Please Help with first time travellers questions.....

Straycat_67 · Nov 23, 2002

Thanks in advance for all you possible help and advice.
Our situation:
We are an independent 27-35 yr old couple who will be travelling from London with flight only's to Puerto Plata Dec 15th - Dec 29th, we both enjoy the spontaneous side of travel, with a grounding for local culture along with the enjoyments of nice accommodation and all the pleasures that are hopefully associated with a paradise destination.
My questions:

Where will we find an area/town/resort which has clear calmish waters, white sands(as you see in ALL brochures) with palm fringed beaches, mix of tourism and culture, variety of local restaurants/nightlife etc..... ?

Best area for weather for the period we are travelling.. we always seemed to get cursed in tropical destinations with heavy cloud cover for days and lots of rain.. dont mind a 10 minute thunderstorm.. but.........remember we are coming from the infamous English weather *sigh

We are not in a position to afford 4-5 star luxury .. but some help on clean well proportioned accommodation under $60US/night(room).. near beach would be nice.

Any ideas on REAL costs of local necessities such as beer, soft drinks, spirits, meals from local establishments etc... oh yeah and the dreaded ciggarettes too??

Cost of hiring a car from a local company if anyone has first hand knowledge(i dont mean the website Hertz/National etc)?

Sorry this has been such a long post but i find it invaluable to gain first hand knowledge and advice. Hopefully we can pass on the same to others in the future.

Many Thanks

Dave

FireGuy · Nov 23, 2002

Sounds like Sosua to me.

Hi Straycat_67 (Dave),

Greetings from Atlantic Canada.

Sounds like Sosua is the place for you. Do an archive search for hotel, Sosua - you will find loads of info. Or do a Google search for the same.

As far as tranportation - most would recommend against driving in the D.R. You'll understand when you get there. Take a taxi from then airport to your first night's lodging (arranged on the internet before you arrive) or some hotels will arrange this for you. If these accommodations ar OK then you are set; otherwise spend your first day looking for your hotel (from the internet and archive searches).

To get around take guaguas and publicos (another archive search will help) - cheap and frequent.

Others may be able to help with local costs for day to day items and offer some cautions about where to and not to exchange money.

Have a great trip.

Gregg

Straycat_67 · Nov 23, 2002

Cheers FireGuy,

I got the feeling from research on the net that Sosua didnt have as nicer beaches etc that the south side has... what do you think?? Just dont wanna miss out on seeing the REAL DR from the pics in mag's etc...

On the subject of hotels etc... have done this in many other parts of the world eg Thailand, Indonesia, Greece etc and personally we much prefer to book the first night only, then wander about until we find a permanent bed somewhere with good walk in rates. During the period we are staying do you think it possible for us to get okay availability and prices for walk in rates?

Cheers

dave

Jim Hinsch · Nov 23, 2002

You will not find the beach in Sosua as you described. Punta Cana is the ultimate in palm tree beaches, but this is All-Inclusve territory. Boca Chica has clear calm waters and palm trees, but you'll have to look at the pictures and read the descriptions yourself to decide if this is what you have in mind. Click below:

<a href="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net"><img border="2" src="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net/images/logo.jpg" alt="Boca Chica Beach"></a>

rendul · Nov 23, 2002

I would recommend Cabarete for what you are looking for. It is a little further east on the north coast, cheaper than Sosua and there is a multitude of small hotels that range from $30 US a night to the limit. It is a small town, restaurants and shops line the beach and street, good night clubs and any tours or adventures can be found right on the main street and beach. It is a smaller town with a little more local flavour. The beach is great, 2 km crescent with wind & kite surfing galore!!! Check out some of the websites on Cabarete. Loads to do and access to everything. Not as crowded as Sosua or Puerto Plata!!! Good luck

Ken · Nov 23, 2002

I agree that Cabarete would be a good choice for you.

Hillbilly · Nov 23, 2002

Lodging and weather

You might think of Luperon, while you are at it...Cabarete is fine but sort of "jumbled with tourists" if you get my drift?
Luperon is quiet. However, you might like the action of Cabarete, and it is in your price range.
For first night, you might try sofys_bb@hotmail.com NOelle has the best breakfasts on the North Shore and a large fund of good information. And Tropix, in sosua is also a good place to pick up pointers.
As for the weather, I am sure you will like the hot. Rain is not much of a problem...at any time.

