Mao... Bananas... Big luxury hotel.

[J D Sauser]

I just came back to POP from a 3 day round trip thru Santiago and La Vega and Navarette, which eventually took me to finally get to know MAO. Really, we only had to go to Navarette but then, with some time left and mine always wondering about places I had not visited before, we continued on, down the Cibao valley for a little while.
As so often, on trips on this island, we marveled at the region and vegetation changing so abruptly again and again. Then, we reached La Esperanza, which being so dirty, broken down and apparently so disorganized almost convinced us to turn around and take our curiosity somewhere else. But after mine renaming it to "La Desesperacion" we went on. Good for us, then what a surprise when we had the pleasure to discover Mao, a clean, well organized and apparently very, very tranquil town. Even simple wooden shacks are mostly well maintained, the streets clean, no rushing not noise!
An then this!

Hotel AND Casino(!) Novus Caoba!

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Empty parking lot, a lobby like the finest hotels on SD's Malecon, uniformed very friendly staff and room rates ranging from USD 65.oo all the way up to USD 180.oo (a bit like Madrid!). All brand spanking new (I read it's been inaugurated in December 2009), so big, one would think all of Mao could just move in.

We will definitely go back to Mao, but can't help but wonder what the financial thinking behind such a large luxury hotel with casino in a remote town who's inhabitants claim to make a quite decent living mainly off banana plantations is.

Well, la isla de las maravillas... it seem we can't seem to stop being amaravillado every now and then.

... J-D.

 

[SKY]

Next time you are in that area go up the mountain to Moncion. You will think you are in another country.

 

[Hillbilly]

"El obispo de Mao, ama a Mao" : from an old merengue. This is one of the oldest puns in Spanish (Dominican)....

The town is based on agriculture: Rice, plantains and bananas. The province probably has 25 rice mills.

It used to be a TB sanatoriun (sp>?) where people with TB would go for the hot, dry climate.

Irrigation canals from the Mao river, and now the Yaque del Norte have made the area quite prosperous.

So J.D., "Tu ama a Mao!!" ....hehehe....I was a victim of that pun almost 50 years ago!!!

HB

 

[bachata]

"El obispo de Mao, ama a Mao" : from an old merengue. This is one of the oldest puns in Spanish (Dominican)....

The town is based on agriculture: Rice, plantains and bananas. The province probably has 25 rice mills.

It used to be a TB sanatoriun (sp>?) where people with TB would go for the hot, dry climate.

Irrigation canals from the Mao river, and now the Yaque del Norte have made the area quite prosperous.

So J.D., "Tu ama a Mao!!" ....hehehe....I was a victim of that pun almost 50 years ago!!!

HB

La ciudad de los bellos atardeceres y capital de la linea noroeste.
Cuna de hombres y mujeres valientes.
Your native DR town.

JJ

 

[Redscot]

El Vacano

Next time in Mao ask for El Vacano. He has a small restaurant bar with excellent home made longanizas (both chicken and pork), carne salada, y butifara (sp), a roundish unique sausage and other items. He has been an institution there for years and years. Oh and yes, yo ama Mao tambien.

I second Moncion as a recomendation, the scenery leading to it is stunning. The presa in Moncion is also worth a visit.

 

[badpiece33]

I Love going to Mao and hang around the central park area but there was alot of constuction going on about 2-3 months ago, Is it still under construction? Think I may pay a visit next week. JD do you have the hotel info?

 

[J D Sauser]

I Love going to Mao and hang around the central park area but there was alot of constuction going on about 2-3 months ago, Is it still under construction? Think I may pay a visit next week. JD do you have the hotel info?

Thanks to all who responded so far!
I will definitely go back there and maybe stay a nite or two.
Thanks for the tips and directions. Will do!

________________________
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BP: I walked into that hotel to check it out, just as it seemed so bizarre and out of place, especially after coming thru hopeless "La Esperanza".
It was open, uniformed staff and the works. Apparently NO guests - empty parking lot.
I inquired about the prices and was given a at first glace professionally looking flier. Contrary to what it promises, I can't seem to find an internet presence.

The hotel's phone number is: 809-572-3923

Rates:

Standard room: 2253
Suite "ejecutiva": 3150
Suite "caoba": 5040
Suite "platinum": 6300

Handwritten on the flier by a lovely front desk clerk.

