- Thread starter beeza
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Finally, some good news for the North Coast
The Ritz Carlton only has what? just a few of this line in the world
snappy Stuff.... too snappy for this hick from the sticks...
snappy Stuff.... too snappy for this hick from the sticks...
I obviously have vision issues because I can’t see how any major name would desire to put their name on the former Gansevoort property.
It IS nice and for the most part new.
It’s also lacking a beach and surrounded by a neighborhood/town seemingly possessing nothing that high end clients would desire. (I understand there’s talk of some beach rejuvenation but how long will that last?)
Ladies used to shopping on 5th Avenue in NYC or Bond Street in London will fear leaving the resort, and if they do wander the streets of Sosua I doubt they’ll be enamored with the Lycra pantsuits in neon colors available in the stores.
Those looking for golf, high end casinos, deep sea fishing, fine dining, etc etc will be sorely disappointed.
If it’s sold to clients that want to spend their time trapped in a small property eating at the onsite restaurant, ok. Otherwise, I just don’t get it.
It IS nice and for the most part new.
It’s also lacking a beach and surrounded by a neighborhood/town seemingly possessing nothing that high end clients would desire. (I understand there’s talk of some beach rejuvenation but how long will that last?)
Ladies used to shopping on 5th Avenue in NYC or Bond Street in London will fear leaving the resort, and if they do wander the streets of Sosua I doubt they’ll be enamored with the Lycra pantsuits in neon colors available in the stores.
Those looking for golf, high end casinos, deep sea fishing, fine dining, etc etc will be sorely disappointed.
If it’s sold to clients that want to spend their time trapped in a small property eating at the onsite restaurant, ok. Otherwise, I just don’t get it.
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We need more entertainment, not more septic tank hotels on the beach
North coast needs more cat houses and ladies of the night, not more roach infested hotels with lousy food like in Punta Caga. Build the wall to keep the Haitians out also as they will ruin the DR as fast as they can arrange it. And why would a 5 star hotel want to be near Cabarete beach, this is one of the worst beaches in south america, in 6 years i have not seen a single person go in that beach water, and for children it is an impossible beach to play in. And all the hotels already on it are complete failures and hell holes to say the least. And then look at all those crappy overpriced bars with their toilets leaking into the beach...HELLO!
North coast needs more cat houses and ladies of the night, not more roach infested hotels with lousy food like in Punta Caga. Build the wall to keep the Haitians out also as they will ruin the DR as fast as they can arrange it. And why would a 5 star hotel want to be near Cabarete beach, this is one of the worst beaches in south america, in 6 years i have not seen a single person go in that beach water, and for children it is an impossible beach to play in. And all the hotels already on it are complete failures and hell holes to say the least. And then look at all those crappy overpriced bars with their toilets leaking into the beach...HELLO!
All of these hotels normally have rates from $500 US per night and up. I too question the sanity of people that are choosing to put this type of hotel in Sosua and Cabarete, just like I questioned the Ahnvee, which is nowhere near as pricey.... I am another who just doesn't get it. It is not close to the model that has made Punta Cana popular.
Time will tell.
Well Windy
Amanera is 3x that and more.... and successful - by all accounts
I doubted it ..... and was wrong !!
But the difference with Amanera is when you go in -- you're invisible and totally self contained
No need to venture out
But In Cabrera/RSJ - where would you go anyway ??
haha
Amanera is 3x that and more.... and successful - by all accounts
I doubted it ..... and was wrong !!
But the difference with Amanera is when you go in -- you're invisible and totally self contained
No need to venture out
But In Cabrera/RSJ - where would you go anyway ??
haha
These companies have zero concerns about the current economic or political climate on the North Coast. All they care about is getting access to that coastline. I've seen this happen all over the Caribbean and trust me, the race is on to capture the sand. 350 million is bull**** money for three resorts. It would cost them well over a billion to do this on any other island, if they could find the property. Just wait until Arab money arrives, it will make the Russian investments look like popcorn stands. DR is going change whether we like it or not. Time to start looking for a new 3rd world country with cheap beer.
