I recently returned to Toronto after spending a week in Dominican Republic at Playa Coson, on the outskirts of Las Terrenas. We stayed in one of the beachfront Villas in Los Nomadas, Villa Arquebuse. We had 3 families in the villa, 6 adults and 6 kids under the age of 6.
The beach was amazing at Playa Coson....daily trips down the beach to Luis Restaurant for fresh lobster lunch, and trips into town for groceries at Lindo. We arranged Whale Watching in Samana with Kim Beddal, which exceeded our expectations and really delivered a up close experience with lots of humpback whales. Amazing weather every day (Feb 5th -12th 2012), an amazing housekeeper and cook onsite at the Villa...all around an amazing experience.
There was only really one drawback, which is clouding our decision to return again next year. Mosquitoes. For the adults, it was not really too big an issue, but for the kids it was absolutely unbearable. They were all completely covered in mosquito bites head to toe, blanketing their skin in layers and layers of bites. We quickly learned to close off all the windows and doors after sunset, and to burn multiple green mosquito coils in every room.
Thankfully we had the foresight to bring a tent with us that we planned to use on the beach. Instead, all the kids slept in that 6 person tent every night after the 2nd night of unrelenting mosquito attack. The local mosquito repellant had little to no effect in deterring the pests. The villa had no mosquito nets on the beds, and certainly no airtight windows or doors to keep the mosquitos out at night. It was kind of ridiculous to rent a humungous 6 bedroom villa, and have 3 bedrooms empty as all the kids slept in a tent in the living room.
The villa itself was absolutely beautiful, but we came to dread the sunset each evening as it would undoubtedly bring the mosquitos out to attack the kids again.
So, some questions for those DR1 members better familiar with Las Terrenas, Playa Coson, and the fact of life that is dealing with insects in the DR. 1) Is there a better time of year to come than early Feb in regards to mosquitos. 2) Is it true that all the resorts fumigate regularly to get rid of the mosquitos? 3) Any better aversion, defensive techniques to protect the kids from the constand mosquito attacks? I would really like to convince the other families to return to Playa Coson and Los Nomadas again next year, but I have an uphill battle convincing them that we can effectively deal with the bug issue. Some of the families are pushing for a all inclusive next year instead of a villa rental, but I really do prefer to get a villa out on a deserted beach, go into town for groceries and get out of the whole all-inclusive resort mentality and really see the countryside. Maybe it's because as a kid my parents had an apartment in Sosua we would vacation at several times a year, and walk to the grocery store every day. I just don't remember the mosquitos being so bad back then.
Thanks for your advice!
The beach was amazing at Playa Coson....daily trips down the beach to Luis Restaurant for fresh lobster lunch, and trips into town for groceries at Lindo. We arranged Whale Watching in Samana with Kim Beddal, which exceeded our expectations and really delivered a up close experience with lots of humpback whales. Amazing weather every day (Feb 5th -12th 2012), an amazing housekeeper and cook onsite at the Villa...all around an amazing experience.
There was only really one drawback, which is clouding our decision to return again next year. Mosquitoes. For the adults, it was not really too big an issue, but for the kids it was absolutely unbearable. They were all completely covered in mosquito bites head to toe, blanketing their skin in layers and layers of bites. We quickly learned to close off all the windows and doors after sunset, and to burn multiple green mosquito coils in every room.
Thankfully we had the foresight to bring a tent with us that we planned to use on the beach. Instead, all the kids slept in that 6 person tent every night after the 2nd night of unrelenting mosquito attack. The local mosquito repellant had little to no effect in deterring the pests. The villa had no mosquito nets on the beds, and certainly no airtight windows or doors to keep the mosquitos out at night. It was kind of ridiculous to rent a humungous 6 bedroom villa, and have 3 bedrooms empty as all the kids slept in a tent in the living room.
The villa itself was absolutely beautiful, but we came to dread the sunset each evening as it would undoubtedly bring the mosquitos out to attack the kids again.
So, some questions for those DR1 members better familiar with Las Terrenas, Playa Coson, and the fact of life that is dealing with insects in the DR. 1) Is there a better time of year to come than early Feb in regards to mosquitos. 2) Is it true that all the resorts fumigate regularly to get rid of the mosquitos? 3) Any better aversion, defensive techniques to protect the kids from the constand mosquito attacks? I would really like to convince the other families to return to Playa Coson and Los Nomadas again next year, but I have an uphill battle convincing them that we can effectively deal with the bug issue. Some of the families are pushing for a all inclusive next year instead of a villa rental, but I really do prefer to get a villa out on a deserted beach, go into town for groceries and get out of the whole all-inclusive resort mentality and really see the countryside. Maybe it's because as a kid my parents had an apartment in Sosua we would vacation at several times a year, and walk to the grocery store every day. I just don't remember the mosquitos being so bad back then.
Thanks for your advice!