1st visit to DR - Travel advice needed!

euthanasia23 · #1 02-05-2006, 11:48 PM

Hi!

It's my first visit to DR, and we're really excited! My friend and I are going to be in DR for 7 nights from Mar 11 - 18, and we've heard a lot about the all-inclusive packages. Has anyone had experience with these all inclusive packages, and particularly, the Grand Paradise Bavaro? We'll also like to know more about any recommendations on La Romana, Bavaro, and Samana (not enough time to go to all...) as we both love the beach!

She and I are very adventurous; we're still in university, and are looking to travel budget to lower midrange. Any other recommendations for planning our trip given our short time in DR?

Much help appreciated! Thank you!

Tor · #2 02-06-2006, 05:34 AM

Very adventurous and All inclusive ? Sorry but that's not connecting in my ears.

Me_again · #3 02-06-2006, 10:30 AM

Take the local bus to Higuey. Do not accept advice from a smooth talker on the bus to show you around -- "just for friendship". Walk around a typical (If there is such a thing) Latin American town, visit the Mercado and the Cathedral.

For a view of what tourism can do to an area, visit the local village: Cabeza de Toro. Maybe the (Higuey) bus will go thorugh there and you won't even want to get off -- wouldn't blame you.

There are a few other places to go -- wait and someone less critical than the first responder will come along and provide details. Or go to the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree and post there too.

Cheers

Rocky · #4 02-06-2006, 11:57 AM

Have you already booked into an AI in Bavaro/Punta Cana?
If not, you might want to consider another part of the country.
As mentioned, adventurous and Bavaro, do not belong in the same sentence.

neeny · #5 02-06-2006, 12:49 PM

I just got back from Club Med and had the best time without any adventure outside the resort. This was a trip that I would never plan because an all-inclusive resort always sounded to me to be boring. I only decided to join a group going because it was inexpensive and it was a fun group of people. I planned on renting a car and travelling to Higuey, Bavaro or Santo Domingo (about 3 hr. ride) for a taste of local culture, but never bothered. The sand and water were beautiful enough, and free booze and HOT G.O.s made for enough adventure without ever leaving the resort! I would see what excursions the resort may recommend, familiarize yourself with the area/country, and do something more adventuresome on your next trip. FYI two great places to visit and not have to stay in a resort is San Juan, PR and Vieques, PR. The culture is all around you there. Sorry I couldn't give you any good recommendations just my own experience.

Dolores · #6 02-06-2006, 12:54 PM

Grand Paradise Bavaro is a good hotel -- stayed there in December, while working in the East. Good beach, good food. But you will be sharing mostly with couples and families that go for the relaxation. If you want to meet up with lots of young people, suggest you head for the North Coast and Cabarete. http://dr1.com/travel/cabarete/

For hotels, see http://dr1.com/directories/index.shtml

Check out http://dr1.com/travel/index.shtml
and see descriptions for Puerto Plata, Sosua, Cabarete, Playa Grande -- all along the north coast.

Dolores · #7 02-06-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neeny

I just got back from Club Med and had the best time without any adventure outside the resort. This was a trip that I would never plan because an all-inclusive resort always sounded to me to be boring. I only decided to join a group going because it was inexpensive and it was a fun group of people. I planned on renting a car and travelling to Higuey, Bavaro or Santo Domingo (about 3 hr. ride) for a taste of local culture, but never bothered. The sand and water were beautiful enough, and free booze and HOT G.O.s made for enough adventure without ever leaving the resort! I would see what excursions the resort may recommend, familiarize yourself with the area/country, and do something more adventuresome on your next trip. FYI two great places to visit and not have to stay in a resort is San Juan, PR and Vieques, PR. The culture is all around you there. Sorry I couldn't give you any good recommendations just my own experience.

Singles at Club Med Punta Cana? That is one resort that I would recommend for families, but never occurred to me they are now catering also to singles. The last time I was there, if you weren't with kids, you were out of place.

neeny · #8 02-06-2006, 01:20 PM

I agree Club Med Punta Cana is a great place for families, but I didn't have any kids bother me. Maybe because I spent zero time at the pool, stayed drunk enough, and sunbathed south of the beach bar where there were no kids. It's possible that because the majority of guests were French or European that perhaps they discipline their children better than Americans and that is why there being kids at the resort didn't bother me. They must have been somewhat behaved and/or involved with the Mini Club so they were contained--sorta like animals at the zoo.

euthanasia23 · #9 02-06-2006, 01:28 PM

Thanks for your suggestions. We're now trying to decide whether to do the all-inclusive option or the "do it ourself" option. We've dropped the "adventurous" part of our trip and figured out we really just want to enjoy pretty scenery and good beaches. We found a deal at the Barcelo Bavaro for $770 for 5 nights and another deal at the Grand Paradise Bavaro for $900 for 7 nights. From our liberal estimates, with a $550 flight, food, alcohol, transportation and a even a budget/mid-range hotel, it's gonna cost about the same amount. Does that sound right? Which option do you suggest?

We're also wondering about the quality in the beaches. From what we've read, Bavaro and Punta Cana are the best beaches. But how much difference is there between these and Bayahibe beaches? Would we be disappointed with Bayahibe in which case it would be worth a putting in more $ for Bavaro? Is Bayahibe significantly cheaper?