Guests that patronize Amanera go there for the seclusion and the availability of onsite service offerings and amenities in keeping with their lifestyle, which generally far exceeds the standard available elsewhere on the North Coast of the DR. When these guests wish to go off the resort, in comes a helicopter or an Escalade. The limited number of guests willing or able to go there is taken into account when the price is set.
It will be the same for whatever results from this new investment announcement. We know that $500 per night is out of the question for those coming to Sosua and most of the other established North Coast tourist destinations. Hotels, open up, close, take their business loss deductions and the process repeats itself in every situation where the cost of staying greatly exceeds what tourists will spend.
We'll have to see what this resort group has in mind, but I remain skeptical if they price themselves much above what vacation companies can convince the general public to buy. The concept of "if you build it, they will come" doesn't seem to work very well ~100 km either side of Puerto Plata airport. This can certainly change over time, but will be a slow process and is basically dependent on catering to guests who do not wish to leave the resorts or by encouraging viable supporting enterprises to open up nearby that offer something of value in keeping with expectations of those who choose to spend more than the $1500/week per person price point.
I think we need to see what they are going to put on offer and how it will work before we can actually begin taking bets on how successful they can possibly be.
It will be the same for whatever results from this new investment announcement. We know that $500 per night is out of the question for those coming to Sosua and most of the other established North Coast tourist destinations. Hotels, open up, close, take their business loss deductions and the process repeats itself in every situation where the cost of staying greatly exceeds what tourists will spend.
We'll have to see what this resort group has in mind, but I remain skeptical if they price themselves much above what vacation companies can convince the general public to buy. The concept of "if you build it, they will come" doesn't seem to work very well ~100 km either side of Puerto Plata airport. This can certainly change over time, but will be a slow process and is basically dependent on catering to guests who do not wish to leave the resorts or by encouraging viable supporting enterprises to open up nearby that offer something of value in keeping with expectations of those who choose to spend more than the $1500/week per person price point.
I think we need to see what they are going to put on offer and how it will work before we can actually begin taking bets on how successful they can possibly be.
Dominican Republic is not a third world country, not by a long stretch. Actually it is developing at a fairly rapid pace. Madagascar and Tanzania are definitely third world countries and I've been to both. I don't recommend either for vacationing.
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.PP.C
Yes, we have been talking about the north coast while the rest of the country advances very rapidly. The changes planned for the north coast will take many years to complete but if half the new investments planned take place, the North Coast will be transformed. The people wanting a quiet small town vacation village may get it in the planned residential communities, but places like Cabarete as a town will lose that and become a full fledged tourist destination. I am speculating of course. Should be interesting to watch over the next five to ten years....
I see this as a positive step towards the rebirth of the place that started the entire concept of a Caribbean all inclusive destination. Punta Cana has taken this model and multiplied it exponentially to point of virtual saturation. The airport is pretty much up to capacity during the peak season. Some passengers can wait over two hours from landing to leaving the arrivals hall with their luggage. Arriving aircraft sometimes wait for a very long time for a parking spot as the ramp is completely full. Some airlines have already planned the overspill to La Romana and bus their passengers to their resorts in Punta Cana / Bavaro.
Once in resort, I find it to be very sterile and artificial. The beaches have very little natural shade and the staff have work very hard to keep it clean, especially from the red seaweed. If anyone ventures out and about, they will see hordes of loud Haitians hanging around on every street corner hassling the tourists for Moto rides, drugs, prostitutes or anything else they want.
It certainly doesn't have the same vibe that Cabarete beach has (or had) with fine restaurants and bars with a party atmosphere that used to go on 'til the sun came up (those were the days). Nor does it have an appeal like Sosua beach with all its eclectic beach shacks where you can sit down relatively unmolested and people-watch all day long.
I'm fairly certain that Sosua and Cabarete have more fine dining places per square mile than anywhere else in the country. And it has much more to offer than lazing around on a sunbed all day, stuffing your face with as much free food and drink as you can consume.
