Punta Cana or Cancun

We are planning on a family vacation... just so happend a bunch of us got the same weekend off

Which location has better AI, and needs to be family friendly. I don't want all of us wasting time on deciding a location

Any suggestions on resorts will also be super helpful.. gracias!!

Re: Punta Cana or Cancun

Cancun.

I did not care for Punta Cana. The heat and humidity was oppressive and it didn't have a breeze. The hotels, also, are not in the same condition as Mexico - all of the resorts, the nicer ones, I saw and the one we went to were PRISTINE in Mexico. New, renovated, had AC in most all the places and restaurants - the open air areas they did have had a great breeze. In DR, it wasn't like that and many restaurants didn't have AC. A coworker of mine just came back and he did research to try and avoid the humidity and thick air of Punta Cana by staying on the North part of the island - Puerta Plata. He said it was just as bad there. A little breeze but it was hot, thick, steam air. We JUST got done talking about that and I saw your post. I was telling him, next time you go away - go to Playa Mujeres (just outside Cancun or just go to Cabo) - no humidity!!!

Anyway, we stayed at Excellence Playa Mujeres (it is a fifteen min cab ride from the Cancun Aiport)... It is, hands down, the best place I have ever stayed. It is Adults Only but they have recently opened a property RIGHT next door, same everything, that is family-friendly.

I'm a snob and this place is heaven on earth - I liked it so much I actually traveled there twice. I went first with my sister, loved it so much that the following year I had to take my SO back. My sister's friend needed a HM destination and she sent them there - they said it was the best place they had ever been for an AI.

I would never have known about it if it wasn't for the ladies here on LIF who first recommended it way back when.

If for some reason you do decide on DR over MX - DO NOT STAY at Majestic Elegance.

Message edited 5/26/2015 11:44:32 AM.

Punta Cana or Cancun

thank you, I really appreciate your comments. Our group is spilt on both locations, and DH and I are sold on Cancun. I was looking up places on Tripadvisor as well. A couple of folks in our group wants to do Punta Cana.. (we are 8 adults and 6 kids), and we are meeting up for drinks, so lets see how this goes. The argument is that with small children DR is safer that Mexico, ugh!

Re: Punta Cana or Cancun

Re: Punta Cana or Cancun

Punta Cana or Cancun

Thanks guys.. airtickets are in the 600 to 700 range right now.. will see what we can do!

Re: Punta Cana or Cancun

Punta Cana... hands down. DH and I went there every year and got engaged there. When it came time to plan our honeymoon we decided we should try something different to make it feel special so we did Excellence in Cancun (Rivera Maya) and were sooo disappointed... it was more expensive than Punta Cana and the beaches were so ugly compared to Punta Cana... wasn't worth the premium price at all...

Re: Punta Cana or Cancun

Cancun. Rui palace las Americas. Best all inclusive resort. It's safe to walk the streets. If you stay on the strip there is plenty to do outside of the resort. We have been to punt a cans and didn't like it at all

Re: Punta Cana or Cancun

Personally, I prefer Punta Cana. The flight is shorter, and I kind of feel it is more family friendly. I feel that, although families go to Cancun, it is more a destination for college people.

We stayed in Playa del Carmen, and it was good to go around and visit other places like Tulum and Chichen Itza (which would be a plus if you stay in Cancun). There is Xplorer and other thematic parks.

If you will stay only in the hotel, I'd guess it really doesn't matter, but I tend to gravitate to PC. They have great resorts there. At the end, both are great places!

Re: Punta Cana or Cancun

thanks everyone.. waiting on our travel agent to price things out.. picked a resort in Punta Cana and Cancun.. will see how the numbers work out. Tickets are insane right now.. if nothing works out, it will Rehobeth or OC..

Re: Punta Cana or Cancun

I didn't like DR at all.

Didn't feel safe. Service was sub par. Just felt dirty there.

Left resort for an excursion. Bus drove past people on mopeds with machetes.

ETA: loved Mexico. Loveddddd it. New resorts. Exceptional service. But don't leave the compound (unless you go to playa del Carmen - then you can walk around 5th Ave)

Message edited 6/1/2015 2:58:02 PM.

Punta Cana or Cancun

Been to Punta Cana & Cancun twice each -- and hands down love Punta Cana more. The food and service felt better in Punta Cana and both resorts we stayed at and I enjoyed their beaches more.

Cancun is nice but maybe I'm just a little too old for it now. Being young and having all the clubs to bounce from at night is great but not so much when you're 35. Plus the hotel zone is just so Americanized with chain restaurants. If I wanted to go to Tony Roma's or TGI Friday's, I can do that 10 min from my house.

Punta Cana or Cancun

I have been to both and without a double Punta Cana. I am not a fan of Mexico at all. The beach was beautiful but rough and the food made me sick.