POP Beaches

We've been to Punta Cana the last 2 years (Natura Park and Catalonia resorts)and loved the beaches. We don't spend a lot of time on the beach but liked the soft white sand of Punta Cana for long walks. This year we are going to RIU Merengue in POP so my question is -will we be disappointed in the beaches at this POP resort?

POP beaches are no match to punta cana beaches. Rio merengue is not really inside POP but about 15 mins drive away from the city. This resort is really not that bad for the price but not in the same class as the punta cana resorts.

Sorry, but the true is yes, you will be disappointed. The beaches in the north coast are great, but not the beach in front of Riu merengue. I will recommend you to take a taxi or drive north to Sosua or playa grande. water in sosua is even clear than punta cana, but the sand is golden. playa grande is one of the best beach in the country.

There is no question that the Punta Cana and Bavaro sand is the best in the resort areas. White sand is the equivalent of refined white sugar, while the golden brown variety is like the brown sugar from molasses.

This is why I always bring up Miami Beach as an example. The sand at Miami Beach is coarse, almost construction sand variety. It even hurts you when you walk barefooted.

Punta Cana sand is so fine, it does not stick to your shoes. I tried walking one time with suede shoes and when I got home there was no sand sticking.

Playa Grande is a long beach with white sand. What makes it so special is the waves and unlike Punta Cana, Playa Grande is on the Atlantic Ocean. I used to camp there as a kid. It is a great place to eat a fish and hang out for a day.

If you are going golfing.....be sure to play the playa grande golf course....I've been told that it ranks right up there with the best in the world! And this is from "golfers" guys that play to a 10 or under and always play from the tips!

Caribbean Village Playa Grande is just being remodelated and it is a great resort to stay. now is under allegro management.

Hlywud; I've played the teeth and I really like the course, played golf for many yrs and I've played pebble, Ancaster G and C(which is now Hamilton G.&C) where the Canadien open is going to be played in 2004 and is probably the best course in Canada, besides redtail (where the membership is about 30 ppl, including Sean Connery, Mel Gibson, Greztky (honerary, not a real member)but Redtail cannot be played unless you know someone very well connected)and I've played a lot of the courses out west and also in the States (Firestone,tpc at sawgrass,danceing Rabbit, in Philly and many more top notch courses)and to be truthful The teeth is a top drawer course, but from what I hear from buddies who have played both, playa grande is better, I honestly don't find it to be in the top 25 in the world, but it is up there for sure.

I'm not as good as player as yourself, nor as good as your nephew, who is a asst, pro in London Ontario, but I'm about a 12 handicap and take the game very seriously, and always play from the tips. By the way I play with Mike Weirs brother all the time, as he works for me. He's not as good as his brother, but he is an accomplished golfer. Personally I think the Glen Abbey in Toronto, home of the Canadien Open, Canada's premier event, is a totally overated course, as the Teeth! Have you played Playa Grande?