Punta Cana Travel Guide 2024

The Dominican Republic is one of the most widely visited countries in the Caribbean with its most popular resort town, Punta Cana, attracting millions of tourists each year. If you’re looking for white sand beaches, gorgeous blue waters, and a rowdy fun time, this spot is a must-visit. 

Experience a slice of heaven at one of its gorgeous all-inclusive resorts while tapping into your adventurous side with one of the dozens of excursions the area has to offer. The perfect mix of romantic yet fun— this destination will have you coming back for more!

THINGS TO KNOW BEFOREHAND 

Just a few things to note before your trip!

Language

Spanish is the official language of The Dominican Republic/Punta Cana. Although most employees do speak English, it is far more limited than other Caribbean destinations I’ve traveled to. I recommend having Google Translate downloaded and on hand just in case!

Currency 

Peso 

*Resorts will accept cards however most taxis, excursions, and local shops are cash only. I suggest taking out Pesos beforehand.

Climate 

Regardless of when you visit Punt Cana, it’s going to be hot. Temperatures in the winter reach the eighties with summers climbing into the hundreds. The humidity is quite intense so plan accordingly. 

TRANSPORTATION TO PUNTA CANA 

Although The Dominican Republic has several airports you will likely be flying into Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). When flying to a foreign country, I highly suggest booking a transfer service beforehand, this way you can ensure a safe, timely ride to your hotel/resort. We booked ours through Amstar. 

OUR ROOM AT GRAND BAVARO PRINCESS 

Grand Bavaro Princess is a beautiful all-inclusive resort located on Bavaro Beach. This recently refurbished five-star resort has over 1,200 rooms accommodating both families and honeymooners. With over ten restaurants, several pools, and daily entertainment you won’t want to leave the property. 

This resort is huge and has so many photogenic corners worth exploring. 

We spent four nights in their Bungalow Suite which is located in the Platinum area of the property. Platinum rooms are adults-only and are just steps away from the white sand beaches. They also offer stunning ocean views. 

A peek into our welcome surprise. The living area of our room was decked out in rose petals, chocolate-covered strawberries, and other sweet treats. 

The bedroom faced the sliding glass door which had stunning views. 

The bathroom had an open floor plan with a walk-in doorless shower, a huge jacuzzi tub, and a large double sink area. 

Our view.

The employees here were incredible working around the clock to make sure we were constantly greeted with surprises, fresh linens, and room service. Everything is included here so go ahead and order that extra bottle of wine to the room. Nothing beats enjoying the sunset from your private balcony with a glass in hand. 

You don’t have to break the bank to get a piece of this luxury. Bungalow Suites start as low as $200 a night… browse current rates and availability at Grand Bavaro here. 

FOOD & DRINK AT THE RESORT 

Grand Bavaro Princess has ten themed restaurants featuring different cuisines from around the world. Whether you’re craving Italian, Mexican, Japanese, or seafood they truly have it all. Additionally, they have three buffet restaurants two snack bars, one food truck area, one coffee shop, and nine bars (including two swim-ups). 

In other words, you’ll be leaving this vacation a few pounds heavier, haha. This is all-inclusive so you can fully immerse yourself in the culinary experience, trying one of everything. Read more on all the offerings here.

I suggest making a reservation for dinner at least one day in advance as space is limited. Sharing a few of our favorites from the trip below. 

Il Tratufo 

If you’re wanting a chic dinner with a moody atmosphere, this Italian restaurant is the spot. We had the best meal here complete with my study-abroad favorites: risotto, burrata, and pesto! There’s more of a romantic vibe here but if you’re anything like us you’ll have the whole bartending crew taking shots with you by the end of the meal.

The employees here were incredible, treating us with so much kindness and fun! 

La Hacienda

Paradise is all-you-can-eat tacos. We tried one of everything at La Hacienda and were impressed with the wide variety of options they offered. Our favorites were the tempura fish and the pork with pineapple salsa. This is also a great spot to knock back a few margaritas to get the night going! 

