I've been to both mexico and Dom rep during the past few years. Although we flew into Punta Cana (Dom Rep) we stayed at dreams La romana which was great but it was a 2 hour transfer so that's off your list for starters. I belive that there are hotels near Punta Cana that do have shops in proximity but I'd say your best bet for more choice of shops and bars within walking distance would be Cancun. We stayed in Playa del Carmen so I can't advise on a Cancun hotel but I know the Rius and iberostars there have an excellent reputation. There would be plenty for the children to do in any of these complexes.

Good luck in your search. Don't forget to have a look at the members resort reports for Cancun and Punta Cana

Riu Tequilla is good can walk to Playacar 30 mins or taxi not expensive. small shopping centre 5 mins from hotel. About 1 hr transfer

Riu Tequilla is good can walk to Playacar 30 mins or taxi not expensive

That's where we stayed but didn't recommend it to the poster as I thought they were looking at Cancun. Now if you were to consider Playa del Carmen, I think this is the best hotel there

Ive not been yet but have booked the Great Parnassus resort in Cancun for feb, its through thomas cook (airtours brochure) i was going to go for one of the Riu's the Tequila looked lovely but i didnt like the room, its 2 double beds pushed up to each other and i couldnt stand the thought of the kids being right next to us like that for 2 weeks ! Also didnt really think my 10yr old would like it. someone i know whos been said rooms are small if occupied by a family of 4 . To be honest thou this would apply for most of the caribbean/mexico etc.

Anyway the Great Parnassus has a family room where the kids have bunk beds in a partitioned off area. There is mini golf, its right on the beach, pool slides, entertainment, plus the restaurants sound good there is a buffet which si more like some sort of food court then numerous a la cartes (this was our main appeal as we dont like buffet everynight much prefer being served) inclding japenese, italian, mexican, a creperie etc also numerous bars .
The a la cartes dont require pre booking either.

Like i say ive not been yet im going on 14feb. Fingers crossed its as good as it sounds! Hotel have a website if you google it.

Thank you so much for your comments. Vicky06 - The hotel you're going to sounds interesting, I will certainly look it up and I know what you mean about rooms/beds etc. However, with boys of 12 and 16 they will have their own room, interconnecting or adjacent hopefully. Iin fact I've actually found on websites like Thomas Cook and Thompson it's cheaper to travel as 4 adults, with 2 adults in each room, than one room for 4!

Hi Janisdell,

As a family we have been now to both Dominican Republic and last year Mexico. l must say Mexico was indeed fantastic, However we stayed in Playa Del Carmen and not Cancun. I will also state that having visited Cancum whilst in Mexico we were glad that we were i Playa Del carmen, each to their own of course! We found Cancun a little tooooooo busy for us.

Dominican Republic.... OK... we vowed only to go to places once, so we could maximise our knowledge accross the continents.

This is not so for the Dominican... we are again retuning to punta Canna this year! This will be our 3rd visit. I must say the Resorts, Hotels and especially the Punta Cana and Bavaro beaches are exceptional. It may be that we are not that picky... but surely going back for the 3rd time is testiment to how much we have enjoyed the Dominican Republic.

Summary:

Mexico - beautiful.

Dominican Republic - Our choice!

John - Thank you for your comments, very interesting!! We've pretty much decided on Playacar, Mexico but undecided on which hotel. It's a toss up between the Riu Tequila and Sandos Playacar. From what I have read both hotels are on par with one another as far as standard and facilities are concerned. The only obvious difference is that the Sandos is on the beach but the Tequila is set back slightly.

If anyone has stayed in either of these hotels and has any comments I would be interested to know what you think. Thank you.

Hi Again,

Riu Tequila is great.... we stayed there last year... The Entertainment and Food are fantasic.... the rooms are very good and all facilities were unchallengable... a good good choice.

If there was a downside... Hmmmm he thinks.... Tequilla is not on the beach... this is situated at the Riu Place... the beach is only 600 meters away and the hotel does do transport to it in the form of a Train type buggy thingy...lol

If you chose this hotel... you cannot go far wrong. There are so many thing to do .... very close to the Playa and then even more to do a little further away...

Have fun.... thats what its all about... If you want more let me know I will send you some Photo's.....

best regards :-)

Thanks for your reply John. This is the dilemma we are faced with - The Tequila is undoubtedly an excellent hotel (I have read hundreds of reviews!) but it is not on the beach. However, saying that I'm still trying to decide whether it needs to be! There is jungle life there which will definitely appeal to our boys (12 and 16), we tend to prefer lazing around the pool rather than the beach anyway and there are facilities to use at the other Riu hotels nearby. Can you remember whether there are plenty of umbrellas on the other Riu hotel beaches as I will almost certainly need one and I know in some areas there are very few!

