Punta Cana vs Cabarete (1st visit to DR)

illwill123 · #1 08-14-2008, 11:36 PM

Hello to all...

This is my first post on the forum, but before I decided to post I've read most of the information that I could find on Punta Cana and Cabarete.

But I'm still not sure which place to pick... for my upcoming visit to the island (total of 5days)? I'm planning a trip with five of my alumni buddies our age range from 28 to 34 years of age. All of us are single and we are trying to decide whether to stay in Punta Cana or Cabarete because of the nightlife, beautiful beaches, restaurants, activities, and single women.

We like to be in short distance to clubs outside the resort, good restaurants outside of the resort, clubs, and bars. Activities we like to do if possible (golfing, windsurfing, good pool at the hotel, kite boarding, gift shopping, outdoor safari, casino, and etc). Golfing, watersports, casino, and club are the activities that are on top of our list.

The hotels I look into in Punta Cana are below:
Iberostar Bavaro
Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa

The hotels I look into in Cabarete are below:
Viva Wyndham Tangerine
Velero Beach Resort

The only thing that I know I will have to satisfy for myself and my buddies would be a really clean and nice hotel (doesn't have to be luxury, but good), with a mini bar, nice pool, good food, and good beach to walk around. Also a nightlife area where there are plenty of beautiful single women. Also I would be the only person in my group who speak Spanish (just enough to hold a convo)

Also I'm open to renting condo/apartments, but then we would not have the pool (I’m guessing).

Princesa777 · #2 08-15-2008, 03:32 AM

I dont know much about the hotels in particular.

But about Cabarete and Punta Cana, Im sure no matter what place you pick, you will have a blast.

Punta Cana is more AI-oriented than Cabarete (although Cabarete has some AI hotels too) The beaches are nicer in Punta Cana too (not to say they are ugly in Cabarete)

Cabarete is the perfect place if you wanna do watersports (kitesurfing, windsurfing, wave surfing) and has a good nightlife too, but dont expect any big clubs; they are more like dancing bars right on the beach (all next to eachother) The restaurants are pretty good in Cabarete too

In Cabarete you are more likely to meet Dominicans (outside of the ones working in your hotel). With just English you will be fine in both places.

You can do golfing in both places, but I think it might be better in Punta Cana (i've never golfed)

Oh and by the way, most condo's have a pool too

Hillbilly · #3 08-15-2008, 10:32 AM

I'll go with most of what princess has said.
A lot has to do with your wallets. YOu can have a lot of fun, more activities on less money in Cabarete than in Punta Cana. Golf is cheaper (both Playa Grande and Playa Dorada are less expensive than any of the course in Punta Cana) and there are a lot more singles on the North Shore. Plus, there are more places to go. You can go to Puerto Plata in 30 minutes, Sosua in 15 minutes or less, or east to Gaspar Hernández. Each place is different...

For five hectic days, I'd go North, young men, go North...

HB

jalencastro · #4 08-15-2008, 12:09 PM

i second Hillbilly, go north lads! you will DEFINATELY have more fun up there than in Punta Cana [no offense to anyone here]. As a matter of fact, your group and what you are looking for sounds like a perfect fit for the beaches of the north. have a look

Cabarete Hotels, Hotel list of Cabarete

lots of good places to stay here, if you want get yourselves a big enough suite and or just rent a big apartment for the week and have a blast! this is a no brainer, some of these places do have pools

where are you guys coming from? if you fly into Santiago you can all cab it to the north, or just fly into Puerto Plata [POP] and some of these places have airport transfers that can come get you. good luck!

Spinaker 76 · #5 08-21-2008, 10:02 PM

I have been to both places, and love them both, but I think for young men, Cabarette is the best. I am going back for a month in 2009

KeithF · #6 08-23-2008, 05:53 AM

If a couple of you don't mind sharing a room, you could rent a three bedroom apartment which would be a lot cheaper than going to an all inclusive resort and in my opinion, (biased obviously!) is that being outside of an AI is much more interesting & fun!

For example, my apartment in Cabarete (as advertised on DR1) split between five people would leave a lot of cash to spend at the bars and restaurants... And it's got a pool!

Royal Residence Cabarete
Cabarete

MikeFisher · #7 08-24-2008, 02:36 PM

i am on the east,
but in your case with single guys i would point you towards the northshore,
you have more nightlife activities there nearby as singles, the better surfing/kiting anyways.
you mentioned that Golfing is a main point,
you have to make your decision 'how important that is compared to the other points', the 7 present golf courses in PC are outstanding, golfing here compares to world top classes, but it depends how important one point over an other is over all for your crowd of guys.
here on DR1 we have a great Golfing section, use the search function on top of the page, Robert has a ranking/rating list of the golf courses all around the island.

in case of single women on nighttime:
they are all single during nighttime,
even most are not on their 'time off' during nighttime, ha ha

for a bunch of single guys looking for the caribbean fun,
take the north shore,
join in the north coast/living/aso section of this bord,
you will soon run in guys like Rocky aso,
they will point you to the "way of life" for 5 days.
have a blast
Mike

illwill123 · #8 10-13-2008, 08:52 PM

The group voted for Punta Cana and traveling to Cabarete for the nightlife, but I'm trying to swing it the other way...

I'm organizing the trip but I have to go with the vote as of right now...

We plan to book at Punta Cana - Grand Palladium Bavaro Resort & Spa...

The booking date is Nov 1, maybe I can steer two of the guys the other direction... If I can prove to them that more woman are on the North Shore side

illwill123 · #9 10-13-2008, 09:37 PM

I take that back... The North Shore is where we are going... Its all guys know and I don't have to entertain a married couple going along on this trip...

I just need to head to the North Shore board and do some research on where to stay... I like to book our rooms by the beginning of November.

Thanks

CFA123 · #10 10-14-2008, 01:52 AM

In Cabarete some recommendations... all on the beach side of the road, and within walking distance of nightlife. Some accomodations are oceanview, others you can't see the beach but you're 'right there'.

My advice for a group of guys - go for a condo or two. You can find them in 2, 3, & 4 bedroom units & typically for same per person price as a lower quality room in a hotel. You can fix sandwiches during the day & eat out at the many restaurants. Some very nice ones in Ocean Dream, Ocean One, and Harmony. Check vrbo.com for condo rentals.

Below are your choices unless I forgot something on the bay, east to west... all nice places to stay in their own way for their price points.

Google for their websites & if you have specific questions, ask away. I put in bold the ones I'd check first.

east point of the bay
El Magnifico - condos
Velero resort - condos. great view of the bay, nice units, but have a hotel feel to me in terms of room size as opposed to the newer condos a little further west on the bay.

WINDSURF LAUNCH AREA OF THE BAY
Sans Souci - pretty nice & not very expensive. not all units with a/c
Tropical Casa Laguna Beach Club - Older all inclusive (Casa Laguna is across the road, Beach club is on the beach)
Palm Beach Condos - older but nice 2 bedroom condos
Villa Taina - hotel, 'beachfront' rooms are newest

KITING LAUNCH AREA ON THE BAY
Ocean One - high end luxury condos
Harmony - high end luxury condos
Ocean Dream - high end luxury condos
Olas de Oro - villas/condos
Viva Wyndham - probably nicest All Inclusive in town
Nanny Estates - condos
(west point of the bay)

There are other nice places... Cabarete East, Victorian, Ocean Point... but further out and you wouldn't want to walk to town at night for sure, possibly not even during the day... it's a fair distance on foot.

Again, any questions I or someone else will be able to give you an idea & steer you pretty reasonably in the right direction.