Punta Cana v. Cancun v. Jamaica Spring Break

[Anonymous]

Which is better for a family of four (with two ES age kids) looking for a resort over spring break? Ideally looking for a resort with great pools, a kids club and nice beach area. Sadly I don't think we can afford Turks & Caicos, even though that would have been my first preference. The nice resorts at T&C were pricing out at ~$14K with air-fare for just 5 nights. Which is why I'm looking for options in PC, Cancun and perhaps Montego Bay. Ideally for under $10K with airfare for 5 nights.

For example, we could do a resort like Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana in Punta Cana for ~$8,500, but everything I read on DCUM says Punta Cana is dumpy and/or questionably safe. We've been to both Jamaica and Cancun pre-kids, but that was a decade ago. My only disappointment with Cancun FWIW was the beach where we stayed in Playa Mujeres was not attractive. Seaweed aside (I know that's a problem in many parts of the Caribbean) the water itself just wasn't that clear blue color I had hoped for.

Any advice on which locations would be best and family oriented resorts to look into is highly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I would do Jamaica or Cancun before DR. I didn't find Punta Cana to be dumpy or unsafe - you'd likely be staying at a resort which has security and will likely be well maintained. I just find that the service isn't usually that great there (neither is the English) and you have to go a little higher end there than you would some of the other place to get a comparable experience. But the place you mentioned is probably fine.

I've been to the Cancun area several times of the years. The best water is in Cozumel or a little further south in Akumal. Cancun proper (hotel zone) actually had very nice beaches when I was there - no seaweed and beautiful turquoise water but I haven't been there in many years. I was just in Cozumel recently though and it was immaculate.

Jamaica also has nice beaches but the best ones are in Negril which is pretty far from the airport. Montego Bay is probably okay, but as the name says, its a bay. You don't have long stretches of walkable beach and not bright blue water. More like a cove. And theres nothing to do in Montego as far as getting of the resort except excursions. On the plus side, its close to the airport.

All that being said I would go with Mexico and look at the Akumal area. I've also heard really great things about Holbox island. Also that area is very family friendly and lots of eco water parks.

[Anonymous]

If you're going to Cancun head south for better beaches, like around the Akumal Tulum area. I agree completely that the beaches in Cancun itself are lacking.

Jamaica is nice and has some big resorts which come with kids clubs. If you like snorkeling you can get good snorkeling right off the beach.

[Anonymous]

The only one of these we’ve been to is Punta Cana and we all agree we wouldn’t go there again. Friends who have done Cozumel or Playa del Carmen keep going back so would try those next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do Jamaica or Cancun before DR. I didn't find Punta Cana to be dumpy or unsafe - you'd likely be staying at a resort which has security and will likely be well maintained. I just find that the service isn't usually that great there (neither is the English) and you have to go a little higher end there than you would some of the other place to get a comparable experience. But the place you mentioned is probably fine.

I've been to the Cancun area several times of the years. The best water is in Cozumel or a little further south in Akumal. Cancun proper (hotel zone) actually had very nice beaches when I was there - no seaweed and beautiful turquoise water but I haven't been there in many years. I was just in Cozumel recently though and it was immaculate.

Jamaica also has nice beaches but the best ones are in Negril which is pretty far from the airport. Montego Bay is probably okay, but as the name says, its a bay. You don't have long stretches of walkable beach and not bright blue water. More like a cove. And theres nothing to do in Montego as far as getting of the resort except excursions. On the plus side, its close to the airport.

All that being said I would go with Mexico and look at the Akumal area. I've also heard really great things about Holbox island. Also that area is very family friendly and lots of eco water parks.

You’re such a gringa. How embarrassing.