What do you guys think about that itinerary

[Globetrotter]

Dear All:

Some time ago, I posted an inquiry on this board, and got some very useful comments. As I said earlier, I will be in DR for work, and my boys (9 and 7) will come to spend the holidays with me. Now, I have arranged an itinerary for them and would like to run it by the Dominicans or the gringos living in DR who participate in this forum. Please feel free to make any suggestions. Here is the temptative itinerary:

1) As I will be at the Jaragua for my work commitments, the boys will be with me there with me for 3 days. I guess that would give us ample time to visit the city.
2) Then we'll go to Boca Chica for 3 days and will stay at the Costalunga. After that, we'll head to Juan Dolio for a 2-day stay and will lodge at the Metro Marina (a Best Western) hotel. (Question: Can we make excursions to Punta CAna from there and come back the same day?).
3) I'd like to spend a night in La Romana, but am not sure where to stay. Can anyone give me an idea for a clean, decent place with a pool?
4) In the North part, I'm thinking about spending 4 nights in either a place called Nanny's Estate or a "Palm Beach Condos". BUt these choices are based only on the pictures shown on their website.
5) We'll return to the capital for another 2 nights.

I am missing any towns that the boys would have like to see? This is their first Christmas outside of the US, and their first with me since my divorce. I'd like to make it unforgettable (on the good side). Also, what's the best (i.e best priced) rental car in DR?

WOuld appreciate if anyone who has had a bad experience with any of these places could let me know. Also, any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to all!

 

[Loren]

sounds good, somewhat ambitious

1 You three should have fun in Santo Domingo. There is plenty to do. Take them to the park on 27th with the two video screens and get pizza (the pizza is mediocre but the park is great) It is built into the middle of the street. Go to Mercado Modelo, and El Conde. Your hotel will have a list of museums for you to see, like El Hombre Dominicano and Amber. You can see the first Lunatic Asylum in the new world. You can go eat in Mes?n de Cava, it is a restaurant built into a cave. There is an aquarium, but I don't know if it is good or if it sucks.

2 At costalunga you can check your e-mail but there is no room phone (go figure!) Maybe if you want to spend the money you can fish, but try to be in Boca Chica on a Sunday, that is when all the locals come and the place is lively, with a whole different flavor. Get a meal at Neptunos. It is a nice place and the price is not too bad. To get to Punta Cana from Juan Dolio will take you about 2.5 hours. You can do it, but it is not a minor excursion. Don't try to drive from Boca Chica to Punta Cana or you will get lost. If you like baseball, the winter leagues should still be playing. DR1 knows the schedules. You can see a game in San Pedro or La Romana. Sammy Sosa is from San Pedro. He has a shopping plaza there called 30/30 and if you are in town you can take a picture but it is not worth the drive just for that.

3 If you have money, stay in Casa De Campo for La Romana. It is the choice of Liz Taylor, Rush Limbaugh, Bill Clinton, Queen of Spain, etc. There are lots of tourist sites, like Altos de Chavon, etc. Culturally & Landscape wise, La Romana doesn't look too different from Juan Dolio, FLAT.

4 Others will have to tell you about up North. I have only been up there twice. I do know that there are two basic routes, one through mountains and one through cane fields. Take the mountain route, it is beautiful and breathtaking. On the way, stop in Bonao and get a treat. It is a big rest area. Don't try to go from LaRomana or Punta Cana to the north coast, it will take you all day unless you fly! Stop on the way in Santiago de los 30 Caballeros. It is the 2nd largest city and you will see a big towering monument. Go inside and there is a museum. On the top you have a view of the city and you can take pictures. It is pretty cool.

In September I got a Ford Escort rental car from Yohanny Rent-a-car for $600 pesos a day (cash discount). It worked fine. The phone numbers are (809) 549-2224 or 943-9897 or in Boca Chica 523-9979. Before you drive down there, understand a few things: Nobody follows traffic rules. People don't stop for stop lights, people drink bottles of rum while driving, They drive down the wrong side of divided streets and highways, Police can be corrupt (gimme money kind, not beat-you-in-the-head kind) There is no equivalent of AAA if you break, roads are not well lit inbetween towns, and signs are ambiguous at best. Also, there are axle busting potholes in places. I love driving down there, it is like a video game. But, if you are the white-knuckle type or in anyways not the daredevil it will prove a traumatic experience for you and I wouldnt recommend it.

Oh, I almost forgot. Have them bring their swimming trunks and take them to Columbus Aquapark on the North Coast near Sosua. I have been there and it is a lot of fun. There is a Dolphin - Sea World Park out near Punta Cana but I have never been there personally so I can't vouch for it one way or another.

You also may want to take them to Lago Enriquillo, which is a crocodile lake and natural area. There is a hill out there that people say has some strange optical illusion. I have never been in that part of the country (west of the Capital) So I cannot vouch for those.

 

[Dave]

one other thought.....

