Punta Cana Airport.
The Punta Cana Airport has a beautiful thatched roof
and is an open-air design. Upon arriving at the Punta
Cana airport, each passenger is required to purchase
a $10.00 tourist card before entering customs. After
retrieving luggage and clearing customs, arriving passengers
will be greeted by their tour company representative
and directed to board the correct bus for transfer to
their resort.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The department of migration is now photographing all
United States citizens who enter the Dominican Republic
with birth certificates and photo ids. This will not
affect United States Passengers who travel using their
passports. This plan has been adopted to reduce the
number of illegal aliens who use these documents to
later gain illegal entry to the United States. The
computerized systems are in place at each of the international
air and maritime ports.
Vacation Punta Cana
Punta Cana has a tropical climate. The resorts are low-rise
and beautiful. The grounds are lush and tropical with
foliage, lagoons and palm trees along with peacocks,
flamencos, ducks, parrots and other wildlife stroll
the resorts’ grounds. The summer months tend to
be very warm and very humid. We suggest cool, loose
fitting, cotton clothing – so pack light. The majority
of the resorts are very large and spread out –
like small cities. This means lot of walking. Some resorts
have golf carts and trams to accommodate guests’
needs. Punta Cana has so many great resorts that will
meet every expectation: golf, scuba, fishing, windsailing,
yachting, fine dining, relaxation, spas, children's
programs and more. Our sales staff is knowledgeable
and available to consult and recommend the perfect resort
to meet your expectations.
Punta Cana, the newest and fastest growth vacation spot
is on a roll. Punta Cana is quickly becoming everybody's
favorite destination. There are more rooms in Punta
Cana (over 14,000) than in the entire country of Jamaica.
Most resorts have been built within the past five years.
All on spectacular beaches, the hotels measure their
beachfront by the kilometer. Punta Cana is popular with
and perfected by Europeans during the nineties. Maximum
airport hotel transfer time is 45 minutes with the average
of 25 minutes.
The unspoiled scenery of Punta Cana will leave you
breathless. Forty miles of pearl-white sand beaches
and luxurious beach resort hotels line the eastern
coast of this island.
Punta Cana has put a priority on its ecological efforts.
Vacationers can hike trails and view some of the native
and rare species of animals and vegetation while the
island's mineral springs offer a cool and refreshing
refuge.
Twenty-five years ago, the east coast was little
more than a lonely stretch of beach and scrub-brush.
Today, that diamond in the rough has been polished
into a glittering gem; unquestionably the Caribbean's
most popular and fastest growing tourist destination.
The area embraced by Macao and Punta Cana, including
Bavaro, now is home to more than 30 tourist complexes
with over 13,000 rooms. For 35 kilometers, along secluded
stretches of pearl white sand, the East Coast is a
beach-lover's paradise. The brilliant sands of Bavaro,
"Arena Gorda, Cortecito, Cabeza del Toro, Macao
and Punta Cana beckon to travelers from all corners
of the globe. Over 70 charter and regular flights
arrive weekly at Punta Cana's international airport
from a dozen European cities as well as Canada, the
United States and South America.
The Destination and The People
Tropical warmth and sunshine -- rainforests and waterfalls,
deserts, palm-tree lined wide golden and white sand
beaches with exquisite blue ocean. Mangroves, tall
mountains and lush green valleys - extremely beautiful,
unspoiled, primitive and also third world.
The Dominican people are warm and friendly. Most Dominicans
still live in wooden shacks, a long way from electricity
or water supplies. Education is broken down due to
lack of money and relatively few teachers. Wages are
low. Illiteracy is widespread. Each year nearly two
billion dollars disappears through political corruption.
Children play in the streets with a sticks, hens peck
the ground along with chickens, horses and goats graze
along road. The countryside is covered with pastel-colored
homes with verandas. On each veranda sits a rocking
chair. You will seldom see beggars in the Dominican
Republic, but you may experience voodoo-dancers, people
selling coconuts or selling native paintings. Yet
the people remain warm, smiling and receptive -- unhassled
and full of enthusiasm.
The Dominican Government
Currently the Dominican government is working to develop
a better education system for its people and to develop
an Eco-friendly tourism program. The government has
a long way to go in keeping up with the rapid pace
of growth. The roads can be very poor and pot-holes
appear out of nowhere after heavy rainstorms. Don't
even think of driving or renting a car. Be safe, not
sorry. Tour with the professionals who know the roads,
the customs, and the driving (or lack of) regulations.
