We thought the transfer may be a problem but providing you go to the toilet at the airport(punta cana), you can just relax and sleep. It certainly did not feel like an hour and a half. I was asleep in 10 minutes and then we were there!
We decided on the basis that the trip to soana island required a coach trip across to Bayahibe anyway so we may just as well do the trip and stay at the better hotel. Still comes down to what you actually want to do and what facilities you are looking for. We went with eclipse and seemed to pay a lot less than others have mentioned. The FC plane journey was very good which helped a lot.

Hi Martuk,

Stayed at Iberostar Costa Dorada (North) Dec 04 and Iberostar Dominicana (Bavaro/Punta Cana) August 2005. There is no comparision in the beaches, much much better in Punta Cana, some days sea was really calm and saw fish within 2 metres os shore, beautiful warm clear, water with sandy bottom, no rocks. I can recommend the Iberostar hotels, they are fantastic. The sea was amazing on the south coast too when we visited Bahyibe.
The east/south is not as scenic as the north, I liked the mountains in the north. One thing against the East is as previously mentioned if you want to go to Saona Island (which is great and definetly do it) the transfer from the east is a pain in the bum. The rep will tell you its a max of 2 hrs, it was a little over 3 when we went. If we went back to DR we would stay at Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus, saw it from the speedboat on way back from Saona Island and it looks amazing. I can vouch for the standard of the IB*s.
Lastly, all UK flight now land in Punta Cana, Airtours used to fly into La Romana but from Summer 06 this is changing to PC.
Whatever you choose the DR is a great place, have a great hol.

Rhonda

IMHO south south south and just incase you didnt catch that south

are the north coast beaches really that bad because i was thinking about going to playa dorada and the grand ventana

They aren't bad by any stretch of the imagination, certainly when compared to the med, they just aren't as perfect as they are in the East or the South. Does it stop me from going....no. I've been 6 times so far anf 4 of those visits were to the north coast and would go back again like a shot.

I thought the beach in Bahia Mamion(?spelling) where the Riu hotels are situated was far superior to the beach in Juan Dolio in the south.

Jay have to say I agree with you with regard to JD...the beaches are not that nice there really...but in the south they are pristine...with clear turquoise waters and white sands...the undercurrent in the south is much calmer as the sea is in the caribbean where as in the north they are in the altantic and the undercurrent is much stronger there...

Hi

Just caught the tail end of this discussion.

We're disappointed to see that people have been generally negative about the North...As Dominicans we have always preferred some of our favorite spots on the North coast..and for us the South is just too 'touristy'

I suppose it depends what appeal but we include some details of our some of our favorite spots on the free info website we have created (address in sig file below) There is a link to the beach pages on the navigation bar on the left..but as a bit of a preamble, we have always loved the beaches toewards the North East, perhaps beyond the normal reach of typical resort hotels used by the big operators...

For instance there is the superb beach of El Diamante,
The beautiful area of Rio San Juan and
The enchanting lake of Grigri (Laguna Grigri)

Travelling along to Cabrera you can find Arroyo Salado, one of our family particular favorites for its wide strtch of lovely sand and the shallow warm waters of the river emptying into the ocean, great for youngsters...especially as the Atlantic can be lively along that coast ...

I mean for some the beach of Cabarete is ideal...if you like kite boarding and surfing! Certainly can't be matched by anything in the South..or almost anywhere else in the WORLD!!

But perhaps mentioning the best last...the beaches on the Samana Peninsula are something else...true you have a bit of a transfer from Puerto Plata...BUT if you're going that far...shame not to consider visiting the perfect, and in many areas virtually 'typical, exotic, archetypal' desert island beaches on around the top of the Peninsula...including the original 'Bounty Bar' beach...Beaches around Las Terrenas, and Las Galeras are wonderful!

So, I hope this has done something to 'plug' the North, and address the 'Southern' bias...the South may have some great 'touristy' beach spots....but if you want to find REAL unspoilt beaches ...for us it is the North/North East every time ...Please do, take a look atour DR info site for some more details..

