Six months ago, I like so many other people thought the BVI's were somewhere in the Pacific. While surfing for bonefishing spots, I found this forum. Were it not for all the good people that answered my questions and shared their experiences, I would still be deprived from visiting such a beautiful country. And like so many people before me............I"M HOOKED!
Unfortunately, our vacation started turning sour once we arrived at the Beef Is. airport for our flight to Puerto Plata DR via San Juan PR.
In March when I booked this portion of our journey with the AA agent, I expressed my concerns about the luggage getting hung up in SUJ as we only had 90 minutes between flights. "No Problem" said the smooth, calm, and confident gentlemen on the other end of the phone, "We will put your luggage on at Beef Is. and you pick it up in Puerto Plata. NOOOOOOOOO! said the check in agent at Beef Is. you must claim your bags in San Juan, clear customs and security before you can continue on to Puerto Plata. Now normally i am a pretty cool guy under fire but a rush of naseua passed through me, what of my fishing reels I thot. Note! fly rod never left my hands the whole trip. Once we arrived in San Juan we managed to clear customs and the elaborate screening system they have in place re-checked our luggage and made it to our departure gate just as they were announcing final boarding call. (felt like we were on the Amazing Race) We boarded the airplane and gave each other a big Hi Five as we watched the last of the luggage being loaded, It was ours.
Our arrival into Puerto Plata was uneventful, we paid our $20.00 USD entrance fee, cleared immigration, collected our bags and proceeded to customs. (Clue #1 that I screwed up)
I placed our suitcases on the table for inspection. the customs officer looked at me and said, "give me a tip and you can pass through" Now i have nothing to hide but I pulled $5.00 from my wallet and said in a VERY LOUD VOICE! "Here's your payola" the officer smiled and stuffed the fiver into his pocket. Outside the airport was it usual utter mayhem (clue #2). The porters rush your luggage as soon as you exit, grab it off your cart and insist on ushering you to your waiting transportation. A few not so nice spanish words and a hard pull had all of my luggage back in my posession (thot about the reels again) We arrived at the Occidental Playa Dorada, check-in was quick and we were then given a beautiful large suite directly overlooking the pool and the beach (things were looking up). A quick shower and change of clothes and we were off to explore the complex and the beach (clue #3) The beach was littered with seaweed and garbage, coconut smelling bodies, and hucksters who would try to sell you anything including vodka laced with viagra. The water was so dirty you could not snorkel, There was lack of sealife and beach shells. WHAT WAS I THINKING!!! I had just left the gin clear pristine waters of the BVI's, its white sandy beaches, rich sealife, and the only company you have on the beach are the pelicans and sand crabs. DUHHHHH.
Oh well I thought, only 10 more days and lesson learned.
This was an all inclusive resort, the food was ok but the drinks were poor. The mixed drinks were made from the cheapest spirits they could buy (thots of blindness crossed my mind) so i stuck to the Presidente which was good and cold. One night I decided to have a coffee and liquier nightcap. I ordered a dark coffee and a Grand Marnier. The waiter came back with the drinks and presented me with a bill for 435 pesos.........the equivilates to $20.00 CAD for one oz.I sent the drink back along with a few more spanish adjectives. Thank god for the "Goslings black rum" I picked up at the Beef Is. airport.
I went on a fishing charter without getting one bite, we toured Puerto Plata and were harassed by shop keepers there also.
The rest of the time saw us laying around the pool and taking long walks on the beach.
We have been to the DR before, however at a more secluded resort. This was a mistake I would not make again.
If someone was to ask me on comparing Anegada to the DR, well there is no comparison.
I believe that Anegada will remain the same in my lifetime....the only concern I have is that stories like this getting out.
