Lots of questions from a soon to be first time visitor

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canadagb

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Aug 2, 2006
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Hi All,

I am planning to come to the DR for the last week in August. I will be staying at the Gran Ventana in Puerto Plata. This will be my first trip to DR and I am looking foward to it.

I have been reading these posting for a while now and found them quite helpful. I do have a few questions.

1) I am planning to do some snorkeling when I am there. I have read about Paradise Island, a catameran day trip and a excursion off Sousa Bay. Can someone recommend a good place with lots of wildlife?

2) I found this site on the web today (iguanamama.com). Looks like they have a pretty cool hiking trail. It is called the "27 waterfalls of Damajagua". Has anyone ever been on that trek? It is worth it and how challenging of a hike is it.

3) Being 41 and single, I am not too inclined to pretend I am 18 again and hang out in a place where I will seem out of place. I am sure the 18 year old hoties are not looking to hook with someone as old as their father :cheeky:
Is there a bar/disco that caters to an older crowd?

4) Being a single male, I am hoping to get lucky on my vacation ;) (another tourist, local, whatever) What are the rules about bringing guests back to your room? I suspect I would have no problem if it was another guest from the hotel, but what about locals?

Thanks,
see you in a couple of weeks.
 
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Rick Snyder

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Nov 19, 2003
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Canadagb,

Welcome to DR1. Having said that then let me give you a little reading material while we wait for the other members to jump in. I did a search with the button above and came up with these:
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50847&highlight=Gran+Ventana+Puerto+Plata
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43993&highlight=Gran+Ventana+Puerto+Plata
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35287&highlight=Gran+Ventana+Puerto+Plata
http://www.oceanworld.net/indexf.html
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22177&highlight=taking+female+room
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50789&highlight=hooker+room

This should get you started.

Rick

http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51448&highlight=snorkeling
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51416&highlight=waterfalls+Damajagua
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30421&highlight=waterfalls+Damajagua
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40973&highlight=waterfalls+Damajagua
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39655&highlight=waterfalls+Damajagua
 
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Rocky

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Apr 4, 2002
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www.rockysbar.com
Rick Snyder said:
Canadagb,

Welcome to DR1. Having said that then let me give you a little reading material while we wait for the other members to jump in. I did a search with the button above and came up with these:
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50847&highlight=Gran+Ventana+Puerto+Plata
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43993&highlight=Gran+Ventana+Puerto+Plata
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35287&highlight=Gran+Ventana+Puerto+Plata
http://www.oceanworld.net/indexf.html
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22177&highlight=taking+female+room
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50789&highlight=hooker+room

This should get you started.

Rick

http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51448&highlight=snorkeling
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51416&highlight=waterfalls+Damajagua
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30421&highlight=waterfalls+Damajagua
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40973&highlight=waterfalls+Damajagua
http://www.dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39655&highlight=waterfalls+Damajagua
Click to expand...
That should keep him busy for awhile.
 
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Rocky

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Apr 4, 2002
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www.rockysbar.com
canadagb said:
3) Being 41 and single, I am not too inclined to pretend I am 18 again and hang out in a place where I will seem out of place. I am sure the 18 year old hoties are not looking to hook with someone as old as their father :cheeky:
Is there a bar/disco that caters to an older crowd?
Click to expand...
Older crowd?
41?
Dude, you're a spring chicken.
41 is young for most Dominican women.

canadagb said:
4) Being a single male, I am hoping to get lucky on my vacation ;) (another tourist, local, whatever) What are the rules about bringing guests back to your room? I suspect I would have no problem if it was another guest from the hotel, but what about locals?
Click to expand...
No guests in your all inclusive hotel allowed.
I presume you will land up coming to Sosua, 20 minutes from your complex, and party there, and if you fall in love, you may want to rent a cheap hotel there for the night.
 
