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.
We
continue to invest in technology that allows us to
take
advantages of the natural elements and minimizes our
environmental inpact. Our latest addition is our wind
generator that provides abundant hot water for our guests.
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.
|
|
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.
|
