DR for the first time in 2010?

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Paul Ballard

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Not sure yet if " The North Coast" is the correct forum for this, please excuse a first-timer if not;

My wife and I, having travelled to Cuba (Havana//Trinidad/Santa Clara) a little over two years ago (and thoroughly enjoyed it), are interested in another Caribbean break, possibly in the Puerto Plata area, March/April?

But, as neither of us are as yet in any way fluent in Spanish, we are quite frankly out of our depth outside of the main tourist/ english speaking areas.

(Our fault - accepted, but we're trying to work on it!)

Also, we've never exactly having been the typical "package-holiday" type (we've always been too independant for that) and we really like to get out and explore the country that we're in, away from the resorts and the restrictions.

The question is, is it normal, (as in safe) for us to ignore all the resorts, the touts and the Reps, and instead just go ahead and book our own holiday in (say)an apartment/timeshare and go out each night for a meal somewhere, and walk on the beach later or whatever?

Thanks in advance,
PB
 
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whirleybird

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Feb 27, 2006
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Paul Ballard said:
Not sure yet if " The North Coast" is the correct forum for this, please excuse a first-timer if not;

My wife and I, having travelled to Cuba (Havana//Trinidad/Santa Clara) a little over two years ago (and thoroughly enjoyed it), are interested in another Caribbean break, possibly in the Puerto Plata area, March/April?

But, as neither of us are as yet in any way fluent in Spanish, we are quite frankly out of our depth outside of the main tourist/ english speaking areas.

(Our fault - accepted, but we're trying to work on it!)

Also, we've never exactly having been the typical "package-holiday" type (we've always been too independant for that) and we really like to get out and explore the country that we're in, away from the resorts and the restrictions.

The question is, is it normal, (as in safe) for us to ignore all the resorts, the touts and the Reps, and instead just go ahead and book our own holiday in (say)an apartment/timeshare and go out each night for a meal somewhere, and walk on the beach later or whatever?

Thanks in advance,
PB
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If you exercise caution as you would when visiting anywhere, you should be more than safe and secure. I would suggest that you use the 'search function' on these forums to gain more knowledge of this country you plan to visit. There are a good number of condos/ apartments/ villas to rent for the duration of your holiday and you don't really need much Spanish if you are planning to be in Sosua / Cabarete area. Where are you visiting from?
 
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Lambada

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Paul Ballard said:
The question is, is it normal, (as in safe) for us to ignore all the resorts, the touts and the Reps, and instead just go ahead and book our own holiday in (say)an apartment/timeshare and go out each night for a meal somewhere, and walk on the beach later or whatever?

Thanks in advance,
PB
Click to expand...

Fine to book your own holiday, fine to go out for a meal (unadorned by lots of bling). Take advice about walking on the beach at night - it entirely depends on the area and how many other people are around. Not advisable to walk at night on a deserted beach.

Welcome to DR1 and enjoy your holiday. :)
 
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Paul Ballard

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whirleybird said:
If you exercise caution as you would when visiting anywhere, you should be more than safe and secure. I would suggest that you use the 'search function' on these forums to gain more knowledge of this country you plan to visit. There are a good number of condos/ apartments/ villas to rent for the duration of your holiday and you don't really need much Spanish if you are planning to be in Sosua / Cabarete area. Where are you visiting from?
Click to expand...

Thankyou for your quick reply and advice.
We're in the depths of a freezing cold winter here in the U.K. at the moment, and wishing we were somewhere warmer !
You're absolutely right - I see now there's a wealth of information to be had on this site.
Should have done my homework first - sorry!
 
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Paul Ballard

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Dec 21, 2009
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Lambada said:
Fine to book your own holiday, fine to go out for a meal (unadorned by lots of bling). Take advice about walking on the beach at night - it entirely depends on the area and how many other people are around. Not advisable to walk at night on a deserted beach.

Welcome to DR1 and enjoy your holiday. :)
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Thanks for your advice, much appreciated.
Just the thought of being cooped up in some anonymous resort for two weeks didn't appeal at all. Been there, done that, boring as hell.
Going walkies on the beach after supper is actually more Sue's thing. Since this is not a good idea in the D.R., I'm sure we can find other alternatives.
I'd much rather sit out on the balcony and drink Mojito anyway!
 