Do the the restaurants at the Tequila have airconditioning and if not was it uncomfortably warm when eating. I read somewhere that not all their restaurants are airconditioned. We will be travelling end June/beg Jul and having never been to Mexico or the Caribbean so I'm not sure how hot/humid it will be. If you travelled with children do you remember whether there was a lot of sports activities/entertainment to keep older kids occupied?

On the other hand the alternative hotel, the Sandos Playacar, IS on the beach but I personally don't think the pool and area look as nice as the Tequila, the swim up bar at the Tequila is well placed in the main pool and I've heard that the Tequila sports bar is better too and open 24/7 - Could you please confirm what is in there - pool, tabletennis, large TV screens, etc?

Thanks very much.

We stayed at the Teqilla last year January, thinking of going again beg March. Great hotel. food good very clean. Beach is no problem, either golf buggy or walk about 7 minutes. Restaurants were air conditioned,

Hi Jan,

Where do i start... The Tequilla has soooooo much.

OK... the beach. Yes there are Sunbeds and Umbrellas... unfortunately 'the early bird will need to catch the worm' these are popular and the Hotel does try to Police those trying to have beds at the pool areas and on the beach.. some families were known to Have beds on 2 pool areas and the beach then actually go on a trip for a day....... However that is not restricted to the Tequilla and should not go against them... they do activley try to police this.

The beach is also public... and you will have people walking (not a crime) from the hotel areas all the way into Playa Del carmen (about a mile... but a great walk... then taxi back).

Pool area - Two large pools either side of a very large reserurant and Bar area. One is more family orientated... (No Swim up bar!) the other mirror image but with swin up bar. There are sunken beds so the pools are great to top up that tan.

Resturants - All OK ... but for us the Steak Bar and Main Buffee were teriffic. Some are air conditioned where others are open eating or under veranders... so not required.
We felt that the Mexican was possibly the one that did not do it for us followed by the chineese...beware of the 'Halbanaro' chillies.... Ohhhh my..... couldnt taste anything for hours, although they are meant to be very good medicinely.

We always travel at the Easter time.... as have been in toooo many Hurricans now... and easter avoid them all.

Entertainment - Superb... the team there work hard throughout the day... shooting, archery, shuffle board... table tennis you name it its done there...

Night entertainment - Superb, very professional and enjoyable... the Michal Jackson and Horror shows are fantastic.... They also do Casino nights... for the kids and adults ... they are really fun!

Bars - There are 4 or 5. The main Bar is where the theater is... then there is another just to the right of the stage... never a big wait ... prolly 3 Mins at its worse. Sports Bar 24/7 food (Fast... Fruit, sarnies Beer, tea, coffee, milkshakes...etc) and soooo many TV's with every sport concievable showing. In here there were 3 - 4 Pool Tables and Air Hockey and lots of arcade machines.... these are all payable though!

Entertainment outside - Again lots... something I wished I had do with my daughter and wife was the Zip-Wire Park, cant remeber name.... one of the wires was 1.6K in lenght.... folled by cavern swiming and Quad Car driving... sounded a real good day. The trip to the Pirate ships in Cancun... I thought was good ... a little expensive.

I must was one of the differing trips to the Mayan Temples.... we did 'Chitchen Itza' This was something I had to see... Beware... the Heat inland is very represive... hard to breath and very very taxing.

Woow... I could go on... but I have to work some....lol

Best regards,

John

Wow John, that's fantastic - Thanks very much for taking the time to write all that. You've convinced me - Riu Tequila here we come!! Jan

This no problem... too many people write their woes about Holidays and not enough are able to provide the possative feedback that most require.

If you require any Photo's regarding the hotel or area let me know. I have some of the Hotel wild life too!....lol (I think that would also count the Spanish students (Wildlife) who were on their vacation at the same time as me...lol)

best regards,

John

John, How right you are!! Fingers crossed there isn't too much "Spanish Wildlife" when we're there too - lol!!

hi, we have stayed at riu cancun and it is a great hotel , you can get out and about very easy (local buses cost only a few pence and run every few mins) but there are bars shops and resturants within walking distance.we hired a speed boat and went out onto the lagoon and snorkelled with was great fun (u go in a group and drive your own boat ).

we have been to both dominican and mexico and even though we loved both of them for you with your family and their ages i would defo recommend mexico, there is really nothing to do at dominican even though it is lovely but mexico has plenty to do for your family, we have stayed at a few places and loved them the excellence riviera is adults only so i would recommend riu caribe. enjoy