Quote:
Originally Posted by Matilda
I've lived in Juan Dolio for 4 years and it has changed beyond all recognition. No one knows if it will be for the better, but I own the local mini market - no tourist clientele but mainly Dominicans and Haitian and some ex pats, and we can barely stay in business. Juan Dolio is nearly empty at the moment. The roads are appalling with all the construction, electricity which used to be good is much more haphazhard, and the dust is incredible. beach access is very hard too. But I am sure it will improve, but the downside is many businesses are going out of business, the crime rate is increasing as so many people out of work, and several ex pats I knew, who had lived here for 10-15 years have no left. I really hope things will pick up. Only time will tell
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Juan Dolio today is not what it was back in 90s when I moved to DR. And it will not be the same in 10 years from now. All is about to be changed for better of sure . Juan Dolio had a time of the resort boom in late 90s , all the resorts were open , it was all inclusive time... When Barcelo came to Juan Dolio and took Capella , Decameron , Talaquera , Naiboa , Colonia Tropical etc... it came to the resort market with not a real good policy to drop all the costs ... prices went down in the area ... service and quality went down as well... that was the way to get the market ... that was a killing for many resorts in the area . Gran Caribe after Melia left was closed , Playa Real was changing operations all the time untill was closed , only one company that survived this was Coral Costa Caribe and never made any profits ( now will close a large part of it to be remodeled as a condominium too ) ... But it was happening during last 5 or more years ... But Now have arrived a new era for Juan Dolio . All inclusive is not rentable any more . Most resorts are under reconstruction to become condos. AND IT TAKES TIME. Metro Group proyects will be finished one by one in the next few years . Hemingway Club is about to be finished. There are many other developments , will be finished in a near future. The roads will be fixed after the major projects are done. Villas Del Mar was originally designed to be a big residential community and not for few houses and few resorts . I have renderings and site plans of Villas Del Mar with original design made 25 years ago. By the way it was a nice distribution . Villas Del Mar had lots for single family houses , for apartment buildings , and for hotels , resorts ... Now demands for all such developments are enough to push developers to build in the area and improve it with better roads , landscaping , markets , restaurants, bars , etc... But it takes time ...By the way you can still ride a horse or a donkey in Juan Dolio if you want , just watch the chickens on the dust roads ...
