Valentine's Day  Happy Valentine's Day(2008)
From 101lifeStyle.com Valentine's Day Romantic Destinations: Valentine's Day Romantic Regions:  8.Punta Cana Region – Dominican Republic: Punta Cana, named after a local cape, is a region in the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic and is home to a coastline of sandy white beaches and to a town of the same name. The Punta Cana destination is made up of the areas (going from south to north) of Cap Cana (Juanillo), Punta Cana, Cabeza de Toro, Bavaro, El Cortecito, Arena Gorda, Macao and Uvero Alto. Today, the East Coast beach strip is one of the best choices for those seeking the perfect beach and R&R (rest and relaxation) vacation. Things To Do / See:  A.Beach Activities:
Cap Cana, Punta Cana, Cabeza de Toro, Bavaro, El Cortecito, Arena Gorda, Macao and Uvero Alto. The beach is the No. 1 attraction in the East Coast area, stretching an amazing 50 kilometers. With few exceptions, most hotels and developments only limit land access and elsewise honor Dominican law whereby beaches are public. You can freely stroll the beach strip going from one hotel's beach front to another, especially in the Cortecito, Bavaro and Cabeza de Toro areas. There are public beach entries at El Cortecito and Cabeza de Toro. Macao, to the north, is yet undeveloped, and thus is unrestricted beach access. Leave your valuables at the hotel when walking the beach, and caution should be taken in deserted beach stretches.
 B.Water Activities:
The array of water sports options offered right on the beach is amazing: catamaran boat rides, double-decker party boats, restaurant dining at sunset on the sea, parasailing, glass bottom boats for marine life observation, sports fishing, diving, snorkeling, flying boats, speed boats. The boat taxis can take you from one hotel to another via the beach. There is also banana boating, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing and beach volleyball. Marinarium-This marine park on the sea offers snorkeling with sharks and rays.  C.Punta Cana Excursions:
Safari-type excursions on four-wheel bikes, buggy rides, jeep safaris, monster trucks or helicopter rides are available for a privileged view. A dozen of companies offer these adventure tours that take the tourists to observe tropical wilderness, visit a countryside home where typical Dominican food lunch will be served, examine tropical crops, take a dip at a deserted beach or for a swim in a cool river.
Manati Park Bavaro-130,000 square meter preserve with permanent exhibits of birds, reptiles, and fish. A show with parrots, dolphins and dancing horses is included in the admission fee. Free shuttle bus to and from principal hotels in the area.
Punta Cana Ecological Reserve-Short guided tour through tropical flora with an optional refreshing bath in a cool spring at the end. You will be walking through a real jungle. Located 15 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport.
Rancho Jonathan has caving excursions to Boca de Diablo, a large cave system south of Los Haitises.  D.Dolphin Island:
Short boat ride takes you to the artificial Dolphin island created where tourists can have a swim with trained dolphins right in the sea. The package includes a 15-minute free time with the dolphins, where these will choose their new friends.  E.Nearby Trips:
La Otra Banda-If you take the Saona, Catalina, Altos de Chavón, Higuey or Santo Domingo excursions, on your way west ask your guide to point out the small town of La Otra Banda, with its pretty little houses, right out of a Caribbean architecture book and perfect for picture-taking.
Higüey (Ee-Gway)-The city has no tourist attractions other than its Basilica, a large modern cathedral that honors the Virgen de la Altagracia, patron saint of the Dominican Republic. If you wind up in Higüey with time to spare, take a walk down the small streets, look at the local businesses, eat the local cheese, go into a colmado (grocery shop) and buy a Presidente beer or a Coca Cola, go to the local market and buy some local fruit, change your dollars in the banks or exchange houses (next to the central park), try to communicate with the locals, have your shoes shined for 5 or 10 pesos by a small child, give the child a few sweets and your best smile. Visit the largest supermarket in Higuey and purchase Bon Marmalade, Santo Domingo coffee in a can, top of the line Brugal, Bermudez or Barcelo rum, or stop by a Bon ice cream shop for tropical sherbets.
Ponce de Leon House and Boca de Yuma-Located in San Rafael de Yuma, a detour south of the road that leads from Higuey to La Romana, the Ponce de Leon House was where the famous explorer of Florida lived with his wife and three daughters when he commanded the east of the country for the Spanish conquistadors back around 1505. He would set sail from Boca Chica to colonize Puerto Rico, and then Florida. Near the Ponce de Leon house is the fisherman's town of Boca de Yuma, for fresh fish and dancing bachata and salsa.
