Dominican Republic Travel Blog

This adventure starts in Guadeloupe.. and I need a way out!!

I track down a flight  .. not easy from Guadeloupe ...  I find one of the few direct flights ‘anywhere’ that’s not to Europe .… a French airline – Air Caribes ..  a French only web-site.. with a horrible auto translation ..  It takes me 5-6 tries.. but somehow, I’m booked..

Onward.. to Dominican Republic..  DR for short.  Another Adventure.

I’m back to Hola, and Gracias,  and BonDia..  no more French .. ahh.. that’s much easier !! 😊

Landing in Santa Domingo.. straight away;  a hang up with immigration .. I haven’t properly filled out the online app….   My error,  I did it last second - at the Point-a-Pitre airport – FAIL - it wasn’t easy ☹  - lost in translation!!

But, after the Immigration manager intercedes.. They let me pass.. I’m in.  Apparently I’m not a threat to DR . cool. Sometimes that USA passport helps !!

Plenty of taxi’s outside..  with a dispatcher hawking me.. I’m directed to a ride.. OK.. so far so good..  Then, the dispatcher try’s a shake down … I have to tell him to get lost.. ugg.. not cool. But typical for Latin American countries..

make the adjustment Bruce!! Your not in Kansas.

Dominican Republic I discover, is amazingly prosperous.  The 7th largest GDP of all Latin American countries .. that’s includes all of South America and Central America!!..  And DR is by-far, the largest economy in the Caribbean..

Who knew?   Not me.

Everywhere I turn here.. Another construction project in full swing.. I don’t see this much economic activity even in the States!! Wow. 

Unemployment was only 3% back in 2020,, and is running at 8% now..  I’d bet – anyone that wants to work here – can find a job..  DR is a machine running on high test !!    DR is considered, economically; upper middle in World ranking.

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Back to my story..

Taxi transfer to downtown is $40 US.. the driver preferring US cash,, I have DR Peso’s from the ATM.. but he takes my US cash.. 

My destination;   Santa Domingo,  Zona Colonial.  Old Town. Historic District.

Not knowing any better..  I end up at a cheesy hotel: Napoliano Casino ..  It’s a dump.. but cheap, and close to the old town zone..  Thinking that’s a good plan. NOT!!

I survive two nights there.  Ugg!!  Santa Domingo is not a tourist destination.. I’m right on the main strip – George Washington Ave, directly on the Caribbean.  With a view of brown water.. with trash floating.. and washing up.

Not a good impression.  Clearly, this isn’t the best place in DR.. I’m thinking the business district of Santa Domingo would have been nicer.. but I’m not here on business – and trying to feel the culture!!

My highlight of Santa Domingo is wandering Zona Colonial the next afternoon.  Not much to find unfortunately.  The Colon Fortress – a prison where Colombus was held for a bit,,,,  a few old-fort walls with1-2 cannons.. 

The only quality experience I find is at Parque Colon;  Sitting on a bench, under shade trees,, next to a fantastic statue of Christopher Columbus,,,watching children chase pigeons… while listening to street music..  OK.. that was excellent.. but wow.. this isn’t the place for tourists.

Fortunately,  my next stop in DR takes a great turn upward!!  The following morning - I taxi to an Alamo car rental - deep in the city ,,, getting the vibe of a busy dirty city.. sign my rental papers.. and I’m off.

Off to Bayahibe and scuba diving.  Buceo in Spanish !! Almost the same spelling as my name!!!  Love that!!

And wow,, the expressway roads are an outstanding surprise.  Toll road. 100 pesos.. x3 booths..  about $1.50 US = 100 Pesos.  2.5 hours later.. I’m out of the city.. and in a small beach town.

My hotel is located in the town just next to Bayahibe,, called Dominicus.  Only a 10 minute drive each morning to my dive shop.. and back in the ocean.

I’m booked at hotel HM Alma Bayahibe.. (although it’s located in Dominicus)

An adult only, all inclusive.  And amazingly inexpensive!!  Best of all,, outstanding food and quality rooms.  This place is gold after my Santa Domingo hotel.. Cool.  Filled with Italian and German tourists.. I don’t see any Americans. Like normal,, I’m an oddity.

Diving.. with Scubafun dive center.. is a perfect plan.  I check-in, talk the dive lingo … and next thing,, I’m on a boat diving Dominican Republic.

