First time to DR-need HELP for a decision

Hi, we will be traveling to DR first week in may. What part of the island can we be guaranteed the best weather? There are some great deals to Puerta Plata, for $656US per person/all inclus. we can choose the Riu Mambo or Merengue. How is the ocean on the north side? What is the color of the ocean on that side? (Blue,green.turquiose, or just clear) The other deals are for $756pp/all inclus, we can choose the Casa Del Mar or Riu Maleo. We've been to Mexico-Yucantan & Pacific Side, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Bahamas/Hawaii...Does the DR compare to any of them???? Looking forward to some response....Thanks.

Casa del Mar is a new resort on the Southeast Coast. It has the clearest water of the places you mentioned. My friends say they have enjoyed their stays there. I haven't slept there, but have visited the area and stayed at several other resort areas on the island. Puerto Plata has a nice resort complex, good golf, but it has green, somewhat murky water along Playa Dorado. Sosua has clear water too, but is a little less "resorty," i.e. more active, if that is what you are looking for--more like Boca Chica.

Weatherwise, the Southwest Coast has the nicest climate; the Barahona area is quite different than the rest of the country. But there is only one so-called resort (Riviera) in the area that might deserve 3 stars. It is not on the same class of what you'll find in Puerto Plata, La Romana-Bayhibe, or Punta Cana-Bavaro.

You won't find the service here of Hawaii or Mexico--more like the Bahamas or Jamaica, but it's cheaper. I recommend Casa del Mar as first choice from your list.

Fifteen miles south of Barahona is a nice bed and breakfast called the Casa Bonita--"pretty house"--that is popular with ex-pats here. Small with only a dozen cottages, it is truly a hidden get-away in one of the most beautiful parts of the island.

We think you are looking for Paradise? Go to Punta Cana this is we like the best. Take a Riu hotel and you will have a great time. we go 10th of april to Riu TAINO. Its half board but very nice. good luck

Yvonne & cornelis van Leenen

Hi thre, we're leaving in 3 days to the Northeast shore..rio san juan area...we're also first-timers, so i'll be certain to post here when i get back on the 22nd how it was....my husband and i are celebrating or anniversary and first honeymoon....we eloped....hey we're only 7 years late!

Candy

We participated this summer in a work mission through a group called Orphanage Outreach. We spent a week at an orphanage in Monte Christi and the area was absolutely beautiful....though very poor and not touristy at all. We also visited an orphanage in Esperanza. The town was really interesting, though also very poor.

After the work mission we spent 4 days in Sosua and Cabarete. Both were equally spectacular, had miles of clean beaches, great (and reasonably priced) hotels, and lots of interesting things to do. Cabarete is the windsurfing capital of the world and definitely seemed to have more of a nightlife. Sosua was a little quieter but had some GREAT restaurants. We went to this one place in Sosua a couple of times. I forget the name but it started with an M (Moana Loa, or something like that). We were there in August and I'm still salivating over the food we had there!!!! Have fun....you're going to love it!

You found more Nightlife in Cabarete than Sosua? Are you sure you were in Sosua?

Tom

Laura: I'm leaving Friday. Come with, it's a long time since August.

The great thing about the DR is how diverse it is. I have been to most of the beach area except the far south west. The north coast resort of Playa Dorado (which is most likely where you will stay if you are flying into Peurto Plata and doing an all inclusive) is nice. It is clean an beutifully groomed. It is however not very authentic dominican. They have tried to americanize it as much as possible. I found it a bit borring. Farther east of Puerto Plata is Sousa and Caberte. I love these two towns they are close enough to each other that you can visit them both. The beach at sousua is beautiful, clear greenish blue water with golden sand. They have wonderful fun and entertainment in this town. It has tons of tourist things to do, but still feels very local. You feel like you are visiting a true town not the synthetic reosort atmosphere. Caberete is much like sosua. Great food and entertainment. The beach is differnt though it has much larger waves. The water is not as spectacular. It is fun the play in the waves and boggie board there, or wind surf. A bit farther is Playa Grande. I have not stayed there but it is worth taking a day trip to. Bright blue water with huge waves and white sand. They will serve you lunch on the beach and wonderful pina coladas in pinapples. Los Terreanase if beautiful, very quiet and filled with French and German people. We didn't get the best welcome here!

Most of Punta Cana is similar to the resort area of Play Dorado. Resort after resort. I have stayed at Casa del Mar, west of Punta Cana. It is a beautiful resort with a neat little town right next to it. The resort was wonderful. Good food, OK drinks (they were free with the all inclusive, so I didn't complain!). It has a nice private calm water beach. The sand is golden and the water is bluish green.

All over the DR you will find nice domincan people. The are fun. You have to get used to things like bartering, but once you do, it is fun.

I hope I haven't given you to much info. I love the DR and can't talk enough about it.