JeffAir and I scored great tickets for the four of us (us plus two kids) to fly into Santiago and stay a week in Cabarete.
I enquired on the board about transportation and we had JJ meet us at the airport, on time and smiling. Our drive over the mountain to Cabarete was simply beautiful and everyone enjoyed it. We stopped for a couple of beers and waters and later stopped to take pictures. I would say first impressions were very favorable because the children were smiling and genuinely delighted at the situation.
We stayed at the Punta Goleta the whole week and I give the resort a good grade. On arrival we were sent up to our room but the key did not work. When the key finally worked I looked at the room and felt it was too small for four of us and there was no balcony. I asked for a room with a a
balcony and they obliged with a bigger room, balcony, and third bed. It took about an hour to get everything sorted out but in the end we were very happy with the room.
Of course the first thing we did was hit the Green Room Restaurant because we were starved. I will say that choosing an AI with two kids is a smart move. They always had choices, healthy choices, and we never had to worry about feeding them when they got hungry. We all enjoyed the food. Fresh fruit served at every meal, a station where they made fresh smoothies in the morning. A fresh omelet station every morning. It may not have been the country's best cuisine but suited our needs perfectly.
After a full day of travel we collapsed in our new, larger room with balcony, AC full blast, and anticipated a great week. We were right.
The pool area was spacious, close to the bar and restaurant. We were able to find shaded spots each day, relax and read, while the kids played. There were many other kids there of all ages and nationalities, and our two made friends almost every day. Tom in particular made a lot of friends. Alison stuck to us like glue, but that is in her nature so we were not concerned.
The grounds of this resort are very beautiful and very well tended. I enjoyed this very much. The maid left fresh flowers in our room which was also a nice touch.
We were able to walk across the grounds, cross the elevated walkway to the beach, and enjoy the surf. The waves were present every day but the kids loved it. They spent hours playing in the waves while we were able to relax. The beach bar and grill had plenty of food and drink, and the bathrooms on the beach side were clean.
One day we ventured into Cabarete, a bit of a headache, really, but the getting there and back was an adventure. We trekked along the beach to get there, changed some money, looked in the trinket shops, then took motoconchos back. The kids loved it. They bought boogie boards which we hauled back to Maine--to use as sleds.
You may be thinking, this is not the typical trip I would take. No, it is not. The insulating quality of the resort sucked us in. The pool and beach seduced us to lay around leisurely. Having a safe environment for the kids to play was fantastic.
We decided to pay for an excursion or tour of some type and after a free horseback riding session we chose that. For two hours, at sunset, we enjoyed horseback riding through the countryside. We stopped at a laguna and had a few beers and sodas, then continued to the beach side where the horses walked in the surf. It was a great, great excursion for us. The price was $100 for two hours, four of us. We had seen it advertised for much more and I felt happy with my dickering skills!
It did rain. We had fun anyway! The first day we played cards, and the kids swam in spite of it, and we watched movies on TV. The second day we went into Puerto Plata, walked around the city a bit, and enjoyed the central park and Mariposa ice cream.
Now, in Puerto Plata it gets a little interesting. I have friends there, and I was planning on going over to the school that they run to say hi. We were in the middle of the city in the pouring rain and I felt very disoriented. The malecon was ripped up and there were no taxis coming our way because of that. Then I spotted my friend's sister, Lidia. She was going into her house which is off the malecon in an old colonial building. It was a stroke of luck--I knocked on her door, she welcomed us in from the rain, and we got a ride over the to the school to see the Riveras.
The school experience was as always, raucously loud and somewhat disorganized. We got there just as school was letting out. A full tour of the four levels, the new offices and classrooms, and we were very happy because the Riveras were there and glad to see us. They brought us to their home for the next few hours, for lunch and rest and conversation. I caught them up on my life and they on theirs.
Later that afternoon they drove us to Sosua for the Thanksgiving party. The four of us enjoyed this very much. The Thanksgiving meal was superb. It was nice to see other DR1ers and the live auction was an amazing idea for a great cause. Jeff and I and kids piled into a cab and ventured into the rainsoaked night after a full day of adventure and good company. We crashed at the hotel as soon as we got back.
Yesterday was the travel day and JJ was there on time and smiling to drive us back to Santiago. At STI we hopped an earlier flight than anticipated and spent a long layover in NY, quite bearable and the kids did great. When we arrived home to Maine there was snow on the ground. Back to reality!
It was a good trip, lots of sun, relaxation, fun, friends. Resort did well by us. We will venture farther afield next time, probably Santo Domingo, possibly in February.
Thanks to everyone for reading and to those who made our stay more pleasurable. Pictures to follow! (I have a great shot of me, Criss Colon, and AZB!)
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Thanksgiving trip--two thumbs up
Mainegirl............