AMENITIES AT THE RESORT 

This resort had it all. Sharing a few of its noteworthy amenities below. 

Beach Access

The best type of vacation is one where I’m within walking distance of the beach. Our room was steps away from the ocean which made this trip that much more enjoyable. Grand Bavaro has umbrellas, beach chairs, and cabanas available for use, free of charge. 

You must spend some time in the ocean. The Dominican has some of the finest sand and the bluest waters. The water is a little rough but nothing you can’t swim in! We spent hours playing in the water + basking in the sun. Grand Bavaro also has employees periodically checking on you to ensure a comfortable, relaxing experience.

Pools 

There are several pools on site— both kid-friendly and adults-only. I highly suggest dipping in at the swim-up bar. Their pina coloads were my favorite!

Gym 

Want to stay active while on vacation? I always check out the gym when I’m on vacation and this one did not disappoint. Whether you’re wanting to walk on the treadmill or hit the weights, you can do it all here. It’s very big too so you don’t have to worry about being “on top” of your neighbor while breaking a sweat! 

Spa

Want a massage or maybe a facial? This resort has a fully equipped spa that you can visit. Perhaps you want a beachfront massage instead… they do that too! Check out their list of services here.

Ride Service

When I said this resort was big, I meant big. It’s over a mile from one of the resort to the other. Grand Bavaro has a tram service that runs every ten minutes, picking you up and dropping you off at various restaurants/popular hot spots amidst the resort. This makes it super easy and stress-free to get around and allows you to sit back and relax instead of walking miles on end. 

EXCURSION RECCOMENDATIONS 

There are so many different excursions offered in Punta Cana– horse back riding, ATVing, zip lining and more. While I love spending my afternoons simply relaxing by the pool and basking by the beach, I appreciate sprinkling in a little adventure too! We did two different excursions this trip, both I highly recommend.

Parasailing On The Beach 

Punta Cana is one of those destinations where a handful of guys walk up and down the beaches trying to sell you cigars, cornrows, and parasailing adventures. I usually disregard them but I was with a guy this trip and I figured if I was ever going to face my fear of parasailing, this was the time to do it.

I won’t lie, I have no idea what company this was run by (if any at all) and we talked them down to $75 cash. You get on a little boat, they harnass you up, and a few minutes later you’re a hundred feet in the air looking out over the beach. It’s an absolutely unreal view and although it was a little scary getting up there, it ended up being an epic experience.

Snorkeling Experience With Hispaniola Adventures 

book here 

We also booked a snorkel experience with Hispaniola Adventures and I cannot sya enough good things. This compnay provides transporation to and from your hotel to the site. We had a half-day experience complete with snorkeling, private beaches, coconut tasting, an open bar, and a surf and turf lunch!

They take you to all the good spots and it’s run by a team of locals so you really get the full experience. Such a fun way to spend the day.

WHAT TO WEAR IN PUNTA CANA 

Not sure what to wear on your trip to Punta Cana? I’ve got you covered. Sharing eight outfits + bikinis I wore during my trip in this blog post. Per usual I’m sharing links to everything for you to easily recreate these looks.

It’s scorching hot even in the winter/early spring. I recommend bringing lots of swimsuits, easy breezy linens, and a few dresses. The humidity is pretty intense so I suggest bringing a hat, some hair gel, or a claw clip to keep that hair up.

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Punta Cana was truly a slice of paradise! Of all the vacations I’ve taken this was by far one of my favorites— the perfect mix of relaxing yet spontaneous. It’s hard to beat good drinks, perfect weather, and those views. If you’re looking to book a last-minute spring break trip, I highly suggest the Dominican. I know it won’t be the last time I visit!

Interested in booking a stay? Browse more information and availability at Grand Bavaro Princess here.

In the meantime, I’m gearing up for a Caribbean cruise to Puerto Rico, Aruba, and Curacao. Stay tuned for all the details on my Virgin Voyage + more vacation outfit ideas.

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