Off to the Dominican

[JetDr]

Good Evening Gents,

I will be making a long weekend to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic starting Thursday. Any past experience there would be of much appreciation. For instance, transfers to the hotel from the airport, I was quoted 80USD round trip for two people. Hell, that's a third of what I am paying for three nights all inclusive. Just doesn't seem right. How about best place to exchange money. Any tips on must sees. Any insider info on plantations to visit. Or just how nice or even how bad it was when you were there.

I patiently await the vast knowledge of the CP BOTL's.

 

[KeyserSoze]

Haven't been myself but a few tips from the lady. Stay away from the seafood or bring alot of pepto. Have fun JetDr!

 

[Uncle Boo]

I was in Punta Cana, Higuey, La Romana, Chavon and a few other places this year. I really liked the country. A nice mixture of mountains, farms, and beaches. The weather is about the same all year around.

Brush up on your Spanish, it will help a lot. No need to exchange currency, they want your dollars. Just remember everything is very negotiable.
Take as many side trips as you can if your staying at a resort, it's a good way to see the country. The roads are terrible. It was a 7hr drive to go 200km :laugh: They are building a new highway from the Punta Cana area to Santo Domingo. By my estimates it should be done around the year 3000. Apparently all the clocks run slow. If a store opens a 11:00 am no need to go till about 11:20. Apparently they don't know what a trash can is.

By our standards there appears to be lots of poverty. There is no welfare in the Dominican Republic. If you want to eat you work. All the people I met were nice. The native race is a mixture of white and black peoples.

Don't drink the tap water! That means no singing in the shower. It's very hard to remember that we are so used to having safe water. Bring something for the "green apple quick step" if you catch my drift.

Sorry for rambling on, I was just thinking off the top of my head.

 

[boonedoggle]

The fam and I are planning on going to Punta Cana next summer...I can't give you any info, but hoping you'll be able to give me some when you get back! Have fun!

 

[emodx]

You have mail. UB summed it up pretty good. Skip the Pepto and bring Immodium(sp). In fact, if you dont travel outside the country often, you may want to take a dose of Imodium or Pepto when you get on the bus/taxi leaving the airport. Just in case you get rumbly tumbly easily.