Dominican Republic

Famous for its beaches, all-inclusive resorts, merengue, Mamajuana (…did you do a double-take? It’s alcohol, not the green stuff ;), and some of the best baseball players in the world – the Dominican Republic is one of the most visited destinations in the Caribbean. As with most of the islands, tourism options range from ecotourism to (historic) urban exploration.   

Getting there and around: 

The D.R. has several international airports, but the busiest (and one that I went to) is Punta Cana International (PUJ). Interestingly, it wasn’t a very big airport, in comparison to some of the others in the Caribbean – even though it’s supposed to be the region’s 2nd busiest.  My flight exited directly onto the tarmac and then we went through a series of open air, hut-like structures that housed the security checkpoints and baggage claim. Be sure to let your airline know ahead of time, if you need assistance getting on and off the plane.  In my case, I was carried down the stairs and then transferred into my ass cart (chair) on the tarmac.   

As it is in most small, island countries, your main way of getting to and from the airport is by road/vehicle.  If you’ve booked an all-inclusive vacation, you’ll likely have a bus picking you up, but there’s also taxis and private car services (or rentals).  Most of the highway coaches/buses that I’ve seen don’t have a lift, so make sure to let your travel company or tour provider know well in advance, if you’re unable to climb the stairs, so they can make alternate transportation arrangements. 

Where I stayed (year):

Gran Bahia Principe (GBP) Bavaro (2011) – Located 30 mins north of Punta Cana airport, this all-inclusive resort is located on the east coast of the island.  The resort itself is sprawling and has trams to shuttle you from the main buildings to the beach, with stops at the pools and residences in between.  If you decide to get some exercise and forgo the ride (the trams aren’t accessible), you’re looking at about a 10-15 minute walk, but there is some lush vegetation and wildlife to enjoy, on route.  The beach itself didn’t have wheelchair access, when I went (hopefully, this has changed), but it’s still a good idea to bring or rent a mobility device, if you’re somebody who likes to explore the property and has trouble walking for an extended period.

As is the case with many all-inclusive chains, the complex is comprised of 5 resorts:  GBP Bavaro, Punta Cana, Turquesa, and Luxury BP Ambar & Esmerelda (upscale, adults-only sections – with Luxury BP Fantasia opening soon).  Besides each resort’s main buffet, there are 8-10 a la carte restaurants, 10 bars, and as is the case with all GBP’s – a shopping and nightlife square called “Pueblo Principe”, which is home to the casino, karaoke & sports bars, gift shops, and some of the most persistent souvenir vendors I’ve ever seen!  Their carts are all set up in the middle of the square and they will call out and ask you to come over and “bless their table” (because they aren’t allowed to approach you, if you’re walking around the square’s perimeter). Just beware if you do venture into what I called the ‘shark pit’ because they will try to physically wrangle you over to each of their carts, even though they all have pretty much have the same assortment of artwork, hand-crafted jewelry, and trinkets.  Funny thing is that they appear to be in competition with each other, but if you’re looking for a variation of something that one cart doesn’t have, that vendor will go over to another and broker a deal.

Overall, accommodations and the resort itself were decent. Rooms are generally junior suites, so you’ll have the choice of 1 or 2 beds, with a sitting area, dining table, and also a table and chairs on your balcony.  Accessibility was alright too, though I do remember there being a steep ramp or two, around the property’s main buildings – not far from the theatre, where the nightly stage shows happen (the Michael Jackson show was really good!).  You’ll also need to bring your own shower bench, or look into renting one from an external vendor, if required.  The accessible suite that I stayed in was on the ground floor, in the villa closest to the main lobby.  Unfortunately, I can’t recall anything else about the in-room accessibility, but know that I didn’t complain or have to switch rooms, so it must’ve been okay.

The restaurants and buffets were decent and fairly easy to get to (the property was huge, so there was a hard-to-find restaurant or two hidden behind a sister resort’s lobby).  But, as I always suggest, it’s never a bad idea to give the a la carte restaurants advance warning, if you have difficulty negotiating stairs, as some of them might have split-level or elevated seating.  This gives them time to reserve a table for you that will better suits your needs – especially if you’re travelling with a larger group that’s dining together.  Rating: 3.75/5