Single girls, late 30's in PC... where to stay?

chiquittabanana · #1 01-23-2006, 09:08 AM

My neighbor has decided to go to the DR next month ( I guess she got sick of me talking about it and bragging about going back for Valentine’s) the problem is she is expecting me to recommend a “great place”, so I need your help as I wanted them to have a great time.

She is going with her sister (she is 39, the sister 37 divorce/single), and they both love to dance, she even took some merengue/salsa lessons. I stayed in three places in PC (Punta Cana Resort, Breezes and Melia Carib Tropical) and in my opinion, maybe it was just the time when we were there, none of them are the places for them. The PC resort is too quiet, (no disco, they dance upstairs after the show) more of a family/golf place and they don’t golf, Breezes is all the opposite…too crowded people walking around like chickens without heads and also family oriented. The Melia I say it was excellent food in all restaurants, premium drinks, great rooms and services, the night shows were great as well, but the disco was just the hanging out place for the entertainment crew, and for some reason they insist on playing English music.

Please suggest the best place for single girls to go in PC…. (I already give them the “red tape story about the Sankys)!!! and I don’t want them leaving the resort to go dancing.

CB

Rocky · #2 01-23-2006, 09:39 AM

To heck with PC.
Send them to Casa Marina in Sosua, so they can benefit from the all inclusive deal, and walk out the door, anytime, and be 5 minutes from downtown Sosua.
Punta Cana is so isolated, and you are limited to the activities within the compound.

jojo2130 · #3 01-23-2006, 10:59 AM

I agree , Any Hotel on the North Coast is better than PC . Sosua is the place to be or in Cabarete.

chiquittabanana · #4 01-23-2006, 12:03 PM

Thank you for all the replies I received…. (here and by PM) I will print them and give it to her,,,so she can make a decision….I don’t want to be blame if things don’t go her way!!!!!

brianm · #5 01-23-2006, 02:35 PM

Depends on what they want from their vacation. Just dancing?? Seems to me you can find any good salsa or merengue club wherever their from.

If their looking for relaxation and clean white sand clean beaches, stay in PC. If their looking for local culture and shopping, not the place to stay. If their looking for strickly food and dancing, PP or Sosua is probably best. If their looking to hook-up, well, that depends on personal tastes and on what they're willing to settle for......

Regardless, February is off peak times and resorts will be at a reduced occupancy. IF they decide PC, Iberostar and Riu complexes are nice, not too over crowded and have decent activities. The disco's really depend on the time of the year, but I do recall RIU's being a little more happening since they let locals inside, Iberostar didn't.

They need to decide what they want out of their vacation first.

DominicanScotty · #6 01-23-2006, 02:48 PM

Personally, I have never been to Punta Cana and probably never will go there. It is strictly for resorts unless you want to go inland which doesn't offer much at all. Rocky stated it best that Casa Marina is probably these gals best choice. They don't have to stay "locked up" in a prison like resort where the employees are trained to scare the daylights out of you to never leave it. Sosua is a great little town and Casa Marina is right in it. Everything and anything that these ladies are looking for whether it is a Salsa, Bachata and Merengue music to dance to or fantastic local food to dine on Sosua is the best choice. Puerto Plata is less then 45 minutes away and it is also a great place to visit. Santiago is less then one and half hours away and it is a great place. However, if they are not into much travel then the North coast is the best. Sosua and Cabarete with their wondrerful white sand beaches will be calling them! They will want to keep coming back.

gonzaga · #7 01-23-2006, 02:55 PM

I have travelled 6 times to PC, and 5/6 times I stayed at the Grand Flamenco, because you will find more single men/women stay here. Access to the clubs outside in Bavaro plaza is walking distance and of course Mangu in right outside the Grand Flamenco.

I stayed at the Melia Tropical for one week, and this place is a very nice resort that is great for couples and families. I have other friends who traveled to PC, and I have heard that the RIU Bamboo is ok, more singles ladies than men.

The lobby in Grand Flamenco is a great spot to meet a lot of single tourists, who just hanged out here. The have the a large lobby to just relax, sit and drink and to meet other tourists.

I rate them the best AI resort for singles to stay.

Yes, I have ventured outside the resort and rented a car.

samanasuenos · #8 01-27-2006, 02:58 AM

Puerta Plata area gets my vote - North Coast! I think that the Sosua suggestion and Casa Marina sound good, though I hasten to add that tis is based only on endless reading of dr1 posts, and not on any AI experience of my own.

What kind of money do they plan to spend and what are their tastes?

Gucci
Nordstrom
JC Penney
Target
WalMart
Good Will

Your answer will provide priceless insight into the best location for their girls gala extraveganza hoopla boopla balini bikin meani beany leany sheeny weeny tahini!

chiquittabanana · #9 01-27-2006, 10:47 AM

In regards to your questions,,, I would say Gucci and Target

The sister is a bit of a snob. I guess with the people she doesn’t know (That was my opinion before we became friends) and I have been out with her couple of times and she is the total opposite to the chatty-Cathy my neighbor is. But her big beef is for a busy-happening place at night to dance. I think she expects good food and service as a given!!!!

They have been looking at travel magazines every nigth,,, driving me up the wall!!!

CB