Moving to Dominican Republic

[jeslarson]

Hello

My partner and I are currently living in Nottingham UK. I am American and he is British. We are moving to Dominican Republic at the end of January. We have not decided on a place to rent yet and would really appreciate any thoughts you have on different areas. We are looking for something that has some tourist influence but not too touristy. We would like to be somewhere with a fantastic beach. We are only planning on living in Dominican for a year with plans to extend if we really love it. We both work from home so finding work is not a concern. We do however need an area that has a reliable internet connection. It would be great if you could recommend a location and give reasons why. Any advice no matter what the subject would be of great help. Thanks for your help.

 

[young seniors]

Hi there Jeslarson and welcome to the board.

Lots of good people on this site that can offer more advice than I can and will find you. lol

 

[frank recktenwald]

There are so many places in the DR to choose from and all of them are different. Would you like to be close to Santo Domingo or Santiago? What else are you looking for? This will get you more useful information

 

[jeslarson]

re: Hello

I guess I should have added a few more specifics to my original post

I'm not really sure which we would prefer. I know we want a place that has nice places to eat and drink and a good market to buy groceries. We like to be social so to be in an area that fosters that would be great. We are also very active so an area that offers different sport like golf and water sport. We will not be having a vehicle at first so a town where shopping and such are in walking distance or a short bike ride. As far as actual housing we will be happy with an apartment/condo or a house. Neither of us have ever even been to the Dominican Republic so we are definitely going into this blind.

 

[donP]

Feelers

I know we want a place that has nice places to eat and drink and a good market to buy groceries. We are also very active so an area that offers different sport like golf and water sport. We will not be having a vehicle at first so a town where shopping and such are in walking distance or a short bike ride. As far as actual housing we will be happy with an apartment/condo or a house. Neither of us have ever even been to the Dominican Republic so we are definitely going into this blind.

As a place, Las Terrenas would suit you.
To get over the culture shock, I recommend to stay at a (small) hotel first and stick your feelers out from there.
All the best.

donP

 

[Dominicaus]

I'm not really sure which we would prefer. I know we want a place that has nice places to eat and drink and a good market to buy groceries. We like to be social so to be in an area that fosters that would be great. We are also very active so an area that offers different sport like golf and water sport. We will not be having a vehicle at first so a town where shopping and such are in walking distance or a short bike ride.

Do some search (here in this forum and around the net) on "Juan Dolio". It is about 40 mins East of SD (fairly close but not too close), and much closer to a mid-size town, San Pedro, but not in its outskirts either...many affluent Dominicans have weekend homes in the area, and some apartments are extremely expensive, but there are also some "popular" sections in its general vicinity (say Guayacanes)...definitely worth a look...if you arrive before late December (low season) you may get a great deal from an All-Inclusive (<50 USD per person/night, for everything) which you could use as a base from where to make final arrangements....
To get you started, click:
Juan Dolio - Dominican Republic

 

[LTSteve]

Hi
You are describing Las Terrenas. The best beaches in the country are here. Also there is an eclectic group of people that live in the area. There are many Europeans along with Haitians and Dominicans. Because of this you will find services and products that you probably won't find in other parts of country. There is an excellent choice of restaurants and bars. Internet service is provided by Claro and is usually reliable. With a privately owned electric company the electric supply is very reliable, although sum what more expensive than in other parts of the country. There is a thriving tourist business but this is real world living. The beaches are lined with Coconut Palms and usually very tranquil water. It is the perfect area to experience the DR and you are only 2 hrs from Santo Domingo. From England I believe you can fly directly into El Catey (AZS) airport which is only 30 minutes away.

LTSteve

 

[Dominicaus]

Hi
You are describing Las Terrenas. The best beaches in the country are here.

I'll have to correct you AGAIN. You have no basis whatsoever to stay as a confirmed fact that LT beaches are the best...they are not and are not even close. What is your source anyway?
The very best beaches of the DR BY FAR are in La Altagracia Province (in general vicinity of PC).
That is not to say that LT is a bad location...maybe it is great...but grossly exaggerating about beaches is unnecessary.
I think JD is a much better location than LT...but NOT because of the beaches...JD beaches are fine...but they are not the best in the DR (or close to it), and LT beaches are no better.

 

[DRob]

To the OP,

Las Terrenas is very nice if you're looking for something beachy and away from the AI complex of Punta Cana. Also, you're only a few hours away from Santo Domingo and most of the North Coast, which are both fun places to explore.

While out there, I'd encourage you to check out the Cibao valley, where Santiago is located. Lots of great towns and Jarabacoa is not to be missed.

Best of luck!

