Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic????

Question

I am planning on going to Puerto Plata, DR. Has anyone ever been there?? Any reviews on this destination would be helpful, my main question is if anyone traveled outside the resort, like for shopping etc.....ANYYYYYYYY advice would be extremely appreciated!!! Thanks in advance

Answer 1

I was there last year. Dat place was awsome! I went to the stores and a beach resort. It was all gr8! u should go, u will have 1 of the best times of ur life

Answer 2

Puerta Plata is not that nice of a town, but the cable car trip is pretty good if it's running.  Try to get to Sosua for shopping and meeting other people and Caberete if you like watching sports like kite boarding.

The big resorts are not for me. They are kind of like staying in a REALLY nice airport with a beach.  

There are plenty of tour operations, but the hotel will charge you double than if you book it yourself.

I lived in the DR for about a year and had many adventures.  It's a nice place but you have to have common sense.  Stay out of PP at night unless you are in a group and have someone that can speak Spanish. It's easy yo get lost in and there are some unsafe areas.

If you have friends who like cigars or rum, they have plenty of it in the DR.  I also think the little coffee packets are nice for smaller gifts.  Just don't buy any "Cuban" cigars on the beach.  The good cigars will be in real cigars stores with climate control.

Dominican Rum is good and very cheap. Bring some home for sure. Cuba libres are probably the most common drink for the locals.  The most popular beer is El Presidente then Bohimia and there is one other that is common.  Imported beer is pricey.  Dominicans like their beers extremely cold, preferably with a coating of ice on the bottle. They sometimes may even freeze up after you open them.

I lived in Sosua and it's a nice tourist town.  My hotels when I was tourist was from $25-$40/night and for about $15/day I could eat at the restaurants there.  There is a big ex-patriot community there and they are very good at helping anyone who makes it out of the resorts. La Britannia and Rocky's are the two hot spots for meeting up with other tourists and ex-pats.

Answer 3

Hi !,

You made a good choice! Puerto Plata is the #1 destination for people who knows how to travel, to discover, to visit and to enjoy one of the best in the Caribbean ! So step out of the resort, take a public bus to town (15 min and 15 pesos) and go shopping and visit. If you need more info about tours, excursions or activities just ask Happy Feet (That's me)

Enjoy it!

Answer 4

Hi there!

We (my bf and I) are going to Puerto Plata as well ... we leave on Tuesday ... we're going to the Playa Dorada resort...its supposed to be very nice with lots of entertainment and trips etc. This is our first time also, but it looks as though its supposed to rain next week... Hope you have a great time! Maybe we will see you down there!

Answer 5

PUERTO PLATA- This is one of our major traveling destinations so it’s all guided towards tourist; there are plenty of day and night activities. In here you will find various excursions and plenty of shopping plazas. I think this site will help

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g1472...

Answer 6

I live in the city.  There are places to shop and see outside the resort.  If you have some Spanish and some adventure inside you, grab public transportation on the main road outside the resort (15 pesos=.50).  Have exact change, it's hard for them to break bigger bills.  To catch one, just stand on the side of the road and wave your hand up and down toward the ground (it's the Dominican way).  Taxis are around 150 pesos=$5 but you need to barter for that price.  They like to say it's 450 pesos or more =$15.  

Shopping is concentrated around the central park (now under renovation) and the big Catholic Church (also surrounded by scaffoling).  The gift shops, Dominican department stores, and little shops are all within 7 blocks.  Jimenez and Messon are air conditioned, has prices marked, and pretty big stores to roam.   Remember to barter in the gift shops (most of the time it's half the price of what is initially said).  If you take a Dominican, they get a kickback but may help with translation.

Some unique gifts are Laramar-only found in the DR near Barahona but sold everywhere.  ($5 for a simple silver and Laramar necklace)

Coffee-I recommend the small co-ops but they are hard to find.  Most of what is sold is Santo Domingo brand (75 pesos for a pound).  Best to buy at the supermarkets because it is stored in air conditioning and restocked often so it's fresher.

Cigars-Leon Jimenez is the local brand.  5 small flavored for 60 pesos.  Again try the supermarkets, the prices are set and competively priced.

Faceless dolls-ceramic dolls depicting women in victorian style.  100 pesos/doll

Haitain Art-Ranging from $5 to $30 depending on the size.  Can be bought without the stretchers to get home easily.

Other PP things to do and see

Malecon-the stretch along the coast, good for pictures, tasting the country's beer, walking/running, or eating at one of the restaurants along the way, at the one end is the Fortaleza which goes back to Christopher's Columbus

Teleferico-Cable car to the the top of Loma Isabella to overlook the country side and the city (300 pesos round trip).  Best enjoyed with a picnic, camara and hiking shoes.  There is a restaurant and gift shops on top.

Dominican food to find-Batidas (fresh fruit shakes), Tostones (fried plantains), fresh fruit (mangos, pineapple, papaya)

Enjoy your trip, let me know if you have more specifics.

Answer 7

Puerto Plata Dominican Republic, I go there 3 times a year, its so much fun-the best resort to stay at is the Riu Bachata-check out the chain or RIUs they are incredible. Bring money for shopping, bartering is necessary, they never mean the price they set, I wanted a ring, and the guy said 50dollars, and I got him down to 5 dollars, cause it was a cheap ring, i just love rings..umm i constantly travel outside of the resort, its fun, and it gives you a chance to explore the culture right...there are usually clubs in the resort, don't leave in the night-its not that safe. go to Santiago if you can, its not as far as Santo Dominigo, and the shoppping is A+. enjoy your trip! i know you will!