First Time out of Canada

coronaqueen · #1 08-16-2006, 11:02 AM

Hola, My Husband and I are finally going on our Honeymoon, it will also be our 2nd Anniversary, we are going to Holiday Village Golden Beach Feb 28/07-Mar 14/07. This is the first time either of us have been out of Canada, and would appreciate any advise on tours, the people, best places to go, neither one of us want to limit our vacation to staying on the resort. Also I have not been able to find any info on this resort, except that it may be the old Jack Tar, so if anyone can send us in the right direction so that we may have a memorable vacation, it would really be appreciated.

ps. I am in the process of trying to learn Spanish, have a few months yet

Gracias
Terry & Al

FireGuy · #2 08-16-2006, 12:15 PM

This resort is the old Jack Tar. It is currently closed and undergoing renovations and is scheduled to open sometime in November, I believe. The most info you can find is probably on the Signature Vacations website www.signature.ca as they are the Tour Operator offering this property from Canada. The Holiday village concept is new to Canada but has been used with success by First Choice, (Signature's parent company, elsewhere).

This resort is in a tourist complex with 14 other resorts - to see the real DR please do leave the enclave.

Good luck and welcome to DR1.

Gregg

coronaqueen · #3 08-16-2006, 01:12 PM

Thank-you for the welcome, have found so far that this is a very informative site for DR, yes and most of the info i have found is on Signatures website

nickijay · #4 08-16-2006, 07:57 PM

Welcome to you both. There are many things to do on the North Coast remember you dont have to book your excursions through your tour rep you'll get a better deal in the local agencies. I loved Ocean World its definatly worth a visit. If your interested in getting out and about Sosua and Cabarete are only a short distance away. The snorkelling and diving on the North coast are also very good.

nic

coronaqueen · #5 08-16-2006, 09:05 PM

Have been learning that it is best to go outside of the resort to book our excursions, snorkling and diving is a must, as well we would like to do the jeep tour and Ocean world. Thank-you so much for your reply, hopefully i will get more info on best places to purchase these excursions from. Again I am finding this forum very informative.

Thank-You for the Welcome

Terry & Al

AnnaC · #6 08-16-2006, 09:09 PM

Welcome to DR1

We're not as scary as we sound

coronaqueen · #7 08-16-2006, 09:50 PM

Thanks Anna,
Still hoping i can find all the info I will require, before we leave, I would definately like to have a good knowledge of where I am going. I am very excited about going there, have heard so many good things.

Terry & Al

Rick Snyder · #8 08-16-2006, 11:07 PM

Terry and Al,

Please allow me to also welcome both of you to DR1. I have no doubt that by the time you depart Canada for our beautiful island that you will have more then enough information as to what to do, what to see and where to go. Just continue to ask your questions everytime one comes up. We have a very large number of members that can and are very willing to answer all your questions for you. Enjoy.

Rick

DominicanBilly · #9 08-16-2006, 11:14 PM

Here is a web site with lots of tours that I recommend to the guests that come to my hotel. Hope this helps and as others have said, please don't stay in the complex for your whole vacation. Get out and expearience the real Dominican Republic.
http://www.alavtours.com/tours.htm
Bill from Hamilton Canada.

Malibook · #10 08-16-2006, 11:25 PM

Welcome T & A.

The best place to change US$ in the Playa Dorada complex is at the Western Union in the plaza.
They are significantly better than the other cambios in the plaza but for some reason they don't even put out a sign so a lot of people never know.

I wonder if the Jack Tar staff will be back at the refurbished resort?