Suncamp and Diann Pellerin
My boyfriend and I just returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic in which we stayed at Suncamp Apartments for a week. We spent our week riding horses and sight seeing and relaxing. We booked our trip through Hidden Trails and did not know the name of where we would stay until after we had paid fully and the trip was non-refundable. When we learned the name of where we would stay, I naturally looked it up on-line, curious about where we would be staying. The only reference I could find initially was on this website, and everything I read was just awful. I became really nervous before we arrived, and was completely prepared to hate the place and to encounter all kinds of trouble and problems with Diann.
Instead, she was incredibly friendly and helpful. We flew into Santiago in the middle of the night and were unsure of how we would get to her apartments. She arranged for a Munoz cab driver to pick us up at the airport--and he even waited an extra hour and a half because our plane was delayed and some of our luggage was lost so we had to put in a claim. Juan, the cab driver, had the key to our apartment and helped us in. In the morning, we met Diann for the first time. She called Santiago Airport for me so I could make arrangements for our luggage to be delivered. She had a huge jug of potable water delivered to our room. She ordered an english speaking cab driver to take us into Puerto Plata to exchange money, pick up groceries, and just sight see. Everyday after riding horses, we would go and talk to her and tell her about what we had done and where we had gone--and she was genuinely interested. She also arranged for one of her other tenants to take us into Puerto Plata. I wanted to ride the cable car and go to the Amber Museum, and check out Playa Dorada. The guide was a great idea as he was able to keep our costs to a minimum (cab drivers will over charge tourists by massive amounts!). She never asked for additional money for any kind thing she did for us (the water did cost a pittance--but it more than lasted us the week! And she sold us an international phone card that was only 100 pesos--about 4 American Dollars).
The apartments themselves were simple and nothing fancy, but functional and pleasant--and I can only suggest that if, for 250 American Dollars a WEEK, you are expecting the Hyatt Regency, you shouldn't be allowed to travel alone anyway. One comment on a previous string states that the apartments are not fit for American and European people, and yet I (as a spoiled American) would argue that they are better than what more than half the world's residents live in every day of the year. I was at first a little put off and unsure about not having windows, but rather screened iron bars. However, it came to make sense to me as Air Conditioning is impractical in the Dominican Republic (outside of resorts) due to the frequent power outages, thus, windowless homes get a breeze and thereby remain reasonably cool in a very hot climate. I also noticed as we rode throughout the country side, that the vast majority of Dominican Homes were built the same way. Many of the iron bars employed in many homes were extremely attractive and decorative and I came to look forward to "Dream House Hunting" based on the design of the iron bars!
Much fuss has also occurred over the location with several people complaining about it's distance from town and having to go through the Bateay (unsure of spelling). By car, it was only 2 minutes to the Playa Dorada Resort Complex, and about 5 minutes into Downtown Puerto Plata. I enjoyed the location as I found the air more breathable at Suncamp and in Munoz than I did in Puerto Plata. We were also able to relax with quiet if we chose, but also to go and avail ourselves of crowds when desired. As for the "dangerous bateay", I have no idea what all the hoopla is about. My boyfriend and I caught the wrong cab one day and ended up having to walk from the main highway the 2 kilometers to Suncamp (about a 20 minute walk), hiking right through the Bateay, as well as the village of Munoz. The only thing that happened was that a couple of small Haitian children tagged along with us, thrilled to practice their english on us, and asking us occasionally if we could spare a Peso. Some Haitian adults chased the kids off and apologized to us, and some others waved at us. We actually hung out one evening in the Bateay--a colmida owner made us dinner at her house, and then we all hung out outside listening to music and chatting. The children had a great time practicing English on us and were charmingly silly--as most children are. The adults were cordial and curious.
In regards to the other tenants at Suncamp--there was a Canadian Physical Therapist who was lovely, a missionary lady I never met but saw come and go, a Dominican man who lived in New York City but is now living there and he was a riot and loves pool, a Scottish traveler who had spent a few weeks wandering around the Dominican Republic and spent the last at Suncamp resting and preparing to go home, a couple who were magicians living in Paris, France and who were travelling with their 2 small children. I know I am missing a few people, but my point is that they were all wonderful and warm, helpful when needed, and pleasant.
I would strongly recommend staying at Suncamp Apartments to anyone who is not expecting something flashy with a lot of room service. If your idea of a vacation is lying on a beach having drinks delivered to you, Suncamp isn't the place for you. If you are outgoing and want a genuine taste of Dominican Culture and "Real Life", Suncamp is fabulous. My only advice would be to load up on Mosquito Spray because they do come out around 5 in the afternoon and they are hungry little fellows!