From Holiday To Home Base

Luxury hotels, unrivaled golf courses and beautiful beaches have long made Punta Cana a beloved tourist destination. Increasingly, these draws have led the adventurous to drop their bags and stay on this island paradise for good. We've had a few expats give you the inside scoop on what made them fall in love with this place and how to avoid the tourist traps.

Jake Kheel

Executive director, Puntacana Ecological Foundation
 Growing up in Massachusetts, Kheel first visited the Dominican Republic in 1994 as part of a high school abroad program. For one trimester, he lived with a local family and fell in love with the area's language, music, culture and natural attractions.

Why Punta Cana?
"I always wondered what it would be like to live here. When the opportunity came up to work in Punta Cana in the field of sustainable tourism and live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, the decision couldn't have been easier."

What's your inside scoop?
"I love visiting Boca de Yuma to eat fresh seafood, drink a Presidente fria (icecold beer), listen to bachata and sit by the sea while fishermen come and go. Hurricane Café (El Cortecito, Playa Bávaro; 8092216643) is a great restaurant, I recommend the seafood crepes. Another one of the bestkept secrets in the whole area is the PUNTACANA Ecological Park and Reserve (puntacana.com) where you can swim in three freshwater lagoons."

What else makes Punta Cana special to you?
"Punta Cana is the best place in the country by far for triathlon training. There's little traffic, good roads, clean beaches and pools, and lots of active people."

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Jeff Neal

Director of La Cana/Hacienda Golf and Beach Club
 A St. Louis native, Neal moved to Punta Cana four years ago to take up his current position at La Cana. Though he has traveled much of the world, the locals' friendliness and Punta Cana's unspoiled beaches instantly struck him.

Why Punta Cana?
"I've lived in several countries and visited other Caribbean islands, but when I arrived here, I thought I was in paradise. My wife and I were living in Naples, FL, which was getting a little cold for us in the winters, so we needed to find a warmer place."

What's your inside scoop?
"My top beach choice would have to be Playa Blanca, just down the road from the golf courses. Thanks to the natural reef, the sea there is calm, and it's great for kids, with no dangerous current or undertow. My favorite restaurant is La Yola in Punta Cana Marina — the eggplant parmigiana there is one of the best in the world." (Puntacana Marina, Puntacana Resort & Club; 8099592262; www.puntacana.com)

Top Tip:
"Come to Punta Cana and play golf! Between the Tom Faziodesigned Corales golf course and the P.B. Dyedesigned La Cana/Hacienda we have 45 holes of oceanfront golf." (puntacana.com)

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Maria Postell

Jazz singer
Originally from Boston, jazz vocalist Postell moved to New York to pursue a career in music, performing in the city's top music clubs and then across much of the globe for more than 25 years. She and her husband Nino recently moved to Punta Cana.

Why Punta Cana?
"During our first visit to the country, in 2004, we fell in love with the sweet spirit of the Dominican people and quickly felt a sense of freedom. In 2010, we vacationed in the Punta Cana area, and, after only one week, we decided, 'this is it!' It seemed like the perfect opportunity to simplify our lives and enjoy the fresh ocean air."

What's your inside scoop?
"My favorite restaurants in the Punta Cana area are Non Solo Pizza (Avenida Espana, Higuey; 809 5521547) for the pizza margherita and casual, friendly atmosphere, and Balicana (Piscina Los Corales, Bávaro; 8298984479) for their ginger fish. My favorite beach is Playa Juanillo. When you drive into view of the beach it's like a mirage."

What do you do around Punta Cana?
"I sing at resorts, hotels and restaurants (www.mariapostell.com), attend cultural events, socialize and volunteer for local causes like raising funds for schools in poor neighborhoods. We have made many friends from all over the world, and so far, we are very happy with our decision."