There’s nothing like soaking the sun in the Caribbean when it is brutally cold back home. It was the peak of winter in the northeast and we wanted to escape the cold weather for a quick getaway. So we decided to head to the Dominican Republic. One of the most famous destinations in the DR is Punta Cana so the debate was whether to head there or explore another part of this beautiful country. Punta Cana is for sure the tourists’ favorite pick, but being overcrowded during this time of the year, we chose to visit La Romana.
We flew from New York to Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo is the largest city in the Caribbean and Central America. It is also one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean. One of our friends who has family back in DR was kind enough to book us a cab/taxi from the airport to our resort in La Romana. We did run into a bit of an issue as the cab/taxi driver did not speak English and was not familiar with the resort we were headed to, so we wasted an extra hour driving around. Our T-Mobile international unlimited data plan came to the rescue as we called our resort and asked them to guide the cab/taxi driver. The drive from Santo Domingo to La Romana is about an hour, but it took us almost 2 hours.
We’re not the biggest fans of all-inclusive resorts but we just wanted to unwind and relax for the short four day vacation. So we had decided to stay at an all-inclusive resort in La Romana. You know that the vacation has begun in DR when you are greeted with the famous Mama Juana shot at the reception. Mama Juana is DR’s signature drink made by soaking rum, red wine, and honey in a bottle with tree bark and herbs. It tastes similar to port wine. We arrived at the resort around 2 pm but our rooms were going to be ready by 4pm. One thing we realized on this trip is to pack a small bag with swim wear that you can remove easily from your luggage. If you arrive at hotel/ resort earlier than the usual check in time, you can leave your luggage at the reception and head over to the pool/ beach area.
There are two adjoining resorts at Bahia Principe, the Grand Bahia Principe that is geared more towards families and the Luxury Bahia Principe that is an adults-only resort. We stayed at the Grand Bahia Principe. There were plenty of things to do in and around the resort including a huge lake-style pool with a swim up bar, spa, kids pool, jacuzzi, beach activities, volleyball, ping pong & pool tables, golf, water sports, etc. We made the most of these activities and took every opportunity we got to walk on the fine white sand along the shoreline of Santa Ana beach. There were daily activities and games throughout the resort and it was a lot of fun to mingle with visitors from different parts of the world. If you would like to take a break from the resort you can book excursions near the reception area. One day trip that we would highly recommend is to the National Park of the East on Saona Island through the fishing village of Bayahibe. It’s the most visited natural attraction in DR and the entire tour is a six to eight hour trip.
The four days passed by fast and it was time to leave this paradise and head back to reality. Our flight from Santo Domingo was late in the afternoon but we checked out early from the resort and headed to Santo Domingo to explore the historic city. Zona Colonial is a grid of 16 short cobblestone paved streets with beautiful architecture. There are some really nice shops, restaurants and bars and small museums on almost every street. We walked around and explored at our own pace but you can opt for the Chu Chu Colonial that offers a tour of the Zona Colonial by a train that leaves every hour. The Chu Chu Colonial is a 45 minute train ride around the city.
Here are some tips –
- Book your transfer to/from the airport with an established carrier; check on rates and negotiate if possible
- If your arrival at your resort will be earlier than the allowed check in time, pack a small bag with your swim wear so you waste no time in getting to the pool/ beach
- If you like snorkeling, carry your snorkeling gear with you
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