JetDr
D.I.L.F.
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2006
- Messages
- 727
A couple of members showed interest in a trip report as they were planning trips to the Dominican in the near future.
I will do my best to not bore you.
My trip started with the wife and I arriving in Charlotte, NC for an overnight. We stayed at the Four Points by Sheraton on Woodlawn. As we are having lunch and a couple drinks, I said to her. "Damn, I should have asked on the board if there was anyone interested in a miniherf today." Maybe next time.
Thursday morning we departed Charlotte for Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. While we were unable to sit in first class, the agent put us in the emergency exit row on an Airbus 319. Lots of room and a wonderful flight. I played my mp3 player and Soduku while the wife watched the inflight entertainment, Pirates of the Carribean, Dead Man's Chest. We arrived in Punta Cana around 1600 Local time to a beautiful airport. The terminal is open to the outside with no windows, and a thatched roof. On to our taxi ride to the hotel.
I appreciate the information I received from Emo as it served us well. It is a must to agree on a price with the taxi driver before getting in his cab. We paid 23 USD for the 20 minute ride to the resort. As you exit the airport and drive past the many run-down shacks, it really hits you that this is indeed a third world country. As we sped around mopeds and tour busses, we had many near misses with pickup trucks loaded with locals standing in the back while the they speed along at about 40mph. The weather was amazing for the 4 days we were there. 85 degrees during the day, and a nice 60 each night. Just cool enough to be comfortable in pants to look nice for the beautiful Dominican girls as they did the dance of the gods, The Merenga.
We arrive at the resort. We stayed at the Barcelo Bavara Beach Caribe. This is one of five hotels on the property that you have access to. There is a tram that makes scheduled stops every 15 minutes at predetermined spots to make your move from building to building easier. There was a buffet and a Italian restaurant at our hotel in addition to numerous bars and ala carte items. The next hotel next to us contained a steak house and a mexican restaurant in addition to the buffet and bars. There was a 24 hour casino at the next hotel, a golf coarse at the next, and we didn't visit the last of the five hotels. We did drink and dance at the disco tech the first night just after watching the nice show at the casino.
We spent our days on the beach, our afternoons at the pool, and our evenings shopping before enjoying the nightly entertainment from local music to a variety show. I know about 4 words in Spanish, and never was at a loss for a good time. The staff was wonderful, and went out of their way to accomodate us.
I will point out that we didn't get sick. We didn't get sick because we followed the advise we were given and took precautions. For example, we brushed our teeth with bottled water. We didn't eat the salad at the buffets, as it was likely washed with tap water. We were not wreckless with our eating and it proved fortunate for us.
The price in Punta Cana is very affordable. We stayed 3 nights all inclusive for 344USD. Speaking of the Dollar. I was told by a shop owner that I later found out used to live in Miami, that Americans are the preferred tourist in the Dominican. Our Dollar pulls alot of weight. Everything, and I mean everything is negotiable. If you pay full price for an item, you are a fool.
That reminds me. And I'm sure you will appreciate this. It turns out all of the Fuente's we have been smoking all these years are not good Fuentes. This is what the shop keeper at the Cigar Shop in the Casinso Hotel tried to pass on to me. That is why it was ok for her to charge 16 USD for an 858. She said her Cigars were the "Fresh Fuentes". Never mind the aging process. Needless to say, no smokes were purchased at these stores. Luckily I had taken some Ashtons, and Tatuajes from home.
In conclusion, I would go back tomorrow if I could. The wife wants to try other islands in the spring, and we likely will, but will keep Punta Cana on the top of our return to list.
Feel free to PM me if you have questions that I will try my best to answer, or post here for all to see. I will try to post some pics if I can figure out photo bucket again.
Regards,
I will do my best to not bore you.
My trip started with the wife and I arriving in Charlotte, NC for an overnight. We stayed at the Four Points by Sheraton on Woodlawn. As we are having lunch and a couple drinks, I said to her. "Damn, I should have asked on the board if there was anyone interested in a miniherf today." Maybe next time.
Thursday morning we departed Charlotte for Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. While we were unable to sit in first class, the agent put us in the emergency exit row on an Airbus 319. Lots of room and a wonderful flight. I played my mp3 player and Soduku while the wife watched the inflight entertainment, Pirates of the Carribean, Dead Man's Chest. We arrived in Punta Cana around 1600 Local time to a beautiful airport. The terminal is open to the outside with no windows, and a thatched roof. On to our taxi ride to the hotel.
I appreciate the information I received from Emo as it served us well. It is a must to agree on a price with the taxi driver before getting in his cab. We paid 23 USD for the 20 minute ride to the resort. As you exit the airport and drive past the many run-down shacks, it really hits you that this is indeed a third world country. As we sped around mopeds and tour busses, we had many near misses with pickup trucks loaded with locals standing in the back while the they speed along at about 40mph. The weather was amazing for the 4 days we were there. 85 degrees during the day, and a nice 60 each night. Just cool enough to be comfortable in pants to look nice for the beautiful Dominican girls as they did the dance of the gods, The Merenga.
We arrive at the resort. We stayed at the Barcelo Bavara Beach Caribe. This is one of five hotels on the property that you have access to. There is a tram that makes scheduled stops every 15 minutes at predetermined spots to make your move from building to building easier. There was a buffet and a Italian restaurant at our hotel in addition to numerous bars and ala carte items. The next hotel next to us contained a steak house and a mexican restaurant in addition to the buffet and bars. There was a 24 hour casino at the next hotel, a golf coarse at the next, and we didn't visit the last of the five hotels. We did drink and dance at the disco tech the first night just after watching the nice show at the casino.
We spent our days on the beach, our afternoons at the pool, and our evenings shopping before enjoying the nightly entertainment from local music to a variety show. I know about 4 words in Spanish, and never was at a loss for a good time. The staff was wonderful, and went out of their way to accomodate us.
I will point out that we didn't get sick. We didn't get sick because we followed the advise we were given and took precautions. For example, we brushed our teeth with bottled water. We didn't eat the salad at the buffets, as it was likely washed with tap water. We were not wreckless with our eating and it proved fortunate for us.
The price in Punta Cana is very affordable. We stayed 3 nights all inclusive for 344USD. Speaking of the Dollar. I was told by a shop owner that I later found out used to live in Miami, that Americans are the preferred tourist in the Dominican. Our Dollar pulls alot of weight. Everything, and I mean everything is negotiable. If you pay full price for an item, you are a fool.
That reminds me. And I'm sure you will appreciate this. It turns out all of the Fuente's we have been smoking all these years are not good Fuentes. This is what the shop keeper at the Cigar Shop in the Casinso Hotel tried to pass on to me. That is why it was ok for her to charge 16 USD for an 858. She said her Cigars were the "Fresh Fuentes". Never mind the aging process. Needless to say, no smokes were purchased at these stores. Luckily I had taken some Ashtons, and Tatuajes from home.
In conclusion, I would go back tomorrow if I could. The wife wants to try other islands in the spring, and we likely will, but will keep Punta Cana on the top of our return to list.
Feel free to PM me if you have questions that I will try my best to answer, or post here for all to see. I will try to post some pics if I can figure out photo bucket again.
Regards,
