Both destinations also have Spanish as their primary language, and both were once-remote areas that erupted with resorts virtually overnight. But whereas Cancun's powder-white beaches are strung with high-rises, including many hotels and resorts that sell rooms and food separately, resorts in Punta Cana, by law, may not be taller than a palm tree. The long ribbon of resorts running down the coast specializes in the all-inclusive model, and each is spread out over acres of land that stretches hundreds of yards behind the beach.
While Cancun is hardly a typical Mexican town, you rarely forget you're in Mexico, and if you do, there is a lively downtown and numerous nearby towns, villages and ruins to remind you. Punta Cana is both culturally and geographically isolated. The nearest town, Higuey, is 28 miles away, and it takes about an hour to drive there. Europeans, particularly the Spanish, tend to own the resorts of Punta Cana. Resort architects are more likely to make some nod to Spain or colonial Mexico than to the Dominican Republic, and for all I know, after eating in resorts for five days, the Dominican Republic might be lacking a single native dish. Cancun includes many American-owned chains among its Mexican-owned properties, but all keep Mexican architecture and culture as their dominant theme.
While Cancun is filled with Americans and Canadians, you're just as likely to be sharing a poolside patch with Europeans or South Americans in Punta Cana. Staff members are as likely to speak German or French as English.
A Day in the Resort Life
Between 15 and 40 minutes after landing in Punta Cana's spiffy new airport, you'll arrive at the gates of your new world and be greeted by a uniformed man who will take your luggage, for later delivery to your room.
Step on deck -- actually it will be a resort lobby -- and you'll likely be met with a colorful tropical drink decorated with a little paper umbrella.
If by chance you arrive at an inconvenient hour, when the buffet tables are being replenished for the next round of nearly everlasting meals, don't worry: You can visit an on-site snack bar.
You won't need to exchange currency -- the American dollar and the euro are accepted everywhere. Should you tire of lounging in the sun and eating, you can join the organized activities that change hourly: dance lessons, Spanish instruction, bocce and shuffleboard tournaments, to name a few. Chances are good that the resort you choose will have a small gym for working out, a spa and a casino.
There will be a choice of restaurants and bars, and a posted schedule will let you know if a certain bar is featuring karaoke, or perhaps bingo, or maybe a dance contest. If you should decide to leave the territory set up to serve you food, drinks and entertainment at any and all moments, the resort will arrange an excursion.
During the day, roaming photographers will snap your picture. Natives wearing historical costumes occasionally appear as props, along with parrots and sometimes snakes. Then, in the evening, between dinner and the nightly show, you'll see the pictures displayed on a photo board so you can decide if you'd like to buy any that feature you.
I occasionally had to look down at the steady ground to remind myself that indeed there was dry land beneath my feet and not a cruise ship deck.
During my trip, I stayed at four separate resorts and visited a dozen others. In many ways, they blur together: All have a huge pool, maybe several. Each resort has beachfront property -- the only question is how many steps from the beach you will be. Every resort has a water sports center. Motorized boats generally cost extra, while kayaks, windsurfing equipment and sailboats are free.
