planing a trip to Mexico, Dominican Republic.

[ghache]

I am currently shopping my first trip down south and i was wondering if any of you had a resort recommendation for me!
There is soo many resort, its ridiculous!

 

[Ron Evers]

We have been to Mexico several times but not again due to the lawlessness & murders of tourists. Also we have visited Cuba & the Dominican Republic a few times. You must downgrade any Cuba resort by one star compared to other country resorts. The DR is great for food on the resorts but I suggest you stay on the resort. The lands outside the resorts is literally a garbage dump.

The nicest resort we have attended was in Cuba, the ROYAL HIDEAWAY ENSENACHOS but the food was not up to that we got in the DR.

 

[Alistair]

I agree with Ron on Mexico, it's a mess right now. The press in the US has been keeping it pretty quiet, but a lot of the local papers aren't around the border. The rest of it I haven't been there, but I'll take his word for it. =)

Special report: 'Juárez deserves the title of most dangerous city in the world' - El Paso Times

-This might help out, and this has increased even more since this posted. There even been shots fired at El Paso City Hall.

 

[FemFugler]

I know someone who went to Jamaica and said it was amazing and recommended it over Mexico.

 

[Juanka]

DR has this place called punta cana. I really REALLY suggest you look it up. At least google image it. Its beautiful, plus everything is pretty cheap with the dollar conversion.

 

[Pepperpwni]

We have been to Mexico several times but not again due to the lawlessness & murders of tourists.

The lawlessness and murders occur near the border. Stay away from Tijuana. I've been to Cancun and Puerto Vallerta four times in the past two years with out any problem. Saying Mexico is lawless and has murders of tourists is like saying one murder in Detriot makes all of the United States unsafe.

Infact, a lot of Tijuana is safe as well. I have friends that go there twice a year (for the past 10 years) to help build houses.
Builders of Hope
NEVER a problem. Would I go there? Nah. I would stay away from the border. BUT THE REST OF MEXICO IS FINE!

Also, I don't know if the OP is from America, but we can't exactly legally travel to Cuba. You could take a flight from Mexico to Cuba, but with all that lawlessness you might not want to .

 

[Ron Evers]

Well, check out this link to Cancun murders, not to mention other tourist areas.

cancun murders - Google Search

The aforementioned Hidaway has lots of photo opps.

 

[8ball]

Mexico is a scary place right now, I recomend bullet proof vest.

 

[arcooke]

I'd have a serious problem with toting around expensive camera equipment in Mexico.

 

[ghache]

I'd have a serious problem with toting around expensive camera equipment in Mexico.

If i bring my camera over there its going to be without the grip and i am going to leave the 24-70 at home for sure.
I might borrow the 18-55 from my in law.

 

[ghache]

Last night, we spotted a few resort in Punta Cana and a few resort in riviera maya. well see. i also joined a resort/vacation forum, they should have more information up there hehe

 

[robb01]

You couldn't pay me to go to Mexico, way too dangerous for my liking. Im sure there are plenty of other places in the Carribean that would be just as nice, for the same price, with less crime.

 

[ghache]

Well, too bad, i just booked trough a friend of mine who is a travel agent, at the Bluebay grand esmeralda. at 10 min from playa del carmen. Should i be afraid of crazy mexicans?! haha

 

[Trever1t]

I was in the DR in the mid/late 80's at a place called Samana (San Deigo de Samana). Not very touristy. Rented motorbikes and toured the countryside, awesome place.

 

[Studio7Four]

The resorts I've been to in those areas recently (the last few years) are:
Dominican Republic (Punta Cana) - Colonial Majestic Hotel - this past holiday season
Mexico (Playa del Carmen) - Iberostar Tucan - holiday season ~3 years ago

Both are all-inclusive, and both are very kid-friendly (don't know if that's a plus for you or something to avoid). Of the two, the Colonial Majestic was in my opinion the superior resort. The staff is extremely friendly, the accommodations are excellent, and as Ron said the food is amazing. We didn't venture off-resort and from what I saw on the ride between the airport and resort there wasn't much reason to. The Iberostar Tucan (also nice, not to slight it) has more options off-resort if you're looking for that, from a nearby "downtown" to more significant excursions. When we were there a few years ago the beach had been extremely eroded due to a recent hurricane and extremely poor engineering management by other resorts along the beach (placing sandbags to protect their portion of the beach caused shifts in the current, which in turn eroded more of the beach). I hope by now that has been rectified, but if beach time is important to you you'll want to clarify the situation.

That's about all I've got. I'd recommend either option for a vacation (can't speak as much to the photo opportunities as I wasn't there for photography.)