When my boys were your childrens ages, we went on an adventure in SW D.R. That was we made the Riviera Hotel our base camp (Barahona)and then spent one day climbing up the waterfalls at San Rafael, swimming in its natural pools and in the ocean, and then ate fresh fish at the vendors "shops" located close to this location. On the next 2 days we spent time at Lake Enriquillo swiming in the sulphur springs, went out to the island, hiked up in the rocks to view petroglyphs and "caught" iguanas (literally and on film). We then spent one day in Perdenales swimming in the ocean there and in the many sink holes heading out to Perdenales. Got our guys jumping off 40' "cliffs" into 60'+ of water (these are similar to the blue holes of the bahamas that are fresh water but do conncect into the ocean at some part via underground cave/tunnels)....swam the edges of these caves and caught small crustaceans etc.. The last day we stopped on one of the only beaches I have ever found in the D.R. that literally has 1000's of nice shells to look at and pick up on the beach (this was 4 years ago). It was between Azua and Bani and the guys collected some nice fighting conch, olive, and other shells.

I guarantee you that they have NEVER forgotten this trip, and with the film we took, continues to still be spoke of as "THE" trip (although we vacation in many places regularly).

Best, Dave

 

[aristoba]

daves trip is a must do

i have made daves trip as well . its indeed incredable .
if the boys were teenagers you should have added climbing
pico duarte.
now rent a 4 wheeldrive and drive up from pedernales to lago eriquillo. following the haitian border thats an amazing adventure trip.
stop half way to swimm in the clearest river i have seen on the island. to complete daves trip from the coast to enriquillo.

if you have time restaints i suggest daves trip to be a must do and forget about punta cana even la romana.
that whole side is very overrated.

 

[Globetrotter]

THanks, but what about accommodations?

Thank you all (Loren, Dave and Ari) for your feedback and suggestions? But can you tell me where to stay in these places that you suggest (Barahona, Pedernales,etc)? I have to admit that I didn't research these areas and have no idea of lodging accommodations there.

 

[Joe Boone]

Suggestion

Something that I've found to be very helpful when traveling around the Country is my copy of Adventure Guide to the Dominican Republic (Adventure Guide Series)
by Harry S. Pariser. It will list Hotels, etc. even in the smaller towns. You can find it at Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1556506295/qid=1006444660/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_0_1/102-0597903-2383369

If you take any trips on horseback, demand a look at the animals before you commit. You may be 5 minutes into the trip and offer to buy the animal just to put him out of his misery. The vaceros/guides try to tell you that the Horses are lazy and that is why they have to beat them every step of the way, but the truth is, they are so sore they can hardly walk.

 

[DR1]

I think you are trying to do too much. I would concentrate on one beach destination in addition to your Santo Domingo stop. Your boys will value time with you, not the tension of being on the road for more than two hours at a time. Since all will be new for you, you will need to concentrate and the long drives will take away from your quality time with your boys. Note I am a mother of an 11 year old and a 9 year old boy. I have been there.

In other words, forget about taking excursions from Juan Dolio to Punta Cana for the day. Punta Cana is about one lovely beach and big resorts, that yes, kids enjoy. But it would only make sense if you would head out there from the start or would spend at least three days in one resort there. In the Punta Cana area you might consider Club Med Punta Cana where children are the stars of the hotel. And where your sons will find lots of company. 90% of the guests that stay there do so because they go with their children. Or for that matter they will enjoy any of the beach resorts in the East because of the lovely beach. If you do go as far as Juan Dolio, I would forget about heading North. Instead, stay in Punta Cana.

If you decide to go East, suggest you have lunch at Caf? Real, an Italian terrace-restaurant nearby the Metro in Juan Dolio. Excellent seafood and pasta or risotto dishes. And the pizzas are very good, too. For a place in La Romana, check out the Viva Resorts, the Grand Dominicus or the Coral Canoa Resort. The boys will love any of them.

Or, I would forget about heading Southeast and instead head North. Since they are repairing the Navarette-Puerto Plata connection, I would take the Metro Bus and rent in Puerto Plata. There I would stay at the Emi Resorts Sun Village in Cofresi (it has many swimming pools and a beach). Just stayed there in July and all in our group enjoyed it. (We were in Puerto Plata to visit the Damajagua falls -- excellent, but you have to have the right guide to see the 21 falls.) Sun Village is building a swim with dolphins facility but this will not be ready until late January, I am told. From there I would take the boys to the Fun City (go kart park), and to the Columbus Water Park, on a weekday to avoid crowds. I would then head on to Cabarete (a tranquil beach). There are many hotels to choose from. I wouldn?t book any beforehand. Just visit several once you get there and then choose. I would last make a trip to the Playa Grande area, and discover the many beaches along the North Coast, such as Diamante, Cabo Franc?s Viejo and Playa Grande. Each one is different. There is a Dudu giant water hole off La Entrada that makes for fun swimming (ask at Nelson Bululu cheese and yoghurt manufacturing stand on the highway). I would bring goggles and masks with snorkels for the boys. Then return the car in Puerto Plata and head back to Santo Domingo by bus.

