We are going to Punta Cana next week...advice please!?

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Sweet!
I'm going there this coming Monday, but i don't know whether I'm going to Punta Cana or Puerto Plata
My hotel is called Paradisus I think....i dunno
I've looked up both places and In Punta Cana there's not much to do outside the resorts

But since you're in an all inclusive, the hotel will offer snorkeling, sailing, and other water activities

One place I really want to go to is Saona Island.
It's not very developed yet, so there's not a shop around every corner. During this excursion, we'll also be able to swim in a natural pool with starfish! :]

But looking at the reviews, the Manati Park isn't very nice. The animals live in poor conditions.
Also, a couple years ago, someone got attacked by one of the dolphins there.

Don't drink the water, and brush your teeth with bottled water.
You can shower, just don't drink it.

The weather's gonna be nice, so I can't wait!

Allen A

Bug repellent is a must at night. I haven't stayed at the Barcelo, but have heard good things about it. We stayed at the Secrets Punta Cana. There is a park near by called Manatee Park. They have a lot of fantastic animals including a dolphin tank which you can swim with the dolphins for a price. Santa Domingo is another must see. These and other excursions can be arraigned at your hotel.

Most people that get sick when they travel blame the water. A lot of times people over indulge on foods that they are not used to. Also drink more alcohol than they normally would at home. The tap water is safe in the resorts but it also has a lot of minerals in it which will be like drinking Epsom salts. So I recommend bottled water. Carry a hand cleanser and use it frequently.

You will have a wonderful time I'm sure.

Becca!

Dont drink the water. THe minerals and such are different from ours in the US. you'll have the runs.

I stayed in the Occidental Grand Resort when i just went in November. It was beautiful.

Dont panic if u dotn know spanish, there are people who speak english at most of the resorts. Not so much in the airports tho. But The signs in the Punta Cana Airport are in English AND spanish haha. So its great =]

You're gunna have a great time. The Airport is SOOO Different from American Ways. hah.

HAVE FUN!

pstottmfc

Punta Cana is great. I stayed at the Fiesta Bavaro - not sure about the facilities at the Barcelo though.

Some of the hotels have Hobie cat sailboats - great fun. There may also be sailboards.

Don't drink the tap water - don't even use it for tooth brushing. Find out if your hotel washes their salad veggies in bottled water - if they don't, then avoid salads. Ditto for ice cubes.

If you go snorkeling around coral, wear rashguard (T-shirts of very close weave material) because coral spawn can try to grow in your skin and it gives a nasty rash that takes about a week to get rid of.

I wouldn't encourage these 'swim with dolphins' operators. They imprison the poor dolphins in little pens and then put all these humans in to pester them. The dolphins obviously are not happy about this.

Learn to Salsa dance - that's great fun!

passenbij

When we went last fall, our travel operator had just stopped working with the dolphin program in the area of Punta Cana because of the poor conditions the animals were living in. The only option we had was to take a flight up to the northern coast. We took a great jeep safari trip into the interior and that was great. You get to see a lot all in one day and everything is taken care of for you. (lunch, drinks etc.) We also went snorkeling via our hotel. We heard that the island of Saona (probably spelled it wrong) is absolutly one of the best places to snorkel because it is on the carribean sea and not the atlantic like punta cana is on. there, the water is very warm and shallow...making it the most beautiful colors.

i didn't get sick eating anything, just don't all you can eat yourself to death and you'll be fine.

angeldust_599

watch out for misquitoes. there have been cases of malaria reported down there. make sure you have bug spray and talk to your doctor about getting meds before you go. I heard its not a huge problem, but its still a problem none the less and you dont want to be getting sick with malaria on vacation.

Stef

Punta Cana is so nice, the beaches are great I've been there a few times. Uhm if you have never been somewhere south jsut make sure you never drink the water from the taps or anything, you can get really sick. Last year when I went my friend got really sick in the last couple of days and had to go the a hospital down there, and it wasn't good.

$Sun King$

Go for horse ride on the beach and then send me a picture. LOL!

Happy Feet

The Barcelo Hotels are medium quality hotels, I don't use them for my VIP guests, so I don't know much about them.

Activities in the hotel ? bar, pool, beach, sea, bar, pool, beach, sea,... nothing more, outside the town is 45 miles away..

Swim with dolphins ? yes it's possible in Puerto Plata
Ocean World, but not to my knowledge in Punta Cana,
Puerto Plata is much better!!

The only sick people are the people carrying sickness in the planes (flue,...) and the people drinking to much because "it is free" in the all inclusive resorts.
Enjoy it!

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