I recently went on my first trip to the dominican republic, I booked a flight package and paid about $700 total (including single supplement and taxes )from wash dc. to p/p and stayed in sosua at the casa marina, the hotel was great considering the next to nothing prices for a room, nothing fancy but I didn't plan to stay in the room very long, only used the bathroom and the lock box.. 99% of the dominicans I met were great (except the beautifull chica who pickpocketed me at one of the local bars, but that was my fault too for being extremely intoxicated and not minding her being extremely friendly) Most of the guests were german, british and canadians.. The only drawback to the resort was a large contigent of screaming, whining, loud and rude americans(not all but a large majority), and one french couple who ended up in jail for a couple of nights ( french canadian ??? not sure ) I started telling people I was canadian,, because I was ashamed of the general disrespectfullness of my fellow americans. Things like screaming at the staff because they paid for all-inclusive and they weren't getting their free rum & coke fast enough, and why they didn't have budweiser, or michelob, or coors instead of "dominican beer" I personally thought the staff at c/m did an excellent job, both sides of the resort were fully booked for the 4 nights I was there, the buffet's had good food and plenty of it, they tried to have different food at most sitting which was nice so people wouldn't get bored.. I travelled alone and met some new friends from nyc who were great, mostly when I ate at the resort I sat by myself or with the staff who couldn't find a table, they were great to talk with and very down to earth. everywhere the staffed tried to entertain the guest, especially at the beach with dance classes, aerobics, vollyball, flag football, many other things, plus they played also. tip if you are american and you bring kids or uptight wives/mothers you will see topless european women , yes topless that means no bathing suit tops if you can't deal with it then go to the holiday inn, near where you live in the states...don't yell at the staff because little johnny saw a naked women playing frisbee with her son on the beach.. Mostly though I walked around sosua, hired a driver a few times to take me to p. plata,, went to discos in sosua, ate at the local places for breakfast and lunch,, never had a bad meal ,, never had an expensive meal. always had great service. always had a smile and thank you from the owners and usually good advice on where to go for whatever I wanted to do,. Some more advice;;; take your pasty or red sunburnt butt out of the resort and into town, that is the real dominican republic, talk to people even if they want to sell you something,, It helps to know at least the basic terms in spanish, you can pick up a book or a cd at walmart. I know a dozen or so phrases and a few dozen words and I got by pretty well, at least make the effort to communicate in another language In short everyone I met in and outside of the resort in and around sosua and in puerto plata were at least respectfull if not very pleasant, especially when you start talking to them like another human being and not like your personal servant or errand boy then you will have a great time and meet some new friends for a little while or maybe longer.. I am booking my flight back to puerto plata for august, I will stay a few days longer this time...........if you want more info send me a line