DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

What was supposed to be a girl’s trip celebrating one of my friend’s birthday, turned out to be my first solo travel to a foreign country. It was an unforgettable experience that taught me so much.  I learned a lot about myself. There is just something so liberating about solo traveling. Anyway, let me get to the story!

I booked this trip to the Dominican Republic through Groupon for a great deal with a company called Vacation Express. It was four nights at an all-inclusive resort called Natura Park Beach with airfare from Miami for May 18th-22nd. Our plan was to fly to Miami, stay for a night, and catch our flight to DR the next day. Well, everything was going fine, until my friend notified me that she couldn’t go anymore because her job did not give her vacation. I know what you are thinking, yes it totally sucked and was a sad situation. We thought of everything to try to fix it, but there was nothing to come about in time. So, I went ahead with the trip by myself.

South Beach, Miami

I flew to Miami from New York Wednesday arriving at 9:30 in the morning. I caught the shuttle to my hotel called The Element Miami International Airport. It was very convenient. Only ten minutes away. I settled in and changed into my swimsuit to make my way to South Beach. I chose a shared Lyft to get me there. It was then that I met a girl named Rose, who would go on to spend the rest of day with me. She was in town early for a bachelorette trip and wanted something to do while her friend was at work. I told her she could join me for some fun once she got settled as well. I laid out at the beach, walked around sightseeing, and ate lunch while later meeting with Rose. We chilled on the beach some more until we were hungry again, and hooked up with her friend at a restaurant called Joe’s. We had dinner, a great conversation, and then I made my way back to the hotel to get ready for DR. Unexpected friendships are the best!

Punta Cana

The next morning, I arrived at the airport for 8 a.m. to catch my 11 a.m. flight to the Dominican Republic with Swift Air. As I checked in, I was told my bag was five pounds over, and I would have to pay a $39 fee. It had nothing to do with my luggage at all. In fact, my luggage was at the proper weight. This fee turned out to be really for premium economy seating on the flight. If it weren’t for me receiving two free alcoholic beverages, a snack box, and seating in front of the plane on both arriving and returning flights, I would have asked for my money back. Please watch out for the airline fees that they try to charge you.

I finally made it to Punta Cana around 3 p.m. I was transferred from the airport to my resort by NexusTours, who partners with Vacation Express. Once I got to Natura Park, I unwound in my room and explored the resort. It’s a decent resort but needs upgrades. In my room, the furniture was worn down a bit, had an old school tv, and a refrigerator that was not really cold. Plus, I didn’t have hot water for the first day, but it was clean. Also, you only get 15 minutes of free wi-fi every day, and there is no nightlife. The resort has entertainment, but everything gets pretty quiet around midnight. When it comes to food, there are options such as an international buffet, a seafood and a steak restaurant that are open at different hours as well as bars everywhere with unlimited drinks. Overall, my stay there was okay, and the food was pleasant. I would give it 2 1/2 stars out of five.

Friday, I had to meet with a NexusTours representative to make sure everything was going well with me and to get information. While I was there, I book two excursions for Saturday and Sunday.  Afterward, I spent most of the day lying and walking along the beach while enjoying some coconuts that were giving to me by the locals. I also met a guy named Miguel, who sung for me during my walk. The locals really thought I was Dominican. Who knows! I may have some in my family tree! Some locals referred to me as “My Color” and would try to talk to me in the native tongue. Thank goodness for my Spanish lessons in school. So, I understood and spoke a little of the language. It helped me with not being misled in which you will later read. Also, I would like to thank the couple who saved my phone from drifting into the ocean. Angels, they were! I wish I got their names. I ended my night with dinner at the international buffet, and had some delicious goat!

Saturday, I had to be up bright and early for my excursion called “La Hacienda”.  It cost me $99 and was totally worth it. It was the highlight of my trip! I was picked up by a tour guide named Frank at 8:30 a.m. We picked up other participants and made our way there after an hour drive. The excursion included several activities such as a safari, chairlift and zip lining, buggy ride, horseback riding, quick jump, and lunch. I did it all, and enjoyed myself! I milked a cow, swam in a river, ziplined five times over the jungle, and jumped off a high structure. Things I never saw myself doing. It was great!

I didn’t get back to the resort until 6 p.m.  I chilled in the pool until it was time for my dinner reservation at “The Perla” seafood restaurant. The atmosphere and food were lovely. The only thing that bothered me was that some of my food was cold, but it still was tasty.  Later, I linked with Mike and Jim, who I met on the first day. They were apart of my group that came with Vacation Express. We decided that we wanted to check out the nightlife outside of the resort, so we walked to a club called Kviar. The club had good music and was lively.

At 1 a.m., as we started to make our way back to the resort, Jim wandered off. Mike and I spend quite some looking for him until we finally made it back to stumbling upon him already being at the resort. Jim told us that he had just been robbed by two guys, and fought for his life. He said the thieves only got 600 pesos($12) because he didn’t have anything else on him and a tour driver saw the incident and told him to jump in the van. Craziness, I know! Mike and I stared at him dumbfounded, listening to the story as we walked back to our rooms. What a way to end the night.

Wait there’s more!

