I've heard there is a water park?? - Page 2

Sanni1975 · #11 06-25-2002, 09:54 AM

hi paul,

honeymoon.... great, i think you can't go wrong with the iberostar, they just do offer a perfect setting and superb range of restaurants, activities etc. etc.

but what's even better is your idea of travelling around and really exploring the country. it's worth it 100% and i always think it is a shame when people stick to their AI-resort just because of "having paid for it" or "it's dangerous outside". there is not more danger than in any part of the world...

well, what do you think of me giving your e-mail-address to my friend? i don't want to post it here as it isn't me... but she will help you , i am sure.

i will think of some neat and quiet places myself too.... i did not spend my honeymoon in DR but the year before getting married...and some valentine's days....

sandra

paul_holmes · #12 06-25-2002, 10:07 AM

Hello

Yes my address is paul_holmes@hotvoice.com

Thanks sandra

paul

Ken · #13 06-25-2002, 10:14 AM

Paul, there are several places nearby that you can visit. Your resort is outside of Puerto Plata, so it is a small city that you can easily reach by taxi or public transportation. There is some tourist influence in the city, but not so much that you forget it is a small Dominican city.

In the other direction are Sosua and Cabarete. Sosua is a tourist town, but as would have noted if you read some of the other threads recently it acts as a magnet for many frequent visitors. You can spend a day there, looking around the town, eating lunch in one of the restaurants, and enjoying the fine Sosua beach.

A little beyond Sosua is Cabarete. Smaller than Sosua and a very enjoyable place to spend a day. You mentioned that you and your fiancee are active people. If you are into windsurfing, skyboarding, or any of those activities, Cabarete is world class.

There are also a number of very enjoyable activities that you can sign up for from one of the representatives at the hotel. There are many and they are varied; I'm sure among them are things that you and your fiancee would very much enjoy.

Sanni1975 · #14 06-25-2002, 10:16 AM

hi again,

just forwarded your e-mail to brigitte and i am sure she'll take care of it and will answer quite soon....

as soon as something interesting comes to my mind, i'll let you know, too. found your jarabacoa-thread and gotta say that this is nice to see, the nature is overwhelming.... but try to find a way of getting there without joining those tourist excursions with buses of 50+ people! (i sold them myself and know what i am talking about....)

same regarding cayo levantado - it was unique and a dream-com-true about 6-8 yrs. ago but now it is often crowded with 1-day-trip-tourists - we had 5 buses leaving each day.... just our company.... i know that all slowed down qute a lot but am not sure how it has changed regarding that tiny island... if i was you, i would try to go 2 days and stay overnight - so you'll at least have a quiet morning on the island!!!

sandra

Ken · #15 06-25-2002, 01:42 PM

Unfortunately, the number of visitors to Cayo Levantado has dropped sharply. At least some of the tour companies that used to book this trip have stopped doing so. The problems: too much litter and too many vendors.

There is talk of the government closing the island to tourists, cleaning it up and organizing the vendors and reducing their numbers. Hopefully there will be follow through on this. It is a great place to visit, but more effort must be made to keep it the inviting place that it can be.

The small hotel on the island that may have been open when Sanni was there is closed.

Sanni1975 · #16 06-26-2002, 05:31 AM

I don't know what i am doing wrong - just wrote the entire post after having myself logged in - and then it sates "you're not logged in" and all the stuff i wrote is gone.... will have to do it allover again - sh****, can't remember all what i had written down...

ken,
seems i have been away from the DR too long, so many things seem to have changed. not at first sight, but after you take a closer look, not just a glimpse....

wasn't the hotel opertaed by occidental? why did they close it down? i mean it has never ever been first class but still quite romantic and a great place to be stranded - if it wasn't for an entire 2-weeks-vacation as the island truly gets boring as there is not much to do and see and the last tender boat returns early in the evening from main land. but for two or three days it has been a good alternative!

paul,
i still would recommend the island, hoping that they have cleaned it up a bit in the meantime. but now i don't know where you could spend the night at... maybe you rather want to go to las galeras then, another part of samana with great beaches, too. or to the el portillo beach hotel - they have a great beach, jacuzzi in the room and are close to las terrenas, which used to be (now i am rather careful with what i write here) a fishermen village, still traditional, but also open to tourism.

regarding the entire situation, i though they might have learned something from the dropping tourist numbers but seems they haven't. they were better off not chasing after the easy and fast earned $$$$ in the mid-90's but rather thinking in establishing a steadily growing tourism industry that still leaves something after that high-peak.... too many examples all over the globe showed what happens next after such an enormous and amazing growth - and it's for sure that renewal, restructuring and a new beginning afford more strength and effort than the first steps. and unfortunately i doubt them being prepared well! and i also doubt that local companies will have the financial possibilities to begin once again....

well, didn't want to hijack that threat, so i better stop right here....

Ken · #17 06-26-2002, 09:41 AM

Paul, Las Galeras, outside of Samana, would be a great place to spend a day or two of your honeymoon. Great beach, beautiful surroundings, a number of small hotels, and not overrun with tourists. While on Samana Peninsula, a drive to Las Terrenas on the north side would also be worthwhile.

Sanni, yes the hotel on Cayo Levantado was run by Occidental. They let it run down, then closed it, just as they did Cayacoa in town. They still operate Hotel Gran Bahia, but, unfortunately since it is a beautiful hotel in a great location, are doing little or nothing to maintain it.

Part of the problem with Occidental in Samana is that it went after the all inclusive tour market, with rates so low they had to have nearly a full house to break even. But Samana's problems don't belong in this thread.

marion harshman · #18 07-03-2002, 02:55 PM

There is a fabulous new water park opening in Cofresi on the north coast. I know they will have dolphins you can swim with.

The owner I think are from the US?

Worth checking out.

Sanni1975 · #19 07-04-2002, 10:49 AM

Hi Marion,

we went to see what was formerly known as the COFRESI BEACH RESORT near Haciendas and EMI Resorts. There it's where they are up to open such a dolphin park but this seems to be nothing for the next couple of months to a year as tehy haven't hardly started to tear down the hotel... (what a shame, as this was one of the fienst resorts of its time up in the north coast, when DR still was the real DR!!!!)

Paul,

by the way, I will write an e-mail as promised within the next couple of days. Just got some info from my friend the other day, she wants me to write as her English is not sufficient.... (Thats what she says).

Sandra

paul_holmes · #20 07-04-2002, 12:52 PM

That water park actually sounds fantastic as both my fiancee and me both love Dolphins. I hope it will be set up very soon!!!!

Sanni, Thanks so much. I look forward to reading more from your friend :=)