Ruth(bizzy)

I would not recommend going in January (at least not with Airtours)...

http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/prod/dialspace/town/pipexdsl/s/asrc38/dm2005/airtours.htm

Not that I am biased...but SOUTH, SOUTH, SOUTH and perferably Bayahibe

south by far is the better of the two but more expensive than the north

hi, can anyone help please. we have booked to go to the north side of D R and would like to know if the snorkeling and the sighting of fish in general is as good as the south of the island, as the brochures reads" the south having white sands and turquiose water being in the meditteranean" and the north "being in the atlantic". also can anyone tell me if the north is as picturesque as the south please. we are staying in the Gran Ventana, Playa Dorada, and any info on this hotel would be much appreciated.

Hi,

My partner and I are planning to visit the Dominican Republic in June but having not been before wondered if you guys would answer some questions for us.

What part of the Island is best to visit? whats the differences between the North,East and South resorts?

Any recomendations on Hotels to stay at? We are hoping to stay somewhere realitively cheap but without compromising on the hotel quality.

Anyone been in June before? whats the weather like?

Many thanks

Cheryl

Hi there..We went to the east of the island last june. We had 2 lovely weeks, the weather was fantastic most days with only 1 half day spoilt by rain. We liked the east coast, we went out on a few organised trips, we did the Ocean World trip were we swam with the dolphins but this is in the north of the island which cost us £175 each as you have to get a small areoplane there so if you want to do this trip it might be worth staying on the north if you our on a budget. We stayed at the Riu Palace hotel, there is a chain of 5 hotels together with the Palace being the most expensive out the 5 but all the other hotels looked fab as well. the holiday cost us a total of £850 each All Inc.. 2 couples went and we would reccommend this hotel or the Riu Bambu..
hope this helps, feel free to ask more questions..
Tracey

We are hoping to stay somewhere realitively cheap but without compromising on the hotel quality.

Try the Sirenis, either Cocotel (rooms) or Tropical (suites) its on the East Coast. Mum and I were there twice last year, very nice, clean without being so posh you don't feel comfortable. Food is good with loads of choice and not one upset tummy, very good range of drinks,some international, served in glasses at the main reception bars, they only use plastic round the pool/beach for safety. The most amazing pool that goes the whole width of the resort and at various depths from level entry to deep enough to not touch the bottom, its never crowded. The beach is very beautiful, the sea mostly quite calm and there are no traders allowed, they are off site and you go to them. Sailing, canoes, scuba, most of the water sports are there as is a gym and health spa. Some very nice shaded areas to sit and relax and the staff are marvellous.

The only downside to the Sirenis is that its a long transfer about 90 mins as its quite isolated, you can go out but its quite a walk to the village and the next hotel and any excursions you want to do will take longer because of the distances to get there.

First Choice do the suites and MyTravel (Airtours) the rooms the bonus with First Choice is its usually a direct flight for us, (MyTravel pick up from Manchester on the way out) and FC gives you more leg room as standard so saving on an upgrade to premier.

Link to my May 2005 pics Sirenis May05

We as a family have been to the East coast twice and absolutely loved it. We are thinking of going again next year and we very very rarely go back to the same place twice.

I am looking to go to The Dominican Republic this year but have heard there are two sides, one better than the other. I am looking for the lively side, can anyone let me know which is which? Thanks

Personally I wouldn't say there is one. Most of the hotels are AI and in many cases quite isolated, getting out is often a case of organised excursions as driving there is not to be recommended unless you have a death wish.
The DR is nothing like Europe, almost all of the entertainment is hotel based with a few exceptions in maybe Bocca Chica (South) or Sosua (North) unless you can speak Spanish it can be daunting to use public transport but hiring a taxi for the day is both reasonable (if there are enough of you) and fun, you can make your own itinerary and usually find a way to converse with the driver.
The Playa Dorada complex in the North does have a central shopping mall where you can meet guests from other hotels but being a gated community there is not a lot of opportunity to mix with the locals.

At the end of the day I suppose its down to what you mean as 'lively' if you want to go clubbing etc. in the Caribbean then you maybe better looking at Montego Bay in Jamaica.

ALLIPOPS2608,

we went to the dom rep in 04 and had probably the best holiday of ou lives,
we stayed at the riu merngue in puerto plata in the north of the island.
the complex is made up of 3 hotels that you can use the facilities in all and eat where you like with the exception of your evening meal which must be taken at the hotel which you stay in.

good luck.

Eifion.