Punta Cana is a gorgeous place and extremely affordable for what the resorts give you. Insurance for 5 nights in March, with all-inclusive hotel/transfers/tax/travel, was $950. We stayed at the Barceló Bavaro Caribe Resort, and the food and drinks were all excellent. The $25 full-body massages on the beach were relaxing. Try to get off the resort. We took one of the side trips to see the villages and the people that live there, as well as a more secluded beach where we rode horses. The children smiling and waving at the tour buses from these impoverished villages will break your heart.${QuickSuggestions} Bring suntan lotion, mosquito spray, and Pepto. They are expensive on the resort, and will be useful. Also, bring a large thermos. If you bring one to the bar they will fill it so you don't have to deal with tiny plastic cups, and it will keep your drinks cold. If your timid about bartering with merchants, decide what you want to pay for an item first and pull out that amount. Count it in front of them an apologetically say "this is all I have with me." Most of the time they will come down to your offer. ${BestWay} We used the tours. It was just me and my friend Trisha, so we didn't want to leave the resort area on our own.
From journal Pampering and Perspective in Punta Cana