What part of DR is best to stay in?

[Jess]

Hi all,
I'm planning a trip to the DR through Amhsa Marina for sometime this summer ...has anyone stayed at one of their hotels or resorts?  I am trying to decide if I should stay in Sosua or Bavaro,Punta Cana? Where is the best nightlife, I would like to be able to go out at night in places other than the hotel's discoteque? thanks!

[admin]

Then, the only real choice is Cabarete/Sosua.

[Jess]

Thanks! outside of nightlife, which would anyone recommend....i'm guessing i will have fun no matter where i go, but there are so many choices!!!

[Loretta]

Hi Jess

I'm writing from St. John's Newfoundland, just got back from Dominican, after two glorious weeks. We stayed at the Gran Ventana on Playa Dorado beach in Puerto Plata, my daughter my friend & I, we partied every night. The Resort is beautiful, rooms are great, food is great, entertainment great we have no complaints. Even though the bar shut down at 12:00 there are three discos within walking distance on the complex that stay open till 4:00am, I would highly recommend this Resort to anyone. Can't wait to go back next year, by the way my friend and I are 50 & my daughter is 20, we just partied right along with the young ones. Hope you have a great vacation, if you decide to go to Gran Ventana say Hi to all the guys on the Entertainment team from the Newfoundland girls.

Good Luck
Loretta

[Natasha]

hi

for me the best part of the dominican republic would be RIO SAN JUAN this is in the north of the island, about half an hour drive from cabarete.

the night life is great....

the best hotel well i think its the only all inclusive hotel in that area is called bahia principe.

there website is www.bahia-principe.com

they have there own street away from the hotel rooms that is open until 3am the disco is great there they have alot of new music which is always good. they were playing candy shop by 50 cent alot when i was there a week ago.

take a look and see what you think.

Natasha

[Dawn]

Thanks for your input.  I'm going there tomorrow:)

[Natasha]

YOU ARE GOING TO ENJOY YOURSELF SO MUCH

LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES WHEN YOU GET BACK

BEWEAR OF SOME OF THE ANIMATION BOYS THEY ARE VERY HOT!!!

[steve leblanc]

AFTER GOING TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FOR YEARS I HAVE JUST RETIRED AND MOVING THERE.IS THERE ANY HIDDEN NEGATIVES TO BE AWARE OF...........I KNOW ABOUT THE POWER,.DRIVING BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW. I LOVE THE COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE. I HAVE TRAVELED THE WORLD OVER AND FIND THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND MY HARD EARNED RETIREMENT IN THIS BEAUTIFUL LAND

[abi]

hi,
just wondering if any one has been to either casa marina beach or casa marina reef in Sosua as me and my boyfriend are looking to book a holiday there in june this year any feed back would be much appreciated...thanks.

[Roxy]

I have stayed at both the reef and the beachclub. They are nice properties. Just returned from punta cana and I must say it is worth to spend a little more and go to punta cana. The beaches are beautiful. We stayed at barcelo bavaro caribe. It was awesome. You got to use four other resorts besides the caribe. I would definately recommend going there.

[clara]

Hi!

 I just returned from Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach in Bayahibe and am sad to say I was disappointed.  We traveled as a family reunion of 14, 7 kids & 7 adults, flew into santo domingo and then took a private bus (taxi) to Bayahibe. The driver was EXCELLENT!!  Would highly recommend Rafael Cordero as a chauffer anywhere in the DR. E-mail me for his # if needed. He even had a bottle of rum on the bus for our drive! We also stopped for souvenirs and bathroom break.

Upon getting to the resort, we found everyone to be VERY nice and helpful, most speak several languages. Guests are mostly european, very few Americans, plenty of local families on weekends. The rooms are nice, the air conditioning Fantastic, the food poor. The menu was the same all week with VERY little variety. No theme days at the buffet, lots of bread, pastries looked varied but same variety daily, no seafood other than a fish filet seasoned different ways but the same fish, no shrimp, scallops, calamari, etc. Plenty of alcohol! Drinks are always available, beer and wine (cheap) on tap at buffets. Bars serve practically all night, if you're a late nighter you'll have to move to the disco. Servers are very friendly and will get you whatever you want.  Keep in mind that the better you tip the more they love you.  A US dollar goes a long way with tips! Find your favorite bartender and tip him/her and you'll never have to wait.

The ocean views are fantastic!  The beach has a lot of coral, so you have to watch your feet. Water temperature is wonderfully balmy. The pools are clean and well maintained. We went para-sailing (extra charge), kayaking in the ocean, banana boating and snorkeling. Highly recommend the 1/2 day snorkeling trip to see the coral reefs and starfish. Also available are tennis courts, scuba diving, dance lessons, water aerobics and horseback riding. We also rented motorcycles and mopeds for a ride around resort town. Not much to see other than tourists spots unless you go into the actual town and it's too far for kids on mopeds.

Overall, had a blast with my family! Would not go to that resort again. We went to Decameron in Juan Dolio 4 years ago and had much better food and entertainment, more options, for less $$. Next time we go to DR, it'll be Puerto Plata or Punta Cana.

Feel free to e-mail any questions. We got back to Chicago Sunday April 3, 2005.

[lindsay]

what is the hotel like and what exactly is included in the " all inclusive" please... it looks very nice.. only thing were wottied about is all the injections you need plus malaria is very high there...

[Alisha]

Hiya all
me and my family plan to go to the dom rep this june! we have looked at the casa marina reef as well as a offer on a 4 star hotel guranteed in the east orthe south end of dom rep on allocation! There is a difference of £1000 between the 3* and 4*! also what are the chance of getting a good hotel at tyen 4* as if we pay 1000 more and the hotels isnt as good as the 3* star then its a waste! please reply as soon as! also how do they allocate you? on what basis?
Thanks to all
Alisha*
Ps - we wish to stay away frm the really clubby areas and the nightlife? which is best? the east or south for this?