La Romana/Altos de Chavon-Past expansive fields of shoulder-high sugar cane, visitors will come to La Romana, a city built and maintained by the sugar mills. The incessant production of sugar fills the air with the sweet smell of molasses. But the principal attraction of the region is Altos de Chavón, a re-created 15th century Italian-Spanish village beside the mesmerizing Chavón River. At its founding in 1981, Altos de Chavón was declared “an artists’ village” by its creators who dedicated it to the service of the fine and applied arts. Its old world cobblestone streets and quaint architecture conceal charming shops, fine restaurants, intimate bars, artisans workshops, a church, a vast amphitheater, an archaeological museum, and a university specializing in design. The Parson's School of Design of New York City has a branch right here. Lovely architecture, restaurants with great views and international cuisine, and a small but superb museum. It’s adjacent to Casa de Campo, one of the most famous and expensive resorts in the Caribbean.
Los Haitises National Park-Several hotels offer excursions to Los Haitises National Park, a sanctuary for nature lovers and those interested in natural history. The underground rivers flow through caves replete with pre-Columbian drawings and petroglyphs, silent testimony to the Indian population who dwelled there peacefully for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans. Be sure to visit the Cueva de la Linea (Ferrocarril) and the Cueva de las Arenas. The boat trip to get to these caves that are off San Lorenzo Bay will take you through the largest system of mangroves in the Caribbean. Another option to visit and a place to have lunch in the area is the Paraiso Cańo Hondo river center, a short drive from the National Park Los Haitises departure point.
If you are renting a car, and consider yourself an explorer, head south from Sabana de la Mar (Los Haitises) to Miches. Discover the white sand and little frequented but very lovely Playa Miches or the further south Playa Esmeralda. Avoid Playa Esmeralda if you are not driving a four wheel vehicle as if it has rained the night before there may form a puddle in the sand road that 4 x 2 vehicles cannot pass. Note that if you are staying in Punta Cana this will be a whole day trip. This really is a trip for those who book a stay in one of the small hotels in Sabana de la Mar.
Plantación Tropical. A memorable side trip north from San Pedro de Macorís to Hato Mayor will reward you with one of the largest horticultural centers in the Caribbean.
Also in Hato Mayor, adventure lovers may book an underground excursion to the Rancho Capote and its Cueva Fun Fun, that is the longest underground cave in the Caribbean. This is a shallow cave running seven kilometers.  F.Island Trips:
Boat trip to Isla Catalina, an environmental reserve located just offshore from La Romana with a coral reef perfect for diving or snorkeling and a nice beach.
Isla Saona, a larger island off the coast of La Altagracia province. It has a quiet fishing village with friendly locals who now cater to thousands of day trippers. You can go by catamaran, big tourist boat or small motor boat. The boats generally leave from Bayahibe. If you are lucky, dolphins will swim along with you. Some excursions use speed boats that take tourists to visit the village of Mano Juan and Palmilla beach with its white sands. This is the most-booked trip of tourists visiting Punta Cana but if you plan on returning to the DR, consider leaving it for a time when you stay in one of the La Romana hotels when you will be about a half hour boat trip away, instead of the almost three hours it will take to get there from Punta Cana.  G.Nightlife:
Most hotels will feature staff-produced evening shows, with guests having the option to dance until the wee hours in the hotel discos. Nightlife will be slightly livelier at the larger hotel clusters. Bavaro Beach Resort disco is, for instance, the main dance bar among the five large Barcelo Bavaro hotels. The disco opens at 11pm and usually becomes packed after midnight. The only big show in town is Tropicalissimo, staged at the Barcelo Bavaro Casino in the style of the old Tropicana of Cuba. Areito disco caters to Ocean Resorts and is open to the public, as is the Mangu Discotehque at the Occidental Flamenco Hotel with its giant screen for following important spectator sports events. Punta Cana's shopping center, opposite the airport, features the country's newest world-class bowling alley. On site is also the Maran‡ disco-lounge-bar. Major beach party live entertainment is provided on full moon nights at the Jelly Fish Restaurant on Bavaro Beach.  H.Sunset Dinner Cruises:
Nothing matches the magic of a Caribbean sunset. Start your evening with a sunset cruise and enjoy a breathtaking view of the coastline that will stay with you forever. Music and an assortment of snacks and drinks are provided. How To Get To Punta Cana Region – Dominican Republic:
 The best airport to land at is the Punta Cana International Airport, a 10 to 40 minute drive from East Coast hotels. This airport offers scheduled service from The US, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, Latin America. The second best airport for this destination is the La Romana Airport, which is about 1-1/2 to 2 hours drive away from your hotel. If you land at Las Americas International (Santo Domingo) you will be a four hour drive and an expensive taxi ride away. Punta Cana Express (Takeoff Destination Services) flies from Herrera International Airport (Santo Domingo) twice a day, fare is US$75 each way. Air Century offers charters.
