Can those who have been to DR recently expound more on a few things? (We used to go every year after Batista when family friends moved from Havana en masse to Santo Domingo; some of same friends actually built C de C). Never mind: Few questions: The Capital was a hip and fabulous place for a shy youngster like me who had never mingled with the "jet set" until we began to visit. Probably that term did not even exist back then!! We either stayed at the friends' homes or at El Embajador, where I had my first taste of platanos fritos.....and learned to dive!

Sorry to delve back into my long ago past.....brought back a lot of emotion reading this thread..both good and very very sad.



Are you saying that SD is devoid of nightlife? (I think that is NOT what Doug meant..just clarifying) (Terrible about Big Papi but maybe an inside job? Money owed?)

Next: I am totally puzzled by comments about the inadvisibility of driving around alone....do tourists no longer rent cars? Are the roads still so bad? What exactly is the danger..and how bad is it??? Remember back then tourists from US or rich Dominican residents went only to SD or to a mountain resort near Santiago, which was a country town....imagine things have changed since then!!

My comment about dancing the night away (or not) was specific to this request about Punta Cana... they didn't ask about Santo Domingo which I know is a whole different kettle of fish.

Are their nightclubs and discos that are not part of resorts in Punta Cana? Is there a lively downtown area where people go to mix and mingle and party at night? I've never been... so sincere question because that's not what I pictured or how it's been described to me.

Lastly my point was agreeing with Doug in suggesting other places that I thought better fit the To Do List here... like Jamaica or Mexico.

Suze thank you. My visits were so long ago. Do people now always get around long distances by bus or with private drivers? I am just curious...I have some Dominican friends but they always go home to spend time with family which I no longer have on the island..most of the people who moved from Cuba to DR eventually settled on North Shore of Long Island or in Mexico.... I have some nostalgia and wonder about visiting (enhanced by my friends' comments). My Spanish is good but that would not help if driving on the roads is dangerous either because of road conditions or gun/machete-type crime.....

For many years I maintained a close female friendship from a woman from PR who was a Peace Corps volunteer in the DR..shows you how old I am by now!! Ouch...can that be true??!!

If I wanted too return, where would I even begin to look for a hotel??? Not interested in all-inclusive but want upscale where I can get around and explore locally..... Rent house with cook???

I will not mention the reputation that Puerto Plata had back then but it sounds as if nowadays that is the coast to be on...I need calm and warm water for swimming....no golf or tennis necessary. Gambling ok for partner. No English necessary. Someday I do want to return......

My visits were also too long ago to be of any current value. Santo Domingo and Puerta Plata one trip (two hotels) and Sosua another (where friends had a house on the cliffs rented and I joined them).

So just curious about the island now (outside of Punta Cana)...

ekscrunchy, see my recommendation for Casa de Campo.