Coming To Puerto Plata Please Help

SPRINGFEVER · #1 01-21-2004, 12:21 AM

MYSELF AND A FRIEND ARE COMING IN FEB. TO STAY AT JACK TAR VILLAGE. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREAT. WE ARE WOMEN IN OUR 40'S LOOKING FOR ALOT OF SUN AND FUN. WHERE ARE THE BEST TOURS, RUM RUNS AND SUCH? I WANT TO GO WHERE THE VEHICLES ARE SAFE AND GUIDES THAT WE CAN TRUST. ALSO WHERE TO BUY THE BEST JEWELRY CHEAP. SNORKELING, IS THERE PLACES TO GO THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO GO BY BOAT OR IF SO WHAT BOAT? CANT WAIT TO GET OUT OF THIS COLD!!

XanaduRanch · #2 01-21-2004, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SPRINGFEVER
I WANT TO GO WHERE THE VEHICLES ARE SAFE AND GUIDES THAT WE CAN TRUST.

I think then you're talking Bermuda or Grand Caymen here. The DR? Safe vehicles? What a riot. Well maybe technically there are a few vehicles taht are safe. If they're parked. In a locked garage. With no Dominican driving it. Ever.

Oh, 'hello' by the way!

Tom (aka XR)

appleman · #3 01-21-2004, 01:03 AM

Hi and welcome. Can't help you much with some of your questions, but if the safe vehicles you are concerned about are the "tour" vehicles, you shouldn't worry-reputable tours have good safe vehicles. Real good snorkeling would be a day trip to maybe Punta Rucia. There are other areas that are good also. You can snorkel from the beach in Sosua out to the reef, it's OK, but it isn't spectacular.

BTW, that was Tom's way of saying welcome and subtly letting you know that posting in ALL CAPS is considered shouting on the net. You will know what he meant about the vehicles when you get here and get out of the resort. I'm sure others will help with your questions. Hope you have a good time.

Bob H.

tired_boy · #4 01-21-2004, 04:51 AM

We stayed in the Jack Tar 6 years ago, it might have changed a bit but we really enjoyed it.

Snorkelling - you wont be able to snorkel at Playa Dorada (well you could literally , but you wont see much), the sea there tends to whip up the sand from the sea-bed a bit. If you go out onto the main road you can get transport to Sosua for a good price. The snorkelling here is far far better. Take some bread and a banana to feed the fish.

Jewellery, i cant help there, other than by saying - if you are going to buy cheap jewellery off the beach sellers make sure you do a bit of haggling with the price.

If you go into Puerta PLata, Sosua or Cabarete at night you will have a good laugh as well. Enjoy yourself!

Hillbilly · #5 01-21-2004, 11:16 AM

and be safe in that fashion. There is a guy called Wilson that has been used by several of the posters here with very happy results.

I will get you his number if you are interested.

As for jewelry? There are a couple of stores in the area of Playa Dorada, I think Herrisons(?) is one of them. In the town proper there is an Amber Museum that might give you some ideas.

There is a poster on these boadrs that goes by the name of Jan, that makes and sells jewelry in Santo Domingo, so maybe you can email or PM to her...Jewelry is like food and cars and women, lots of different styles and tastes....

The only thing I would say is that you avoid staying at the Flamenco in Playa Dorada, since it is undergowing some pretty awful infrastructure problems at this moment...

HB

JanH · #6 01-21-2004, 11:26 AM

As Hillbilly said, several of us have used Wilson Guzman as a driver. He is located in Sosua as a taxi driver, but does a lot of freelance driving too. He is careful and speaks fairly good english.

His cell number is 1-429-2110 (may not have to dial the 1 from Puerta Plata).

maryanne · #7 01-21-2004, 11:38 AM

Sometimes I find some really nice costume jewelry at the supermarket Messon. Hop into a cab and they will take you there. You can stock up on any alcohol and coffee to take home with you while you're there too.

Also, check out Casa Del Gift Shop (go past Casa Nelson, make a right at the first set of lights, and it's up the street). Anything that you find for sale at Playa Dorada or from a beach vendor, you will most likely find in this store at a much cheaper price.

Happy shopping!

tired_boy · #8 01-21-2004, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hillbilly

The only thing I would say is that you avoid staying at the Flamenco in Playa Dorada, since it is undergowing some pretty awful infrastructure problems at this moment...

HB

Whats going off there at the moment Hillbilly and why? Any idea when they will be finished?

candu2 · #9 01-21-2004, 01:44 PM

I stayed at the Jack-Tar in OCt-Nov 2003. I used both a taxi from the resort and the local bus for transportation. Fifteen dollars U.S. was enough to take a taxi into Puerto Plata and back. We had the driver take us around to see the sites as well as do some shopping. The local bus cost 20 pesos and seemed safe enough as DR vehicles go. As mentioned previously the water is to murky at Playa Dorada to snorkel. Sosua is better for snorkeling. There were some people selling jewelry at the resort but the taxi driver took us to a lesss expensive place in POP. As for partying there is a bar 1/4 mile west of the Playa Dorada complex called Cafe Cito that has pub crawls every Wednesday and Saturday.

Dominican Babe · #10 01-21-2004, 06:23 PM

Harrisons is definitely the place for the best jewellery, but it doesn't come cheap.

Then again, how can you expect to get the best if you are only prepared to pay low prices? Best and cheap do not go together.