rozelle

Greetings to all,

My friend and I are planning a trip to the DR in December (for X-Mas) and we're torn between Laromana and Punta Cana. What are your thoughts?

Thanks.

doug_stallings

I guess it depends on what you want. Flying into the La Romana airport is usually more expensive than flying into Punta Cana. PC has a much wider range of resorts but little opportunity to travel outside of them (except perhaps to Captain Cook's). The two PC resorts on the Caribbean side (Punta Cana Resort and Club Med) have access to a nicer beach with calmer surf, but a reef protects a lot of the PC beaches.
La Romana is closer to Santo Domingo if you want to go on a day-trip. The resorts themselves are comparable, though of course Casa de Campo is very expensive and upscale.

Chicagokris

I am curious to know more about Captain Cook's. I will be in PC in November, and dont recall seeing anything about it. Can you give me a little more detail? THANKS!

jacketwatch

Hello Doug. I have a question as well about these two locations. We like nice beaches too but also like to be near a town of fair size so we can shop, explore, etc. Which of these two would be better for that and what about Puerto Plata as well? Thanks, Larry

doug_stallings

Captain Cook's is a relatively "famous" seafood restaurant in Punta Cana. It's really the only decent place to eat outside of the resorts themselves, though I guess you could make the trip to the Punta Cana Resort & Club and eat at one of the nice restaurants there, but it would be a very expensive undertaking including a taxi.

You pay a fixed price at Captain Cooks, and this usually includes a boat pick-up at your resort. It's not a fancy place, but it does have good seafood meal. I'm sure there are people on this board who can give a personal recollection of their trip there, but we do review the restaurant on this site.

Neither Punta Cana nor La Romana has a nice town for shopping. From Punta Cana, you can take a trip to Higuey (about 45 minutes from PC) to see the concrete cathedral and then stop at the expansive crafts market, but it's not a place for strolling.

The same for La Romana (though I'm not sure about the shopping there). From La Romana you do have relatively close access to Altos de Chavon at Casa de Campo, but it's a very upscale shopping experience and totally artificial, though beautiful and recommended.

Puerto Plata would be a much better place to look to head if you are looking for a real city experience that has a mix of history and shopping opportunities. But if you go to Puerto Plata, I'd actually steer you away from most of the AIs there, which pale in comparison to some of the newer upscale non-AI properties. Or even some of the funkier budget places in Cabarete (we do strongly recommend Natura Cabanas, but it's not luxurious). But the beaches in this area are often more conducive to windsurfing than swimming. Look at places in the Sosua area instead of the Playa Dorada area if you want calmer waters.

jacketwatch

Thanks for the info Doug. For us the Sosua area might be the best bet. I'll check it out. Cheers. Larry

ParrotMom

Sorry folks.. I disagree.. Sousa was a big disappointment as was Puerta Platta.. on the Atlantic and the seas are rough even in February with more rain.. Punta Cana does not have the beautiful beaches that La Romana has.... We are returning to Sunscape Casa del Mar for the fifth time... Warm blue Carbbean waters, white sand beach, great food and 151 proof rum..lol.. plus great people and you can walk into Bahibe..Also, yes there is KAndela at Casa de Campo at night and Altos de Chavon to visit..not to mention shopping in La Romana supermarket for Santo Domingo freshcoffee beans to die for... and why would you want to go to Capt. Cooks...for an overpriced meal

lifes2short

jacketwatch & rozelle....gotta agree with ParrotMom in terms of steering you away from Puerto Plata/Sosua/Cabarete....if only because of weather considerations in December. The only vacations we have ever returned from ahead of schedule were to PP and Las Terrenas (also on north coast, Samana Peninsula).....each time, rain that lasted for so many days we were sprouting mildew....each time, in the winter months. Friends who have lived in Sosua ended up moving to the south coast for the same reason, i.e., wet winters.

I wholeheartedly recommend Punta Cana and La Romana, though having been to LRM for only 1 trip,I'm less enthuiastic about it than ParrotMom. Punta Cana, with its Bavaro area,is the most beautiful beach we've ever seen [we've done Hawaii, Jamaica, Bahamas, Manzanillo,MX, & Aruba ]

And for shopping, sightseeing, clubbing, soaking up history & the Dominican culture....you must go to Santo Domingo, even if only for a day trip; PC & LRM resorts offer trips/tours. In addition to Trip Advisor, you may want to check out the website debbiesdominicantravel, for resort reviews and helpful links. Good luck to both of you with your respective plans, and have a laid-back, sun-filled vacation !

jacketwatch

Actually if we go it will be in the summer. I assume its alot drier then. How far is SD from PC and LR? Thank you.

doug_stallings

The DR, being a relatively large landmass, does have its own weather. But in general, you'll get more tropical rains in the Caribbean during the summer than in the winter months. The thing is you just can never tell. I know people who've gone to north coast and reported days-long rains, just like lifes2hort's friends. Others have gone in different years but at roughly the same time and seen totally sunny skies. Trying to predict weather so far in advance is just a guessing game.

Punta Cana is probably 3 or more hours from Santo Domingo, and La Romana more like 2 hours.

lifes2short

Doug, you are so right. What I should have said is that we personally would never again plan a DR northcoast trip in winter. I realized after posting that I had failed to add a disclaimer about weather --anywhere--being a crapshoot !

ParrotMom

Santo Domingo is a blast..no beach though.. great restaurants and discos (and to think I'm a senior..lol)but it's closer to La Romana than Punta Cana.. and you really dont want to rent a car...it is a dangerous situation on the roads there..While in La Romana one of the managers was going out to rescue a car load of guests...WITH A GUN,, He said if the car breaks down they come through the woods and strip the car... and you.. and taxi drivers are the worst bandits of all.. they have a very strong union... but I do love S.D...shopping, eating (at non tourists rest) and the whole ambiance.