Hi Dave, whilst your waiting for responses with regards to Punta Cana, I thought I'd share my opinin with you. I must admit that we haven't been to Punta Cana but have stayed in a Riu resort in Puerta Plato in North Dom Rep and in a Riu complex in Mexico.

TBH, inside the resorts are very similar with regards to service, entertainment weather etc. However, for some reason we prefer the Dom Rep. Outside the tourist areas, the places/people are very poor but very happy and also friendly. Where we stayed in the North there wasn't anything close to the hotel so only ventured out on organised trips. I'd say (from experience and other people's) that the Dom Rep is safe as long as you take sensible precautions - never flash about your money or expensive jewelry. Most hotels will have security at the entrance which makes it extra safe.

We're returning to the Dom Rep in August, flying in to Punta Cana and staying in the Bayahibe area. I can't wait - Love the island and its peple.

We went at a similar time of year and had good weather, The usual heavy downpours now and then but that's to be expected.
There really isn't a lot to punta cana to be honest , once out of the hotel complexes it seemed a bit shanty town ish. We saw a burger king place and a bar opposite but were told not to venture there so didn't.

When we passed the bar on the way back from a day trip we saw a guard on the door of the bar with a shotgun! I have been in a few rough boozers in my time but I am glad we didn't bother with this one.

Thanks for the quick replys!

we love the riu resorts, we stayed in the riu tequila in mexico in 2007 and loved it. We was hoping that the local streets would be built up similar to mexico, we didn't realise that the Dom Rep was such a poor place!

We didnt know that it wasn't safe to venture out of the hotel complex either! Does anyone know what the carribean street is like near by? this is part of the riu resort area and a safe place to go..

Thanks

I wouldn't say that the areas just outside the complex were unsafe - We have to remember that many countries have armed police and guards as a precaution. We felt totally safe. What a coincidence it was the Riu Tequila in Mexico that I was referring to in my last post. We found it very similar to the Riu complex in DOm Rep.

Not sure about Caribbean Street in the Punta Cana complex but the one in the Riu resort in the NOrth was situated between 2 sister hotels. Just a short 'street'. There wasn't much of any worth (goods wise) there-just a couple of your usual souvenir shops (not cheap) and a gym. They did have a Caribbean Street Party night once a week which was a good night with a good atmosphere.

yes the tequila is a really nice hotel, we loved every minute of it! We thought the food was great in the riu tequila - how does the tequila food compair to the food in Domincan riu resorts?

The riu resorts in the north of Dom rep sound very similar to the south side in punta cana, i have read reviews about the caribean street also having a street party ect.. there is also a casino there a disco and a gym, from what ive read!

If you can help give us an idea of what the dom rep is like compaired to mexico refering to the riu's and the food ect..

What do you prefer ? mexico or dom rep?

As I mentioned in my first post, our personal favourite (4 adults) was Dom Rep - Can't really put my finger on what it was. It may just have been the fact that it was our first experience of the Caribbean. Foodwise, not much to choose between them. Dom Rep also has various food stations where you can watch the chef cook, also theme nights and all those great carvings out of fruit and ice sculptures. Lots of different foods to try and snacks available through the day/night. I'm sure you'll have a fab time.

NOt sure whether you got bitten by mossies in Mexico. All of our party of 6 had some bites, especially when we ventured to the beach (could have been sand flies, not sure) but no probs in Dom Rep. We used the same repellant in both countries. Maybe the mossies aren't so hungry in the Dominican Republic

My partner got bitten quite bad in mexico , but ive never been bit once in my whole life by a mozzie? I think they take to some people and not others?

Is it hard to work out the currency in Dom rep?

I'd never had a mossie bite until I went to Mexico (and I'm 46). No the currency's not hard to work out. They also take the American dollar and some people even advise to take dolars as opposed to the Dom Peso.

Yes i much prefer using us dollars although the only problem we found in mexico was that we also took travelers cheques and when we got these changed into cash at the reception area we were given the mexico peso and at the time this was worth quite a bit less than the us dollar

is there a way around this?

would you advise taking travellers cheques?