DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – AN EMERALD CARIBBEAN LANDSCAPE
…” Man cannot discover new oceans, until he has the courage to lose sight of the shore „.
Andre Gide.
Preparing the trips for us, for several years already, I try to plan them as far as possible in advance. For many different reasons. The most important, however, is simply: economics. Especially if the direction of the trip are non-European countries. Thanks to monitoring the prices of airline tickets, even a few months before the planned trip, please believe me, you can really save a lot. However, sometimes, thinking too long or waiting indefinitely for a fall in prices may unfortunately change your plans …
This happened with our trip to Mexico, planned for spring 2018 … Hoping to find a better offer, we literally missed the right moment to finalise the purchase of tickets. Prices, that we found at some point, not so much exceeded our budget, but simply, did not make any sense to go for it …
So, this is how this idea arose to postpone the Mexican trip for a year, and buy tickets to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic 😊. Land discovered by Christopher Columbus. Let me add, that my sceptical attitude towards travelling to Mexico in general at that time, only helped to change my plans 😝 . I had a vision of a Caribbean paradise, where I would roam the fabulous beaches during the day, and in the evening sip pinacolada and rum.
And how it really was? 🤔
As you probably guessed – we didn’t book a stay at any resort … Although Punta Cana is a typical resort place. I decided to rent a small apartment, as it turned out later, beautifully located literally two minutes walk from the wonderful beach. Unfortunately, in the case of this accommodation it turned out a few other, less impressive facts, but in the end, we had a place to sleep, and this was the most important thing 😀 Plus in this area, we had the opportunity to see the everyday’s life of natives, away from expensive hotels, get to know the typical Punta Cana inhabitant kitchen, which especially, when it came to breakfasts, amazed us literally every day.
Our trip from London lasted 9 hours. It was a direct flight. Regarding visa issues, trying to update the news, I came across a note, that there is no longer a fee for the so-called tourist visa. In our case, we had to pay 10 USD for the Dominican stamp into our passports. Now, apparently this price is included in the flight ticket. From the airport I’ve booked a taxi, which took as to Bavaro.
One of the most important practical tips is, that despite the fact that the Dominican Republic has its own currency: the Dominican peso, the vast majority of transactions, even in some supermarkets, takes place in US dollars. Conversion of prices, in case we want to pay in pesos, often causes confusion, whether deliberate or absent-minded … I also recommend extreme caution in all transactions of this type, and rather choosing proven „exchange bureaus”.
Similarly cautious attitude should also be shown in the Dominican Republic, when shopping. In larger stores or shopping malls in the resorts, you should look carefully at prices. In other places we are condemned to constant bargaining. At any time of the year, whether it’s the peak of the season or a calmer tourist period. I definitely would like to make you aware, to the typical trick of the traders: „I have a special discount for you, brother” 😂 … Well, everywhere in the world it is an obvious marketing game, but in the Dominican Republic, let’s just say, we can meet with a particularly nahalny version of it …. The largest The curiosity I encountered in Punta Cana was the fact that after a „free tasting” of local alcohol called „Mama Juana”, we were pointed out that it would be good to give the recipient something for refreshments ….
However, does a trip to this Caribbean island only require careful observation to avoid wallet problems and constant vigilance? Well, no. The Dominican Republic is also full of beautiful, wonderful emerald beaches, where you can enjoy the sun, but also responsibly, because the heat is really amazing. You can also go to historically interesting places, such as the island’s capital – Santo Domingo, or the naturally beautiful Manati theme park. This park is an incredibly beautiful combination of a kind of ZOO, with ethnic shows and the history of the island in the background.
Those, who eager for adventure and expedition can go to the island of Saona. From the many possibilities of active leisure, you can choose between: paragliding, diving or a trip to Anamuya Mountain. Between all these attractions, it’s worth taking a moment of Dominican cuisine. Lots of exotic vegetables and fruits, interesting flavor combinations. Breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs and banana or potatoes is one of the strange examples of the morning menu, for us Europeans 😂 … Plus coffee. Coffee in the Dominican Republic is really delicious. Anyway, coffee beans, sugar and tobacco are the foundation of the economy in this region of the world.
Personally, as a gourmet and admirer of Pinacolada, I think that it was in Punta Cana where I tried the best version of this drink so far. When it comes to alcohol in general, of course, rum reigns. Anyway, if you are party lover, there is plenty of nightclubs in Punta Cana 😀 The most probably known is Coco Bongo.
And what is to look out for in the Caribbean?
Water. First of all, water. I recommend buying bottled water for any use. In our case, we only bought water for drinking. But I know people using such water even for e.g. brushing teeth. Of course, these tips are useful, if you organise a trip on your own. Probably in the resort hotels, such a problem is less important.
All, however, will be equally affected by the issue of preparing for the presence of various types of insects. Good spray preparations, creams, ointments, it’s really worth taking with you. In case of any injuries, it is also good to have basic medications with you: some small bandage, patches, hydrogen peroxide, painkillers. Anticipating the question about any vaccinations, the answer is : no. Currently, before any trips to the tropics I did not use vaccinations. For many different reasons. However, basic hygiene and common sense are very important.
The Dominican Republic is a very interesting place in the world, in ethnic and landscape terms. Destroyed from time to time by hurricanes, it still has a lot to offer to many types of travellers. You can relax here admiring the wonderful views, but if you feel like it, you’ll always find offers for active exploration of this beautiful island. This is one of those places on earth, where a bit of crazy ideas certainly won’t hurt 😀
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