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Black Dog

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People on this forum will give you some great tips on where to stay. If you could give us an idea of what is your ideal holiday it will help us narrow down the areas for you.
Where abouts in the UK are you? I came to the DR from Cornwall and have lived in Sosua for the last 5 years.
 
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whirleybird

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Feb 27, 2006
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Paul Ballard said:
Thankyou for your quick reply and advice.
We're in the depths of a freezing cold winter here in the U.K. at the moment, and wishing we were somewhere warmer !
You're absolutely right - I see now there's a wealth of information to be had on this site.
Should have done my homework first - sorry!
Click to expand...

I did not wish to imply that you should necessarily use the 'search' function as an alternative to asking a direct question of the members on here but thought you may find additional information via that source as well.

We are also from the UK and have now lived in the DR for 3.5 years and definitely do not miss the damp, cold and miserable winters over there!!
 
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BettyDiamond

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no problem walking along the beach in cabarete at night -and plenty of places to eat right on the beach
 
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Paul Ballard

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Dec 21, 2009
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Bl**dy hell!
They don't hang about long on this site before they log you out now do they?

OK so our last attempt (now gone into the Ether) was a bit of a long post, fair enough, but not being a modernist, sound-bites and all, all we were trying to do was thank everyone individually who replied on this thread today.

Thankyou one and all, will try and get back to you tomorrow,
P&S B
 
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Lambada

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Paul Ballard said:
Bl**dy hell!
They don't hang about long on this site before they log you out now do they?
Click to expand...

Think of it as pre-training for being sharp & alert in the DR ;). Seriously, you can always draft a post in your email account or on Word & copy/paste over if you are a slow, thoughful poster.

Btw, I'm another Brit. I think we tend to recognise fellow Brits, who aren't cerebrally challenged :cheeky:, from their style of writing.
 
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sayrah

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Nov 29, 2006
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Hi there - Last year was our first trip to the North Coast DR, we are a family group looking for a low-key beach vacation. A great spot for a safe time on the beach is Playa Magante, just before Rio San Juan. Several different cabana places (not the sex cabanas as discussed elsewhere on DR1 ;)) are just along the beach. Some places take reservations but I'd say a couple would have no problem arriving & finding accommodations in March/April. It's just over an hour from Puerto Plata airport. If you have time, don't forget to check out the mountains near Jarabacoa!
 
Hillbilly

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Oh my people???

Yes, O Great Wise ONe??

You have forgotten to tell this Brit that Easter Week, you know? That week when every Dominican worth the name goes to the Beach for a week of prayer and fasting>>

It comes early this year, 3 April or thereabout....

Oh Mr Wise One, we had forgotten all about that....


SO, dear Paul, please book early wherever you decide to go...
Suggest you think Cabarete or Sos?a but Ri? San Juan and Cabrera are distinct possibilites and I would die for a loong week in Las Galeras...on the tippy tip tip of the peninsula..

Happy Holidays...


Oh thank you so much Great Wise One...

You are welcome, little people...we all need to help the new visitors, I was only doing my part...



HB
 
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Black Dog

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Hillbilly said:
Oh my people???

Yes, O Great Wise ONe??

You have forgotten to tell this Brit that Easter Week, you know? That week when every Dominican worth the name goes to the Beach for a week of prayer and fasting>>

It comes early this year, 3 April or thereabout....

Oh Mr Wise One, we had forgotten all about that....


SO, dear Paul, please book early wherever you decide to go...
Suggest you think Cabarete or Sos?a but Ri? San Juan and Cabrera are distinct possibilites and I would die for a loong week in Las Galeras...on the tippy tip tip of the peninsula..

Happy Holidays...


Oh thank you so much Great Wise One...

You are welcome, little people...we all need to help the new visitors, I was only doing my part...



HB
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Nice post HB! Made me grin like a demented fool. "what do you mean 'like' " I can hear JR saying LOL
 
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jrhartley

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