Vacation
12-05-2009, 06:26 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 2,735
Have a great time Barbara!!
I did a search for you for fabric stores, but did turn up anything. If you go around, have this written on a piece of paper: Donde encuentro una tienda de telas? (where can I find a fabric store?) and maybe the hotel people can lead you. If you do find something, be very open minded about fabrics other that cotton, since most likely that's all you will find...no need for quilts there.
And (I will sound like a mother now) don't venture too far from the tourists area. The food might be better and cheaper, but stay safe.
Have fun at the beach!!
Maria
I did a search for you for fabric stores, but did turn up anything. If you go around, have this written on a piece of paper: Donde encuentro una tienda de telas? (where can I find a fabric store?) and maybe the hotel people can lead you. If you do find something, be very open minded about fabrics other that cotton, since most likely that's all you will find...no need for quilts there.
And (I will sound like a mother now) don't venture too far from the tourists area. The food might be better and cheaper, but stay safe.
Have fun at the beach!!
Maria
12-05-2009, 07:56 AM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Pine Grove, California
Posts: 2,816
Have a great time!
I'll be thinking about you being nice and WARM!
I love to go to tropical places (Hawaii, Costa Rica, Nicaragua so far). The advice about bug spray is very important---take some "anti itch" cream as well.
You might find fabric in the local markets but they won't be quilt store quality. (that was my experience anyway)
Your jokes will be missed......
(more Espanol----"mas barato, por favor"--cheaper, please
I'll be thinking about you being nice and WARM!
I love to go to tropical places (Hawaii, Costa Rica, Nicaragua so far). The advice about bug spray is very important---take some "anti itch" cream as well.
You might find fabric in the local markets but they won't be quilt store quality. (that was my experience anyway)
Your jokes will be missed......
(more Espanol----"mas barato, por favor"--cheaper, please
12-05-2009, 09:50 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Montreal
Posts: 1,962
DON'T leave the resort!!!!
I went to Puerto Plata last winter, and while it was a wonderful trip, everyone kept telling us not to leave the resort grounds. Besides, there's not much shopping to be had in that part of the island, we went on a tour and there's almost nothing but poor people around, no malls, no stores other than run down convenience stores and that. You should be offered several day trips at your orientation, like a safari (very very good, take that one!) or something similar to sea world or swimming with the dolphins, or a snorkeling trips and all that. If you go on the beach, there will be tons of locals trying to offer you the same trips and deals at a lower price but I suggest you do NOT go with them. Go with the organized day trips offered at the resorts, they're safe, and you won't have to worry about, they know where to take you that's safe, and they have safe equipment and vehicles, and food that won't make you sick. It's unfortunate but you can't trust the locals, they're just after your money. The beaches down there are public beaches, so everyone has access to them. There will even be people there wth 'badges' or stickers on their shirts saying they work for the hotel, or for whatever company offering such and such a day trip, but ANYONE can put on a badge and walk up to a person and ask for money, saying it's legit. I'm not saying you'll get ripped off, but trust me, it's not safe!
If you walk down the beach there's the Orange Market, it's not very big, but you can find lots of souveneirs and have fun haggling with the vendors... if you buy it for the price advertized, you're getting ripped off.
I went to Puerto Plata last winter, and while it was a wonderful trip, everyone kept telling us not to leave the resort grounds. Besides, there's not much shopping to be had in that part of the island, we went on a tour and there's almost nothing but poor people around, no malls, no stores other than run down convenience stores and that. You should be offered several day trips at your orientation, like a safari (very very good, take that one!) or something similar to sea world or swimming with the dolphins, or a snorkeling trips and all that. If you go on the beach, there will be tons of locals trying to offer you the same trips and deals at a lower price but I suggest you do NOT go with them. Go with the organized day trips offered at the resorts, they're safe, and you won't have to worry about, they know where to take you that's safe, and they have safe equipment and vehicles, and food that won't make you sick. It's unfortunate but you can't trust the locals, they're just after your money. The beaches down there are public beaches, so everyone has access to them. There will even be people there wth 'badges' or stickers on their shirts saying they work for the hotel, or for whatever company offering such and such a day trip, but ANYONE can put on a badge and walk up to a person and ask for money, saying it's legit. I'm not saying you'll get ripped off, but trust me, it's not safe!
If you walk down the beach there's the Orange Market, it's not very big, but you can find lots of souveneirs and have fun haggling with the vendors... if you buy it for the price advertized, you're getting ripped off.
12-05-2009, 09:56 AM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Montreal
Posts: 1,962
oh yeah, and if you go on the safari, bring school supplies, stickers, pencils, crayons, toothpaste, tooth brushes, maxi pads, small things you can easily carry in your suitcase from home, and they'll make a stop off at one of the local schools where you can donate these items. I got all my stuff from the dollar store here.
DO NOT throw money or change at the kids chasing your bus or truck. You're not doing them any good, they're trying to encourage the parents to send their children to schools and get an education instead of begging, and trying to discourage any form of it.
DO NOT throw money or change at the kids chasing your bus or truck. You're not doing them any good, they're trying to encourage the parents to send their children to schools and get an education instead of begging, and trying to discourage any form of it.
12-05-2009, 10:01 AM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Montreal
Posts: 1,962
OMG, sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen! The sun there is brutal even in off season. Re-apply often too, none of this every 6 hours stuff, trust me. Even if you're in the shade... I learned this the hard way :(
I went for a few months before our trip to the tanning salon to prep my skin, and I wore 45 sunblock and I still got some crazy sun burns.
Which resort are you going to? We went to Gran Ventana resort, really awesome!
I went for a few months before our trip to the tanning salon to prep my skin, and I wore 45 sunblock and I still got some crazy sun burns.
Which resort are you going to? We went to Gran Ventana resort, really awesome!
12-05-2009, 10:12 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: United States Virgin Islands
Posts: 326
Originally Posted by butterflywing
i'm going on a two-week vacation to the dominican republic with david starting on monday the 7th (6 a.m. - one eye will still be closed) and returning on the 19th. we'll be in puerto plata at a resort. i've never been to a tropical island before, so i hope it's as good as it sounds. :lol: terri will have tell me, right? i know she's on a pebble, but i think this might be also. :roll:
so, can anyone recommend a good lqs in the dominican republic? ;) :?
so, can anyone recommend a good lqs in the dominican republic? ;) :?
Hope you enjoy your visit there also.
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