Mexico or Dominican?? Help please

[Laalaalala]

If you have been to both which one would you recommend? I’m torn between the 2.

we are a couple in our mid 30s, first holiday outside Europe and wanting to do 5 star all inclusive, hopefully hotel has a lot of restaurants, so we don’t really need to leave resort

we want a nice beach and good food. Also don’t want a party hotel, want it to be pretty chilled but with a little bit of entertainment in the evening. Reading online people say DR isn’t great for food? Also worried about it being full of partying students. Wanting to do feb/march 2025 but worried about going when it’s spring break so trying to avoid. Cancun looks like it’s pretty party hotels but riviera maya I was told beaches are not as nice?

This is something I don’t understand either 😬. The destination doesn’t really matter if you’re not going to leave the resort? When I go on holiday I want to explore and experience the culture, not sit by a pool in a gated resort stuffing my face with food, I could do that almost anywhere. But each to their own I guess.

If you want a good hotel in Akumal I can recommend secrets its one of the best hotels we have been to.

@misty64 thank you that does look an amazing hotel but a bit out of our price range, it’s around £3000 a person for 1 week. Wanting around £1800 max each

Have a look at the Bahia (Sian Khan or akumal) if you do Mexico I would do a catamaran trip and see a cenote. DR you can't really just wander off the resort but it is still more traditional Caribbean than Mexico, would also recommend the Bahias in DR.

We've done both and preferred Mexico. The Hard Rock Hotel in Playa del Carmen for our Honeymoon and we have also stayed in the Riu Yucatan and the Riu Palace Mexico, again in PdC.

The Hard Rock is amazing but not adults only and def more of a party place. It's a taxi ride into PdC.

The Yucatan is a solid 4 star and you can use the facilities of the sister hotels, the Tequila and The Playacar. The Palace a definite 5 star. These are all in a very safe gated village called Playacar. Food, drinks and entertainment was great in all 3. You can walk into PdC which is great for shopping and bars & restaurants.

We did a few trips out, but also spent time on the beach and round the pool. There is always stuff going on but you don't have to get involved if all you want to do is relax!

Akumal bay beach & wellness resort . Looks really peaceful.

Mexico - better food, nicer people and a fabulous culture

I’ve travelled all over the world and the Dom. Rep is the only place I’d not go back to. I didn’t feel that safe off the resort and I like to sightsee. The sea was rough. The whole country was a bit charmless if I’m honest, felt characterless. Mexico is much better.

Mexico over Dom Rep. I stayed in Ai 5star hotels in both. They both had a similar chilled out vibe. Beautiful locations, fab facilities, felt very relaxed in both locations. BUT the food was not great in Dom Rep.