Dominican Republic and PR compared to Cayman and Aruba

[Anonymous]

We've been to Aruba and Cayman at least a dozen times. Beautiful beaches, nice hotels, feels safe, clear blue water and nonstop flights. How do the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico compare? Turks is on our list but it is pricey. Going to Bahamas for spring break.

We want to try other islands but don't want to spend an entire day getting there.

[Anonymous]

There are threads on both these locations. Sand is not as white, but they are good locations. PR better than DR in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are threads on both these locations. Sand is not as white, but they are good locations. PR better than DR in my opinion.

Looking for crystal clear water, no seaweed, nice beaches, safe.

[Anonymous]

DR has the ‘tourist experience’. Most don’t leave the resort and relax their days away.

PR is more get up and go and create your own adventure. Love the non stop flights and tend to visit 1-2x a year. Can be more gritty esp around OSJ. I liken it to a city/beach trip similar to Cartagena. Way less manicured than your other options.

[Anonymous]

We stayed at the Wynham Rio Mar in PR and I felt it was very safe and had a beautiful beach. The beach is essentially private, even though I think that's technically not allowed in PR, because the resort is surrounded by a gated golf community, so it would be really difficult to get to that beach unless you lived in the gated community or were staying at the resort.
As a result, there were lots of resort chairs available on the beach and it never felt crowded. The water was clear but the surf was a little rougher than many people like, and potentially unsafe (we did swim in it).

I think PR has a lot of different types of beaches, and some of them have rough surf, so you just need to watch that. I've heard that the beaches in Vieques are perfect, but there aren't big resorts there -- so I think safe, but won't feel as manicured/resorty.

We went off the resort several times in PR and I never felt unsafe -- we went to the touristy area of OSJ during the day, and went out to dinner near Luquillo Beach one night, plus went out for breakfast to a place near our resort a couple of times.

[Anonymous]

If you go to the DR, stay away from Haiti. They are on the same island but Haiti has lots of unsafe areas.

[Anonymous]

My boyfriend drove all over PR. He felt totally safe.
PR has a heavy police presence and they all ride in new model white SUV's.
I was surprised that PR has industrial/factory areas.
I think US companies get tax breaks for operating in PR.
We liked PR and will definitely go back.

[Anonymous]

DR is very budget.

[Anonymous]

I have been to 3 of the 4 — Cayman Islabds, Aruba, and Puerto Rico. I feel like the level of service in the Cayman Islands and Aruba is much better than in Puerto Rico. I was really happy with the service at restaurants. The beach service was really good in Aruba in particular—I stayed at the Courtyard. Employees are super nice about setting up chairs and umbrellas and asking if you need a golf cart ride back to the hotel. Also, the people in Aruba are very friendly. I was in Cayman Islands 7 years ago, so it’s somewhat hard to remember—I think the people are nice enough. But Arubans stick out as being particularly friendly.

I visited San Juan during the summer of 2023, and don’t really care to go again. Service levels were bad, particularly at the hotel beachfront and restaurants broadly. Had to practically beg the beach attendant to set up umbrellas/they said we could only have one umbrella. There were three of us. They packed up the chairs and umbrellas at 5, which is pretty early. The beach was OK. It was definitely not as clean as Aruba/Cayman/other islands I have visited. At one restaurant, a waiter actually took my plate before I was done eating. I suppose he was in a big rush to close out for the day.

I do like that San Juan is very walkable. However, Aruba and Cayman are too. San Juan also some interesting historical sites (El Morrro).

Maybe I should have picked another hotel/that might have made a difference. I stayed at the AC El Condado. I had lunch at the Fairmont El San Juan on one occasion. I noticed the Fairmont had a really nice beachfront. Further, the beach service looked pretty good.

Given the price I paid for the hotel ($400+ a night) + food, I just don’t think Puerto Rico was worth it. I’d rather revisit one of the islands I have already visited or try a new one. You can get comparable pricing on other islands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been to 3 of the 4 — Cayman Islabds, Aruba, and Puerto Rico. I feel like the level of service in the Cayman Islands and Aruba is much better than in Puerto Rico. I was really happy with the service at restaurants. The beach service was really good in Aruba in particular—I stayed at the Courtyard. Employees are super nice about setting up chairs and umbrellas and asking if you need a golf cart ride back to the hotel. Also, the people in Aruba are very friendly. I was in Cayman Islands 7 years ago, so it’s somewhat hard to remember—I think the people are nice enough. But Arubans stick out as being particularly friendly.

I visited San Juan during the summer of 2023, and don’t really care to go again. Service levels were bad, particularly at the hotel beachfront and restaurants broadly. Had to practically beg the beach attendant to set up umbrellas/they said we could only have one umbrella. There were three of us. They packed up the chairs and umbrellas at 5, which is pretty early. The beach was OK. It was definitely not as clean as Aruba/Cayman/other islands I have visited. At one restaurant, a waiter actually took my plate before I was done eating. I suppose he was in a big rush to close out for the day.

I do like that San Juan is very walkable. However, Aruba and Cayman are too. San Juan also some interesting historical sites (El Morrro).

Maybe I should have picked another hotel/that might have made a difference. I stayed at the AC El Condado. I had lunch at the Fairmont El San Juan on one occasion. I noticed the Fairmont had a really nice beachfront. Further, the beach service looked pretty good.

