ArJay
I have been to Punta Cana...it's beautiful!!!
Also to Higuey and Bayahibe...The first is a town, I think they only have one hotel and it's really far away from the beach...which is Bayahibe...a little fishing town...with a very nice beach...
There's a hotel complex there...but I can't remember the name...If I find it, I'll post it here...
Your best bet is Punta Cana, and if you tell me where you're leaving from...I'll try to tell you the best way to get there...
I went from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata by bus...3 1/2 hours drive...The bus was really comfortable, cheap, only RD$105 each way, big...with a restroom and a purser that serves you coffee, and water...It stopped in Santiago, where you could get off the bus for about 20 minutes and look around...
The drive is incredible, the views breathtaking...at least I enjoy the little things in life...and try to make the best of the not so pretty ones!
Good luck!