One Week in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
I was in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for one week, initially to attend one of my good friend’s weddings as a bridesmaid. After seeing it took up a good chunk of points/miles to get there (Chase Ultimate rewards and United miles), I decided to make the trip out there worth it and stay a full week to explore. Below was my itinerary for the week:
Days 1 – 3: Now Larimar Punta Cana Resort (all-inclusive resort)
Stayed at the resort the entire time for my friends’ wedding #whenamanaslovesawoman
Day 4 – 6: Shirley’s Beach Place, Airbnb in Bavaro, Punta Cana
Explored the Bavaro area and ate at various restaurants
Santo Domingo day tour
Day 7: Westin Punta Cana Resort
Stayed one night and spent the day at Playa Blanco
Transportation
From the airport to the hotel we booked a shuttle for $12 per person to Now Larimar. You can get a private shuttle for $24 each way. We used Allstar and they were pretty good. I would recommend arranging your airport transfers before traveling for easier transition to your accommodations. Ask your resort who they use or do your own research for companies that can take you to your accommodation. Taxis are pretty pricey…I wanted to take a taxi from Now Larimar to my Airbnb which was a half mile away and they wanted to charge me $20! I negotiated it down to $10 which is still a bit much, but better than the alternative. There’s always room for negotiation and I always try to talk down the price when I can..so don’t be afraid to haggle the price!
Money
They take US dollars if you have them, but I withdrew money with my Charles Schwab card and used Dominican pesos throughout my trip. The conversion rate at the time was 47 pesos to each USD.
Safety
When I stayed at the resorts, I did not venture outside of the property. However, when I stayed at the Airbnb in Bavaro, I walked around on my own everywhere. Being a solo female traveler, I received some compliments from local men, all harmless, but I played the no habla espanol card, which is true (but I need to learn, lol) and continued on to my destination. As with anywhere you go….just be alert and smart and you will be fine!
Accommodations/Food/Activities
Had very different experiences in the places I stayed at. Read about them here in their respective reviews:
The beaches are beautiful in Punta Cana. Having only been to three, my favorite was Playa Blanco because the sand was super soft and white and the water was sooooo blue and clear. I did not get a chance to visit any of the islands, but when I do come back, I plan on visiting Isla Saona and Catalina.
Santo Domingo – I was only able to do the one day tour from Punta Cana which gives you a little taste of the city. If I could redo my trip, I would have stayed in Santo Domingo for a couple of nights to get a better feel for the life and culture in the city. Review HERE on my excursion.
Overall, I had a wonderful time in Punta Cana with friends and on my own so definitely recommend if you want to explore an island in the Caribbean!