dominican
03-Sep-2008, 04:41 PM
#3
-- site donator --
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 6,647
Agreed...
I've been to Cuba 3 times (Varadero twice and Cayo Ensenachos) and the Dominican (Punta Cana) just afew weeks ago. Personally, I liked Cuba much better.
The beaches and resorts themselves were nicer in Cuba IMO. The beach itself was not as crowded and the resorts I stayed at were smaller and more compact and intimate. In PC, the resorts were packed full of people (eurotrash and loud americans) and very large. Also, the water seemed much calmer in Cuba.
The resort staff in Cuba were very very friendly and helpful and most spoke basic english or at least tried. In PC, hardly any of them spoke english and didnt seem to care either. Maybe it was just the resort we stayed at, but in PC the service was very poor. I have read similar complaints about other resorts there too.
The food was slightly better in PC, but not very much. The buffets were the same though. You cant really screw up a buffet. The better service in Cuba made up for the slightly lower quality food.
If you and the wife want a nice romantic getaway, I'd recommend the Royal Hideaway Ensenachos. The wife and I went there last year and we are going back in the spring for our anniversary. No complaints about the place.
http://www.royalhideawayensenachos.com/
Tripadvisor is a pretty good place to start doing some research.
I'd go back to Cuba over the DR anyday.
I've been to Cuba 3 times (Varadero twice and Cayo Ensenachos) and the Dominican (Punta Cana) just afew weeks ago. Personally, I liked Cuba much better.
The beaches and resorts themselves were nicer in Cuba IMO. The beach itself was not as crowded and the resorts I stayed at were smaller and more compact and intimate. In PC, the resorts were packed full of people (eurotrash and loud americans) and very large. Also, the water seemed much calmer in Cuba.
The resort staff in Cuba were very very friendly and helpful and most spoke basic english or at least tried. In PC, hardly any of them spoke english and didnt seem to care either. Maybe it was just the resort we stayed at, but in PC the service was very poor. I have read similar complaints about other resorts there too.
The food was slightly better in PC, but not very much. The buffets were the same though. You cant really screw up a buffet. The better service in Cuba made up for the slightly lower quality food.
If you and the wife want a nice romantic getaway, I'd recommend the Royal Hideaway Ensenachos. The wife and I went there last year and we are going back in the spring for our anniversary. No complaints about the place.
http://www.royalhideawayensenachos.com/
Tripadvisor is a pretty good place to start doing some research.
I'd go back to Cuba over the DR anyday.
03-Sep-2008, 05:06 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Hell
Posts: 202
Secrets Excellence Punta Cana is incredible. The wife and I stayed there a couple years ago and it is by far the best resort we've ever been to. The Beach was not that good but the room, activities, food, bars and sports bar were amazing.
03-Sep-2008, 05:24 PM
#7
-- site donator --
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 6,647
I stayed at the Bahia Principe Ambar. It was a beautiful resort, but I found the staff rude and the service poor. It seemed very understaffed and no one made any real effort to make you happy. The service around the bars was very slow, the restaurant staff brought the food then disappeared, the bars closed early, there was zero entertainment, premium booze (Smirnoff lol)was extra.
THe place was really nice and the food was good, but considering the fact that it was supposed to be a 5 star, adukts only exclusive resort, it was very lacking in the customer service area. I expect to be catered to when I go on vacation. I got treated like a king at the last resort in Cuba.
THe place was really nice and the food was good, but considering the fact that it was supposed to be a 5 star, adukts only exclusive resort, it was very lacking in the customer service area. I expect to be catered to when I go on vacation. I got treated like a king at the last resort in Cuba.
03-Sep-2008, 07:56 PM
#8
Admin
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Observation Deck
Posts: 17,528
04-Sep-2008, 02:44 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,505
aruba for the win... kinda pricy though
or belize...
05-Sep-2008, 09:57 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: mother land
Posts: 1,015
After going back though and examining things i've realized you can do it for MUCH cheaper then the 10k+ prce.
Hotel can can cost between $2500-6500 for the 13 nights we stayed but you can rent a nice little condo or a house on the beach for $1000-2200 for the same amount of time. You make food at home except for dinners and etc.