Resorts
The majority of resorts in the Dominican Republic
are Spanish-owned with staff and background training
out of Mallorca, Spain. Most of the resorts are all-inclusive
and abide by very stringent food preparation and water
testing guidelines.
Note: the last thing resort management wants is for
guests to become ill. Guest rooms are stocked with
bottled water. Quite frankly, during all of our visits
to the Dominican Republic, neither of us have ever
taken ill. Be careful and think.
Medical Services
Resorts have doctors are on call 24-hours per day
for a fee.
Hospital
A modern, fully equipped, professionally staffed hospital
is located minutes from the Punta Cana Airport. The
Punta Cana hospital is managed by a company based
in Spain and is said to be top-notch.
Mosquitoes
In the tropics, mosquitoes appear after dusk. It is
recommended that guests wear long, comfortable cotton
pants after dusk and spray before venturing outside.
Mosquitoes are seasonal and are more noticeable in
the rainy season.
The Dominican Republic has so much beauty to offer
tourists and is a true value for the dollar. Take
advantage of this magnificent experience -- you won't
be sorry you did.
Shopping
Shopping for souvenirs to bring back home? In
Punta Cana, Plazas are equipped with Dominican &
Caribbean crafts; silver and hand made souvenirs,
cigars, rum, colorful paints and ceramics. Shopping
plazas in Punta Cana are opened air and are full of
small in-door shops.
Plaza Bavaro - Plaza Punta Cana
Shopping at Plaza Bavaro is one of the biggest
experiences if you want to mingle with the locals
while on vacation in Punta Cana. Plaza Bavaro is the
favorite shopping plaza for visitors and locals alike.
Opens everyday from 9:00am to 7:00pm with gifts shops,
calling center, Internet center, banks, typical restaurants,
pharmacy, banks, jewelry store, local boutiques, etc.
A place where you can share with the local people,
bargain hunt, especially for cash purchases. DON’T
BE SHY!!! Let yourself become part of the game and
you’ll get impressive discounts up to 40% if
asking price.
Plaza Punta Cana
Located just across the street from Plaza Bavaro;
Plaza Punta Cana offers a huge variety of merchandise,
Painting, Cigars, rum, T Shirts, and much more, don’t
forget to ask for your discount.
Nightlife
In Punta Cana just before midnight every body starts
feeling the Adrenaline going through their veins thinking
about music, especially Merengue that is one of the
world’s most contagious rhythms. Around midnight
is the time to take the road to the Disco!!! Several
clubs and discotheques at the hotel can be found every
body (tourists, hotels and local employers) gets together
in one of these discotheques:
Mangu Discotheque & Bar
It’s name comes from a Dominican dish made with
mashed bananas, which is one of the every-night typical
dishes for the Dominicans. Mangu Discotheque is located
at the Occidental Flamenco Hotel and is open every
night. The Bar features a giant screen where important
soccer, football, baseball, famous boxing, racing,
and other games are transmitted while having a relaxing
beer and snacks with friends. Tourists and locals
get together at Mangu Discotheque to enjoy good music,
drinks and have fun while dancing the night away with
Merengue, Bachata, Salsa, Rock, Reggae music and the
latest hits from Europe and USA.
Areito
Areito in the island’s native language means
“The Dance of the God’s”. The nightclub
is decorated and surrounded by indigenas elements
and aborigine cultural objects. Located at the Hotel
Hodelpa Resorts, where hotel’s clients and locals
have fun. Areito is the first Private Club in the
area offering our clients an exclusive and safe atmosphere.
During the week, they have various activity programs,
such as live shows and spectacle at a cover fee. Oversized
screen displaying the best in music videos. We guarantee
fun and entertainment always.
Pacha Discotheque
The first discotheque built in the area and the biggest.
Located in the Riu Hotels and Resorts. Live shows
presented with the main Caribbean orchestras form
Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and some other countries
playing Merengue and Bachata. Live shows have a cover
fee. Spectacles presented at least twice a week where
local people and tourist are the starring. Open every
day from 23:00 to 4:00 hrs. And you can have drinks
and outside snacks. Enjoy the best disco in town that
gives you freedom to dance everywhere to the unique
mix of Rock & Pop, Dance, Hip-Hop, 70’s &
80’s, Salsa and Merengue every night.
