Punta Cana Travel Forum

Hi there, I am staying in Punta Cana at the Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus complex, I have been advised that I might have to keep to the complex and will not be able to venture out due to the lack of security out side.
I have never stayed at an all inclusive and I am supprised that I can not go walking about to see the island. Can any one who has been there or is living out there please advise on this, many thanks Steve.
If this is not the case any suggestions on places to go and see I would much appreciate it please.Steve.

Who ever advised you not to go outside the AI (all inclusive) hotel?

I see no harm in going out and exploring life outside the hotel complex if you take your precautions. That is, don't flaunt your money, don't wear a lot of bling bling (jewelry that can make you a target for thieves), be careful of your surroundings, if possible make a copy of your passport/driver's license/ID card and leave the originals at the safe in your hotel, etc. I haven't been to Punta Cana so I can't comment on the public transportation issue but if you're going to take a cab, agree with the driver on the fare before you get in the car and stick to it. If you want to tip him that's your business but don't pay him more than you agreed. Where exactly would you like to go?

Oh yes, I forgot to say that the "don't go out of the hotel" is mostly a trick to make you consume more of the hotel products (esp. their excursions).

But exactly for Punta Cna it makes sense - there is abosolutely no place where to go in Punta Cana! Punat Cana has number of kilometres aalong the beach only all inclusive (except one) hotels fences, without any interruption! Other side of teh road rarely has any house. Nearest town is Higuay which is 1-2hrs drive from Punta Cana, depending where you stay.There is really aboslutely nothing outside teh hotel - no shops, no cafes or restauarnt.

The nearest small department store Punta Cana Plaza which offers more or less same souvenir staff like shops inside every hotel - 40 min. drive by taxi from my Barcelo hotel, just to disover with dissappointment such fact. I needed a screw into my glasses, so teh only way was to spend ca.100 USd one way by taxi to Higuay to the nearest optician, I left the issue to be resolved at home.

Actually this nmeans that no local people leave at Punat Cana as they are not allowed to settle around tourist complexes.

Punat Cana has been created on purpose like a concentrated only-tourist destination separated in such way from the rest of the country.

Every hotel in Punta Cana occupies huge territory.

My Barcelo complex was mega huge, just to drive by car from teh check point entarnce to the shore , where accomodation was located, it takes 15 min. - difficult to guess what is the total area - hundreds hectars?

Of course, you can go to various excusrsion and tours outside the hotel, but as Punat Cana is bit far away from any attarcation, at least for this reasons all those tours are not bargain. There is standrad aday tour tour to go to historical palces, ride horses, waterfalls - this is interesting. You can get as well a bit expensive aerial view from the plane. As well another land tour brings you to teh capital of Snata domingo and around, very interesting place as well. For 200-300 USd there is two day tour by plane to some nearby more dereted beach island - haven't been there, as don't see the point to change the same beach of Punat Cana. Then there are very nice lagoons in the jungles, easy acacesible from the Punta Cana shore, that is near Punta Cana Resort and Golf. the last one, by teh way, has golf field rated among 10 best in teh world - really picturisque.

To my knowledge other resort area in Dominican republic are not so much detached and on purpose isolated.

Still, that's true that country is really poor, and traffic is more than impollite and crazy - that copuld be another reason to think what is teh purpos eto go outside the hotel.

But the main, if it about hotel in Punta Cana, that there is nowhere to go .

Forgot: And of course there is no absolutely any public transport around Punta Cana except taxis.

Hello there, I do agree there's not much to do outside the various hotel complex because they're so spread out. Like it was mentioned you can visit PUNTA CANA PLAZA, now if You like to dance or just get a feel of the disco atmosphere you can catch a cab to Mangu Discotech its right next door to the Occidental Grand Flamenco & as of the last time I was there (Aug 06) it was the hottest disco in the area for tourists & locals alike. Other than that, you could take advantage of the different tours offered in the area. I would recommend the Saona Island tour because you go to the Bayahibe area in La Romana Province & you can get a feel of the beautiful scenery on the way.

HELLOOOOOOOOO
Can you please verify that the Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus that you're talking about is in fact in PUNTA CANA, because I believe is in La Romana...

According to www.iberostar.com, Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus is located in Bayahibe, which is closer to La Romana than Punta Cana. So that means that you might have more opportunities to go out than in PC.