Ixtapa, Mexico or Puerto Plata, Dominican Rep.
 

Planning vacation around new years, price range is about the same. cant decide if it'll be mexico or dominican repub. if anybody been to those places please chime in?

main purpose is to relax on beach, enjoy, drink / eat. etc.

thanks

If you opt for Mexico, avoid the boarder regions. It's rather nasty around there and there's currently a travel advisory. I wouldn't expect this to resolve by New Years unless something major happens.

The travel advisories have been expanding to other regions and then retracting again depending on how things are going, so make sure you get travel insurance that will cover you if by some odd turn of events the advisories pop up to cover tourist regions (so far they've been fairly stable).

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pa....asp?id=184000

definatly the DR
mexico is too 'americanized'
been down there,
But i think you should also consider Punta Cana. Much nicer beaches

Mayan Riviera was great, I went there in August. Did a bunch of snorkeling and now I'm addicted. Try to get a good deal!

We paid $900 each, all inclusive and met some other people from Vancouver and found out they paid $1400 for the EXACT same package.

im booked to punta cana. read alot of reviews, seems like more favourable choice than puerto plata and mexico. thanks all

you wont regret punta cana,i went back in Feb, which resort are you staying at? bring lots of sunscreen,

from my experience, when your there, i suggest u not go to Manati Park Bavarro zoo, total waste of time, and avoid a particular tour guide named "Eduardo", he goes to all the resorts at punta cana offering tourists a "discounted" ATV/Dunebuggy tour. he takes you to the sketchiest parts around, gf's seat belt not functional, my gas pedal broke off....etc...

going to Be Live Grand Bavaro... heard mixed reviews. but main thing, will be away for NYE ;).

thanks for the pointers 604nguyen

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
 

I live in Puerto Plata since 2004 so I guess I can help with this one ( haven`t been to the other 2 destinations you mention ) Punta Cana is fine, but most travelers you`ll find there are baby boomers, people in their 60`s and fun is limited to the resorts, nothing outside the walls.

In the North coast there`s Cabarete, Sosua and Cofresi and that means you get a lot of young people and sports lovers ( Cabarete is the mecca for kite surfing worldwide ). The place is a long stretch of beach lined up with clubs, restaurants and surfing schools, plenty of beautiful babes from all over the world.

Sosua is a bit more laid back but has an active nightlife, excellent beaches and many restaurants. The bay is really nice, I`m adding a photo here and I hope here don`t mind, I know the owner of that hotel shown there.

http://www.sosuabayresort.com/sosuab.../0521_1_lg.JPG

Fishing in Sosua is pretty good, also snorkeling, diving and lots of other activities. Recently the new major in town set new rules because the chicas and vendors were told to stay behind doors, meaning that a single guy would have to visit a bar in order to see easy women, as opposed to having them on the streets hanging around as they used to.

Other areas of the North coast of the DR are Cofresi, which is for romantic couples and older people ( no chicas or loud music there ). There is a lot to enjoy and contrary to other destinations within the DR, you get forest, mountain and beaches all in one package.