It had something to do with school. She's a hotel management major and I think the trip was to see how the big operations work. I was telling her to take a day trip up to Cabrera(maybe horseback riding), Playa Grande, Las Terranas or inland. IMHO, the bigger they come, the harder they fall. I don't think I'd stay in PC even with free hotels. I hate big hotels, esp AIs. 50 rooms is about my max.
Quote Peter:
"Same old story. She and 20 other folks were in an AI and were warned that they would be jumped the moment the were outside of the grounds and un-escorted. She saw guys up on roofs at gas stations with shotguns and she was kept secluded from anything like the real DR. You've got an area with thousands of hotel rooms at over $200/night and no real local economy. This is what they want for Sosua and the rest of the North Coast? Had a good time though with the booze and the two-day old Mama Juana"..end Quote)
In theory one would expect more depth from a hotel management student, along with life and travel experience.
Hotel management should be knowledgeable about the country and world outside of the resort, and also have language skills other than english. I would expect spanish, german and french if working in a 5* resort in the DR.
She should have heeded your advice!
Sosua has fewer tourists, quite a few casetas on the beach are closed.For me Siempre Sol and Tom's Scandinavian bar are good to hang out and Tom's the only place to eat on the beach. In some ways it's a luxury to have less people.
The closed windows on the bars are a turn off, but enough chicks for those who are searching.
The North Coast has community and landscape and will survive and hopefully evolve.
As for tourism, infrastructure, roads and sidewalks major improvements are needed and will be lacking for a long time in my opinion.
Rental costs are too high for what is offered and for what one encounters when leaving the condo or house.