Dominican Republic

[ely3857]

Has any one been to the Dominican?

Gavin & I are browsing for next year (WDW is out of the question) and in brief the Dominican is the same for two weeks all inclusive as Benidorm is for half board (No Benidorm bashing please, we have been before and enjoy it for what it is) but knowing absoloutly nothing about the place I would like some opinions.

Cheers



Jodie

 

[AndRu]

Our best friends go back to the Dominican Republic every year (no kids or mortgage!) and they love it. However, they only every stay inside all-inclusive resorts so the only thing they actually see of the islands is the airport and the coach trip to/from the resort. They do say it's nice and once our kids have grown up we'll probably go with them ... as long as we don't have to be incarcerated inside inside a resort for the whole period!

 

[gilld]

As it's about the cheapest place to go in the Caribbean, the DR has a bad reputation for poor food quality/standards and a LOT return having had Salmonella. I haven't been myself so can't speak personally, but have seen a lot of patients who have run into problems. If you choose to go, make sure the price isn't too low - there has to be a reason why they are able to cut costs.

 

[carolfoy]

As Gill says the dom rep is one of the cheapest places in the caribbean, and the food poisoning risk seems to be higher than other islands. Having said that the tour ops are certainly getting better as we've had several incidents recently where a tour op has changed a clients hotel to an alternative as there has been an 'outbreak'. Personally I wouldn't go unless I was booking 4 star +/5 star as these hotels do seem to get less complaints.

 

[Madjock]

We went last August. We went to the North part which according to others isn't as pretty as the South. We stayed in the Iberostar Costa Dorada. The food was good and the people were lovely the only complaint is that the pool didn't get cleaned out enough for my liking but we had a great holiday. We did a couple of tours, Ocean World being one where we swam with dolphins which was great, which let us see some of the outside of the complex and it was a very contrasting place, it had what looked like some beautiful parks slap in the middle of a run down area and then you would have very posh looking shops right next store to what can only be described as shacks. It was a good holiday but I wouldn't rush back unless I just wanted to totally relax by the pool.

This is a great website with loads of valuable info on everything to do with the Island and great help with hotels:
http://www.debbiesdominicantravel.com/travel24.html

 

[Jules224]

I got married out there and 27 of us went ages ranging from 1 to 54 and we all loved it, we stayed at 4+ star hotel and wouldn't go any less, it was all inclusive and the food was great just the same as a lot of country's only drink bottled water etc, we even used bottled water for brushing teeth just to be on the safe side.
We only left the hotel on organised trips we did a boat trip, a jeep safari and white water rafting (check your insurance covers you for this, ours didn't!).
We will definately go back there one year loved it and the friendly people.

 

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

Has any one been to the Dominican?

Gavin & I are browsing for next year (WDW is out of the question) and in brief the Dominican is the same for two weeks all inclusive as Benidorm is for half board (No Benidorm bashing please, we have been before and enjoy it for what it is) but knowing absoloutly nothing about the place I would like some opinions.

Cheers



Jodie

Hi

FYI. I am from the DR and live in the capital city of Santo Domingo. My suggestion for you is Punta Cana or Bavaro, most beautiful beaches in the world. Today I am going to Ocean Blue resort in Punta Cana, I will let you have my reviews upon return. If you really want to go high end go to Casa de Campo in La Romana. Do drink bottled water. Also I have been to the resorts lots of times and have never gotten sick, but my system is inmune from living here, so make sure you can handle the spices before risking it. Other than that you will be fine. The people are really friendly and the tourism industry is our most precious export, therefore most (some may be true) of the things you hear about are rumors started by competing countries in order to get the mighty $ spent at their resorts.

 

[jjpenguin]

We went about 8 years ago and it was lovely. We were not in an all-inclusive but a bit off the tourist track near Samana in a lovely hotel with 11 rooms. We went whale watching, hired a jeep and a motorbike to explore with and enjoyed the lovely beaches & sea. A totally relaxing holiday.

 

[wilma-bride]

Jodie, I thought you already had another WDW trip planned for next year hence the Annual Passes

Anyway, we've never been to the Dominican but DH has always wanted to go. His brother and SIL went for their honeymoon (a few years back now mind) and absolutely loved it. Like most places, I think there are good and bad resorts but, as far as I understand it, most places are AI which, personally, is what puts me off as I hate to feel tied to eating and drinking in the hotel every day.

 

[ely3857]

Jodie, I thought you already had another WDW trip planned for next year hence the Annual Passes

We already have our park tickets for this year, 7 day MYW & 5 Park/14 m,days for USF etc.

The AP thing was me & df talking about the next time we would be able to go to WDW (after this Oct' trip) and then we decided on AP so we could go twice in 11 months with far less outlay on the second trip.



Jodie

 

[wilma-bride]

We already have our park tickets for this year, 7 day MYW & 5 Park/14 m,days for USF etc.

The AP thing was me & df talking about the next time we would be able to go to WDW (after this Oct' trip) and then we decided on AP so we could go twice in 11 months with far less outlay on the second trip.



Jodie

Oh right. Sorry, I wasn't questioning you, I just was hoping you hadn't missed out on your hoped-for trip to WDW and, more importantly, Annual Passes Presumably, like us, it's gonna be a couple of years before you get back to WDW then?