Santo Domingo

Sunday, I was picked up at 7:30 in the morning for my next excursion to Santo Domingo, a city tour of the capital. I went with a company called Life destinations and Found Trip Tours. Let me tell you why I would not recommend these companies to anyone. After being picked up by my driver, two other people and myself were driven to a location, where we were told another bus would pick us up. We waited for ten minutes exploring souvenir shops until the driver said that the other two would stay and I had to come with him. I was then taken to a gas station, where he told me I would get on another bus going to Santo Domingo with more people. As I was stepping out the van, it started to go backward. The driver forgot to put the vehicle in park. The van would have crashed into a gas pump if it wasn’t for my yelling.

Then, the driver started to roam around to see who was going to Santo Domingo. Right off the bat, everything seemed very off and disorganized. I should have demanded to be taken to the resort and receive my money back, but I went ahead. Everyone that he went to said either they were not going or were brushing him off. Two gentlemen finally came out, who look like they were in charge. They stood right next to me for some time staring at me. Then they started carrying on a conversation in Spanish. As they spoke, one of the guys asked the other if she speaks Spanish and the other replied no, she doesn’t speak any. I interrupted them and said yes I do in Spanish in which they both look at me with shock faces.

Next, one of them asked if I paid for my tour to which I replied yes. He then proceeded to tell me sorry for the inconvenience. You can get on that bus, a bus that was sitting there for the entire time I was there. I couldn’t believe what just occurred. I told others who were on the bus with me what happened, and they said: “Don’t worry you are safe with us now.” They also went through similar situations. They had to transfer three buses and didn’t know if they were going make it to the Santo Domingo as well.

Finally, we started to make our way to the capital. We picked up our tour guide named Ruphalo from a street corner, who was from Switzerland but spoke fluent Spanish. We had a two-hour drive from Punta Cana, but it seemed shorter because our driver was doing 130 mph per hour on the highway. You better believe I had on my seatbelt! However, while on the bus, the driver kept making suggestive eyes through the rear view mirror, so that made me uncomfortable during the entire ride.

Santo Domingo is well-known for its historical sites. In fact, it became a permanent European settlement founded by Christopher Columbus, so there are many museums, cathedrals, and medieval sites in which we got to see. We also explored “Los Tres Ojos” “The Three Eyes” cave, inhabited by the first settlers of the island, the Taíno Indians. That was incredible! We didn’t see all of the city because some stores and sites were closed for Sunday, but the tour was still informative. Lunch was also provided.

When we arrived back in Punta Cana, the driver dropped off everyone on the bus except the tour guide and me. They were told another bus would take them to their resort. At that moment, I felt uncomfortable again and was bothered by the fact I was alone with these two men on the bus, especially the suggestive eyed driver. Ruphalo told me that the driver would drop him off first because he lived closer than my resort. I didn’t like that idea, so I explained to him how I thought it would make more sense to drop me off first. Both of them didn’t listen to a word I said and continued to an off-road rocky path that looked like something out of the movies where there’s no return. The way this route look, in my mind I was panicking with thoughts of being raped or murdered, trying to get my GPS to work because I didn’t know where I was and thinking of my escape just in case things took a turn for the worse. I literally said to myself, “Lord I am in your hands!”

Next thing I know, we were back on the busy road where we picked up Ruphalo from the beginning of the trip. He said thank you and waved goodbye. Then as the driver drove, he started to ask questions like if I was married, what’s my name, telling me about all the money he makes, what car he drives as if I cared. I was totally focused on looking for landmarks showing me where I was and if I was close to my resort.

I finally made it. You should have seen how fast I hopped out the van! I went straight to the beach and sat there staring at the ocean while bursting into laughter about the whole ordeal. That’s all I could do after experiencing something so dangerous; and even after all that I watch the sunset, taught a security guard named Charles some English, and went on to my reservation at 8 p.m. at “Media Luna” steak restaurant. I will never forget this day for the rest of my life.

The next morning I woke up just in time for breakfast and made my way to the airport on a NexusTours bus. I arrived in Miami around 5 p.m. Stayed another night at the Element Miami and flew to New York the next day.

Now, if someone was to ask me, “Sharell would you do a solo trip again?” Hell yes, I would!  “Would you do it again in DR?” Nope, at least not at this moment. Not enough organization and security in place I feel at this time when leaving the resort. Don’t get me wrong; the Dominican Republic is a beautiful place to explore and enjoy. I had a great adventure, met some cool people, and saw lots of potential and development, but for right now I would recommend going with a partner, a group of friends, or locals who are from there unless you plan to stay at the resort the entire time. Then you are good, but still be cautious. Just be safe and prudent no matter where you travel. Every place has its dangers.

Here are some travel tips while visiting the Dominican Republic:

• Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen, and oh did I mentioned SUNSCREEN.
  
• Mosquito Repellent.
  
• Hand sanitizer or bacteria wipes.
  
• They do everything mostly in Dollars. Makes no sense to exchange Dollars for Pesos.
  
• If you plan to leave the resort,  buy souvenirs while you are out because everything is less expensive than at the resort.
  
• Do not carry large amounts of money on you.
  
• Do not bring your real identification with you while exploring. Take a copy.
  
• Research tour companies before buying excursions.
  
• Be mindful of your surroundings and property.
• If you are to travel alone, make your presence known so someone can know just in case something happens to you.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
• Enjoy the beautiful weather, beaches, and the people! 

Click Video Below:

 

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South Beach, Miami

 

Punta Cana, D.R.