Dominican Republic and PR compared to Cayman and Aruba

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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

Agree! PR isn't as bad as DR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

What is your impression of the fairmont? We are booked there for spring break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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

Agree with this. Aruba and Cayman seem very americianized - meaning, you go to the grocery store and can get groceries to make a meal for yourself. T&C and DR I did not feel safe outside the resort. Driving from the Airport to the resort, as per many caribbean islands, is rampant poverty. Was not really impressesd with Grace Bay in Turks. Beautiful beach, not great snorekling. Better in Maui and Cayman. Aruba ok. Aruba very desert like and we like flora and fauna.
We also rented cars in Aruba and Cayman, drove all over and explored beaches. I think we spent $9 on gas in Aruba in our tin can rental car.