As I was planning my visit here,  I learn that diving anywhere else in DR is a waste of time..  only the sites on the southern coast, out of Bayahibe are worthy. That truth gets confirmed by the divers I meet there.. and my time in DR.

Squirrel Fish with a parasite

I end up with some great photos of Yellow Stingrays,, and a collection of reef fish.  Diving here is modestly satisfying.  If your searching a Dive Destination.. this wouldn’t be it .. but if you have DR on your travel list,, Definity arrange a few dives here -  I enjoy my time with Scubafun.. a well run dive center .. and I enjoy Bayahibe more than anywhere in DR !!

Dominicus has an interesting beach front .. with shacks up to the water line.. selling art and T-shirts.. and Bayahibe has cool local café’s and restaurants.. finally I find some DR culture vibe.. the only place I experience it during my entire visit.

Exploring the Bayahibe area.. I find several baseball fields.. with teams in competition.  DR loves Baseball!!! I see its presence everywhere here.  Inspirational.. and a common bond for Americans.  I notice a billboard ad for the Men’s Cologne Cristian Dior ..  has a man swinging a baseball bat 😊   Alex Rodriguez,  aka A-Rod is king here !!

After 6 nights in Bayahibe,  and my fill of diving.. I push on to Punta Cana.. Not for the diving,, but because it’s the most famous destination of the Dominican Republic.  And I learn,, it’s not my style.. and for me; a bust!!

With horrible beaches,  filled with seaweed.. All that I find in Punta Cana is rows and rows of hotels.  Huge areas are ‘private’, no-go zones.  Some areas, as large as 50 miles of beach front – locked down ... With one entrance, and a guard gate.  If you don’t live there, or have a hotel reservation.. please turn around !!  WTF??  I couldn’t even walk around the fancy marina.  Exclusive to millionaires!! Not exactly cool.  It’s life in a bubble.  Not my style.

I end up a few miles north,  in Bavaro beach.. Still called Punta Cana,, but for the poor tourists I guess??  Even here; rows and rows of exclusive hotels.. but at-least I could drive around.  The Blue Mall here is high quality – very impressive - and Punta Cana has a large section of modern high quality banks and office buildings.. with great roads..

… but the Punta Cana business model for this area of DR,,, of exclusive hotels feels off for my style.  No local culture to be found.. If your looking for an exclusive, protected bubble,  with golf courses,,fancy pools,, (but crappy beaches and crappy diving) .. this is your place.   Drinking Mojitos all day, eating like a king.. being pampered..  OK that’s the model.  If your looking for a local DR vibe,, kids playing baseball …  Not in Punta Cana  .. I suggest - turn around and go back to Bayahibe.

I stay at HM Bavaro in Punta Cana,, a sister hotel from my selection in Bayahibe -  thinking I would find something similar ... Not even close.  HM Bavaro and the surrounding area is marginal at best.. doggy even.. don’t walk alone at night!!    I spent several hours walking the beach, but most of my time was spent working on dive photos and travel plans ...  anxious to move on.   I’ll be skipping this area if I ever return to DR.

One last stop in Dominican Republic;  I drive to Boca Chica – close to the airport and close to Santa Domingo.  Stopping at their beautiful, busy local beach..  and Picking a hotel that’s reliable and predictable.. I end up at a Hampton.. Perfect for a last night.  Easy.

Time to write this blog..  Post my dive photos.. finish up some travel plans..

Just 12 days here in DR.  I don’t get to the far north and a visit to Puerto Plata area ... or to the high central mountains of Dominican Republic… Both may hold something interesting.. but for this visit,  I find only Bayahibe is worthy.

I come away from DR with fantastic people experiences.. Everyone was friendly, with no bad vibe.. All receptions, gas stations attendants, strangers,,, everyone.. was welcoming. Good job DR !! .. My people experiences don't match the reputation of this country.. With a 'false' reputation of dangerous and unfriendly and even unhappy ... I find - DR is anything but these things.

Now it’s time to find a gas station, return my rental car …  another flight awaits.

One last unusual experience here in DR..  Immigration was a hassle to leave. Another app just to depart.. (which I hadn’t done) … then a long long queue to be checked and stamped,, and yet another 2-3 double checks of the stamped passport… and again as I board the plane.  Curious.. only in Egypt have I seen such a close watch on exiting the country..  Somebody is running this country on a short leash.. Is that good or bad? ,, I’m not entirely sure. 

One thing for sure…..  DR is 1000x more prosperous than Hatti, just next door.

Dominican Republic Travel Blog

Onward.