North Coast Vs. South Coast... Help Needed!

[boogieman]

ok my good friends.. heres the dillema.

im planning a 3-4 month getaway to the DR... traveling alone.

im lookin for a great beach, good nightlife and happening city, and hot women (yeah i know.. im not asking for much ) and a gym where i can pump iron would be nice too..i also wanna get a feel of the life in the D.R.. so those all inclusive hotels are of zero interest to me.

anyhow... i heard that BOCA CHICA has a sweet beach and good nightlife... but that both CABERETE and SOSUA have better beaches AND better nightlife... im confused.

please help me to weigh out both options....

NORTH COAST (SOSUA/CABERETE/PUERTO PLATA)

VS.

BOCA CHICA/JUAN DOLIO

thanks in advance.

[Ken]

Small gym in Cabarete, much better equipped gym on the Cabarete side of Sosua.

Cabarete and Sosua very close together with excellent, inexpensive public transportation between the two.

Rent an apartment in a condo in Sosua or Cabarete if you don't want all inclusive.

You have everything you are looking for on the North Coast except a big city. When you feel like you want to experience a big city, you can go to Santiago or Santo Domingo. Excellent bus service from Sosua to both if you don't have a car.

[Hillbilly]

I'll just say that Ken has been up there (North coast) for a long time, and tells it like it isl

How can you pump iron with a hangover??

HB

[Rocky]

[quote=boogieman]

im planning a 3-4 month getaway to the DR... QUOTE]
The key word is "Getaway".
The North coast feels more like a "getaway" than the South.

[hifiman]

If your planning a 3-4 month getaway why not do both,and then let us know what you liked best.
Hifiman

[laurapasinifan]

I got to say if you want a feel for the domincan life...Im thinking you wont find it much in caberette or sosua.....in caberette you will see 50 % or more white faces! and all the dominicans will be geared for removing your money from your wallet. I havent been to the south as much, I thought there was less pressure on the tourist down south, but again thats just a few trips for very few days down in La Romana, and Juan Dolio. with a night time excursion into Boca Chica...which i found lacking in activity personally.

If you go south to Boca Chica, you can get a great feel of dominican life in San Pedro De Macoris i think, Santo Domingo, or even Higuey.

and if you go north you can get a fantastic feel of the dominican life in Santiago, Navarrette, or Moca....all kinda close to the north coast.

partying and nightlife will be better on the north coast i think than the Boca Chica area.....with the best nightlife in Santiago and Santo Domingo.....( I SERIOUSLY think it would be a bad idea to go party often in Santo Domingo if you are headquartered in Boca Chica)...you dont want to make that trip at night very often for sure!!!!!!!!!!

bob

but with the time frame you have I doubt you can make a mistake.

[Musicqueen]

In 3-4 months you could travel the WHOLE island nation and be able to determine on your own what you like best...

To me, the best beaches are in Punta Cana/Bavaro, but there are gorgeous beaches in the north coast also...and I don't mean just Sosua/Cabarete/Puerto Plata...

I would say Boca Chica/Juan Dolio are the worst beaches in DR...

But that is just my opinion...

MQ

[roknroni]

You seem very interesting and know a lot about the DR.

Rok (From Canada)

[laurapasinifan]

in the grand scheme of things i dont know as much as many others here. i just am open about what i do know. I have been to quite of few places on the island in a short period of time thats for sure..and Ill comment on something I have seen or a place i have gone. Also a lot of what passes through here is opinion, or a view.....opinions are not cast in stone...ha ha ha.

bob

[candice]

MQ Miami Nice - You sound familiar with the North coast.Bahia Blanca is very pretty. It's in Rio San Juan. The town is small but friendly. Not great for a long stay but a great place to obseve locals and enjoy the beach for a day or two. Management is very friendly. A French Canadian woman runs it and keeps it clean. We are an older couple, not ready to veg out at a resort but not capable of kite surfing or ready to party 'till 3am at the disco either. This spot was just right for us.