I came away with the funny feeling that the hotel was just there to warrant the license for the casino and some BS attempt to make believe that the casino (and hotel) would attract world wide tourism to Mao.
I really think, that since the town as a whole seems to do quite well, the casino is just one big wart place on top of it to suck off any money made there before it can leave town. But that's just my impression base on a first Blitzkieg visit and my tendency to try to explain everything wtih "logical" thinking.



... J-D.

 

[Hillbilly]

That is basically the old Hotel Caoba, refurbished and under new management with a casino license....on that land is where we used to play softball, across the street is the court house (Palacio de Justicia)...where I once put one on the steps....nice four bagger....

You did not get to see Agua Azul...another nice attraction, although somewhat "well used" now...a good place to see and be seen...

HB

 

[Hipocrito Mejia]

Todo el mundo ama a Mao!

 

[DavidZ]

You did not get to see Agua Azul...another nice attraction, although somewhat "well used" now...a good place to see and be seen...

HB

I've seen signs for that. What is it exactly?

 

[Hillbilly]

It is a big water park in Mao. Very popular...and in the heat of that city a true delight.
We used to go swimming in the canals and the Mao River...Man, that was great....

HB

 

[jalencastro]

damn Hillbilly, you have been around for some time! no offense...but you seem to konw of every and any topic on this forum!
Badpiece, I havent been to Mao but hope to see things with my own eyes my next trip too, i heard about the construction as well but in my trips to DR I have only driven past the region....I need to expand my horizons a bit and see what else is out there.
I am down for a little Texas Hold Em if anyone is interested...next trip to DR i am ALL IN! LOL

 

[Chirimoya]

The number for Hotel Novus Caoba is 809-572-7999

Their website HOTEL NOVUS CAOBA - EN CONSTRUCCION is still under construction and the homepage does not provide contact details

 

[Chirimoya]

We spent the weekend in Mao, staying at the Novus Caoba. It's managed by UTESA to train tourism students. I'm not sure who the owner is now - it's a former state hotel that was fully refurbished a couple of years ago.

Prices range from RD$2,268 for a standard single to a "Suite Presidencial" at RD$8,820 (with jacuzzi). We went for the standard double at RD$3,150.

Breakfast was included, as well as use of gym and swimming pool, and Disco entrance. They have free wi-fi that works well in the rooms.

The low point was the breakfast: inedible sliced bread, cheap and nasty cheese, cold scrambled eggs, etc. The fruit was OK and coffee was drinkable considering it was filter. They made us freshly squeezed orange juice on request and I bought croissants from one of the supermarkets in town to make up for it.

Overall the place looks impressive, especially considering this is not one of the main cities, the lobby and restaurant look good, the rooms are clean and comfortable, the service is pleasant and efficient, but the price is still too high for what you get IMO.

We had dinner last night and the food in the restaurant is surprisingly good but the staff were obviously inexperienced and lacking in basic knowledge, common sense and etiquette: the white wine was not chilled, the waiter wanted to serve wine to a child, another asked if we wanted potatoes/rice to accompany a pasta dish, and they didn't wait for people to finish the starters before descending on the table with the main course.

 

[laurapasinifan]

Aqua Azul is the middle class dominicans Beach retreat on the holidays!!

and it can get crowded...LOTS of kids...
which means more yellow water !! ha ha ha

I went once on a holiday..it was a madhouse of kids!!!

my impression was it had seen better days....

somewhere are taking a right at the fort...maybe 5 miles maybe 10...

there is a place that reminds me of a college, or at least a sports complex...big soccer fields on one side..My ex GFs relatives live just over the hill ......

I always like the view from the road sometime well after Navarette, but before a turn off to Mao of the mountians set back off the flat valley floor. Loved seeing those mountains in the sun!!


bbad bob

 

[Bartolomeo67]

I stayed at Agua Azul two years ago. Room was clean but basic. I went for it only because I didn't know of any other place to stay in Mao.
On weekends, lots of noise from the Agua Azul disco at night and from the pool complex during daytime if you happen to be on the wrong side of the building.
Place has definitely seen better days.
Bart