AI- Puerto Plata Grand Flamenco - Playa Dorada

[CommTHOR]

What can I say? It was my first trip to the DR, after having won the trip last January.

I was reading the reviews online about this resort, and was a bit nervous, as people seemed to have either a great time, or an absolutely horrible time. It seemed untrue after actually arriving though - People have a great time there, or are simply expecting too much.

Got off the plane in POP - ahhhh.... warmth... Was 6C in Toronto when I left. Goodbye jacket for the week. Bus trip to the resort was somewhat of an interesting experience. I drove around on a motorcycle in Thailand for 4 months previously, but that one short trip made me decide I wasn't ready to rent a car this time. Maybe that's why drinking and driving is so prevalent - so people have the guts to go out on the road! lol.

Hotel actually checked us in upon arrival (4 hours before check-in time) so the wife and I got off to a good start. Room was a tiny bit musty, but it was expected in a tropical area. 2 minutes after the fan came on, everything was perfectly fine.

The day after we arrived, we got the remenants of Alpha - it rained Sunday morning and part of the afternoon. Otherwise the weather was beautiful the rest of the week.

The staff at the hotel was absolutely fantastic, and I made sure they got tipped. Saw a couple of our servers at Mangu nightclub one night for a birthday party I was attending - made sure to get THEM a drink, which was the least I could do.

Wife wanted to to the Dolphin encounter at Sea World. Although it was a bit pricy and obviously a tourist trap, it was an experience we don't regret. It definately is a place you have to go to at least once. I didn't bother with the encounter myself, but even on a general admission, I had a good time there. Sousa beach is another "must do" spot, but next time, we're taking local transportation. MUCH cheaper.

The hotel had 2 or 3 buildings closed off when I was there. They seem to be doing some major renovations for the winter season. The hotel was completely booked up a couple days after I arrived (evacuees from Cuba and Mexico) yet the problems I've heard with pool chairs and such were non-existent. There was always plenty of them to go around. A military helicopter did a close hover/flyby one day. It was amusing to see towels flying EVERYWHERE due to the downwash. At least they waved. lol.

Wife got toasted by the sun. I guess my months of telling her how strong it is didn't sink in, and she had to learn for herself. She'll know better next time!

It truly was a good trip. The locals are great, and we are coming back for sure next year.

[Malibook]

Originally Posted by CommTHOR

The staff at the hotel was absolutely fantastic, and I made sure they got tipped. Saw a couple of our servers at Mangu nightclub one night for a birthday party I was attending - made sure to get THEM a drink, which was the least I could do.

Thanks for the nice report.
This is nice.
So many people take 'All gratuities included' too literally.
Cheers.

[CommTHOR]

Originally Posted by Malibook

Thanks for the nice report.
This is nice.
So many people take 'All gratuities included' too literally.
Cheers.

A report is the least I could do. I saw the "bad" side of many of the tourists though. Many rude people at the bars, expecting the servers to drop what they were doing to come running to them, since they were more important than the 6 people who arrived before them.

As a Canadian, tips here are not mandatory in our restraunts (it is expected though) - quite a diffrence from the United States for example, where it is basically mandatory. I fear this is why so many people think Canadians tend to be "cheap" when abroad. It's simply that our laws require our servers/waiters/bartenders a much higher minimum wage than other places, and not all realize local customs. Also, the travel companies (Sunquest, etc) all have the "taxes and tips included" disclaimer on all their brochures.

I don't make a lot of money here, but comparatively, the $5 or $10US tips I gave to some of my favourite servers and housekeeping staff probably went to a lot better use than an extra t-shirt to give to an acquaintance back home. With the level of service I recieved, I actually felt it was far too little, as I'd be hard pressed to get that much attention here in Toronto.

One thing I failed to mention in my original post is the daily "Fun club" shows put on by the hotel. Absolutely terrific. Every night they had some different theme. Broadway, comedy, etc... (Especially with an ice cold Presedente beer in hand!)

Things I learned for next time:
-Have an easy way to hide the AI bracelet. (Going AI from Toronto seems to be cheaper than a flight alone! I can't turn down free beer/food/hotel) I got a velcro watch band (from a vendor at Sousa oddly enough) that covered it nicely. Didn't get hassled anywhere near as much as my first trip down "the strip"
-Local transportation. The hotel/Sunquest was charging US$25 for a 1/2 day trip to Sousa beach! I did the full day tour to Puerto Plata/Sousa, but it seemed all they did was bus us from one tourist trap to the next. (Amber museum, the fort, even a shop called - "The Souveneir Shop!") Oddly enough, lunch was included. They took us to an Italian restraunt Real authentic experience there.. lol

I was never a big fan of the Carribean in general, having always been partial to backpacking around South-East Asia, but that ended once I settled down with the wife. Hard to justify a 24 hour travel time (and a 12 hour time diffrence) for a weeks vacation now that I have commitments. Looks like DR is my new "dream about all year round" home. After only one week, I have fallen in love with the country, and really want to travel all over it.

[DominicanScotty]

Originally Posted by CommTHOR

A report is the least I could do. I saw the "bad" side of many of the tourists though. Many rude people at the bars, expecting the servers to drop what they were doing to come running to them, since they were more important than the 6 people who arrived before them.

As a Canadian, tips here are not mandatory in our restraunts (it is expected though) - quite a diffrence from the United States for example, where it is basically mandatory. I fear this is why so many people think Canadians tend to be "cheap" when abroad. It's simply that our laws require our servers/waiters/bartenders a much higher minimum wage than other places, and not all realize local customs. Also, the travel companies (Sunquest, etc) all have the "taxes and tips included" disclaimer on all their brochures.

I don't make a lot of money here, but comparatively, the $5 or $10US tips I gave to some of my favourite servers and housekeeping staff probably went to a lot better use than an extra t-shirt to give to an acquaintance back home. With the level of service I recieved, I actually felt it was far too little, as I'd be hard pressed to get that much attention here in Toronto.

One thing I failed to mention in my original post is the daily "Fun club" shows put on by the hotel. Absolutely terrific. Every night they had some different theme. Broadway, comedy, etc... (Especially with an ice cold Presedente beer in hand!)

Things I learned for next time:
-Have an easy way to hide the AI bracelet. (Going AI from Toronto seems to be cheaper than a flight alone! I can't turn down free beer/food/hotel) I got a velcro watch band (from a vendor at Sousa oddly enough) that covered it nicely. Didn't get hassled anywhere near as much as my first trip down "the strip"
-Local transportation. The hotel/Sunquest was charging US$25 for a 1/2 day trip to Sousa beach! I did the full day tour to Puerto Plata/Sousa, but it seemed all they did was bus us from one tourist trap to the next. (Amber museum, the fort, even a shop called - "The Souveneir Shop!") Oddly enough, lunch was included. They took us to an Italian restraunt Real authentic experience there.. lol

I was never a big fan of the Carribean in general, having always been partial to backpacking around South-East Asia, but that ended once I settled down with the wife. Hard to justify a 24 hour travel time (and a 12 hour time diffrence) for a weeks vacation now that I have commitments. Looks like DR is my new "dream about all year round" home. After only one week, I have fallen in love with the country, and really want to travel all over it.

Now that you have become acclimated with the north coast try going inland to the "campo". You mentioned you like backpacking? I am sure that tours for hikers can be arranged. The countryside is absolutely beautiful. Also, during February in Samana the whales start their journey back up north and whale watching is a big thrill. Samana is also absolutely enchanting! A nice beachside bungalo? You just can't top that!

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