Originally Posted by
ScruttonStreet
Got some great advice on this forum awhile back and now seeking some more help.
We are looking at going to the Dominican Republic over new year (coming from the UK). There seem to be some good fares on American, either via New York or Miami, but AA seems to fly to four or five different places in the Dominican Republic itself.
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
The DR has about 11 international airports as of now, I know because I'd made use of all 11 of them via commercial and private landings!
It all depends on where you plan to vacation in the country.
Keeping in mind that the country is well served by a link of highways that resemble in some aspects well known interstates like I-95 or I-75 in the USA, but then the roads degrade/continue depending on where you get off or not.
If you opt to vacation on the north coast, say like Puerto Plata province, where Sosua, Playa Dorada, Cabarete sits. Then you'll best served to use the Puerto Plata airport which sits minutes away from these spots.
If you plan to make your vacation in the interior of the country, say like Jarabacoa in the Cibao region. Where you get green mountains, rivers, horse and back country activities while you can hit the beach in a mere two hours away. Then you must use the Cibao Airport in Santiago province (in the heart of he city of the same name).
If you plan your vacation in the east coast and where the vast majority of new tourism attractions have been built, then your options are two:
La Romana International airport in the proximity of the said complex of Casa de Campo (very steep prices as this is aimed at famous people), or you can hit Punta Cana International Airport, just as the one above, a private airport serving a complex of services aimed almost exclusively to the ALL INCLUSIVE crowd. That's by far the best option if you want to plan your budget as much as possible before you even board the plane at home.
Then there's the Northeastern coast of the DR, where the French have found their paradise back in time at Las Terrenas in Santa Barbara de Samana.
If you want quality family time without much of the tourism industry's well known traps, that's by far the best and most quiet place in the whole Dominican Republic to visit.
It's served by the Catey International Airport in Samana province and a quick ride to Las Terrenas.
As far as culture? The people are the culture in the DR! This is a country that has been introduced by the Spanish, French and American cultures in no little shape. There you'll have the posted speed limits in kilometers per hour and the liquid measures in gallons! Then you'll have people tell you how tall they are in feet and inches, while using the yard for linens and the centimeters for calculations!!! Go figure that one!
If you plant to travel during the winter (New Year) from the UK, forget using the US link and fly directly from home! The JFK airport faces storms from time to time that wrecks havoc with connecting flights from abroad and the Miami International Airport fares the brunt of those disruptions full face!
You can flight directly from the UK or you can make a connecting flight using Spain's airports as well. There are daily flights from all major European cities to the DR year round. It all boils down to where you want to vacation in the DR!
You can book a flight to Punta Cana from the EU, even if you plan to stay in the Santo Domingo area, or Casa de Campo or Las Terrenas! You can take a bus to your final destination from there with little problem or hassle!
It's best to flight into the closest airport to your destination in the DR than having to use land transport to reach your FD, as it's elsewhere in the known world.