HURRICANE Damage & Barcelo Bavaro Palace

[wilson]

Planning a trip to DR. Concerned about Hurricane George damage. What is the condition of the Dominican Republic and its resorts, specifically the Barcelo Bavaro Palace? Also, which airport would be best to fly into for Punta Cana?

 

[Tom]

I don't know the condiditons of the resorts, people have een returning and posting messages in the database since Nov 98, so I would think they are in great shape

As far as airports, I think Punta Cana would be a convienient choice

Tom

 

[denise]

I heard that the south and east were affected, but by now they should be cleaned up. I stayed on the North Coast and it was not affected at all.

 

[DR One]

You will not notice a hurricane had passed through the DR when you visit Punta Cana and the Bavaro area.

 

[Lyse]

The international Punta Cana airport is a 20 minutes drive from the Bavaro Palace. It was destroyed (75%) by George but reopened by the end of October to the international flights. I was there last November and they were working 24 hours a day rebuilding it. It's the most convenient airport for you to fly in.

As for the resorts, the most affected were those of Bayahibe close to La Romana. Those in Punta Cana affected by George were functioning at 100% by last November.

I'm going back March 21 and will fly into Punta Cana airport.

 

[DR One]

While those who saw the construction may have felt so, it is not accurate to say that 75% of the Punta Cana Airport was destroyed by Hurricane Georges. Note that flights flew in three days after the hurricane and the flow was almost back to normal two week's later. Note that several hotels in the area were not affected and continued to receive guests. Lots of the reconstruction has taken place, but lots of the work was done to reinforce the building with the new cane building technology that was learned following the hurricane. Thus areas that were not affected, were taken down to make them able to withstand a strong hurricane in the future.

For those that can step back and appreciate, the Punta Cana International Airport is one of the most beautiful in the world. Instead of flying into a concrete terminal, you arrive to a world of cane-roofed thatches, with few windows, and where chicken foot steps imbedded in the concrete sidewalks signal the route to migration and customs. The message is clear... welcome to the Caribbean.

 

[Nicole]

Re: HURRICANE Damage & Barcelo Bavaro Palace Lyse you are not that innacurate...80% destroyed

I was planning a trip to Punta Cana last September but I had to postpone it because there were no charter flights flying from Mirabel to Punta Cana until October 25th. Although the airport was operating three days after the hurricane (daytime only), Air Transat and Royal were not chartering to Punta Cana because of the airport conditions. From what I saw of the airport at the end of October and from what Dominicains friends working there told me, the airport had been destroyed by the hurricane. The whole east section (luggages reception) was gone, the roof was gone, the immigration and customs section was reduced by more than half, the departure section, waiting area and restaurants were gone, the employee'dining room was badly damaged.

I agree that Punta Cana resort is beautiful and receives the tourist with a warm welcome. I am glad that they rebuilt it with cane-roofed thatches and open air area instead of the cold concrete walls. I went back to Punta Cana airport last January and we wouldn't know that hurricane George went through it.

 

[Jake]

Re: Barcelo Bavaro Palac --> Elyse?

Elyse,

Just thought I would drop a line. I am going with my wife and 7 other friends to Barcelo Beach Resort Mar. 21 to 28. Anyway we can run into each other?

Jake

 

[Lyse]

Re: Barcelo Bavaro Palac --> Elyse?

I'm flying out of Mirabel March 21 with Air Transat TS 774, flight only, for a 3 months stay in Higuey. Lyse

 

[Brenda]

Just returned from our honeymoon. It was fantastic. The Bavaro resorts are operating just fine! The Punta Cana International airport is only 15 minutes away from your hotel. Enjoy. If you have any questions please E-Mail Me. We stayed for 14 days at the beach resort which is right next to the palace. There was much to do and see. We would love to go back. If you make it to the dive shop behind the Coral Grill (Bavaro Beach Resort) say hello to Aurelius. (Tell her from brenda and Michael-) She's a doll! Bonito! Enjoy!