We visited the Dominican Republic in January 2000. We had booked a late availability holiday, which was allocated on arrival, but guaranteed to be a minimum 3 star All Inclusive Hotel on the south coast. For around £430 each for a two-week holiday, we thought this a good deal.
I was very pleased to find on arrival at the airport that we would be staying at the Barcelo Talanquera Beach Resort in Juan Dolio.
The Setting **********
The Caribbean Sea borders the island’s south coast and the Atlantic Ocean in the north. Juan Dolio, in the south, is a relatively new resort about an hour’s drive from the airport at SantoDomingo.
This area offers palm-fringed white sandy beaches, edged by shallow turquoise waters and sheltered by a coral reef, plus all year round temperatures of around 25C.
In 1999 this part of the island was badly hit by a hurricane. We were told that a few weeks prior to our arrival, the beachside hotel annex had looked like a building site as this had been badly damaged and work was underway to restore it. The only evidence of the hurricane was a few palm trees that had been struck down by the force of the winds and not yet cleared away.
This
quiet and less developed area is a delight for holidaymakers seeking relaxation and peaceful sandy beaches. We spent a lot of our time sunbathing or going for long walks along the sprawling beaches dotted with palm trees; stopping to take a dip to cool ourselves down from the hot sun; swimming and snorkeling in the crystal clear waters and spotting brightly coloured fish.
Unfortunately part of the coral reef was also dead, another casualty of the storm, but there were signs of it coming back to life as not all the coral was dead.
You will encounter the usual beach traders making their living trying to sell their wares to the tourists – jewellery, brightly coloured paintings, wooden carvings, cigarettes and wacky backy (if you are so inclined).
The Hotel *********
The Talanquera is an attractive hotel complex divided into two parts by a coastal road. The main complex is situated on one side with a smaller annex on the other side next to the beach and offering wonderful sea views.
The main complex offers pleasant tropical gardens, which feature many freshwater ponds containing guppies, mollies, tilapia and some very large terrapins. If you are looking for a relaxing time, take a book and unwind in a quiet spot in the gardens.
There are four swimming pools featuring small wooden bridges and waterfalls surrounded by terraces for sunbathing. The usual sunbeds were available, but most of these were taken, unless you wanted to get up at the crack of dawn and put your towel on one!
I like a nice peaceful swim in the sea, so we never actually tried the Hotel swimming pools. Although I was told on one occasion during our stay that a couple had been spotted making love in the pool in broad daylight. I did wonder how they managed this; the pools were always very busy with adults and children generally having a good time. Yes, this was a Hotel in the Dominican Republic (and not Hedonism in Jamaica!)
Accommodation ******************
Rooms were basic but spacious and clean and with air-conditioning – bath, shower and toilet, twin beds, and a television (which didn’t work too well, but we don’t go on holiday to watch the telly!)
Eating and Drinking ******************
Several years ago outbreaks of food poisoning used to occur regularly in the Dominican Republic. Nowadays most of the larger hotels work with the CRISTAL programme ensuring that the highest standards of health and hygiene are maintained.
All meals and snacks and locally produced alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks were included in the price of the holiday.
The main restaurant offered buffet meals. There was always plenty of food on offer and a great variety to suit all tastes. A dress code was in operation and a member of the Hotel staff stood by the entrance to the restaurant at lunchtimes and in the evenings checking that hotel guests were wearing suitable attire. It wasn’t me (honest) who got turned away for being scantily clad!!
An Italian restaurant provided a la carte meals for which you needed to make a reservation.
On the beach was a bar/restaurant that provided snacks at lunchtimes and served seafood specialities in the evenings. We often used to sit here in the evenings, gazing out to sea watching the magnificent sunsets whilst sipping our pina coladas. (Well, to be honest, I sipped pina coladas; husband is more of a beer drinker).
Activities ********
Watersports such as windsurfing, snorkeling and kayaks are available from the area around the beach bar.
There was a small gym and fitness room, but we did not see anyone using it; although we did spot a few ‘Mr. Body Beautiful’s’ strutting about!
There was also a games room providing pool, table tennis and table football which seemed popular with the youngsters.
Entertainment *************
The local people have a great love of music and dancing. ‘Merengue’ a local version of the Lambada, is especially popular and you are likely to hear it wherever you go! Which is certainly true of the entertainment group at the Talanquera.
Most of the entertainment is hotel based. There was entertainment every evening in the way of dancing, singing, mime, comedy and variety shows.
The Talanquera Country Club **************************
Local minibuses, on the hour, provide transport to the Country Club. As horse riding was available here, we decided to pay the Club a visit. At nine o’clock one morning, we boarded the minibus, together with a young Dutch couple who also wanted to try the horse riding. “Talanquera Country Club please,” my husband says to the driver, who shrugged his shoulders looking puzzled, but nevertheless drove off. About 15 minutes later our driver pulls into a magnificent area of green parkland, smart buildings and stops for us to alight. We are very impressed indeed, what a wonderful place the Talanquera Country Club is; they must have some very smart horses here.
The four of us walk into the Clubhouse, impressive interior with comfortable chairs, well stocked bar area; just the place to relax and have a drink after our horse riding. The person behind the bar did not speak any English. We decide we can take a walk outside and find the stables ourselves.
And walk we did; we found the tennis courts, a swimming pool and the golf course, but no sign of horses and no one to ask. About an hour later we returned to the Clubhouse. This time, the manager was on duty and informed us that this was the Metro Country Club and there were no horses here!
We did arrive at the Talanquera Country Club much later that morning. And what a difference! A minibus took us along a very bumpy dirt track between a sugar cane plantation; a dilapidated sign greeted us, tin shacks and about ten very sorry looking horses.
But I certainly cannot complain about the riding. If you are a non-rider who would like to try this activity, you must try western riding. These were extremely well trained horses with western saddles and split reins. Hold the reins higher than you would normally and in one hand. The paces for western riding are walk, jog and lope; it is an extremely comfortable way of riding and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The horse went exactly where I asked him to go (not like mine at home, who has a mind of his own!). But please wear sensible shoes, not like the young woman whose sandals kept falling off!
~*Janna’s Verdict*~ ******************
This island offers beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters and coral reefs, lush green countryside, golf, watersports, nightclubs and casinos, mangrove swamps, tobacco fields and sugar-cane plantations, all framed against the backdrop of spectacular mountains.
The people are friendly, cheerful and relaxed.
If you are reading this and considering the Dominican Republic as a possible holiday destination; go at the end of January or early February and take a day trip to the Samana area in the north of the island where you can witness the majestic sights of 40 ton humpback whales rolling and diving as they come into the bay at that time of the year to mate.
Hope you have enjoyed, Janna
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Feb 22nd, 2002
(Feb 23rd, 2002)
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