My boyfriend and I are going to Puerto Plata in January 2002. We are staying at the Occidential Playa Dorado Hotel. Anyone knows anything about this hotel?

It is Sears Travel's Hot spots (in Canada, US does not have Sears Travel) This means that Sears Canada thinks it is nice enough to represent. It was renovated last year or the year before and supposed to be amazing. It has a mall beside it, or very near anyway. I have not been there, but my clients love it. I am not trying to promote my agency in any way by this post, but I was just saying that head office thought it was great. They only picked 4 hotels in DR

Thank you very much Melissa. Now I am really looking forward to going to Puerto Plata. I was really uneasy about it because of all the comments about Puerto Plata v. Punta Cana (where Punta Cana is so much "nicer" than Puerto Plata). I think it's just a matter of preference and the crowd you want to be around with while on vacation. Thanks again!

If you are young and want to party then you will love Puerto Plata. Puerto Plata is on the Atlantic so the beaches and the waters do not compare with Punta Cana which is on the Caribbean. But, there really is no night life or shopping available in Punta Cana other than what is offerred at the hotels. Also, you will find that Puerto Plata does not have a large American clientelle (as they prefer the better beach areas) but it is very popular with Canadians and Europeans.

What do you mean when you say the beaches can't compare since they are on the Atlantic? How are they different? If I prefer big waves to calm water, which has the better beach, the north or south coast? Thank you.

The beaches of Punta Cana are what you would envision the Caribbean to be. The sand is soft and the waters are beautiful shades of acqua. Puerto Plata beaches just don't have that Caribbean feel with the acqua waters.

I have visited the North and South coasts of the Dominican Republic. Although the water is calmer in the South I prefered the North because of the atmosphere. At the hotel I was staying in they let locals in on the weekends which made the holiday even better. Remember to try the merenge dance, (I don't know if the spelling is right), with the locals as it was so much fun.

So exactly, what are you saying about the water in the North? Is it surfing water? Can you snorkel? If so, will you be able to see anything? Is it like the Jersey shores? Very cloudy and not clear?

We stayed at Puerto Plata in 96 at the hotel next to yours. We found the best snorkeling in Sosua a small town up the road. In Jan the water will be chilly and no the snorkeling is not as good as other carribean places we have been.Shop for wood carvings here--prices are about the best we have found. It may have changed by now but the porters at the airport were nuts. They would each grab a piece of your luggage and than demand outrageous tips. Don't be afraid to stand up for your rights with them.

The water is generally rougher on the north coast--more waves and the water stays stirred up and cloudy a lot of the time.