just got back-report - Page 2

AZB · #11 07-29-2002, 09:23 AM

Chad,
Times are bad in north coast. Venders in sosua and in puerta plata are getting more desperate by the day. The economy is shattered and tourists are low in number. When these venders try to hang on to you like leaches, they are only shooting themselves on their own foot.
Did you notice how many hotels were closed in playa dorada; I bet your hotel was not even 50% full.
I agree with you on sosua. I just don't seem to find out what is it that attracts tourists to fall in love with that place except cheap hookers by the dozens. That place is full of ugly hookers and street-wise thugs. There is no Dominican culture to be seen in miles there. Most restaurants are owned and operated by foreigners and the Dominicans who live there are from the lowest cast. Many Dominican from other cities only go to sosua for the beach and return the same day; most people prefer Cabarete beach to sosua.
When we mentioned about getting out of the resort to see the country, we didn't mean that you take a trip to puerto plata or to sosua for a day (only). Getting out of the resort, for me, means to get out of town and go further into the country where real Dominicans can be found. DR is not only about sun and beaches, in fact, I hardly ever go to the beach.
Take a trip to Jarabacoa, nearby mountains around santiago and visit some of the rivers and water falls that you would never hear about from tour agencies.
If you like to stay away from the venders then go to Semana and spend a day in Cayo levantado beach. The beach is exotic and the venders are not so aggressive.
Try not to walk around with a curious expression on your face and don't be so nice to the venders. Just do your thing and they will leave you alone.
Anyway, I hope you would return to explore other parts of this island.
I recommend Bayahibe area (near La romana) ex: casa del Mar hotel / resort. The food will be unforgettable and the beach is exclusive to the guests. It will be an experience you will talk about for many years to come.
Have a nice day.

Escott · #12 07-29-2002, 09:37 AM

Chad,

I know where you are coming from but I have to tell you that I have taken a stroll on the beach where the vendors are with some friends just to take a walk and hadn't been bothered at all with of course the exception of a girl or two giving a kiss to one of the guys I was walking with. I was bothered that they weren't giving me the kisses.

You have to understand that hussling the tourists is a big industry in the DR. It is a very poor country and this is how a lot of people make a living. From vendors to Pick Pockets to Prostitutes. I think it is a matter of how you carry yourself that will decide how bothered you get. I don't get bothered at all.

I agree with Ilovedr about the cost there and in relation to other places DR is a bargain. Last Christmas I ended up in Playa del Carmen Mexico because air to the dr was over 1000- dollars and I caught a Frequent flyer tic to Cancun on Delta through AeroMexico. I booked Christmas in the DR on FF'points 3 months ago so I didn't get blocked out again.

AI's food is a joke. When I was at them we use to kid about what we were eating because we had a real hard time figuring out what the hell it even was. I stay at small places with maybe breakfast included and go out to the restaurants every day when I am in Sosua. My opinion that is the best way to do it. You probably just needed to find a decent Expat bar/restaurant and your time would have improved 10x. I always recommend Rockys in Sosua and Eddys in Sosua for people that visit for the first time. There are other good places but these are the two I was made to feel the most like home in.

Chad, next time if there is a next time ask for places to go and people to meet. Marco at Rockys always takes care of people I send and Eddy from Eddys sports bar is a great guy also. Nothing like getting introduced to others much like yourself in another country.

Regards

richard · #13 07-30-2002, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chad
just got back from a week stay at the paradise beach club in pureto plata. overall i would have to say we were pretty dissappointed in the dominican republic. maybe our expectations were a little too high, but i didn't think there was going to be so much hassle. you couldn't walk two feet in any direction without being bothered by some salesmen or vendor. I expected some of this but to a lesser extent. i've been on quiet a few vacations in the caribbean and this made this one the worst by far.

The least bothersome part of our trip was being at our hotel. the rooms we decent ( we had a 1 brdm), the service was average, and the vendors on the beach only bothered you every five minutes (as opposed to every two). The food was average for buffet food, after a couple days you really get sick of it.

One of the days we took a trip to pureto plata city and saw some of the sites there. of which the impressive i would have to say was fort of san feilipe (we didn't go to mt isabela).

Another day we took a trip to sosua beach. i've read so much great stuff about this town and beach i could hardly wait, only to be dissappointed. the beach's water was nice, barely any waves and crystal clear. but the trip there, the town, and the back part of the beach (where the vendors are) was absolutely disgusting. maybe it's just me, but i don't want to see this kind of thing when i'm on vacation.

i really made an attempt to have a great vacation, and do the things recomened on this site. like, getting away from your resort to see the rest of the country. but the farther away from my resort i got the more i wanted to go back. where people aren't going to rip you off every chance they get.

i understand there are people like this any where one goes, but there seems to be a dissproportionate amount of it going on here.

it doesn't seem like there's any kind of regulation of any sort, and it seems neither the government nor the people of the dr have an interest in the tourist. which is fine by me, i've learned my lesson and i will not be traveling back to the dr anytime soon!!!

I'm a big fan of Sosua so I'm disapointed that you didn't enjoy it. Yes the vendors will approach you, however as Ken wrote a simple no and a finger wag is usually enough to send them packing. With unemployment so high one might keep in mind the average tourist will spend more on a dinner than a Dominican if he (she) is forunate enough to have a job might earn in a week or more. I realize the DR won't appeal to everyone but fortunately many tourists overlook the less than attractive parts, love the people, the culture and the country so they return year after year.

Maybe in the future Chad, you might consider staying at a small hotel, that way you will get to know more about the country and the people. I hope so.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sosuadominicanrepublic/

love da DR · #14 08-19-2002, 07:54 PM

Chad,

I for one having been the butt of many a joke on this forum will be the first to say that one,two or even three places in the DR
should not be made to be indicative of the entire country it's
people and the culture. I am not a beach person so whenever I am in the DR you can count on me being in the mountains and not very far from Santiago. You should give the DR another
chance having visited many places I have found no other place
on earth as beuatiful as the DR just look at it this way the vendors and there zeal to sell is but a small burden to bear for the oppurtunity to be in PARADISE.

Isaac, getting one step closer to running away to the DR!

Jim Hinsch · #15 08-20-2002, 12:13 AM

A Punta Cana all-inclusive would be perfect for Chad. Some of the nicest resorts on the island sit on some of the best beach, and they are huge and gated. That's what many tourists prefer, and in my opinion, that's what most wanted when they flew off for a vacation on the beach. No me, but most.