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Getting There

In a country barely twice the size of New Hampshire there are three international airports – so getting to Punta Cana is never a problem. Of the three, the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) is the most convenient to the area with even the furthest resorts less than an hour away by taxi. Daily flights on American (www.aa.com), United (www.united.com), US Airways (www.usair.com), Delta (www.delta.com), and Continental (www.continental.com) are all available. There are direct flights to Punta Cana from New York (about 4.5 hours), Miami (about 2.5 hours), Atlanta (about 3.5 hours), and Charlotte (about 3.5 hours). Once you land at the airport, you'll either be picked up by a representative of your resort or from the company you booked your vacation package through; if you haven't pre-arranged, there are plenty of taxis to get you to your resort. Keep in mind the rates are set (you can find out from your hotel how much it should cost for a taxi) but there is a little wiggle room – ask for a price about $10 cheaper and you will likely get it, or something close to it.

Package Providers
Look to the major booking engines for savings on airfare and hotel packages; booking through a website like Expedia (www.expedia.com), Orbitz, (www.orbitz.com), or Travelocity, (www.travelocity.com) can save you money over booking separately. However, package providers who specialize in Caribbean vacations, like Apple Vacations, (www.applevacations.com) can not only save you a bundle, but offer direct charter flights from cities like Boston that don't offer direct flights on the major airlines. Also check out Funjet (www.funjet.com), particularly good for folks in the Midwest; and CheapCaribbean (www.CheapCaribbean.com).

Getting Around
It is possible to rent a car or motorbike in Punta Cana, but it's not advisable due to the poor conditions of many of the roads. Most of the excursions you'll want to take will include a van to pick you up and drop you off, but if you want to go off on your own, you can arrange for a taxi or to take the public bus (called the guagua); ask your resort for assistance with locating the nearest bus stop or a reputable driver. If you do decide to rent a car, most of the larger resorts have car rental desks – even if yours doesn't have one they should still be able to arrange a car rental for you.

See Dominican Republic Travel Guide