So the wife just got back from the DR. My wife was in Cararate for a week- stayed in Casa Blanca and said it was fine- www.casablancacabarate.com, decent restaurant, nice pool ect. She and her partner in crime windsurfed during the day and made a couple short trips up into the mountains. All in all, a fine time was had.

On a whim I bought some cheap tickets to return with her next month- Yes, I bought an Apple Vacation package for a resort in Punta Cana called Rui Naiboa, which is apparently connected to a few AI sister hotels.

I have read about the Punta Cana area- the wife and I have never been to an AI and suspect (know pretty well) it might not be our cup of tea. The airfare/hotel package was so cheap we figured we could go elsewhere. (The cost of the air/hotel package was far cheaper than my wife’s flight last week) We thought about spending the first and the last night at the AI and traveling elsewhere in between

My question is- Where, within a decent proximity of Punta Cana, would be a nice place to get away from the complexes of AI’s?

The wife and I are open to traveling a few hours on the concho…whatever the public minivans are called…open to a few nights in the mountains…open to winging it for the week…any suggestions?

Background info- thirty somethings, adventurous, limited Spanish but willing to try..not worried about a language barrier. We like quiet empty beaches, wildlife, and historical architecture.