Originally Posted by
ScruttonStreet
Got some great advice on this forum awhile back and now seeking some more help.
Is there any port of arrival in the Dominican Republic that is more preferable to the others? any to be avoided? Or does it simply depend on convenience of where is nearest to where we are going/flight times?
Which is a better (least bad) transfer? JFK or MIA? (NB I think we will be arriving on BA and leaving on AA so I am assuming our bags wont be through-checked and we will need to clear and reclear immigration?
Finally, any tips about what part of the country to stay in? We are likely to book a villa with a pool - not party people, just looking for beaches/culture/fun family things to do.
Many thanks
Your airport choice is logically based on where you are going. The four options are not that close together at all - Puerto Plata on the north shore, Punta Cana on the SE, La Romana south central and Santo Domingo about 100 km west of La Romana.
MIA is an airport for true road warriors. It is manageable with one rule. Allow 4hours for a connection. Not three, not two, four. If you pick JFK you will have to choose where in the DR AA flies from JFK.
In either case regardless of arriving on BA or AA you get your bags at customs and recheck them. This is part of security theatre. Never mind you are more secure not touching them at all while you're in transit and the bags like in most countries could easily go to the next flight. Not in North America they can't. (NB they can and could of course, and for years and years, actually did).
Punta Cana is a dreadful town basically artificial in nature chock full of all inclusive resorts and little else. La Romana at least has a town (not a lot to see with smaller and poorer towns nearby) but is dominated by the huge Casa de Campo resort megaplex. PP has two towns - PP itself and Sosua. And Cabarete.
For culture you would go to the capital, you can even see Columbus' bones in the special monument (though disputed as apaprently more than a few countries claim to have his bones. Perhaps these are cow bones or the others are). The nearest beach town to SDQ is Boca Chica with a few reputational issues and a couple of all inclusives.
Research the country then determine the airport and connection. If you're a big AI resort fan then Punta Cana makes sense though I think the setup at Casa de Campo does have loads of villas and such. I know Bill Clinton and Shakira stayed there ( not together though I bet Bill wishes it were so).