 

[windeguy]

Hi
You are describing Las Terrenas. The best beaches in the country are here. Also there is an eclectic group of people that live in the area. There are many Europeans along with Haitians and Dominicans. Because of this you will find services and products that you probably won't find in other parts of country. There is an excellent choice of restaurants and bars. Internet service is provided by Claro and is usually reliable. With a privately owned electric company the electric supply is very reliable, although sum what more expensive than in other parts of the country. There is a thriving tourist business but this is real world living. The beaches are lined with Coconut Palms and usually very tranquil water. It is the perfect area to experience the DR and you are only 2 hrs from Santo Domingo. From England I believe you can fly directly into El Catey (AZS) airport which is only 30 minutes away.

LTSteve

English with the French over the big pond...

 

[Acira]

Cabarete on the North Coast, not to big, not to touristic except for the many Kite Surfers in season, cool little town with all the amenities you want. No big super stores here but the ones there are provide good and you buy your fruit from a truck at the road, best deals to be made and far better than from the shops.
Good beaches but not to swim but for surfing and kite surfing.

Acira

 

[CaptnGlenn]

I've never been to Santo Domingo OR Santiago, but my instincts are telling me that you might be more happy in a city. LT is an expat town, (which means close to being a tourist town) with a LARGELY French influence / community with some others thrown in for good measure. Punta Cana (my home-away-from-home) is a largely tourist town, built around the resorts with the AI's kind of being their own "community" and with a growing expat community largely mixed European and Canadian (and a few other Yanks like me prowling around). The bigger cities might offer you the type of lifestyle you describe AND have the advantage of availability of most things you'll want and/or need. (TAKE NOTE: I'm probably the only one here recommending a location other than my own. LOL) The legal dept. requires this disclaimer: the preceding are my opinions only. your mileage may vary.

 

[Tamborista]

If you need additional tips and info just email me XXXXXXXX it will be a pleasure to advise...

Why can't you share your tips with the board, that is what a forum is for?

 

[frank recktenwald]

Why can't you share your tips with the board, that is what a forum is for?

Because he/she's trying to get clients without paying for advertising. Where's the moderator?????????

 

[LTSteve]

Dominicaus:

Juan Dolio beaches are not even in the same conversation as Las Terrenas and surrounding area, such as, Playa Bonita, and Playa Coson and Playa Las Ballenas. Get real.

LtSteve

 

[drstock]

I would recommend Cabarete for good water sports, bars/restauarants, supermarket and an international social scene. It is also close to Puerto Plata airport which has direct flights to the UK most of the year. Contrary to what is stated above, I don't believe there are any direct flights from the UK to El Catey, near Las Terrenas now.

 

[Dominicaus]

Juan Dolio beaches are not even in the same conversation as Las Terrenas and surrounding area, such as, Playa Bonita, and Playa Coson and Playa Las Ballenas. Get real.

Read attentively before sending pseudo-replies that in fact are irrelevant.

I wrote VERY CLEARLY that I did NOT base my recommendation of JD on its beaches (although they are fine)...Did you miss that? Read again, then.

The absolutely best beaches of the DR (and some international publications agree) are in La Altragracia, mostly in the PC region.

Go to Bavaro Beach (where the big Barcelo complex is) for ONE example...Go to Juanillo in Cap Cana for another, even more impressive.

Then go back to see the little beaches of LT and notice the HUGE difference. LT has nothing in the same league as those 2 (or several others).

Don't get me wrong, Las Terrenas' beaches are OK and so are JD's.

My point is simply that making gross exaggerations to prop up LT (which may very well be a fine location with or without great beaches) is inappropriate and totally unnecessary. People don't choose where to live solely on beaches.

 

[Frank the Tank]

Welcome to DR1 and good luck with your move.

 

[ben jammin]

Of course we all have our favorite spots in the DR and all have their own beauty and advantages. Personally I like cool weather and if I could move I would live in either Jarabacoa, Constanza or San Jose de Ocoa (all small towns which I prefer). While LT doesn't have the long expanse of beach as the PC region I much prefer those of LT and Samana in general. While they may be small there are plenty(could go to a different beach every day if you wished) and beautiful and the chance of being by yourself or with few other visitors is greater. LT has a vibrant nightlife and plenty of good restaurants and enough English is spoken for one to get by with little or no Spanish. The roads, power and internet are pleasant now as opposed to a few years ago so for the OP I vote LT! (but always travel around while there, the rest of the country should not be missed!)

 

[Dominicaus]

I have found the best looking beach for me and it is a mile west of the kite surfers in Cabarete. It obviously isn't gthe best for everybody...

Look, nothing wrong with saying that that is your FAVOURITE beach...you are entitled to it, and so is everyone else (to have a favourite of anything).

But, if you were to say that that is the best beach of the country, you'd be implying that there is some sort of consensus on that matter, or that it had been determined by some type of "authority".

BTW, the argument is NOT about the most beautiful beaches, but rather about the best beaches...there are some "generally accepted" objective criteria to evaluate beaches... "beauty" is not one of them, simply because, as you say, it is in the eyes of the beholder.