backpackers are a bit rare of a spezies over here, yes, but locals not.
we spend 2nd last weekend/dominican mothers day a few days at a resort which asked for $300.- per night and we had no prob to find spanish speaking conversations everywhere. locals like to spend some days at the resorts specially over specific holiday weekends and they spend their money on it, the resorts take it happily.
you get the best rates by Rubio's recommendations, use the international travelsites and pay right there online with a credit card.
you find good hotel-only deals all around, on american, canadian, german sites, depending to which clientel a specific resort is usuaally gathering to.
local rates are higher, in many cases much higher.
many of my dominican friends and family ask me to do their bookings for the weekends when they may not have a sufficient credit card fill on their own cards, lol.
the only exception of the rule would be if you know a sales manager in person, here you will receive his/her lowest available 'touroperator' rate.
cheers
Mike
