The Dominican Republic

[Ken2]

I'm planning a trip there next month.  I'm meeting a gal I meet in Cartagena some months back.  Any advice on hotels or "must see" places?  Or your experience there?

Ken

[pablo]

... in response to The Dominican Republic, posted by Ken2 on Jul 20, 2003

Escapeartist.com has done a recent article on the DR

Here is the link:

http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/48/Life_in_The_DR.html

[pablo]

... in response to The Dominican Republic, posted by Ken2 on Jul 20, 2003

Hi Ken,

I hope you caught the Wild E show they had on TV Tuesday night.  Looks like an awesome country!

[Ralph]

... in response to Re: The Dominican Republic, posted by pablo on Jul 22, 2003

They film only in places that pay for the priviledge. They filmed in All Inclusive Resorts. You can have a MUCH better time hanging with the locals!!!

[pablo]

... in response to Re: The Dominican Republic, posted by pablo on Jul 22, 2003

opps, that was late Monday night.

[Ralph]

... in response to The Dominican Republic, posted by Ken2 on Jul 20, 2003

Let me know what type of trip you are interested in. Do you prefer just lounging at the beach? Would you like an all inclusive resort? Would you want to experience the country a bit more?

I live in Santo Domingo. It is the capital and has a vibrant nightlife, restaurants etc, plus the Zona Colonial which is the oldest city in the new world. No bech in santo domingo but boca chica is about 30 minutes away.

Boca in the daytime is great. At night it had/has a reputation for being somewhat sleazy. I basically only hang out at 2 places there at night, so I never have any problems.

Punta Cana is the hottest tourist destination right now. La Romana is also nice. Sosua, is OK, but wouldn't be my first choice.

I would recommend maybe staying in Santo Domingo a few days and then a few in Boca Chica. Or you could stay in either one and do one day excursions to the other as well as La Romana, Altos De Chavon etc etc etc.

I have some video clips of the DR, to sort of give you a taste. If you have a broadband net connection, check them out. www.dr-tourist.tv

Let me know more specifically what you are interested in and I will try and help. If you do wind up in the Boca Chica  or Santo Domingo areas, and I am in town, I'd gladly show you around a bit and give you my numbers in case you have any questions etc.

[Ken2]

... in response to Re: The Dominican Republic, posted by Ralph on Jul 20, 2003

Thank you...
I,ve narrowed it down to Boca Chica because of its proximity to Santa Domingo.  Juan Dolio (I'm told, has a sad excuse for a beach.  Im getting some contradictory prices on hotels.  A fried of my gal says a double runs $80 a night, but most tours books $40-50.  Which sounds more realistic?

Definately e mail  me your number and I,ll call you.  Are you an American living abroad?

thanks again,

Ken

[Ralph]

... in response to Re: Re: The Dominican Republic, posted by Ken2 on Jul 20, 2003

If you want a decent place that is not all inclusive, I recommend the Costalunga. Last I stayed there it was 40-50. They are walking distance to the beach, have an internet cafe and a pool etc. Not luxurious, but clean and nice.

If you want an all inclusive, the Coral Hamaca or tha Don Juan are the choices. Juan Dolio is not far away but I think the beach in Boca is much nicer. The water is clear, never any waves, and doesn't get deeper than waist high, even if you go way out.

I am an american living in santo domingo, but go to Boca Chica on many weekends. There is a bar called Portofino's run by an american from boston who has lived there over 8 years. I usually hang out there as it seems to be a meeting place for ex pats and americans on vacation etc.

Email me at rafael@dr-tourist.tv and I'll give you my number etc.

[Cali vet]

... in response to The Dominican Republic, posted by Ken2 on Jul 20, 2003

I went to the DR many times to see a chica that I might have married had I not realized eventually that any gringo who could get her to the states would do (an aside she finally married a German and lives there now). She was from Santiago, the small city in the interior tobaco region. Not far from there is Jarabacoa up in the mountains and nice and cool, waterfalls, rafting and stuff. In Santiago I always stayed at Hotel Colonial. As to beaches I never got to the upscale tourist places like Punta Cana but I did go to Las Terrenas on the Semana peninsula in the north east. Various hotels on the beach there are nice and not too expensive. I did go once to the beach at Sosua (north coast) but lots of French Canuks and no dominicanos there. In the capital I stayed at Hotel Llave Del Mar on the Malecon. Inexpensive, air and close to everything. There are a number of really good museums, a great aquarium and a really impressive botanical garden in Sant Domingo. One of the other posters lives there, maybe he'll respond.