Babe Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 Just me and my 10 year old daughter going, any tips? Heard insects bites are bad, and water is dodgy. What currency should I take? Staying at Puerto Plata, Fun Royale / Tropical Beach Resort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suprasteve Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 run if you see a hurricane I went about 10 years ago and loved it (apart from the hurricane bit) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrHanky Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 Just me and my 10 year old daughter going, any tips? Heard insects bites are bad, and water is dodgy. What currency should I take? Staying at Puerto Plata, Fun Royale / Tropical Beach Resort. Cool, I got married in Puerto Plata (Riu Mambo) and liked it so much that we went the year after. Great place, really nice people and beaches. Theres a monster truck safari which is really good and a few other day trips to secluded beaches etc. Have fun Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 Went about three years ago. Good beach holiday at one of the big Occidental hotels - not much else to do. Beware of some of the jeep trips, can be a physical adventure with little safety on slippy off beaton tracks up to waterfalls etc and your insurance probably won't cover any injuries. Get to the docs for the recommended injections. We didn't bother with the Maleria tablets as there's not been a case for something like 13 years and they can make you sicker - that's your call though. Don't take any valuables, suit cases regularly get opened at the airport and things nicked. All hotels have armed perimeter gaurds, you can go out for a stroll, but again - might not be a great idea depending where you are. The country is split with the Hiatian people coming across to work for tupence in the sugar cane fields in the summer. They live in make shift huts by the roadside usually - it's a very poor country. There's like three main big cheeses that own most of the hotels/land etc. Weather is fantastic, but near to the equator you burn very easily - strong factor lotion - 30+ for first few days depending on your skin type of course. At our all inclusive hotel the food could be hit and miss as to the warmth, quality and selection. Don't drink the water, take rehydration sachets. I had the sh*ts big time with a suspected stomach parasite/infection, confined to the room for two days with cramps and a streaming backside. Had to see the doc out there (which all hotels seem to have their own). Medicine and consultation cost about 50 quid though. Drink lots on the plane - long flight and very easily to get dehydrated. I must admit, I didn't relish 8-9 hours stuck in a plane. The above sounds like a nightmare - but really it is a lovely place and I'm sure you'll have a great time. Can't remember the currency, I think it's one of those places where they'll take US dollars and value them above their own currency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 Went to Sosua four years ago ; really enjoyed it great beach/weather. Went all over no probs at all; horse riding in the mountains was fun - I fell off! Rich:d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 Went to Sosua That's where we went. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milocoon Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 Been here a few times now. Tips If any food dish is lukewarm or tastes iffy stop and get something else ! Use High Factor Sun Cream and take plenty as its dear here ! Trips, in the commercial centre you will get offered trips maybe 2/3 the price your reps offer you, ask about insurance and I believe you will save money this way ! Puerto Plata tour is a waste of time and includes the Amber Museum ! Monster Jeep Safari is excellent about £35 for 3/4 of a day Mad Dog Island is great but use loads of sun cream as i didn`t ! Catamaran trips will run if the Atlantic Ocean is calm or rough so make your own mind up as you can see the water where you are ! Sosua bars (40 mins away) are full of attractive females (who may be HIV plus) so use your brain if they seem too friendly as its a very poor country ! Absolutely Lovely Holiday Location though ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milocoon Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 Bottled water should be provided in your room for drinking / brushing teeth ! Anything with DEET will keep mozzies away ! At night wear THIN trousers/slacks or shirts to cover your skin from Mozzies ! It will be HOT so THIN is best, also take an UMBRELLA as there are FLASH rain storms and you might get wet going to the Restaurant, its WARM rain but quite unusual for a newcomer here ! If you`re female then expect to be chatted up 5 times more than in the UK especially if you`re blonde ! At the airport tell the friendly porters to leave your luggage to you as its all of 100 m to the coach and they will want DOLLARS for this ! Almost forgot US DOLLARS are the best currency to take, you might need $50 fo a safety deposit box and you need $ for entry and exit as well. All Inclusive in the Dom Rep is good so I`d say $400 for 14 days including 2 trips for 2 people ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babe Posted July 8, 2006 Author Share Posted July 8, 2006 Sosua bars (40 mins away) are full of attractive females (who may be HIV plus) so use your brain if they seem too friendly as its a very poor country ! Ooh er... I'm a girly! Thanks for the tips, been told to take 2 weeks worth of Immodium too, not sure I'm looking forwards to this holiday now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkirby Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 Me the wife and out 8 year old son went this time last year. Weather was superb, beach was amazing, go on the safari trip and do the dolphins!! expensive but well worth it But Would never go there again!! so my advice would be go to the south side, the currency is peso's and US dollars which is where they really rip you off because they all say get dollars but they give you change back in pesos and it never works out so get pesos Make sure before you go that the hotel does NOT let locals on the site as this is where i holiday was ruined from the friday to the monday it was like an ivasion, thay ate everything, they drank everything they were rude, the kids were animals so we ate out and stayed away which ended up costing a fortune. I think if i was to ever do the carribean again it will be just me and the wife and save up a bit more and go to a sandals resort If you want to know anymore let me know Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 Oh yes - you must swim with the dolphins - that was great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milocoon Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 Ocean World at Cofresi is an excellent half day http://www.popreport.com/FeatureArticles/OceanWorld/index.html We did the Sealion Encounter, the Reef swim and had a meal included for $50 each, my wife had a Dolphin Encounter for an extra $60 which is better if you aren`t really a good swimmer. I did enjoy playing with the sealions but their breath was interesting when they kissed you ! We always take a good selection of medecines with us, if you`re careful and don`t have too much sun and alcohol in the first few days you will be fine and I think all I ever used was a few paracetamols and loads of after-sun. Dollars are the best currency TAKE plenty of small notes like 1,5 and 10 , don`t accept pesos as change as this is a con ! We had the "Locals" visit the complex one weekend but where we were they were well behaved, I have heard that its not always the case, I have seen a few UK citizens also misbehave. Its a public beach at Playa Dorada so if you get pestered to buy anything a firm NO will do the trick. You will enjoy it but take care in the sun for the first few days as that could ruin your holiday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra steveo Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 nice place been to Puerto Plata. bring iz a bottle of 151 back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green_dragon Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 We went to Sosua last January. Not the best time to go as it rained most of the time! However we still really enjoyed it. It'll be hot now though! You'll have a great time so long as you don't let the locals intimidate you when they try to make you buy stuff! If they do try and you don't want to buy just say NO and they will leave you, BUT if you do want to buy, haggle with them! I bought an oil painting which the guy wanted the equivalent of £80 for, I paid £20! So you can get some really good deals. We bought our wedding rings there, and haggled about 400 quid off them. EVERYTHING is up for negotiation! I'd definatley go back, and as people have said, Monster Truck Safari and Ocean World are a must, especially the swim with Dolphins:love: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkirby Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 Also go on the net and search for hotel reviews Then again thats what we did but i think we just got unlucky as the hotel was owned by a UK tour operator but had sold it on so was under Dom Rep management again hence why the locals were allowed on!! to be honest we thought it was a special deal they gave locals as its a pretty poor country but turns out exactly the opposite, turns out its all the doctors, solicitors from the capital who pay double what we do to go there so they go there and really get their monies worth lol If going to the dolphins do the dolphin experience not the swim as you get more from it and more time with the stunning animals the shark experience is good as well but jesus when you feed them i sh1t myself lol Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.