5 Star place to stay in Jarabacoa?

[cobraboy]

I really don't think anyone could describe Gran Jimenoa as luxury. It's a 3 star type of place and I get the impression that it survives with groups of Dominicans coming to their Karaoke bar (I dread to think how noisy that is). It's OK, it's clean, the service is nice, but it's not luxurious.

If Villa Celeste is open, it's worth trying. Run by Vanessa, a New Yorker who previously run a cleaning company and you could literally eat your food from the floor. Really nice pool and only 8 bedrooms so it's quiet. I've stayed at both and in my view Villa Celeste is by far the better option if you're looking for boutique upscale type of places.

There are also some very very nice properties on AirBnB some of which have pools and come with full service, so it's worth a look.

There are no "5-star" hotels in Jarabacoa, period. The best is the Gran Jimenoa. It is more a local/upscale Dominican mountain resort.

We have been major patrons for 11 years and know the owners well. The GJ has been consistently upgraded J and is a fine, fine place with a solid reputation.

It does not pretend to be "boutique" but maintains consistently high standards in physical plant, food, cleanliness and customer service. It's one of the few Dominican businesses I know of who plow much of their profits back into the business.

It "survives" by being consistently packed on weekends and holidays with folks from Santiago and Santo Domingo who want to escape the city chaos and heat.

It may not fit the expectations of foreigners looking for first world excellence and "stars", but it is a place well known in the hearts of the Dominican society.

 

[bob saunders]

There are quite a few Villas for rent...etc. Like this one https://www.agoda.com/vista-del-bal...26912-1f73-46ec-a56f-ae4a92c83117&tabbed=true

 

[cobraboy]

There are quite a few Villas for rent...etc. Like this one https://www.agoda.com/vista-del-bal...26912-1f73-46ec-a56f-ae4a92c83117&tabbed=true

Many like the convenience of a resott hotel with services and food/drink readily available.

With a villa, you are on your own. That is an entirely different market.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

The primary idea of a Caribbean get-a-way held by the vast majority of short time tourists is one of rest and relaxation with the occasional side trip to do something of interest for a few hours. There is a segment of the travelling public that prefers or is at least open to the idea of being a little more hands on with respect to their trips. They don't mind shopping for and preparing their own meals, researching the entertainment options available and then getting themselves to and from those activities.

Generally speaking, pulling off this kind of a trip in a way that amounts to a good vacation is a lot harder than those of us living in this country remember. We may now tend to gloss over how difficult it can be when you are in an area without a lot of other tourists that the local economy is catering to, where the locals do not speak a lot of English and one can't understand the TV, the menus, or the directions on a package of medication.

The first type of vacation is a breeze and requires no effort or work. Airport to resort and back again is all taken care of. At most you have to pick a drink of the hour and what to scoop out of the buffet trays at meals. The other type of vacation is work and some degree of potential anxiety based on the circumstances and one's ability to cope without someone else to fall back on.

To each their own, but there is no doubt that this country, outside of a limited number of tourist areas, is far from an easy trip. It's nothing at all like popping across a European border or between Canadian provinces. The numbers show that most prefer not to take on the challenges presented by a foreign language, culture and no support system.

If one goes to Jarabacoa, what does one do there for a week?

 

[bob saunders]

The primary idea of a Caribbean get-a-way held by the vast majority of short time tourists is one of rest and relaxation with the occasional side trip to do something of interest for a few hours. There is a segment of the travelling public that prefers or is at least open to the idea of being a little more hands on with respect to their trips. They don't mind shopping for and preparing their own meals, researching the entertainment options available and then getting themselves to and from those activities.

Generally speaking, pulling off this kind of a trip in a way that amounts to a good vacation is a lot harder than those of us living in this country remember. We may now tend to gloss over how difficult it can be when you are in an area without a lot of other tourists that the local economy is catering to, where the locals do not speak a lot of English and one can't understand the TV, the menus, or the directions on a package of medication.

The first type of vacation is a breeze and requires no effort or work. Airport to resort and back again is all taken care of. At most you have to pick a drink of the hour and what to scoop out of the buffet trays at meals. The other type of vacation is work and some degree of potential anxiety based on the circumstances and one's ability to cope without someone else to fall back on.

To each their own, but there is no doubt that this country, outside of a limited number of tourist areas, is far from an easy trip. It's nothing at all like popping across a European border or between Canadian provinces. The numbers show that most prefer not to take on the challenges presented by a foreign language, culture and no support system.

If one goes to Jarabacoa, what does one do there for a week?

Ride horses, mountain bike, whitewater rafting, river swimming, paragliding, hiking, dirt-biking, drinking and eating just like anywhere, visit coffee farms, lay around doing nothing, golf, dance, chase women, or guys. The list is as long as your imagination and pocketbook. There won't be any ballet or Theatre or beaches. Jarabacoa river club isn't bad either.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

Looks like you could spend a week there without losing your mind. Well I could, my wife doesn't do very many of those outdoor/sporty/adventure type activities. She can drink, eating isn't a problem and excels at laying around...

 

[cobraboy]

Ride horses, mountain bike, whitewater rafting, river swimming, paragliding, hiking, dirt-biking, drinking and eating just like anywhere, visit coffee farms, lay around doing nothing, golf, dance, chase women, or guys. The list is as long as your imagination and pocketbook. There won't be any ballet or Theatre or beaches. Jarabacoa river club isn't bad either.

All while enjoying the nicest climate on the island.

We are routinely 8F cooler in Jatabacoa than the Cibao & Santiago, 10-12F cooler than Santo Domingo.