puerto plata vs punta cana

who has been, which do you recommend over the other? First time leaving south America and the choices have came down to these!! (defiantly going to Dominican!!)
Please share your experience!

Just for reference don't just say Dominican when you refer to the country lol. I would go to Punta Cana if I were you but seriously, any tourist area you go it will be beautiful!

Punta Cana is hell on earth. Don't go, ever.

Quoting Red Bottom:" Punta Cana is hell on earth. Don't go, ever. "

lol why!!!!

Quoting Mommy2Kay:" Just for reference don't just say Dominican when you refer to the country lol. I would go to Punta Cana if I were you but seriously, any tourist area you go it will be beautiful!"

hahah sorry! I am thinking Punta Cana, I want the gorgeous beaches. But I also want a decent night life which I hear is better in puerto plata? The beaches dont look the greatest though, they look like our beaches here... ahh I don't know. We will be away from our daughter for the first time and I plan to have some drinks 

Quoting talexys:" lol why!!!!"

EVERYONE has a gun out. Gas station owners, random citizens, store owners, people sitting on gas pumps.

Kids try to rob you.

The people working on the resorts work like 18 hour days for NO money. I felt like I was funding a sweat shop.

Not to mention their militia who has every "right" to stop you and force you out of your car at gun point for whatever they choose.

Quoting Red Bottom:" EVERYONE has a gun out. Gas station owners, random citizens, store owners, people sitting on gas pumps. ... [snip!] ... mention their militia who has every "right" to stop you and force you out of your car at gun point for whatever they choose. "

But that is not just in Punta Cana...tourist areas are safer than other areas in the country.

Quoting Mommy2Kay:" But that is not just in Punta Cana...tourist areas are safer than other areas in the country."

You do know that they're in constant war against Haiti....right beside them. Literally, a war.

Quoting Red Bottom:" EVERYONE has a gun out. Gas station owners, random citizens, store owners, people sitting on gas pumps. ... [snip!] ... mention their militia who has every "right" to stop you and force you out of your car at gun point for whatever they choose. "

Well we dont plan to leave the resort, thats forsure! and as far as the people working, Iv been warned that they steal so we would keep everything important locked in our suitcase. I actually plan to bring down some new items to give to the maids along with a tip. But that is messed up and I honestly haven't been on a "real" vacation ever, therefor am just going to be safe rather then sorry and not even leave where were staying.

Quoting Red Bottom:" You do know that they're in constant war against Haiti....right beside them. Literally, a war."

Are you Dominican? I am...Punta Cana is literally cross country from Haiti.

Quoting talexys:" Well we dont plan to leave the resort, thats forsure! and as far as the people working, Iv been warned ... [snip!] ... been on a "real" vacation ever, therefor am just going to be safe rather then sorry and not even leave where were staying."

It takes about an hour+ to get from the airport to your resort, and any excursion you take you'll have to leave the resort. So you're going to be around it if you go.

The workers on the resort were SO SWEET and wouldn't have ever stolen anything. It was just disgusting how they were treated and how little they were paid.

Quoting Mommy2Kay:" Are you Dominican? I am...Punta Cana is literally cross country from Haiti."

No. Just someone who has been there. And it sucks.