10 Days in Dominican Rep?
 

I need help planning 10 day trip for the Family. I am thinking Punta Cana and possibly a bit traveling around DR.
Family is wanting to experience everything
Bonus if I can get the husband a round of golf and some scuba diving (he is a Golf Pro and PADI certified)

Who: Family 2 adults three teens (14-17)
Departure from DC area
Approx Dates: June 19-July 10

In order of a most wished for:
Sit back & relax (Spas, Sailing, Beaches)
Action & adventure (Riding,Hiking, Cycling, Watersports)
Nightlife (Bars, Clubs, Dancing) Yes even the teens want to dance the night away :)
Shopping (local Boutiques, Craft/Flea Markets)

Do you want an all inclusive resort?

I would stay away from the DR altogether until they sort out the "mystery" illnesses and deaths there.

Those deaths were all at one resort. No need to panic about the entire area.

I have to agree. I think there are better island choices. Especially if you want to "experience everything" and do a bit of traveling around the island. DR would be low on my list of the options available.

The US State Department issued a level two (out of four) safety warning for the Dominican Republic in April 2019. The warning advises travelers exercise increased caution due to violent crime in the country, which include armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault. The State Department says that resort areas tend to be better policed and safer that urban areas for travelers.

As for the “safer” resorts, the mystery illnesses were at TWO different resorts, although owned and managed by the same company. And the alleged rape/beating guest (who claims the culprit was a staff member) was at a THIRD resort.

My trips were a long time ago but I have been twice and included Santo Domingo, Sosua, and Puerta Plata. I just think there are many other islands that better fit what this family is looking for... just read their wish list. That does not say "DR" to me.

Not that they asked but I'd suggest instead the Mayan Riviera of Mexico or maybe Jamaica.

I agree the Mayan Riviera would be a better choice since it sounds like they want to do a lot off the resort site.

A new mysterious death at yet another resort

Everything on their wish list is readily available in Mexico... plus more (cenotes, ancient ruins). Look at flying into Cancun, then onto Isla Mujeres, or down the coast to Playa del Carmen, and beyond to Akumal or Tulum.

I'd stay at Paradisus Melia. You can book all your excursions through them. I would not suggest doing that on your own. You want to make sure you stay safe while you are there.

I would go to DR right now if the tickets were not so expensive. Punta Cana is beautiful!

The Bahams, Turls and Caicos, and France also carry Level Two warnings.

Yup. Mexico is a Level 2 as well.

I would also stay away from the DR. That is an island where you go to an all inclusive and stay put. It is not the best or safest for traveling around in. Now that these mysterious illnesses and deaths are all being reported, it is not the time to go there in my opinion.

The DR has as many hotel rooms and resorts as the rest of the Caribbean combined. The fact that there have been some coincidental deaths out of literally hundreds of thousands of US travelers is statistically insignificant. I see no issue with going to the DR for a holiday. But concerns about the difficulty and logistics of traveling around the country are not unfounded. It's hard. If you want to travel around, hire someone to take you. The area around Puerto Plata is interesting, and there are some good resorts there. You could hire a driver to take you from Punta Cana. It won't be cheap, but I don't think you should drive yourself.

Nothing wrong with the Dominican Republic, I just don't think it fits this request. Did you read their Wish List of activities?

And sorry but I certainly would not blow off the recent tourists deaths because they are "statistically insignificant".

Nightlife, bars, clubs, dancing the night away??? In the DR???

Sure, if you choose the right resort the DR is good for nightlife (Santo Domingo is better, but won't offer the beaches most people expect on a Caribbean vacation, but you could certainly split your time between Santo Domingo and Casa de Campo if going for 10 days. I think that Cancun or Playa del Carmen might be a better choice (with Cancun having a much more lively nightlife scene). Negril is Jamaica is also a good choice and also has a wide variety of all-inclusive resorts and beautiful beaches.

Can those who have been to DR recently expound more on a few things? (We used to go every year after Batista when family friends moved from Havana en masse to Santo Domingo; some of same friends actually built C de C). Never mind: Few questions: The Capital was a hip and fabulous place for a shy youngster like me who had never mingled with the "jet set" until we began to visit. Probably that term did not even exist back then!! We either stayed at the friends' homes or at El Embajador, where I had my first taste of platanos fritos.....and learned to dive!

Sorry to delve back into my long ago past.....brought back a lot of emotion reading this thread..both good and very very sad.



Are you saying that SD is devoid of nightlife? (I think that is NOT what Doug meant..just clarifying) (Terrible about Big Papi but maybe an inside job? Money owed?)

Next: I am totally puzzled by comments about the inadvisibility of driving around alone....do tourists no longer rent cars? Are the roads still so bad? What exactly is the danger..and how bad is it??? Remember back then tourists from US or rich Dominican residents went only to SD or to a mountain resort near Santiago, which was a country town....imagine things have changed since then!!

My comment about dancing the night away (or not) was specific to this request about Punta Cana... they didn't ask about Santo Domingo which I know is a whole different kettle of fish.

Are their nightclubs and discos that are not part of resorts in Punta Cana? Is there a lively downtown area where people go to mix and mingle and party at night? I've never been... so sincere question because that's not what I pictured or how it's been described to me.

Lastly my point was agreeing with Doug in suggesting other places that I thought better fit the To Do List here... like Jamaica or Mexico.

Suze thank you. My visits were so long ago. Do people now always get around long distances by bus or with private drivers? I am just curious...I have some Dominican friends but they always go home to spend time with family which I no longer have on the island..most of the people who moved from Cuba to DR eventually settled on North Shore of Long Island or in Mexico.... I have some nostalgia and wonder about visiting (enhanced by my friends' comments). My Spanish is good but that would not help if driving on the roads is dangerous either because of road conditions or gun/machete-type crime.....

For many years I maintained a close female friendship from a woman from PR who was a Peace Corps volunteer in the DR..shows you how old I am by now!! Ouch...can that be true??!!

If I wanted too return, where would I even begin to look for a hotel??? Not interested in all-inclusive but want upscale where I can get around and explore locally..... Rent house with cook???

I will not mention the reputation that Puerto Plata had back then but it sounds as if nowadays that is the coast to be on...I need calm and warm water for swimming....no golf or tennis necessary. Gambling ok for partner. No English necessary. Someday I do want to return......

My visits were also too long ago to be of any current value. Santo Domingo and Puerta Plata one trip (two hotels) and Sosua another (where friends had a house on the cliffs rented and I joined them).

So just curious about the island now (outside of Punta Cana)...

ekscrunchy, see my recommendation for Casa de Campo.