Once more before leaving...

Rather a few too many unknowns for a decent reply.

What do you want from your holiday?
Sport, adventure, wildlife, beaches, girls (or whatever is your fancy), nightlife,hiking, trekking, mountain climbing, fishing, diving, caving, snorkelling,boozing, eating, drinking,discos, young or old folks around,sleeping,socialising, wife-hunting, travelling,culture,and....... I've run out for now....

All of the above?

explorer1, why not explore?

3 weeks is a while..... Samana, Sosua/Cabarete(if it interests you), Sto Domingo, the mountains.

There is a lot to cover. Hispaniola is a big place. Three weeks isn'tthat long, some have found

RAAAY said:

Your list......

1. Women. Some are pretty, .............all are useless.

2. Peace and quiet. .....................Wrong country.

3. "at the bar on occasion, with good converstation."............... Wrong country.

4. "Hot chicks, peace and relative safety,"......................Wrong country.

5. "and a nice park is essential."...................... hmmmmm...???.......... maybe, if you can get a clean spot away from all the garbage.

.

All in all.............. Try Colombia.

.

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Not having been to Colombia, I could not say it is better or worse. The DR has a lot of pleasant towns where you could find everything other than "peace and quiet". You will almost certainly hear bachata music nearly everywhere. But I hear that Colombia has cumbia en las cumbres and vallenato en las valles, and it is a country of mountains and valleys. I rather liked Ecuador for the spectacular mountains, colonial architecture and Indian ruins. All Dominican women are not useless.

For painting scenery and such, do not miss los Altos de Chav?n: a nice artist colony is there. It is near La Romana. The beaches at Las Terrenas and Rio San Juan are very nice.

"..at the bar on occasion, with good converstation...."

hahahaha thats fantastic!

Yep, try Colombia or Argentina. I think you will absolutely hate the DR.

explorer1 said:

I have the travel bug, and am seriously considering DR as my next destination, within a week or so. How would you, as a single man, traveling solo, plan the trip? Given 3 weeks, would you take a hotel for that time? If so, where? Would you get an all inclusive deal? Why or why not?

Responses welcome.

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Make this thread about the above and NOT why some other place.

This thread has to be about DR!!!!!

Well try Santo Domingo, Santiago and Jarabacao and check out the north coast from Puerto Plata to Samana and you should have a good idea.

explorer1 said:

Serious or sarcastic?

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Serious. Based on this post and your previous threads you seem to be looking for things which are in very short supply in DR, and some countries are much better fit. Most people either hate it or love it here (and then hate it a bit from time to time anyway), I predict you will fall into the first category.

Personally, I think you'll have quite a bit of fun in DR.

I would do:

1. The North Coast, from Puerto Plata through Cabrera. You'll find the best place to stay is Sosua (for girls and a decent beach), Cabarete (for amazing waves and a true "beach bum" holiday), and Cabrera (serene small town, lovely views, relatively quiet, next to Playa Grande, which is the best golf course on the North Coast)

2. Las Terrenas - from Cabrera, it's about an hour's drive. LT is perhaps one of the prettiest spots on the island. Very eclectic, given the strong numbers of French and Italian expats. Amazing beaches, and a town that is the closest approximation you'll get to a genuine Dominican village in a touristy area. There's also no shortage of cool "eco-touristy" things to do, including visiting waterfalls and 4-wheeling everywhere.

3. From there, I'd take the highway back to Santiago and the Cibao Valley. Santiago is exceedingly pleasant though not at all touristy (which is actually a nice change of pace). You're also close to Jarabacoa, which boasts great waterfalls, hiking, and the like.

4. At that point, I'd take the bus to Santo Domingo. There are many things to see, but just find your way to the Colonial Zone (and especially the Plaza de Espana) for a good start, especially in the early evening as the sun is setting. You're walking on streets made 500 years ago, while getting smiles from some of the prettiest women in the world. There are worse ways to spend the evening.

5. Afterwards, I'd make my way down the East Coast, stopping for lunch in idyllic Bayahibe. Continue on to your choice of AI resorts in Punta Cana (I think you mentioned that), and enjoy the perfectly manicured beaches and all-you-can-eat buffets for the last part of your trip.

Those are the major spots. There are all sorts of other small trips you can make, but that would take up way more than 2-3 weeks. :glasses:

Colombia is very nice, but DR has a LOT to offer.

Follow "D"Rob's" advice, he "Nailed It"!
Are you willing to pay a pretty young girl $20 US to have sex with her????
If you think you will come here and get FREEPUSSY, it ain't in the cards for a tourist.
"PLay for Pay, is "OK"!
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Criss Colon said:

Follow "D"Rob's" advice, he "Nailed It"!
Are you willing to pay a pretty young girl $20 US to have sex with her????
If you think you will come here and get FREEPUSSY, it ain't in the cards for a tourist.
"PLay for Pay, is "OK"!
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

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No, but I might pay her to have sex with ME

Fish you remind me of an American friend that has been coming here monthly for 20 years.
He TOO says he "Never Pays", but yet he "GIVES" the girls money for their "Expenses"!
There is no "Free Lunch", and no "Free Pussy"!
It's MUCH cheaper to PAY them, and watch them leave!
You want EXPENSIVE, get married!
And NO SEX to show for it!
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

DRob said:

Sosua (for girls

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Is he looking for P4P?

explorer1 said:

with good converstation

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How is your Spanish (conversation)?

explorer1 said:

Three weeks gives me enough time to evaluate whether I want to stay 2-3 months, so it is not so restrictive as that, actually.
Not interested in sports at all. I love women, of course. I also love peace and quiet. Not into the bar scene so much, but do enjoy a few at the bar on occasion, with good converstation. Sooo...

Hot chicks, peace and relative safety, and maybe a neighborhood bar or two in the vicinity. Oh... and a nice park is essential. I like to work on paintings in the park. That nearly sums up what I am looking for.

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Sounds like Cabarete to me. The problem being the lack of good and economical beach hotels but there are a few off the beach. I would not recommend All-inclusive to anyone who has even the slightest inclination to wander so an Aparthotel in Cab should suit fine.
You have the towns of Sosua for the bar scene and Puerto Plata, for something else, though I'm not sure what,Costambar also, within easy reach for a change of scene or Santiago if the 'Big City'(it's relative..!) need is upon you.

Peaceandquiet is a very rare animal in this country but on non-weekends you may discover it hiding at La Boca or Parque el Choco for example, with a bit of luck but there are good hunting grounds for available females of our species all over this region.

Happy Hols.

explorer1 said:

I have the travel bug, and am seriously considering DR as my next destination, within a week or so. How would you, as a single man, traveling solo, plan the trip? Given 3 weeks, would you take a hotel for that time? If so, where? Would you get an all inclusive deal? Why or why not?

Responses welcome.

Click to expand...

I've done this trip before and rented an apartment in Santo Domingo. I think Santo Domingo offers you something and you are close to the beach and a lot of activities, cultural events, clubs, non tourist areas, tourist areas, Dominicans from different economic and educational levels, etc. - relative to other parts of the DR.