Honeymoon Picked! Tips and Advice Needed (Dominican Republic)

I stayed at majestic elegance. Beautiful resort and pools. Decent food. The beach we couldn't swim in. A nice beach is a very important thing to me, but there was so much seaweed you couldn't go in. I mean you could, but then you're deciding if it's seaweed touching your leg in the murky water or something else.

The water was blue but not clear due to sand turn up and the seaweed. It would pile high overnight on shore and there was a cleaning crew to clean it up in the mornings.

Also, housekeeping stole my underwear. You can't make this up.

@Fall Bride We will definitely look into and are open to suggestions for other resorts!

@FromAtoB That is disgusting! Both the seaweed and underwear stealing. Swimming at the beach is super important so we will definitely have to look into that. What time of year were you there?

Does anyone have recommendations on room selection? Is it worth it getting a swim up room or one with a private jacuzzi outside?

Don't forget to drink lots of Mamijuana! It's the local drink there! We learned how to make it and brought some of the ingredients home to make our own!

Pack lots of sunscreen and aloe in case of burns. I brought travel tumblers to keep our frozen drinks colder for longer. All inclusives usually serve drinks in small plastic cups so bringing your own means fewer trips to the bar and waiting in line.

Pack a few bathing suits and some first aid stuff (Imodium, pepto, Advil, etc).

I always take dryer sheets with me too in case the room smells musty (Caribbean rooms often are)

Pack a nice outfit for your last night away as you'll likely take lots of pictures that night.

Have a blast!!

Following!

Katie D- FH And I decided DR as well and was looking into a Adults Only resort. Can you tell me where you're booking through? We found fees all inclusive deals through BookIt. We're doing the 19th-24th of Oct hoping the weather corporates too.

Vacationed at majestic elegance 3 years ago with some friends. Beach was beautiful but super windy. More importantly 3 of us (out of 4) got awful food poisoning... Essentially ruined the vacation. Would not recommend.

We are also going to DR, but most likely staying at a Riu resort.

Any of the Majestic properties are great. The Colonial is their first property developed, the Excellence is the second property and carries a bit more formal beauty, the Elegance is modern in design may feel younger.

What I mean is I desire the Ritz' because of the elegance and charm. However the Four Seasons is beautiful but it's brighter and may give you a different feel.

All three properties are beautiful. I have them to you in the order they were built.

The owners are Spaniards from Madrid, with that information you will then understand the design and concept and beauty they have in their properties. It has EUROPEAN charm and elegance older and younger as I stated.

Myself I prefer the Excellence because I don't like the modern furniture as in Elegance which may gear towards a vibrant character.

**Peel your own fruit, don't drink water or ice, don't eat lettuce. What can help you prepare for the food change, eat yogurt 2-3 times a day for minimum of 3 weeks before you leave and during you entire stay.

Yogurt prior to leaving must have the living organisms for gut.

Swim up rooms I prefer than jacuzzi. Too me it was a bathtub on patio, I didn't like it.

So delayed, but we went in June.

I went to the Excellence in DR and it was awesome! Just bring sunscreen and bug spray and don't ingest the water. I got a little sick when I was there but it did not ruin the vacation. Brush teeth with bottled water and don't eat salad or other foods washed in the water.

The swim up room at Excellence is not worth it, but the Excellence Club is. We couldn't swim in the ocean at Excellence, though. Too rough.

My FH and I literally just booked our honeymoon last night! We are staying at Excellence El Carmen in DR. Tripadvidor had great reviews for that place and if you are looking at the one in Punta Cana its rated one of the top resorts in the Caribbean. Have fun!

We stayed at the Majestic Colonial. Agree with what Elena said about water and produce. I doubt that Amelia and her friends got food poisoning; they just got sick from eating food that their bodies couldn't handle. Stick to bottled water, and use it to wash any fruit/veggies (even if they're served to you at a restaurant).

We did a horseback riding tour (through the area, not on the beach) and we absolutely loved it.

DR my homeland lol. I would recommend Bavaro Palace Deluxe or Bavaro Beach (they are connected but beach is adults only) the Dreams is also amazing. I would book a shuttle to take you to and from your hotel. Punta cana is mostly safe but I wouldnt venture out unless with a tour guide. You will have a blast.

I can very highly recommend Excellence Resorts in the DR. Their new resort, El Carmen is just excelente! There are some others I recommend as well, including Secrets Cap Cana. However, keep in mind each resort has their own ambiance and it is not one fits all. If you like the Majestic Resorts, you may want to consider the Mirage, Club Level giving you an adults only area.

I can't speak to either of those, but I promise that nobody should stay at Occidental! The food & accommodations were absolutely terrible!!