one day to enjoy more of the island and go off the resort to enjoy some of the local food & culture.
I stayed at the Now Larimar in Punta Cana DR. This is an all inclusive resort with multiple restaurants and night clubs. It’s a beachfront resort with several pools. Non-stop fun! There were various pool parties held everyday. The vibe of the Dominican people is straight sexy! As sexy as this place is, it’s still kid friendly. Kids were running around everywhere. I was there as a bridesmaid for a friends wedding. We met a couple of guys who worked at the resort (1 Dominican and 1 Haitian). We exchanged numbers and later that night once the guys were off, we linked up. That’s when the real adventure began. They took us to a strip club (the dancers weren’t too friendly; I think they were hating on us) they did however seem to enjoy the American men. We walked to several different nightclubs and the people seemed friendly. We did feel a slightly jealous vibe from the local woman. Along the way, there were a lot of Hatian and Dominican men riding motorbikes. They would stop and cat-call at us. The two men who escorted us instructed us to not speak at all. They didn’t want the locals to hear our American accent. Our decision to leave the resort was extremely risky and we actually ran into multiple sticky situations on our way back to the resort. Luckily, everyone was safe thanks to our two male escorts. All in all, I don’t regret it!! Anyhow, the resort itself is very safe and absolutely lovely! Please think long and hard before leaving the resort at night and if you do venture off, travel in a large group and make sure you have a trustworthy escort to show you around.
I loved the DR! I went there on a service trip and stayed in Monte Cristi. I hiked a mountain and when I got to the top it was a breath taking view! The night life was amazing, I went during Carnival in February so it was a party scene with music, activities, cultural dances, and the resturaunts were all lit up. I didn’t eat much of the local food served out on the street becuause they had warned us that it might not be the safest thing, also do not drink the tap water, get bottled water! That is one mistake I made and got very sick. Other than that I highly recommend visiting!
I definitely enjoyed this place. The towns and surrounding areas weren’t the best but the beaches were breathtaking. The local food was awesome! Be sure to take advantage of the excursions. ATVs, snorkeling, private beach tours and dinner boats. I stayed in La Romana at the Bahia Principe resort. The resort had a few cons but touring the country made up for it all. This is one place I’ll be back to visit!