We're planning a trip to the DR in May and would really appreciate some help/advice. We've found a good flight into POP and like the descriptions of the North Coast (Cabarete) and especially Samana Peninsula. My husband and I are the off-the-beaten-path type, but we'll be bringing our 1.5 yr old daughter this time, for a stay of (we hope) about 10 days. We love small hotels, tranquil beaches, great food and sunshine, but also want to have a relaxing vacation with our daughter. Here are the foggy areas which we hope some of you DR experts can help illuminate:
1. RAIN CONCERNS: We've read different things about the DR rainy "season". One weather index says there are 9 inches of rain on avg in May in Samana!! Should we limit our stay in this area and go for a different itinerary - i.e. East Coast/Punta Cana or Santa Domingo and surrounding beaches? Is early May much worse than late May, or is there no difference? Is May a totally dead month in the DR, touristically speaking?
2. WHERE TO STAY: If you were to spend 5 nights in two separate "base towns" along the North Coast, which would you pick? Considering we'd like a beach with calm waters near by, but that we don't want to be too isolated (we're not planning on renting a car) Cabarete? Sosua? Puerto Plata? Is Sosua really the "Acapulco of the DR" or are there quiet zones/hotels there too? If we spent 6 days in Samana, would it be best to divide it up, i.e. 3 in Samana and 3 in Las Galeras (looking at the Club Bonito hotel)? Any suggestions for towns or hotels are welcome.
3. TODDLER TRAVEL: We're concerned about what our daughter will eat while over there. Do supermarkets sell good quality jars of babyfood, just in case? Health : are special vaccinations needed for a toddler - or for us, for that matter?
4. COST OF LIVING/TRAVELING: are the hotels really as inexpensive as they seem (i.e. 50-100 night) or do taxes really make a huge difference?
THANKS FOR ANY HELP ON ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS ASAP!!
So glad this forum exists!
Christina, Enrico and Mila
1. RAIN CONCERNS: We've read different things about the DR rainy "season". One weather index says there are 9 inches of rain on avg in May in Samana!! Should we limit our stay in this area and go for a different itinerary - i.e. East Coast/Punta Cana or Santa Domingo and surrounding beaches? Is early May much worse than late May, or is there no difference? Is May a totally dead month in the DR, touristically speaking?
2. WHERE TO STAY: If you were to spend 5 nights in two separate "base towns" along the North Coast, which would you pick? Considering we'd like a beach with calm waters near by, but that we don't want to be too isolated (we're not planning on renting a car) Cabarete? Sosua? Puerto Plata? Is Sosua really the "Acapulco of the DR" or are there quiet zones/hotels there too? If we spent 6 days in Samana, would it be best to divide it up, i.e. 3 in Samana and 3 in Las Galeras (looking at the Club Bonito hotel)? Any suggestions for towns or hotels are welcome.
3. TODDLER TRAVEL: We're concerned about what our daughter will eat while over there. Do supermarkets sell good quality jars of babyfood, just in case? Health : are special vaccinations needed for a toddler - or for us, for that matter?
4. COST OF LIVING/TRAVELING: are the hotels really as inexpensive as they seem (i.e. 50-100 night) or do taxes really make a huge difference?
THANKS FOR ANY HELP ON ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS ASAP!!
So glad this forum exists!
Christina, Enrico and Mila