The cheapest way to get to and from Santo Domingo is by commuter minibus. This will cost about US$8 but could take you almost a whole day as you make numerous bus changes.
Getting Around:
Tourists arriving to Punta Cana will spend most of their vacation at their hotel. The easiest way to visit the other hotels is to take a stroll along the beach. Or take the beach taxi to El Cortecito or to the Cabeza de Toro area. To visit the Basilica in Higuey, you can take either a taxi or public bus. Punta Cana Region – Dominican Republic Hotels:  A.Paradisus Palma Real, Punta Cana: This is our favorite all-inclusive hotel in Punta Cana. The pools are spectacular, as is the beach. A complicated structure of add-on luxuries (spa packages, additional attention from the concierge staff, upgraded children's diversions) are available, and usually come with occupancy of somewhat upgraded accommodations. Most rooms have garden views, although some choice units open onto the ocean. Each comes with a tiled bathroom with tub or shower. Both hotels also offer more dining choices than any other along the coast -- every cuisine from French to Chinese, from Mexican to Japanese, along with international, Dominican, and American food specialties. Entertainment is diverse, ranging from a karaoke disco to an aqua bar to bars that often serve Dominican cigars with their drinks. Theme parties are big here, and there are live shows nightly.
B.Barceló Bávaro Beach, Golf & Casino Resort: This huge complex of low-rise luxury hotels opens onto one of the most desirable of the many white-sand beaches along the 32km (20-mile) coast known as Bávaro Beach. There's even a church on the premises for weddings, and a reputation for good, and in some cases, extremely good, food. The resort consists of five separate hotels: Bávaro Beach Hotel, Bávaro Caribe Hotel, Bávaro Golf Hotel, Bávaro Casino Hotel, and the latest contender, the Bávaro Palace Hotel. Arranged within a massive park, and connected via a labyrinth of roadways and bike trails, all but one is parallel to the beachfront. Accommodations in all five hotels are roughly equivalent and are outfitted in tropical furniture, with private verandas or terraces, plus an attractively tiled bathroom with tub and shower. Each of the restaurants within this megahotel is interconnected by minivan service, and each will cheerfully accept diners from even the most far-flung corners of the compound.
C.Meliá Caribe Tropical Resort: A series of bungalows is scattered within a spectacular garden, with palm trees, fountains, and real flamingos. When you tire of the grounds (if ever!), a little train will transport you over to the beach where topless sunbathing is commonplace. The spa is the best in the area, offering special features such as aromatherapy massages. Spacious bedrooms are among the best in Punta Cana, with intricately crafted tile and stonework, private terraces or verandas, and roomy bathrooms with tiled showers. On-site are 11 different eateries, including a trio of large-scale dining rooms (Los Atabales, El Turey, and La Alambra) with an ongoing roster of buffets.
D.Hotel Grand Palladium Bávaro Resort & Spa, Punta Cana: Hotel Grand Palladium Bávaro Resort & Spa is set in an exceptional area right on the seafront of famous Playa Bávaro beach, and is built on a 320.000 square-metre space surrounded by a coconut palm plantation and exuberant tropical vegetation. Punta Cana offers to its visitors an extensive beach of fine white sand, and a coral reef lies near the shore, which will be a delight for all diving and nature lovers. On-site amenities include a private beach, garden, outdoor swimming pool, mini golf, children's outdoor and indoor areas, a gift shop, wireless Internet connection throughout, a discotheque, massage services, a Jacuzzi bath, a theatre with daily entertainment shows, six bars and fourteen restaurants, among others.
E.Hotel The Golf Suites - Bávaro Punta Cana: Located in the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic and offering a luxurious environment and natural beauty, The Golf Suites is a boutique hotel in Punta Cana. This area of the island offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and according to UNESCO, and Playa Bávaro, situated only within minutes from the hotel, is one of them. This luxury hotel is the perfect choice for visitors looking for an intimate accommodation in the Caribbean Sea, offering a personalised and superior service as well as top quality facilities. Additionally, with the 27-hole Cocotal Golf & Country Club, golf enthusiasts will feel at home at The Golf Suites Hotel. The Golf Suites offers an extensive property with beautiful gardens, outdoor swimming pools, tastefully decorated interiors, fine spa with Turkish bath, steam bath, hydromassage, and massage service, fitness centre, wireless Internet access in the lobby, Internet Point, refined restaurants, bars with live music, beach club, children mini club, elegant meeting halls and banqueting service.
 Back To Travel Index Valentine's Day Romantic Regions - Lake Geneva Region - Switzerland |
