The do’s and don’ts when traveling can be overwhelming. If you have never been to a place how do you know what to expect, to do, or to bring?
Vacationing should be a relaxing, enlightening and educational experience. Knowledge is power. By reading this article you are on your way to a stress-free trip to Punta Cana. Here are 9 things to know before you travel to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
If you would like to learn more about all-inclusive resorts check out:
Con’s Of All-Inclusive Resorts
Pro’s Of All-Inclusive Resorts
Table of Contents
1 – Book Early
You’re sitting at your desk at work daydreaming of white sandy beaches and the sun shining on your face. The thought goes through your mind, I need to getaway.
The perfect place to visit is the Dominican Republic. It has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Punta Cana has some wonderful all-inclusive resorts to choose from, that fit all budgets and needs.
The key to finding a good deal is to book early.
There are different places you should check to price compare. The resort website might offer a better deal than booking on Tripadvisor or through a travel agency. Shop around, the extra time spent researching will be worth it.
Booking early is the key to finding the perfect price. I would recommend booking at least 5 months in advance. Even if you are planning on going during their high season you can find a great deal. By booking early I was able to score a $650 USD a night all-inclusive resort for 2 people at $149 USD a night.
2 – Don’t Drink The Water
Like most countries south of the United States the water is not safe to drink. When traveling to Punta Cana make sure you drink only sealed bottled or filtered water. They do not filter the tap water like they do in the US or Europe.
Most resorts offer bottled water for guests to drink. Make sure to use that bottled water when brushing your teeth and rinsing off your toothbrush. There is nothing worse than a bad stomach bug to ruin your entire vacation.
3 – Insane Roads
The Dominican Republic’s rules of the road do not exist. You will fear for your life every time you commute around.
When traveling you will find that the locals do not follow any of the posted signs, lines or rules. They will drive on the line, on the shoulder, even down the wrong side of the road. They pass vehicles in the wrong lane, with oncoming traffic only moments to spare before a crash.
They do not follow the posted signs or lights, most roads do not even have them. If you are driving keep this in mind. Just because you have a green light does not mean the guy with the red light is going to stop.
There is no right a way’s for pedestrians, they will run you over. Be extremely cautious if you go out and about outside of your resort.
Always wear your seat belt when commuting around the Dominican Republic. I know it is obvious, but people sometimes forget to buckle up or think because they are in the back seat it is not needed. When commuting you are putting yourself in a possibly dangerous situation, so buckle up.
4 – Overpriced Cabs
You can get a great deal on the all-inclusive resorts. But when it comes to commuting around the island the price is extremely high. When booking your resort try to find one that has transportation to and from the airport included.
The average price from the airport to the resorts in Punta Canan will run you around $45-65 USD per way. If you book a private bus from the airport it will run you around $40-60 USD per person. So unless you are traveling alone taking a taxi would be more cost-effective.
Uber is not allowed in or around Punta Cana, so your only options are cabs or renting a car. The public bus system is not reliable and there are not many routes to choose from.
5 – Money Exchange
If you are staying at an all-inclusive resort you do not need to carry the local currency which is the Dominican Peso. When visiting you do not have to worry about exchanging your cash. I stayed at two separate resorts, each of them took credit cards, USD, and Dominican Peso. The locals actually prefer USD because the exchange rate is better for them.
6 – Bring Plenty of Sunscreen, Bug Spray, Medications
When vacationing in Punta Cana you are going to need to protect yourself from the outside elements. The sun’s UV rays are super strong and if you do not put on adequate sunscreen you will burn.
You will also need to bring bug spray with DEET. The mosquitoes are vicious and will eat you alive when the sun goes down.
Make sure to bring enough of these items. If you run out and need to buy more at your resort you will shell out an inflated price for them at the gift shop. I had to purchase a generic sunscreen at the gift shop for a whopping $22 USD!
Make sure you also bring a first aid kit with basic medications. The resort shops might not carry what you need. Leaving the resort is extremely difficult and finding an open pharmacy might be almost impossible.
7 – Shop Around for Excursions
Just hanging by the pool sipping cocktails can be extremely fulfilling and relaxing. However, if you are looking to immerse yourself in the culture or want to see some beautiful natural beauty, an outside excursion might be right for you.
When shopping for an excursion I would recommend that you do a little research. The resorts do offer outside excursions that you can purchase from them. But just like the gift shop, the prices are usually pretty inflated.
You can find a great tour company online. The easiest way to do this is to check a website like Tripadvisor. You can search for different activities or areas. I like to read over the customer reviews to judge the quality of the tour company. Another great pro to booking online is you can see the prices without any surprises.
8 – Lines Can Be Long
Island life is at a slower pace. When traveling around the Dominican Republic just keep in mind that customer service standards are different than in the US.
When going through customs it could take a while. If you go during a high season or over a weekend there are a lot of families and flights that arrive all at the same time. When I went through customs it took over two hours.
The resorts are very similar to customs. There is usually one or two people at the front desk and when guests arrive the wait time for check-in or check-out can be extensive.
9 – Say No to Timeshares/Membership Offers
Each resort will try and get you to sit through a timeshare/resort membership presentation. They will entice you with a gift basket or an upgraded meal offer. My advice is to nicely say no thank you. These presentations take a lot longer than they tell you and will take up some of your precious vacation time. Just enjoy all the resort has to offer and pass on the free gift basket, it is not worth your time.
I hope these 9 tips help you with your future planning when visiting Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. By planning ahead and learning about your travel destination it will help relieve stress and anxiety. Just remember my fellow travel friends, we are in this together.