My choice? I would send you to Samana, a natural Disney World. I would recommend you stayed at the all-inclusive Portillo Beach Resort or the apartment hotel Colibri on the far western side of Las Terrenas Beach. From there you can visit the Limon waterfall. At Portillo you can book the four wheel bike excursion that takes you to several lovely beaches. Later you can return by car to the ones you prefer. I would recommend you visit Playa Bonita and Playa Cozon (the last one if your sons can swim). At Portillo you can arrange to go fishing with the boys. I would take the boat excursion to Los Haitises and its mangroves and caves. And the boat trip to Cayo Levantado.

The excursion west is also a wonderful one, as contributors have described. I would include in the Barahona area a visit to the salt and gypsum mines. My sons loved that. If you decide to go west, on the way West stay at the High Winds Center in Salinas, then at the Bahoruco Resort or Casa Bonita in Barahona and then move on to Pedernales. In Pedernales be sure to visit the Pelempito natural observatory.

I would also recommend you rent with National Car Rental. We are proud to have them as a sponsor of this site because they are of the most reliable, if not the most reliable operation in the country. I would recommend that you purchase all the insurance they will sell you. If you have any kind of problem, you would just need to report the case to the Police and you are off. I took my own advice and did the same when renting in Spain last month. I think renting a car is the best way to enjoy seeing a country.

Finally, I would recommend you bring lots of 30 protection sunscreen. Have your suns wear their t-shirts when going in the water. You may also look into Coppertone's sun and bug sunscreen in case you may go somewhere there may be bugs, such as when discovering unexploited beaches.

 

[Globetrotter]

Dolores, Thanks, and need some more clarifications

Thanks a lot! I'm going to bother you with some more questions:

First: what's the distance from the capital to Juan Dolio? How long does it take to go from Santo Domingo to Boca Chica, and from Boca Chica to Juan Dolio?

Second: Regarding that MetroBus you mentioned, does it depart several times during the day, or is it just one trip daily (hence, you have to wait tomorrow for the next one if you miss it)? Is there a waiting line to buy tickets? How much are the tickets and how long is the trip?

Third: do you have a URL address or a phone number for the Emi Resorts Sun Village? Didn't find any reference to it in DR1's resort database.

Fourth: On your suggestion to visit the different resorts of Cabarete and evaluate them, would that be a good idea around Christmas? Any chance the ones we like might be completely booked and we have to settle for something we don't like?

Fifth: Renting a car in Puerto Plata- How much do you think the insurance package can be (ballpark figure)? I've never rented a car in DR, didn't need to.

Sorry to bother you with all these questions, but I just want these holidays to be perfect for my boys. Haven't been around much for them. Also their mom wouldn't forgive me (among other things) if they came back disappointed.

Thanks for all your feedback.

 

[John]

one more suggestion

my best recomendation is to go to punta cana. go to any travel agency in santo domingo and reserve a hotel in punta cana. right now rates are very reasonable. and in most hotels childrens are free. so you will pay around 100dlls and get an all inclusive fine resort for 3. childrens will love that. a lot of activities for them.

 

[DR1]

Re: Dolores, Thanks, and need some more clarificat

What?s the distance from the capital to Juan Dolio?
From the outskirts of Santo Domingo to Juan Dolio is about 60 kilometers (75 kilometers to San Pedro city). How long it takes you to get there depends on the time of the day you choose to go. If you leave the city early in the morning on a Saturday (for example), you can make it in about 45 minutes. If there is traffic, it could take you 30 minutes just to leave the city, and another 40 minutes to get there.

How long does it take to go from Santo Domingo to Boca Chica, and from Boca Chica to Juan Dolio? Takes about 30 minutes from the outskirts of the city to Boca Chica (officially its 31 kilometers from the city). Again choose an off peak hour and you will have less stress, and will avoid inner city traffic jams.

Metro Bus leaves several times during the day. From Santo Domingo they have trips at 7 am, 9 am, 2 pm, 4 pm and 6:30 pm. You can purchase your tickets in advance once you arrive. You need to be at the station at least of 15 minutes prior to boarding, or your seat will be given to someone else. The busses leave on time.

Third: do you have a URL address or a phone number for the Emi Resorts Sun Village? Didn't find any reference to it in DR1's resort database. Just check out their website at http://www.emiresorts.com/

Fourth: On your suggestion to visit the different resorts of Cabarete and evaluate them, would that be a good idea around Christmas? Any chance the ones we like might be completely booked and we have to settle for something we don't like?
That is possible, but there are a lot of hotels out that way, so for sure you will find something you like. If not, you can always stay in nearby Sosua.

Fifth: Renting a car in Puerto Plata- How much do you think the insurance package can be (ballpark figure)? I've never rented a car in DR, didn't need to. Check out the National Car Rental web page at http://www.dr1.com/national They can give you what the cost will be. The extra insurance is not much more than the regular insurance.