What to pack

When planning for a trip to the Dominican Republic remember that you are going to a beach resort via a big city. People in Santiago tend to wear pants and shirts with collars, for men, and skirts, for women. At the beach, by contrast you will live in swimming suits and shorts. Most guests overpack with too many different changes of clothes. The best things to bring are clothes that can be rinsed out and dried over night. You may want to check out www.ex-oficio.com for good travelware. The power in the Dominican Republic is 110 volts, just like the U.S. This makes it easy to charge batteries at night. Since the power provided comes from solar and wind you should try to conserve. Hair dryers are discouraged.

You should pack for an adventure experience. Make sure you have a good camera, a waterproof camera will provide great pictures of the fish at Cayo Arena. May visitors bring a book, but few get too much time to read. You may want to bring a game such as Scrabble for the beach or the terrace at night. There is a sound system for you to play music from your iPod if you are so inclined.

Please note that if you have any special dietary needs or dislikes it is best to discuss these with management in advance of your trip. While we have had guests bring energy bars and other snacks, the more serious visitors focus more on things like wine, which is not as readily available or reasonably priced as the local beer.

Getting to the House

Once you have confirmed your reservation and provided the details of your travel, we will arrange for transportation to the house. You can rent a car, but this is not recommended unless you are familiar with driving in the Dominican Republic.

Booking Airfare

All the major airlines fly to both Santiago and Santo Domingo from Miami, Atlanta and New York. It is best to plan ahead as fares vary considerably by time of the year.

Your Arrival in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican airports are very similar to the airport you will have flown out of. The one thing you want to remember is that you will have to buy a $10 tourist card when you arrive. Your driver understands the unpredictability of baggage claim delivery and will wait for you outside the customs area.

While you may want to have a few Dominican pesos in your pocket when you arrive, this is not a necessity. The best way to get cash is from an ATM machine in Santiago. All you have to do is ask the driver to stop.

For those unaccostomed to a visit to a Caribbean Island some of the sights and sounds will be unfamiliar and may even be perceived as different. The thing to remember is the Dominican people are very friendly and love to see their guests have a good time. The best advice we can give our guests is to go with the flow; this is not a place with a keen sense of time. Dominicans love their music, being with friends and family and dancing. If you smile and pretend to understand you will find you do.