There is a reason why the top Caribbean resorts were invented in Puerto Plata. In the 90's it was the most popular Caribbean tourist destination. It's time to remind people why.
Once in resort, I find it to be very sterile and artificial. The beaches have very little natural shade and the staff have work very hard to keep it clean, especially from the red seaweed. If anyone ventures out and about, they will see hordes of loud Haitians hanging around on every street corner hassling the tourists for Moto rides, drugs, prostitutes or anything else they want.
It certainly doesn't have the same vibe that Cabarete beach has (or had) with fine restaurants and bars with a party atmosphere that used to go on 'til the sun came up (those were the days). Nor does it have an appeal like Sosua beach with all its eclectic beach shacks where you can sit down relatively unmolested and people-watch all day long.
I'm fairly certain that Sosua and Cabarete have more fine dining places per square mile than anywhere else in the country. And it has much more to offer than lazing around on a sunbed all day, stuffing your face with as much free food and drink as you can consume.
There is a reason why the top Caribbean resorts were invented in Puerto Plata. In the 90's it was the most popular Caribbean tourist destination. It's time to remind people why.
Hotels like these announced are destination locations. They could care less about what is around but in these locations there is tons to do which is a huge benefit.
The Ritz and The W draw international business as well as mass US business.
Yes, they need to capture primo beach locations which is the challenge.
The DR government will give them carte blanch in terms of entitlements for zoning and construction including heights and possibly oceanfront setbacks.
It looks like there are many in-fill locations being looked at which is awesome.
POP will add flights to accommodate the hotel rooms. Mass jobs get created. 1000's of construction jobs, roads, infrastructure.
The Ritz and The W draw international business as well as mass US business.
Yes, they need to capture primo beach locations which is the challenge.
The DR government will give them carte blanch in terms of entitlements for zoning and construction including heights and possibly oceanfront setbacks.
It looks like there are many in-fill locations being looked at which is awesome.
POP will add flights to accommodate the hotel rooms. Mass jobs get created. 1000's of construction jobs, roads, infrastructure.
As we know from Cabrera/RSJ, the impact on local life....jobs/$$$/etc is BIG
It starts with the construction work and continues with in-house jobs
You can actually see people improving their houses
More importantly, it stems the flow of young talent to the major centers.
The Amanera attracted young, dual language people from Sto Dom
The new Playa Grande project will do the same
They offer English courses to employees
An example....
My TV technico understood but wouldn't speak English
He signed up at Amanera... an early employee
Today , he is a driver... airport runs etc
As such, he needs to talk and answer to the passengers.....questions, etc
His English is good now
Delphin is his name
It starts with the construction work and continues with in-house jobs
You can actually see people improving their houses
More importantly, it stems the flow of young talent to the major centers.
The Amanera attracted young, dual language people from Sto Dom
The new Playa Grande project will do the same
They offer English courses to employees
An example....
My TV technico understood but wouldn't speak English
He signed up at Amanera... an early employee
Today , he is a driver... airport runs etc
As such, he needs to talk and answer to the passengers.....questions, etc
His English is good now
Delphin is his name
Are they still planning on doing the duty free mall across from the Ganesvoort?
Construction seems to still be going on.
Also clearing lots behind Margots. Not sure what's going on there.
Why do people choose to post such rubbish? Must have had a serious bad experience or some other agenda. I'll leave the stupidity about Punta Cana and Haitians to others but I'll just comment about Cabarete, as I live here. The other day someone (maybe the same poster) said there was no beach in Cabarete, now someone saying it is the worst beach in "South America". If that's true, why do people go there every day? In six years you have never seen anyone in the water at that beach? I see people in the water and know people who swim every day. Impossible for children to play? I see children playing all the time. As for the hotels and bars, they vary in quality of course, but to say they are all hell holes and failures is just a lie.
Maybe I'm just taking the bait as the poster intended, but if anyone is put off visiting Cabarete by nonsense like this, they should be made aware of the truth.