Hello all
It appears that I will be headed back to the DR for my 3rd trip in Dec 2010 (around the 17th). I will be there for about 18 days. On my first trip (July 2009) i did the gringo thing stayed in a resort in puerto plata (Grand Oasis Marien) and met some great friends who I returned (while staying at Hotel Sunshine in Puerto PLata and Hotel Atarazana in SD) to spend time with again when I returned in Dec 2009. I did the usual city tour in Puerto Plata, went boogey boarding in cabarete, visited Punta Rusia, and even went to a campo (Quebrada Honda I believe). I also was able to visit the tourist sites in Santo Domingo and went to some wonderful restaurants and enjoyed the nightlife (thanks to suggestions from this board). I have hit the colmados, been fortunate enough to see Antony Santos in concert, been to the markets, chilled on the Malecon and stuff and have developed a good network of friends there (most in Puerto Plata, one in Santo Domingo).
While I understand a good amount of the culture involves karaoke sitting around at the colmado and drinking and dancing or cruising around, I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing and learning about the culture and I am looking to continue my education and fill my travel to the DR with more activities (nothing wildly expensive) in the form of maybe jetskiing, exploring islands, snorkelling, concerts, scuba diving, hiking, exploring remote locations and just seeing how people live. I wanted to get some suggestions on what to do, where to visit in the DR (should I go in December when family members come home or wait for Carnival in February?). My friends are in Puerto plata and will likely be working and wont be afforded the opportunity to travel with me much. I spoke enough Spanish to get by solo last trip and have been studying a bit so the language shouldnt be a problem. Thanks in advance!
It appears that I will be headed back to the DR for my 3rd trip in Dec 2010 (around the 17th). I will be there for about 18 days. On my first trip (July 2009) i did the gringo thing stayed in a resort in puerto plata (Grand Oasis Marien) and met some great friends who I returned (while staying at Hotel Sunshine in Puerto PLata and Hotel Atarazana in SD) to spend time with again when I returned in Dec 2009. I did the usual city tour in Puerto Plata, went boogey boarding in cabarete, visited Punta Rusia, and even went to a campo (Quebrada Honda I believe). I also was able to visit the tourist sites in Santo Domingo and went to some wonderful restaurants and enjoyed the nightlife (thanks to suggestions from this board). I have hit the colmados, been fortunate enough to see Antony Santos in concert, been to the markets, chilled on the Malecon and stuff and have developed a good network of friends there (most in Puerto Plata, one in Santo Domingo).
While I understand a good amount of the culture involves karaoke sitting around at the colmado and drinking and dancing or cruising around, I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing and learning about the culture and I am looking to continue my education and fill my travel to the DR with more activities (nothing wildly expensive) in the form of maybe jetskiing, exploring islands, snorkelling, concerts, scuba diving, hiking, exploring remote locations and just seeing how people live. I wanted to get some suggestions on what to do, where to visit in the DR (should I go in December when family members come home or wait for Carnival in February?). My friends are in Puerto plata and will likely be working and wont be afforded the opportunity to travel with me much. I spoke enough Spanish to get by solo last trip and have been studying a bit so the language shouldnt be a problem. Thanks in advance!
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