Where in Puerto Plata?

Going to POP first week of July. Which hotel should I stay if I want a good beach and a taste of the Dominican culture. Hablo espanol. Also, is Boca Chica nice?

Get out and see the town. It's a $10 peso ride i haer, easy to get there and back at all hours. Take a tour. Have fun.
Boca Chica is far away and full of vice! Vice you can find in Puerto Plata, too...
HB

You don't want to stay in the actual town of Puerto Plata. Puerto Plata is both a town and a "province" (don't know if they call them that here... ). Your best bet is Playa Dorada if you want all inclusives that are a short ride from all the Dominican culture you can stomach! (bless their hearts).

The nicest hotels I can mention there are the Flamenco (worked there for a bit), and the Gran Ventana. Not far from Playa Dorada is the Iberostar, which is new and super nice...Playa Dorada has the advantage of having a whole PILE of all inclusive hotels behind one gate...so they have a plaza with a movie theatre, shops, Pizza Hut, pubs...all very pricey, but convenient.

Jack Tar is an adults only hotel, and is nice, but not as nice as the others I mentioned. It also has a Casino.

From Playa Dorada, public transit (gua-gua) will cost $5RD to Puerto Plata (central park, right downtown), $10RD to Sosua (nice beach, lots of vendors), and $15RD to Cabarete (windsurfing, kite surfing, beachside restaurants and bars).

Sosua and Cabarete also have some nice hotels, but not compared to Playa Dorada. Be sure that if you stay at Playa Dorada, that you don't listen to the tour operators, because they will scare the crap out of you and tell you not to leave the resort area!

Those are my experiences, hope your trip goes well. If you want more info, just drop us a line.

marc

nottrue

How would you rank them:

Naco
Gran Ventana
Paradise
Flamingo

No word on Boca Chica?

#1 = Naco
#3 = Gran Ventana
#2 = Paradise
#4 = Flamingo

Phyllis, Tell me why you rate them in this order? What so happending about Naco?

Naco and Paradise are 3*, the other two are 4 1/2+* I think. I am not sure what is so happening about Naco and Paradise. It will depend what you are after. My wife and I have both worked at Playa Dorada, and I would definitely rank it Flamenco, Gran Ventana, then the other two.

m

Fun Royal and Fun Tropical. Many pools, restaurants and friendly staff.