HB, bein' friendly for a change....

Tor · Nov 23, 2002

If you are not interessted in wind or kite surfing, I would say absolutely everything in Sosua is better than in Cabarete.

Ken · Nov 23, 2002

Sosua is nice (I live there), but if you like a nice mix of of tourism and intermingling with the local residents, Cabarete would be a good choice. For more info on Cabarete, see http://www.activecabarete.com/

If your priority is white sand beach surrounded by palms and calmish water, than Las Galeras outside of Samana is the place to be. See http://www.samana.net/sn-english.htm There is no better place in the country for the daytime setting you want, but there are other locations, such as Cabarete, that have a more active night life. But it is well worth considering. If there, take a day trip to nearby Playa Rincon, you will think you are in a setting for a South Sea Island movie.

Hillbilly mentioned Hotel Tropix in Sosua. If you choose that location and want a small, friendly hotel that is not all inclusive, it would be a good choice. See http://www.tropixhotel.com/

Larry · Nov 23, 2002

StrayCAT_67

StrayCat.,
People like Hillbilly and Ken are the real experts because they live on the North Coast but from a tourists point of view..if I were you I would .....get out of airport at POP...get a taxi and tell the driver you want to go to the hotel Europa in Sosua....(dont pay more than 15 dollars or 300 pesos for taxi and make sure you have exact change or driver will pretend he dosent have change)......book into Europa for one night(they ALWAYS have vacancies)..it wil cost you $30 dollars for room.Spend the first day looking around Sosua..there are some very nice restaurants and I like the beach if you can get past the Hatian vendors.At some point before sunset...get on a motoconcho and drive to Cabarete for a look around..You can do this for an hour for 10 dollars easy.If you think this is more your speed..then the next day .. check out of the Europa and go to a hotel in Cabarete.If not..then stay in sosua and have fun..
Larry

Escott · Nov 23, 2002

First off you are flying into the North Coast. Going south is about a 4 hour drive. I personally enjoy the North Coast more and rarely go to the South Coast. One other thing is that Sosua is a MUCH calmer beach.

I will be there from 11-26 to 12-3 and again on 12-25 to 1-6.

If you want real inexpensive Rockys has rooms in Sosua for 15 dollar US a night and it is walking distance to the beach and tons of restaurants although this is one of the most popular Restaurant/bars in town as well as having a few rooms that are clean and cheap with few amenities other than what I mentioned.

If you chose Sosua let me know since I am there often and can point you to some of the more decent places there.

The weather is fine on the North Coast at that time of year. Usually TOO much sun.

Regards,
Scott

Straycat_67 · Nov 24, 2002

Thanks heaps everyone...... keep the responses coming

What a great forum.... cannot thank you all enough for your devoted source of first hand knowledge in trying to help two travellers in making their holiday the best!

Do you guys think if we book a night or two on the net before we go, then find somewhere when we have looked around once there we will have NO PROBLEMS finding a variety of AVAILABLE HOTELS during the Dec 15th - 29th period???
Nothing worse than getting to you so called excellent accommodation that youve pre booked only to find out it's in the wrong location or it's no up to scratch.

Sounds like we need to base ourselves either in Sosua or Caberete... then possibly hire a car for few days to find the seclusion of unspoit paradise.
Do you think we can find a car rental company once there that can do us a deal for maybe $30US/day or similar???

Anymore info on costs associated with local meals, ciggys, alcohol will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Dave- London

Ken · Nov 24, 2002

I think that you should have no problem finding hotel rooms during the period of your stay, but the word in Sosua is that the hotels are getting good bookings from the 15th of December on. That is big news here because since 9/11 occupancy rates have been quite low. But even though bookings are said to be up, I doubt very much that few, if any, hotels will be completely full. At worst, you might not always get your first choice, but you won't be sleeping on a park bench.

