In April, I went to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for the first time. My friends were going and I was in need of a break from the long, cold winter, so I jumped right on board. Their airport was divided into two sections. I arrived on the side that was pretty much a hut. It was quite interesting because it did not have an "airport" feel at all. I really liked that aspect, it was a reminder that I was far away from home. A note, once in customs you are required to pay $10 USD to enter the country. I did find leaving the airport to be overwhelming. We had a shuttle arranged to take us to the resort which I'm sure is standard practice there. I landed before my friends and tried to wait but I was quickly whisked off to catch a shuttle. In addition, the locals are very aggressive about helping you with luggage and requesting a tip.
We stayed at the Iberostar Punta Cana resort. Note, Iberostar has multiple properties on the resort. The grounds, beach and lobby were lovely, very picturesque and well maintained. The rooms were a bit outdated and could use a remodel, however they were a nice size. This was an all inclusive resort which I've not experience before. The restaurants require reservations in advance which we did not realize, so we ended up eating at the two buffet style restaurants every day. The food was typical buffet fare with American and Mexican style cuisine. A lot of options but nothing spectacular. My friends also complained that the drinks were watered down. Many of the alcoholic drinks were mostly fruit juice.
The resort had nice entertainment options. One area had a band along with karaoke. There are gentlemen who work at the resort who invite you to dance which is nice since it gets you engaged in the fun and you always have someone to dance with if you choose. If you just want to sit and watch though, you may get annoyed because they can be persistent but they really just want to engage people, which I can understand. On another side of the resort there was a show of celebrity singer impersonators. We went to a beach party our first night which was a lot of fun. There was a DJ booth at the lifeguard station, a dance contest and a fantastic fire show. Another night we ventured to one of the other resort properties where there was a small dance club.
In addition to relaxing on the beach, we went snorkeling. Actually my friends did and I went along for the catamaran ride and festivities. We had a ball. The excursion hosts were very friendly and kept us well entertained. Another evening we went to Coco Bongo which is an entertainment venue that combines interactive and sensory entertainment, such as, superhero fight scenes, acrobatics, singing impersonators with dancing and a rave all at the same time. It is a very small place with little seating so you stand the entire time but it is so entertaining you do not realize how long you've been there. The crowd consists of locals and tourists, as well as, a variety of age groups. I highly recommend Coco Bongo, it was one of my highlights.
Overall, the resort was lovely but Punta Cana is not a place where you roam around alone. You pretty much need to stay on the resort unless escorted by someone who is familiar with the area and you trust. I am not a fan of vacations where you spend all your time on the resort and I did not enjoy the all inclusive experience. I typically like to get out and enjoy the culture of the location I am visiting. I did still enjoy myself with great company and much needed beach time.
Pics are below!
