All Inclusive Resorts - Dominican Republic

This was one of our favorite all inclusive stays. We managed to get here on a $10 USD per person per night special, but they frequently have specials for $20 per person per night (plus tax etc makes it about $28).

Each of our stays has been with the VIP package, that comes with all the food included, all the drinks (including alcohol from their well stocked bar, access to the VIP portion of the beach, access to the VIP restaurants and events. We have had an awesome time each time and highly recommend this resort. To get the best specials you need to be signed up with CheapCarribean.com where the VIP upgrade comes standard with each booking. About 3/4 or more of the people there had the normal booking and they paid more than we did for the VIP. I'm not sure I would want to pay full price for the normal package, make sure you get the VIP upgrade.

While at your favorite Dominican All Inclusive be sure to hit a couple of the excursions! Each area has different excursions to choose from. You will find things like ZipLining, horseback, motorcycle and quad or tour bus excursions.

One example of a DR excursion is the horse-back ride to the El Limon waterfalls. With this trip you are taken from the resort area (likely Las Terrenas for this one) to the area where you get your horse. You then take the horse to the bottom of the falls where you are able to swim for an hour or so and then ride back to the starting point. Many of the deals also include lunch which we found to be well worth the little extra price.

One thing to note is that your guide does not get paid by the excursion company. Usually enough people volunteer to be guides so that there is one per horse. The guide makes sure you are comfortable on the trail, guides your horse, talks with you if you know Spanish, finds you samples of the local fruit (I love mango season!) and gets you to the falls and back. This person works completely off of tips, some people will pay their guide as much as one mill (1000 pesos), others will pay between 200 and 300 pesos as a tip for your guide.

First you need to sign up at several of the online travel booking sites. One of my favorites is CheapCaribbean.com. When a resort is having trouble booking their rooms they will often advertise some awesome deals.

Right now due to some of the publicized issues in the DR (like the Cholera problem), many of the hotels and all inclusive resorts are having a hard time filling rooms. That means they are giving some great deals to get people here. I know, who wants to go where there is a Cholera scare. Well I've been living here for a couple years now, believe me you are very unlikely to have problems at the major resorts, they work very hard to make sure that their clients don't go away sick. While things can happen anywhere you go, you don't stand a huge risk of contracting this disease here.

While checking out the excursions, surfing, swimming, snorkeling and all the rest have their place, at times so does just relaxing on the beach and reading a book. Many of the resorts like Lifestyles have some great places to just relax, listen to the ocean and read.

I've tried it with both a eBook reader and with the old fashion paper books. Both have their advantages. You really don't have to be too worried about a paper book. Their cheep and it is unlikely that they will get stolen.

eBooks can be a little more of a problem. You don't want to leave you eBook reader unattended while you head down to the beach for a swim. On the other hand I find my Toshiba Folio 100 to be much easier to read than a paper style book. While at the resort I can also check my email, do a little internet research, map out my next excursion and so on with my table reader (that is why I chose the Folio 100 over a straight eReader).

iPhone eReaders
Another option is to use an iPhone as a reader. Kindle and other reader software can be downloaded onto the iPhone so you can read eBooks. The screen is smaller but it is easier to hide you phone away in a towel or other items if you leave for a few minutes. With this you have a few options, the newest iPhone, the iPhone 4s is now available in the Dominican Republic or you can buy one in the states and have it unlocked to be used while you are in the DR. This phone is pretty expensive but gives you all the latest features.

You should also consider picking up one of the older models of iPhone. iPhones like the iPhone 3gs, iPhone 3g and especially the iPhone 2G can be picked up much cheaper than the latest models of iPhone and still work well as a eReader and cell phone while you are in the DR, and can also pick up WiFi in the resorts so you can check your email and research and map out your next excursion.

Unfortunately one of the main drawbacks of going to a developing country for a vacation is the proliferation of sex trade. On most of the public beachs in Boca Chica, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata other well known tourist cities this can be a problem.

As far as families go, most kids will not likely quickly notice the prostitutes on the beaches. On the beach their manner of dress isn't much different than most of the other people on the beach. They are easiest to pick out by who they are hanging out with, usually much older white men. They also usually stay away from families and men with their wives or girlfriends with them.

Also, usually the larger beach hotels and all inclusive resorts try to keep the beaches cleaned up as well as discourage open soliciting near their hotels and resorts.That doesn't mean it doesn't happen, it is just less open.

If you are trying to stay clear of that sort of activity, then there are a few beaches you will likely want to avoid, one of the worst is Boca Chica but there are sections and public beaches of Puerto Plata and most of the larger beach towns that you will want to avoid.