Hillbilly · Nov 24, 2002

Well, I do have a consulting fee of $50.00US per day....However, out of the goodness of my heart...
Look, do not rent a car! At least not a t first. Get a feel for the place first. For that kind of money $30 a day you can rent a car and driver, if I am not mistaken, KEN? can he up there?
Second, your vices are relatively cheap, beer is less tan $2.00 US for 650cc bottles. Ciggies? Ugh! Gasp! Cough! Don't know and couldn't care less. Hear they are expensive....
You can book at Tropix or Sofys_bb@hotmail.com via internet.
Spfy's is off the beaten path, only three bedrooms, but I repeat, the best breakfast on the North Shore. Tropix is sort of family oriented, same owner for ages. Just a four minute walk form center of Sosua. Both are good places to start. Rocky's will be active, tosay the least. STAY AWAY FROM JAZZCOM!! He will lead you astray!

HB

Ken · Nov 24, 2002

Sorry, HB, but have no experience with car rental. We use public transportation and manage to get everywhere we want to go. But then we aren't off searching for unspoiled paradises.

But I don't think you are going to get a car and driver for the day for $30, that's only RD$600.

There should be someone reading this thread who knows what the going rate is on car rental.

Hillbilly · Nov 24, 2002

Please look at the post below about WILSON. This guy got high praise from some nice people. You might solve your transport problems thru him...Do an archive search on him...

HB

P.S. They sure as heck are not getting a car for that much! Are they??

mainer · Nov 24, 2002

We went to the taxi stand and got a nice van with a driver who spoke English for 1000 pesos for the day. He took us wherever we wanted to go. With lunch and tip, it cost us a total of 1200 pesos for the day! We didn't think that was too bad. We saw just about every beach from Luperon to Sosua!

Mainer

Escott · Nov 24, 2002

Hb, 30 bux US a day for a car and driver? Can you share some of your drugs? LOL How do you lead a straycat astray anywho?

Rum and Beer are cheap, imported whiskeys are a little more pricey. Most bars sell a Rum and Coke for about $1.25 to 1.50 and the same with a decent bottled beer.

Cigarettes are inexpensive compared to the states but I don't smoke. We are having a turkey dinner with all the trimmings on the 28th to celebrate the US Thanksgiving at Rockys for under 5 dollars US. Usually meals are less expensive there.

You cant even rent a car for that money. Economy car for the week at the lowest price on the web is about that much plus, plus, plus. Use the National Car Rental site from here and you will be in a world of pain trying to get a few days for 30 bux.

If he stays at Condos Dominicanos or Europa you can walk anywhere in Sosua you need to go. I find the streets safe any time of day or night and have never had a problem with the exception of women bothering me because they want to spend the night with me. Both of these places are in your price range and I wouldnt book on the internet without checking the place here first.

Luck

Straycat_67 · Nov 24, 2002

So whats the problem with self driving in DR???
To be honest we have driven in some of the carziest countries in the world inclusing Bali, Tunisia, Greece etc...... we really like the freedom to come and go as we please.... i know a DRIVER can show us the BEST bits, but we find half the fun is finding the places ourselves.
Just wondered if anyone knew of on the ground rental companies in the downtown resort areas that hire?? From my experience in other countries, you tend to be able to strike a better deal with these.

Couple of other questions:
What time does it get dark of an evening in Decemeber?
and
It looks to me the North gets 4 times as much rain than in the South during Decemeber, does this mean constant rain more often or just heavier quick bursts of showers that last for 10 mins then hours of sunshine afterwards?

Cheers
Dave (London)
20 sleeps to go!!!!!!

Ken · Nov 24, 2002

It goes quickly from daylight to night in the tropics. No long sunsets like they have some places. Days are getting noticeably shorter. Tonight it was dark before 7pm. By time you get here, darkness will begin earlier than that.

Yes, you can drive yourself. US$30 is about DR$600 at present rate of exchange. Don't expect to get a car for that, at least not one you would feel safe driving. Also, don't drive without insurance.

Four times more rain than where? There used to be seasons called rainy and dry when the weather acted the way it was supposed to. People may still talk of rainy and dry seasons, but the weather no longer seems to pay attention. Even when it rains, most common to rain at night. Rare to have a day completely ruined by rain. When you live here you get accustomed to ducking in some place when it rains, then go on about your business as soon as it stops.

I'm sure finding places on your own is fun. Just be careful. If you find a delightful place where no one seems to be around, someone is likely to come out of the bushes with a machete and take your money. I'm not joking. You will have no trouble when you are in areas with other people, or if you have a Dominican with you on your search for undiscovered paradises. But when completely on your own, beware.

Please Help with first time travellers questions.....

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