I am looking to book a trip to the caribbean and was wondering what islands people would recommend for poker? Any other islands good besides Bahamas? Was thinking about the Dominican Republic, specifically Punta Cana. Thanks for your help.

St. Martin has a pretty good poker scene. I have a friend who plays there quite a bit and he says the games are pretty easy to beat. I haven't been to St. Croix in years, but they used to have a decent poker game at the Divi casino, but that may have changed.

I'd also be curious about Turks and Caicos. I'm heading there in a few months, and I don't see much info. The Casablanca Casino advertises Texas Hold 'em, but I can't tell if that's a poker room or the pit game.

I think that the DR probably has the best games in the Carribean but I also have to say that it is not always easy to find them. I have mostly played in and around Santo Domingo and the cash games are great, pretty big and action packed. I also enjoyed playing in Aruba, the local pros were eager to mix it up and have paid for a few great vacations.

Fish cakes where in Aruba do you play ?
What's the biggest game ?

Hey Fishcakes,

Im headed to Aruba soon, could you give me a little info on the games (stakes and best places to play)? Thanks in advance.

In Aruba, I found the best games at the Radisson. I played in a 2-5 NLH game there, the locals play very aggressive, theres alot of money on the table for a 2-5. Theres about 3-4 casinos with poker rooms in Aruba, only about one or two games goin on at a time in each. Id suggest the radisson.

I was recently in Aruba and the Radisson had 0 games on a Saturday and Sunday night. The Holiday Inn was packed both nights. 2/5 NL and 4-8 Limit. On Sunday Night they also had a 2/5 PLO

Radisson is terrible now. There's usually only one table and it's comprised of two russian brothers who buy in for like 3000 and then some other old nits. I think the lady and her son who owned it sold it a couple of years ago and now no one plays there.

Xcalibur or whatever it's called is very profitable. Terrible local maniacs every night. Just a heads up though, expect a bit of collusion and a lot of soft play. Doesn't bother me though because the players are so bad.

So romantic vacation with the ball and chain to Aruba , want a nice bedroom where I can conveniently sneak off to play a little cards

Xcalibur ?

We're planning a week long trip to Punta Cana in May. I'm trying to find a resort that claims it offers poker in a casino. The Barcelo resorts seem like they each have a casino, but I can't find much about poker, action, or even the casinos themselves. With a two and a four year old in tow, I'll probably only get to try the casino a couple of times (after my wife has her days in the spa), so poker isn't my main planning concern. Still, it'd be nice to play if the opportunity is there. Has anyone ever been to one of these resorts? How about other all-inclusive resorts that run poker games?

Any suggestions for Barbados? I will be there for a few days for a wedding in the Spring.

I was staying in the Punta Cana area a few years ago. I decided to go to a local casino that said they had poker. Only NL, 10% rake with no cap. And the game wasn't running. I hung around to see if the game would get going [it was a Saturday night so I figured there should be some action]. One other tourist showed but we didn't play. He left and then a local strolled in and wanted to play HU. Didn't look appealing.

Also, when leaving the hotel grounds there were checkpoints and security guys with machine guns. Don't know if thats still the norm. And the casino asked me to take off my cap so their cameras could see my face. They did let me wear it backwards though.

If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have gone to the casino...

I played in Aruba May 2011

Only 4 Casinos had poker Rooms
Holiday Inn (Excelsior) most action- 4-5 tables plus a small rebuy tourn
often 1 or 2 4/8 limit & 2 2/5 NL
Raddisson 1-2 tables almost every night
Hyatt ( poker room closed the week I was there)
Occidental- under Construction last may- was due to open by September

Holiday Inn & Rad poker starts 7pm ish every night- no games during day

Going to Punta Cana myself 1st 10 days in May.
Was there 2 years ago- stayed in Bavaro beach area.
My hotel did not have poker, but 2 hotels within 5 min cab ride did.

Game often did not start till 9 or 10pm 2/5 or 5/10 NL 10% uncapped rake.
Very hit & miss- I played 2X only 1 table going- 3rd time I went not enough players. 4th time only 1 table & 3 waiting ahead of me- so I left
From what I read- new Hard Rock hotel (20 min cab from Bavaro beach) also has poker

Nearly a 5 year old bump - I'm looking for something similar - great Caribbean destination vacation with some poker action at night. Anyone have any updated info on places that I should consider?

Theyr'e running some big tournament in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic next month. That's about all I got.

Bahamas is having an event soon too.

Yeah, I checked out the Atlantis im Bahamas but they literally stop offering poker after the PCA. Preferably, i want consistent 2/5nl games. Only found options in Aruba so far...

Does anybody have any updated information on the best places in the Caribbean to play poker?

Best place to play in Carribean?

Richest/Nicest.

High Stakes games that would attract whales.