Travel Itinerary - Advice Appreciated!

[rsfl17]

All,

I am headed to the DR with my girlfriend for two weeks of holiday fun. We plan to travel beginning December 27. I am coming up with an itinerary, and all ideas are welcome and appreciated!

Here is what I have so far:
Days 1-3: Santo Domingo (We will stay at the Sofitel Nicolas de Ovando)
Days 4-7: Punta Cana (Hotel/resort suggestions welcome)
Days 8-11: Puerto Plata/Sosua/Cabarete (Exact city isn't important, as long as we are on the Northern coast, Hotel/resort suggestions welcome)
Day 12: Santiago (Plan to stay at the Marriott Courtyard)
Days 13-14: Santo Domingo (We will stay at the Sofitel Nicolas de Ovando)

We are both young professionals (27 & 25), speak fluent Spanish, and experienced travelers in Latin America. We enjoy the beach, adventure activities, nightlife etc.

Please PM me with any suggestions, or just reply to the post. Cheers!

Robert

 

[apostropheman]

Interesting itinerary. How were you planning on traveling, driving, bus, plane?

Do you realize that you'll spend many hours traveling between cities even if you fly and that the flights are not cheap?

For example to travel between Punta Cana and Sosua is ALL day on the bus, if you're lucky and start before sunrise, 6-8 hours, mas o menos, by car and 1:15 by air plus waiting time. The flight is about $199 plus tax per person and leaves at 6:30pm. It's no longer a direct flight either.

 

[apostropheman]

Regular Flights for flight info

My long distance adventure from a few years ago
http://www.dr1.com/forums/trip-reports/46199-my-new-years-eve-pc-sosua-adventure.html

I don't mean to rain on your parade, not at all, but before you commit to your proposed itinerary you need to realize the distances involved.

My take on your plans in red:

All,

I am headed to the DR with my girlfriend for two weeks of holiday fun. We plan to travel beginning December 27. I am coming up with an itinerary, and all ideas are welcome and appreciated!

Here is what I have so far:
Days 1-3: Santo Domingo (We will stay at the Sofitel Nicolas de Ovando)
Travel between SD and PC is time consuming and the drive is not for those unfamiliar with driving in the DR. It could take 3-4 hours or more. There are buses but it's not as simple as some assume.
Days 4-7: Punta Cana (Hotel/resort suggestions welcome)
PC to the North Coast took me over 8 hours and I left on the 5:00am bus!
Days 8-11: Puerto Plata/Sosua/Cabarete (Exact city isn't important, as long as we are on the Northern coast, Hotel/resort suggestions welcome)
Not a bad drive IF you know the right route. The bus takes 2 or more hours though.
Day 12: Santiago (Plan to stay at the Marriott Courtyard)
Again, not a bad drive but you are going through the 2 largest cities on the island and traffic plays a major factor...as does weather. not for beginners or the faint of heart. 2 hours or more to drive or take the bus.
Days 13-14: Santo Domingo (We will stay at the Sofitel Nicolas de Ovando)

We are both young professionals (27 & 25), speak fluent Spanish, and experienced travelers in Latin America. We enjoy the beach, adventure activities, nightlife etc.

Please PM me with any suggestions, or just reply to the post. Cheers!

Robert

At least you speak fluent Spanish so that is one major hurdle you don't have to worry about.

IMO you'll spend the the best part of a day getting from SD to PC and even more time from PC to the north Coast. The other trips are a half day each. This is all good if you enjoy this type of travel but many people do not. Assuming you're wise and take the bus you'll spend a disproportionate amount of time traveling. Even if you're willing to pay for the flights you have to account for departure times.

If I was planning this I'd consider a multi-destination ticket flying into SDQ and out of PUJ. I'd go next to Santiago, then the north Coast and finally flying to PC and then fly home from there. I've done something that a few times and it's often not a lot more for the tickets.

I hope this helps.

 

[Hillbilly]

I agree with a lot of the above post.
Once you are out in Punta Cana, you are literally at the end of the island. EVERYTHING is far away (long hours away).
IF I were you, I would limit myself, on this trip, to Santo Domingo, for the night life and sights, and North Coast. That's enough traveling.

You can do Santiago in a day (Centro Leon, of course, a walk around downtown Santiago-Museo Folklorico Tomas Morel-Mercado Central...Catedral, parque Duarte.)
Eat a good meal at the Pez Dorado.

On the North Coast you can stay at Victoria House in Sos?a and go from there to POP or Cabarete by guagua, really cheap and fun.

In fact you could take a couple of days, the ones you were going to spend in PJU, and go on to Saman?--it is beautiful and try and spend a night a Villa Serena--(www.villaserena.com), if they have a vacancy...it is an incredible place in Las Galeras,,,and that WOULD be unforgetable... Or you could book into Samana Hotel in Las Galeras also incredible, not as luxurious as VS)

Less traveling, more enjoyment...think about it...

HB

 

[jrzyguy]

I concur with everyone else. Before I read the replies the first thing i thought was "wow...thats a lot of traveling for two weeks!"

Perhaps you can start off in Santo Domingo...then do a night or two in juan dolio (40 mins by bus aka guagua). from there you could do an excursion to either saona or catalina island for some snorkeling etc. THEN head north and pick either POP or Sosua or Cabarete...and then just park your butts on the beach and RELAX!!!

I ususally have a loaded itinerary as well....but once I get to DR I do a fraction of what i planned on. OH it is good to have ideas of what you want to do. I end up just chillin' out and enjoying the beaches (one or two nights in the capital is enough for me as I live near one of the greatest cities on earth).

Here is my attitude while in D.R.: I was in Boca CHica a few years ago and traveling with a friend. He was getting quickly bored with the beaches in the area and lack of quality night life and asked me "when are we going to santo domingo" I replied "who knows...perhaps when the clouds come?"

But who knows...perhaps the OP likes the sence of adventure and likes to be on the move all the time. I just think his intinerary sounds more like a month long vaca rather than just two weeks. It is my dream to have a month to start in santo domingo and drive along the coast till i hit the northern tourist spots then cut thru the mountains and and up and fly out of SDQ. Some day!!!!!

Oh...and i like hillbilly's suggestion too! I hear that samana is absolutely amazing

I only do the south coast thing cuz I have friends there.

Oh...and one final note. I've not been to PC. But friends of mine have been. They say its "pretty" but BORING. and that is from a married couple. Just a bunch of All Inclusive hotels...and nothing but tourists...no excitement.

 

[rsfl17]

Guys - much thanks. I will change the itinerary to fit your suggestions. I go to Santo Domingo often on business, but never get to the North Coast. If I have any more questions, I will definitely post.

Thanks again,
Robert