With summer quickly approaching many people are trying to figure out their summer travel plans. The Caribbean and Mexico are favorite destinations for many, due to their location, cost and of course sunshine and beaches.
With so many choices to choose from it is a daunting task for many to finalize which tropical destination to choose.
Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic and Cabo San Luca, in Mexico, are two wildly popular vacation destinations. Although these two destinations seem similar, if you dig a bit deeper you will be able to distinguish the difference between them.
Getting There
Punta Cana: Punta Cana is located in the Dominican Republic on the easternmost tip of the island along the Caribbean Sea. Flight prices to Punta Cana are moderately priced during the summer.
Cities such as Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York offer nonstop flights to Punta Cana. It takes a little over two hours from Miami and almost four hours from New York to get to Punta Cana.
It is a great idea to have your transportation arranged beforehand to avoid any delays or language barrier issues. Some resorts can be up to an hour’s drive away from the airport.
Cabo: Cabo is located in Mexico on the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula, below California. Flights to Cabo can be relatively cheap flying from specific locations, but the longer the distance you are away from Cabo, the higher the plane ticket will be.
Houston, New York, and Los Angeles are a few of the cities that you can get a nonstop flight to Cabo. From New York it is a six-hour flight, from LA it is only a two-and-a-half-hour flight. It is also a good idea to book hotel transportation beforehand, the drive to the majority of the resorts is around forty minutes from the airport.
Hotel Options
Punta Cana: Punta Cana is well known for its pristine beaches, so it is no surprise that the majority of the resorts there are located on Bavaro beach. Bavaro beach boasts 10 miles of white sand and turquoise clear blue water.
There are several hotel options to choose from; the all-inclusive resort is the most popular. With all-inclusive resorts almost everything is included, such as food and drinks, activities are usually extra. It is recommended to go with an all-inclusive hotel since in the area surrounding Punta Cana there are not that many dining options.
Cabo: Cabo also has beautiful picturesque beaches; however, some beaches are not recommended for swimming due to the strong waves. Cabo like Punta Cana has a ton of options when it comes to choosing a place to stay.
Besides offering resort style hotels, Cabo also has lower end hotel without all the fuss for travelers on a budget. This option works for Cabo because outside of the resort area there are many local options for entertainment and food.
Activities
Punta Cana: Punta Cana does not have much to see outside of the resort. However, if you have an itch to see the Dominican Republic, there are many day tours you may take to the capital of Santo Domingo.
If sightseeing is not your thing, the resorts offer a plethora of activities to keep you busy such as parasailing, snorkeling, plus plenty of other water sports.
Cabo: Cabo offers the same activities at the resorts as Punta Cana. However, Cabo has a little more things to see in the immediate vicinity. If you are into nature, you may enjoy seeing EL Arco, which is Cabo most famous landmark.
Many people also enjoy going into town and absorbing the local culture.
