In short
Punta Cana is not a town but a coastal strip of resorts and residential complexes, built from the seventies onwards on an empty shore. Bávaro holds most of it.
The water is warm all year and the reef holds back the swell: it is one of the safest Caribbean swims for children.
What it really costs
All-inclusive is the norm and makes the budget predictable. Outside the resorts, prices stay high because the independent offer is thin.
Getting around is expensive: taxis charge high fixed fares, and excursions go through agencies. Hiring a car changes both your relationship to the place and the budget.
What nobody tells you
There is no town centre and no local life in the usual sense. Anyone looking for a Dominican city should go to Santo Domingo or Santiago.
Sargassum reaches this coast from March to August depending on the year, and the scale varies sharply from beach to beach. The resorts clear part of it each morning.
A departure tax is normally included in the air ticket, but not every carrier includes it. Checking before you leave avoids an unexpected payment at the airport.