Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

DH and are taking a trip soon.

Last week in May, or either First week in June or first week July.

We are tossing between Jamiaca vs Punta Cana.

Can anyone share their experiences, and hotels?

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

I wasn't impressed with Jamaica, however my family went to Punta Cana and liked it. I would vote Punta Cana.

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

What didn't you like about Jamaica?

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

I have been to both. I prefer Punta Cana. I feel like you can good a bang for your buck with either, so do your research and go with the best value. I hear great things about Secrets and Excellence (both adults only)

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

We've been to the Excellence Resorts in Mexico so we are going to look around for other options.

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

I've been to both and we are returning to DR this year.

We went to Ocho Rios and stayed at Couples Tower Isle. I was extremely disappointed in the food in Jamaica. Besides the restaurants during dinner, everything was "jerk" style and that got old very fast. The beach was nice but nothing spectacular. The service was out of this world at our hotel but I was absolutely terrified to leave the resort. We went on one excursion and the driver's eyes were so blood shot red from smoking weed. I was convinced we were going to be murdered when we went parasailing because of how we were dropped off.

I know people have said the same things about DR - not feeling safe off the resort and bad food. But for me DR was much better. Loved the beach where we went to and I didn't feel as scared to venture off the resort. We stayed at the Iberostar Bavaro in Punta Cana

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

once you get on the resort it's very similar but i think of the airport, and the drive to the resort:

jamaica was scary

punta cana is less scary


i've been to punta cana twice and would go back. i do not need to go back to jamaica.

we stayed at excellence and majestic elegance in DR

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

Been to both - Punta Cana for our HM and Jamaica for an anniversary trip. Jamaica was my favorite by far. Stayed at Excellence in punta Cana. It was great, loved it, and HIGHLY recommend the Excellence chain. In Jamaica we stayed at Couples Swept Away. Resort isn't fancy, but the people are the sweetest, food was great, and the beach is amazing. Both were really great trips and I'd go to either again. But the beach and sunsets in Jamaica really did it for me. And I'm nto a beach person by any means, but I really did not want to leave that beach. You can't go wrong in either location though.

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

I've been to both. While I found Punta Cana to be a cheaper vacation, I loved Jamaica so much more. Maybe it was just the resorts we went to. We stayed at Excellence Punta Cana in May which was a fantastic resort. Absolutely beautiful and opulent. The rooms were fantastic- we had a huge hot tub in our room and a nice little back yard with a hammock and table and chairs. The beach there was rough though- we didn't step foot in the ocean once- the water was way too rough and ICE COLD. They had beds and cabanas and everything set up on the beach and they went unused by anyone. Which is fine since they had a HUGE rambling pool with a swim up bar and games and rafts and all that fun stuff. I also felt like the staff was just not the best. Anytime you ordered a drink or asked for anything it was like they were doing YOU a favor. They expected tips for everything- never outright asked for a tip- but you could see them lingering. DH and I are big tippers but this got to be ridiculous. They were also kind of nasty, the bartenders in particular. DH works with a lot of Spanish guys and knows rudimentary Spanish- at least enough to know when your bartender is talking smack about you and your wife while preparing your delicious coconut drinks. It just wasn't a good feeling.

We went to Jamaica Couples Swept Away in September and it was about the opposite of Excellence. The resort is beautiful, but in a different sort of way- a very laid back, Caribbean feel to it. Even the airport in Jamaica had a thatched roof and no walls. At Swept Away, they had two small pools one with a swim up bar, but that's not really what the resort was about. It's all about the beach in Jamaica. The sand is soooooo soft and smooth- you could see them meticulously combing the sand twice a day every day. The water was calm and warm like stepping into a bath at just the right temperature. We barely ever got off the beach- even when it started to rain (we went during the rainy season) it was so gentle and warm that we just stayed on our rafts in the ocean and sipped our drinks until the sun came out again (which was usually about 5 minutes later). The staff was the complete opposite of Excellence, too. They would bend over backwards to make your stay better, even if it was just by being friendly. They had a ton of people selling stuff on the beach (which isn't resort property) but they were always pleasant, never pushy, even when they were trying to sell us pot for the 570th time. Everything was "no problem mon". The food was sooo good, too. I liked it here MUCH better than Punta Cana, but then I'm a picky eater. DH loved the food at both resorts.

I guess what it comes down to is what you're looking for in your vacation. Jamaica is where I'd go for a laid back, relaxing beach vacation. Punta Cana is more of a party resort- from the nightlife to the swim up bar at the pool there was just always something going on. HTH!

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

Wow these are all great reponses. DH and I have a lot to look at.

We stayed at the Excellence in Riviera Maya. I LOVE Mexico, but its time to go somewhere different.

I am going to look up some things in Jamaica.

Thank you!!

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

I have been to both as well and we went back to Negril cuz the beaches are just spectacular! Never used the pool once!

Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

Punta Cana is beautiful. Just be careful where you stay. I stayed at the Barcelo Resorts and was horribly sick. The 3 friends I went with were ill as well, just not to the bed-ridden degree I was .
My babysitter just returned from Hard Rock and came back with colitis!

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

Punta Cana. Check out Excellence Resorts. We loved it so much that we extended our stay.

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

Re: Jamaica VS. Punta Cana

We just got back from Jamaica, our second time there. Never been to Punta Cana, but I love Jamaica and I love the people there. The first time around we went to the Sandals in Ocho Rios and absolutely LOVED it. I'd recommend it in a heart beat. We're not big excursion people, so the resort we go to is super important that it has great food, nice pool and great beach. This Sandals had it all and can't wait to go again.