End of October. Mexico or Dominican Republic?

Speedo · Since 07 May 2007 264 Posts Obsessed

I'm planning a trip with my parents at the end of october and was wondering where to go. I would feel bad if we went to place that normally has bad weather that time of year. On this trip, my parents having a nice time, in a resort type place, overrides my kiting desires. But I would like to steer them toward a place where I might get wind.

Is it hurricane season for DR and/or Cozumel?

Is cozumel/riviera maya basically the same thing in terms of kiting? My dad sounded a little reluctant about cozumel, but brought up cancun and rivera maya as alternatives.

If my parents were going somewhere without me, they would probably go to Punta cana in DR. I also having them look at cabarete but they have a high end timeshare in punta cana. I've never been there and i don't know if caberete has that kind of thing.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
ken

marina c · Wed Aug 15, 07 5:53 am

I lived in Cabarete for three years. October is typically not the most reliable month and can be their rainy season.

Punta Cana has properties promoted as high end all-inclusives i.e. 4-5 star, but quite frankly, I've stayed at two over there and high end, unless you have the SUPER MEGA resorts or we stayed at two super shitty places, is slightly above average at best. Food mediocre and all starts tasting the same after 2-3 days. Don't get a room by the entertainment... it will drive you nutz.

Cabarete best season is June through Aug, sometimes Sept., and Jan-March.

Punta Cana season is typically Dec (later in month) through March. You need to go up to Bavaro by the Club Med as kiting where all the AI's are clustered can be super challenging.

Cozumel Tom · Since 14 Aug 2007 18 Posts Toronto / Cozumel

Both Cozumel and DR (Punta Cana) can be sketchy that time of year. I have been to both. Cozumel would be the first choice, Playa Dorado (DR) second, Mayan Riviera third and Punta Cana last.

Too bad about the folks and the AI hotels. I bought my condo in Cozumel because I got tired of spending my vacations with 700 people I don't know, sharing a crowded beach / facilities and lining up at the "trough" to eat the same shitty food every day for 2 weeks.

If they are paying the way, here's what you should know to talk them into a vacation everyone will enjoy.

The Melia Mayan Hotel (North Hotel Zone) in Cozumel is a 4 star that is a short walk up the beach to the Country Club kiting area. Hotel is AI. Folks can chill and you can head up the beach to ride. Great thing about Cozumel (CZM) is that the town is very cool and only 5 minutes from the hotel. Excellent bars and restaurants, lots to see and do on the island. It is very safe place and the Country Club area is quiet and uncrowded. You can snorkel out front of the hotel. The water is about 100ft of visablility. If the wind blows East or SE on the other side of the island, it is easy to rent a car at the hotel and go over to ride the wave spots, 15 minutes away. All locations are very kite freindly and easy to ride. No reef, just big shallow bays. Conditions can vary from big light wind kite to rockin' on a 9M that time of year. You also have the option to ride the main lagoon (5 minute drive from the hotel) and can hook up with Adrian at www.cozumelkiteboarding.com for a great boat trip to the remote lagoons.

The Mayan Riviera is limited for kiting as it is only an East facing coast. Trade winds are on-shore. You should be able to talk them out of the Riviera as that is where the 2 tourists were murdered and the hotels can be 1 hour plus bus ride from the Cancun airport, which is crowded and nuts. That Yucatan area gets great north winds (Nortes!)about once a week as the Fall fronts roll through. This is an awesome ride and can last 2-4 days. 9M are usually the kites to ride on a Norte. Unfortunately, that is offshore wind on the Riviera. It is on-shore at the Country Club in Cozumel. No problem for experienced riders and the Lagoon becomes epic and easy for those less experienced riders. Cozumel is kitable in all wind directions. The Riviera is not.

Punta Cana has a very thin beach, lots of big palms close to the waters edge and mega tourists. The Eurotrash love that place. Hard to launch and I shredded one kite on a palm tree (with nails in it holding up the Chrismas lights). The best kite launch was the LTI Hotel. It is on a point with more sand. You can ride into the bays on the North and South of the point. Some coral heads to watchout for. North of the LTI was the best riding. Great waves around the big ship wreck. I did not go out to the reef as it looked real hairy. Inside the bay was fine. I was there for 2 weeks and the only guy kiting. Rode a 20M with a 145 x 17 light wind board about 7 days out of 14. Rode a 16M for 2 hours before a rain front came in. That was it. Punta Cana hotels are long and thin with limited beach access. Long walk to the beach and all the sunbathers are packed in like sardines. The food sucks and they don't want you to go off the resort property as it is considered too dangerous.

If you get stuck with DR, try the Flamingo Hotel in Playa Dorado. Nice 4 star and the food and accommodations were OK. There is a sand point to launch from. I was there the last week in October. Wind came up every day around 1:00 pm, rode a 16M with a 145 Jimmy. Did a 45 minute upwind run to these two islands at the point. Nice long chest high waves (rights) that peeled over a flat reef in about 3 feet of water. Never touched the reef or felt nervous I was going to get munched. Friendly and fun ride. Just riding in the bay in front was good when all the giant tourist Catamarans left for the day trips. Again, this is DR and we were constantly warned not to go off the property. Too dangerous. We met an ex-pat who was living in DR. He has been mugged 3 times in 6 months and he has a DR wife.

You need to keep an eye on the weather and get trip cancellation insurance. The reason I went to Playa Dorado was because Hurricane Wilma shut down CZM and all flights were cancelled.

If you can talk the folks into a condo, I have a one bedroom and there is a 2 bedroom beside mine that are both available. Could get you a big discount for that time of year.

Good Luck!