Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Operatives have been successfully extracted from Punta Cana and debriefed. Mission was a complete success and much info was learned while on the ground.
Concerning recent assertion by magazine that DR is "the next St Barth" current intel places that report in error. Punta Cana has much appeal in its own right but is decidedly NOT St Barth.
Executive Summary:
1. Getting into the country is easy. Airport is small and fairly easy to navigate.
2. There are a couple dozen LARGE busses that run you from airport to your hotel. Your tour operator can tell you which bus to use. However, a taxi would be FAR quicker as the busses wait for up to an hour to fill and then make a "milk run" stopping at each hotel. Arrange a taxi if you can.
3. The beach is fantastic, very much developed. Lots of hotels, side by side but still a fair amount of space.
4. More of a mix of yanks and europeans than originally reported. While proper bathing was practiced, it was the distinct minority, running under 5% of beachgoers the entire time.
5. The food is good. It is not Wall House but most of the places are all-inclusive and cater to european tastes. For the most part, it is 3 and 4 star food, mostly 4 star. There are various theme restaurants and the variety is very good.
6. The people are very nice and try hard to be accomodating. Language can be a problem from time to time and knowledge of spanish is helpful although not strictly necessary.
7. The beach is on the eastern tip of the island and therefore somewhat windy. The water is beautiful but can be a little rough.
8. While negotiating the arrival at Punta Cana airport is easy, getting out is confusing and crowded. Nobody seems to know what to do and there are long lines.
All in all, Punta Cana is not for everyone. Those people who demand Cristal with their foie gras should go other places. But those people who like to pay 2-star and 3-star prices for 3-star places will be pleasantly surprised as the place is 3 - 4 stars in most categories. Go in knowing what to expect and Punta Cana can be good cheap fun. It is not The Next St Barts and therefore we shall keep our Supersleuths scouting the caribbean with more reports when available.
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JEK
Moderator
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 10983
Loc: Northern Virginia
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Quote:
All in all, Punta Cana is not for everyone. Those people who demand Cristal with their foie gras should go other places.
Puff and I shall stay away. Probably don't have WIFI at all the restaurants either.
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Carnaval 2009: Mardi 24 Février 2009!!!!
JEK
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Nor do they have The Yachteratti - or even a proper harbor to accomodate such.
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nikkitn
Reged: 01/02/06
Posts: 112
Loc: Nashville, Tennessee
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Quote:
.
Executive Summary:
6. The people are very nice and try hard to be accomodating. Language can be a problem from time to time and knowledge of spanish is helpful although not strictly necessary.
Have to admit it -- wish they spoke espanol on SBH!! Would make life significantly easier for me there! ;-) Right now I'm trying to learn french on tape so I'm not a total buffoon when I try to order food or anything else.
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Nikki: Get the Rick Steve's Guide. He is a funny guy who covers most of the Essential Tourist Words in many languages. That, and a smile, will get you through.
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TPunch42
Reged: 01/24/06
Posts: 174
Loc: San Diego, CA
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I second that recommendation...We are ordering the latest Rick Steves languege guide for our next St. Barts trip. He keeps it simple and each section of his book has a purpose...How to order at a resturant...How to make reservations... etc. I speak absolutely No French and with a little humor and kind effort I am always successful at getting my needs met, usually I am rescued from myself by a friendly English speaker.
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JEK
Moderator
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 10983
Loc: Northern Virginia
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Quote:
I I am rescued from myself by a friendly English speaker.
Normally the very French looking wait-staff who speak better English than Fred . . . .
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Carnaval 2009: Mardi 24 Février 2009!!!!
JEK
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Lauren
Reged: 10/10/02
Posts: 1332
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If they were speaking spanish, you would be in Ibiza.
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Yeah, we could do Ibiza. On the list.
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