playa dorada = ghost town

[wishingiwasthere]

Seeing those photos reminded me of how nice that hotel was in its day.
It was around '96/97 I think my first visit there.

Right now - next available flight to stay at Gran Ventana is next Wed 6th June with Thomas Cook.
Price for All in ?57 a day or ?810 per person for the two weeks.

I think that is just fantastic value for money! Just to put it into perceptive - my last holiday in March of this year, for flights on a two week turn around was ?750 per person.

If we didnt enjoy all the things that Sosua has to offer I would consider going back to GV! But sadly, now I know whats outside of the walls of the compound I just dont think I could bring myself to do it.

So......as I type, I guess I spend a hell of a lot more $$$$$ in the DR than I used to, but sadly dont go as often and of course, not to the AI's.

ahhhhhh I am wishingiwasthere........

 

[Golfer]

PD needs a different slant on tourism and it's staring them right in face. Why has no one mentioned the centerpiece of Playa Dorada, the golf course? Kick out the current management, bring the course and customer service up to US standards and offer it at discounted rates for golf packages. In case no one has noticed, the entire island is devoid of golf packages. Casa de Campo offers them for their four courses but this is lifestyles of the rich and famous stuff. If four guys from Cleveland could jump on a charter for 4 days and 3 nights and play golf (carts included) for less than 500 bucks each you'd be beating them off with a stick. The golf package business in the states is huge and guess what else; golfers have money! Get rid of the cloistered AI concept where it's proven the PD can't compete and open up these resorts and make the food and drink not included with packages and have the different resort restaurants competing for the golfers dollars. The simple formula is luring the golfers in with an aggressive price for room and golf and watch them spend like crazy the whole time they're on their package. It sure beats some fat tourist family ensconced in an AI trying to eat and drink themselves to a good deal. Look what you've got in PD; Proximity to millions of middle class golfers in the states, great weather, a lush tropical setting, and practically a limitless supply of rooms and a great championship golf course. It wouldn't be long before more courses would be going up on the other side of the highway and PD could be the Myrtle Beach of the Caribbean!

 

[william webster]

And there is a casino too, isn't there ??

Another appeal to golf weekend

 

[beastwood]

The only marketed trait the DR brings to the table is real estate...and lots of it. But guess what ...anyone can build a first class AI...in any number of caribbean and central american locals. Until the chamber and goverment in the DR gets committed to leveraging the binary (unique feature that no body else has), the DR will always be a second or third tier destination for tourism. The binary is all the firsts in the city of firsts. Most north americans barely know santo domingo exist let alone that it can rightfully claim to being the launch center of colonization in the americas. (or that colon was columbus' name en espaniol). Jeez just hire Community college trained (or UASD) PR firm....for the love of el jefe.

The enbodiment of entitlement are the heads in goverment who can not see the woods (or ways to push progress) thru the trees....whereas World class AIs are needed within 30 minutes of the zona colonial. Can a bunch of Italiano mediocre...I mean real mediocra...I mean most chicas in the barrio can whip up tastier pasta... biz owners who can barely make rent in boca chica really be what is blocking big bull dozers in advance of building an AI infrastructure close to SD and SDQ??? And dont even get me started about juan dolio....southbeach!?!?!?! What folley!!
Have fun, beast

don't judge these folks. they just want few weeks in the sun without worrying about anything.

at the moment east coast has all the monies. they heavily promote their land and their resorts. this is, primarily, what the north coast is lacking. but i hear there is some movement in playa dorada too. lifestyle bought one or two hotels, then a canadian dude bought another one. lifestyle is the best thing going on in POP area right now and hopefully they will be able to inject new life into playa dorada.