Given the price I paid for the hotel ($400+ a night) + food, I just don’t think Puerto Rico was worth it. I’d rather revisit one of the islands I have already visited or try a new one. You can get comparable pricing on other islands.

PS—I think Turks & Caicos, Saint Martin, Cancun and Anguilla are really great options too. I have been to these islands as well/think you’ll probably have a better experience than in Puerto Rico.

[Anonymous]

We have been to all of the major Caribbean Islands. DR is the very worst. PR is nice in many parts. T&C much nicer than both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been to 3 of the 4 — Cayman Islabds, Aruba, and Puerto Rico. I feel like the level of service in the Cayman Islands and Aruba is much better than in Puerto Rico. I was really happy with the service at restaurants. The beach service was really good in Aruba in particular—I stayed at the Courtyard. Employees are super nice about setting up chairs and umbrellas and asking if you need a golf cart ride back to the hotel. Also, the people in Aruba are very friendly. I was in Cayman Islands 7 years ago, so it’s somewhat hard to remember—I think the people are nice enough. But Arubans stick out as being particularly friendly.

I visited San Juan during the summer of 2023, and don’t really care to go again. Service levels were bad, particularly at the hotel beachfront and restaurants broadly. Had to practically beg the beach attendant to set up umbrellas/they said we could only have one umbrella. There were three of us. They packed up the chairs and umbrellas at 5, which is pretty early. The beach was OK. It was definitely not as clean as Aruba/Cayman/other islands I have visited. At one restaurant, a waiter actually took my plate before I was done eating. I suppose he was in a big rush to close out for the day.

I do like that San Juan is very walkable. However, Aruba and Cayman are too. San Juan also some interesting historical sites (El Morrro).

Maybe I should have picked another hotel/that might have made a difference. I stayed at the AC El Condado. I had lunch at the Fairmont El San Juan on one occasion. I noticed the Fairmont had a really nice beachfront. Further, the beach service looked pretty good.

Given the price I paid for the hotel ($400+ a night) + food, I just don’t think Puerto Rico was worth it. I’d rather revisit one of the islands I have already visited or try a new one. You can get comparable pricing on other islands.

PS—I think Turks & Caicos, Saint Martin, Cancun and Anguilla are really great options too. I have been to these islands as well/think you’ll probably have a better experience than in Puerto Rico.

DP. We were just medevaced from one of the bolded places after being victims of an armed mugging. We have been to all the bolded due to direct flights and ease of getting there and they have felt safe. Not any longer. While crime can happen anywhere, trust me you want to be in your own country near a top hospital if you're going to be a victim of violent crime. Get international travel insurance that includes medevac coverage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been to 3 of the 4 — Cayman Islabds, Aruba, and Puerto Rico. I feel like the level of service in the Cayman Islands and Aruba is much better than in Puerto Rico. I was really happy with the service at restaurants. The beach service was really good in Aruba in particular—I stayed at the Courtyard. Employees are super nice about setting up chairs and umbrellas and asking if you need a golf cart ride back to the hotel. Also, the people in Aruba are very friendly. I was in Cayman Islands 7 years ago, so it’s somewhat hard to remember—I think the people are nice enough. But Arubans stick out as being particularly friendly.

I visited San Juan during the summer of 2023, and don’t really care to go again. Service levels were bad, particularly at the hotel beachfront and restaurants broadly. Had to practically beg the beach attendant to set up umbrellas/they said we could only have one umbrella. There were three of us. They packed up the chairs and umbrellas at 5, which is pretty early. The beach was OK. It was definitely not as clean as Aruba/Cayman/other islands I have visited. At one restaurant, a waiter actually took my plate before I was done eating. I suppose he was in a big rush to close out for the day.

I do like that San Juan is very walkable. However, Aruba and Cayman are too. San Juan also some interesting historical sites (El Morrro).

Maybe I should have picked another hotel/that might have made a difference. I stayed at the AC El Condado. I had lunch at the Fairmont El San Juan on one occasion. I noticed the Fairmont had a really nice beachfront. Further, the beach service looked pretty good.

Given the price I paid for the hotel ($400+ a night) + food, I just don’t think Puerto Rico was worth it. I’d rather revisit one of the islands I have already visited or try a new one. You can get comparable pricing on other islands.

PS—I think Turks & Caicos, Saint Martin, Cancun and Anguilla are really great options too. I have been to these islands as well/think you’ll probably have a better experience than in Puerto Rico.

DP. We were just medevaced from one of the bolded places after being victims of an armed mugging. We have been to all the bolded due to direct flights and ease of getting there and they have felt safe. Not any longer. While crime can happen anywhere, trust me you want to be in your own country near a top hospital if you're going to be a victim of violent crime. Get international travel insurance that includes medevac coverage.

Sorry pp that you had this experience. Where were you?

[Anonymous]

PR and DR just feel “gritty” compared to Aruba and Cayman. Trash and poverty are abundant and sometimes make you feel a bit guilty for vacationing. Also the food in DR and PR is just not good and downright terrible in DR

[Anonymous]

I love PR, it’s so easy to get there with the direct jet blue flight to National. Within an hour of airport you can get to El Yunque and Fajardo. In 10 min you can be at the Fairmont. We go to beaches, parks and museums. Amazing live music. There is excellent food if you know where to go—seafood, bakeries, Spanish food. The shopping is also good-great clothes for good prices in Condado.