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Rick Snyder

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Nov 19, 2003
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Canadagb,

Rocky is right and he should know. Let me introduce you to Rocky, he is the owner of a restaurant/bar/hotel in Sosua. I honestly think you should drop by his place and check it out as he has the best ribs in the DR. I've eaten and stayed there so I can attest to the girl action and quality of the food as can many other board members. Click on his name above and you will see (Visit Rocky's homepage) and click on that or go to this address;


http://www.rockysbar.com/

Rick
 
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canbon

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Apr 28, 2006
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Hola Canadagb,

I stayed at the Gran Ventana in March--it is a beautiful resort, great food, great accommodation. Unfortunately I did not get off the resort except for a day. Went to a couple of the discos in the resort complex and there were people of all ages--age just does not matter there though at all as you have already heard.

I went back in July and stayed at a 3-star and the difference in the resorts was immense--no comparison.

In July I did go off the resort (was off the resort more than I was on the resort) with a friend (from Puerto Plata) that I met on my first trip. We were in Sosua, Cabarete, Santiago, San Franciso de Macoris (so many places). It is worth it to leave the resort and meet the local people, experience life there--I am still on Cloud 9 from my trip. I plan to go again in the next few months but will not stay on a resort the next time. Spent a lot of our time in discos/carwashes (I don't know really what you would call them) in the City of Puerto Plata--I absolutely loved going to these places.

You can have a guest stay in the resort if you want to pay for them to stay--I don't think its a problem at any of the resorts.

I hope you have a wonderful trip!
 
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blitz

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Apr 3, 2006
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I stayed at the Gran Ventana in March and first things first.. you are going to want to leave the hotel at night, this I can guarantee.

The evening shows are hit or miss. The magician was great and the band was pretty good. Don't waste your time with the Cowboy show, Mr. Gran Ventana or karaoke. (of course, my opinion) After the nightly show ends, that's it for anything happening at the hotel. Lights off, and time for bed... (you'll see what I mean!)

There are quite a few options within the Playa Dorada complex. My favourite is the Roadway... I had a lot of fun there. Unfortunately I didn't venture outside of PD so I can't compare it to anything else.

I'm not sure if they're still going on, but I visited the Jack Tar Casino one night of my stay for a comedy night put on by Yuk Yuk's. It was 20-25USD and well worth it, drinks included.
 
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Kyle

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Jun 2, 2006
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dude, you're 41, not 81 !! DR women appreciate an older guy. believe me, you will go out to the discos and see guys older than you taking women home !! indulge in the delight of dominican women.

be careful, though. from past experience, i don't like those "pay by the hour" places women will take you if you have no place to take them.
 
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sharrisonb

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Apr 4, 2006
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just returned first time visitor

I returned from my first visit last Thursday. I stayed with my family on the Playa Dorada complex. I can help with the waterfalls excursion - we went along on a Jeep Safari adn the last stop was the waterfalls. You get to climb and then canyon down seven of the 27 and it was fantastic. I like outdoor type activities and this really was one of the best things I've ever done. Whole day cost us $28 including food and drinks.

We had a great time 17 year old son and 14 year old daughter who really didn't want to come home!
 
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canadagb

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Aug 2, 2006
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Thanks for the input

First, Rocky I am afraid I will not make it to Sosua this trip...at least not for a night cap. I will have my schedule pretty full. Ocean World, Jeep Safari, round of golf, a day trip to explore the town and market, and finally a snorkeling excursion...mind you, I suspect the snorkeling will be in Sousa Bay. (Maybe I will stop in for some ribs. Most likely, I will be saying in PD for this trip.)

It is ironic that my first choice for a hotel was the Sousa Bay Resort because I heard you could swim out to the reef from the beach. Unfortunately, I could not get a decent flight or I would have to wait a week.

I was looking forward to doing the Iguana Mama waterfall hike so I could see the country side, but I have scratched that one off my list.

I don't think I will be that brave to try the "rent by the hour" place. Considering I don't know a single word of Spanish, I don't think I will be too adventurous. I did pickup a learn Spanish cd pack and hope to learn a phrase or two before I go down ;)
 
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jcrew20

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Jun 22, 2005
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If you are looking for company, dont worry it will find you. Go to Mangu, Crazy moon or Rodeway and just about every Dominican girl you see is a working girl. Smile and they will Smile.
 
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