 

[gotgames]

IMO, the north coast could be a top vacation area.
problems are air travel- cost the same or more than flying to puj. in addition only AMERICAN AIRLINES flying in and out from US. No direct flights takes a whole day to fly into country. can fly from South East US into PUJ in couple hours, can come down to PUJ play GOLF and be home that night.
As posted lose some of the A-I B.S. , great food "that is safe to eat" is worth paying for.
Golf packs are a great shot in the arm for this area.
Last get a decent rate for cell coverage , business retreats could be are real cash cow.

 

[cobraboy]

I agree 100%

The golf course is almost an afterthought now. I don't know who's responsible for the golf course now, but they don't seem to know what they're doing.

Like the rest of PD, I doubt they have made the $$$ to maintain it as a world class course should be, not to mention have $$$ left over for marketing.

And who would invest the millions in cash to fix it up, maintain and market it...in a dying tourist area?

I've been involved in the administration of our local 9-hole course, and the cost of running it...even on the cheap...is off the chart. And if you raise the fees to cover more costs, folks quit playing...making matters worse.

 

[Timotero]

IMO, the north coast could be a top vacation area.
problems are air travel- cost the same or more than flying to puj. in addition only AMERICAN AIRLINES flying in and out from US. No direct flights takes a whole day to fly into country. ............

JetBlue has multiple daily non-stops from JFK to Puerto Plata. United also flies there non-stop from Newark. It's about a 3 hour flight from the New York City area.

 

[BermudaRum]

I agree 100%

The golf course is almost an afterthought now. I don't know who's responsible for the golf course now, but they don't seem to know what they're doing.

The same management team has been in place for over 6 yrs. that I've lived here in POP. :disappoin

 

[Golfer]

The golf course is a great layout. It's a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design and very challenging. It's been allowed to run down as the type tourist Playa Dorado has tried to attract isn't interested in playing golf and wouldn't appreciate quality conditions and certainly wouldn't pay for them. The key is that people who travel on golf packages spend money. They'll run up a $200 bar tab playing gin by the pool, they will have a couple bottles of wine with dinner and then later on close the bar. If they bring their wives they will spend the day shopping and sight seeing. These behavior patterns are well documented in the golf package business in the states. I have a friend that operates golf packages in central Tennessee and business is booming. The key is organizing charters from the big markets in the states and marketing the packages. Maybe the new government could give the area a boost by waiving some fees and taxes to get this off the ground. There are over 300 golf package destinations in the US and virtually none in the DR. The way I see it Playa Dorado would be a big success with the right marketing and certainly risk very little trying.

 

[BermudaRum]

Thought this would be appropriate to post this notice here about a new policy change for Playa Dorado Golf Course.

As of yesterday, all locals that are holders of a Fedo card, Residency, or local golf membership will be required to have and pay for a caddie. Be aware you will not see any notice in or around the pro shop explaining this new policy change for locals. The caddie master told our local group today after we left the pro shop heading to the first tee that it was mandatory to now have caddies. After the round we did meet a representative from the course and where told that due to the lack of play the 100 or so caddies need to work. So, be advised that while PD has not lowered their off season rate, they now require you to pay an additional US$15-$20 to play on their facility.

 

[gotgames]

my error AA option for southeast U.S.

JetBlue has multiple daily non-stops from JFK to Puerto Plata. United also flies there non-stop from Newark. It's about a 3 hour flight from the New York City area.

A.A. flights from southeast go through FLA.

 

[twhitehead]

Thought this would be appropriate to post this notice here about a new policy change for Playa Dorado Golf Course.

As of yesterday, all locals that are holders of a Fedo card, Residency, or local golf membership will be required to have and pay for a caddie. Be aware you will not see any notice in or around the pro shop explaining this new policy change for locals. The caddie master told our local group today after we left the pro shop heading to the first tee that it was mandatory to now have caddies. After the round we did meet a representative from the course and where told that due to the lack of play the 100 or so caddies need to work. So, be advised that while PD has not lowered their off season rate, they now require you to pay an additional US$15-$20 to play on their facility.

Dominican Bus Admin 101 - when times are slow, raise prices!!!! Absolutely ridiculous.