CINDY1239

ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, PHONE NUMBERS OR WEB SITES THAT OFFER EXCURSIONS IN THE PUNTA CANA AREA. I'VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE AND THE ONLY FINDINGS WERE THRU MY BOOKED HOTEL, THE IBEROSTAR BAVARO. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. WE LEAVE IN 2 WEEKS.

Kimberly

Go to www.tropictravelonline and see if Debbie or someone on that sight can help you!

oldhippy

Here you go!!!

Look for east coast attractions at:

http://www.debbiesdominicantravel.com/tours.html#east

flycatcher06

Hi there, We went 4 years ago I did post a trip report on Debbies Dominican travel website. We stayed at the Paradisus and loved it. We did do 2 excursions and booked them both through the resort. One was the Saona Island tour. Extremely long day but it was beautiful and we also did the coutryside tour - we went to a cave, to a local family house to a school all around the countryside we really had a great time and enjoyed both of these thoroughly!

tica_traveler

We stayed at Bavaro Catalonia or something like that in April. I simply asked the bellhop to give us a lift out to the main gate to catch the bus to town (Higuey). Once out there, of course, a bunch of taxi drivers tried to talk us into letting them drive us to town for $150. Yeah right! I refused and proceeded to wait for trh bus. A few minutes later, one of the taxistas approached me again and this time, realizing I was no fool, offerred to take us to town, tour us, for $50. I agreed and we had a wonderful day. He took us to a couple tourist traps so we could see the artwork and typical stuff sold in the AI and other resorts then he took us down town to the real market where we bought all kinds of fresh and dried herbs and stuff. I kept telling my sister-in-law as we were buying anise and cloves, "This is what Cristobol Colon was searching for when he stumbled upon the New World!" Anyway, we went to a few quaint little shops in town and bought some nice souvenirs. At dinner that night, we shared our adventures with out tablemates. They were all so excited about the prospects, they had me call our taxista (I had his card) and set up a second run into Higuey for the next day. I charged each couple $20 so the taxista got $60 and my niece and I went free. The main market was closed since it was Sunday but he took us to an artisan's home where the dude was painting in his backyard and we bought a bunch of the artwork for a song. I bought six pieces for $4-10 a piece. One gal bought a HUGE piece that would have easily been $400 in the resort or a touristy place for less than $40. Everyone was thrilled. Of course, all of this is a WHOLE LOT SIMPLER IF ONE SPEAKS SPANISH!!!Also, we were a bit disappointed into the AI food and were really hankering for some REAL Dominican food so we also stopped in a roadside bar and ate our fill of empanadas on our way back to the AI. It was my first time staying in such a place and while I can see the beauty of such a place and it certainly was beautiful... I loved the catamarans, the snorkeling, the kayaks, the 4X4 tour, etc., I am usually an independent traveler who just jumps on a bus and GOES>>>>

Happy travels,

Julie