PLAYA DORADA
Area: Dominican Republic
Country: Dominican Republic


Location:
On the Atlantic N coast, 4 miles SE of Puerto Plata; 15 miles W of Sosua. 9 miles W of Puerto Plata airport.

Telephone code from UK:
1 809 809

Position:
Occupies a flat site complete with man-made lakes between the main coast road and curving sandy coastline; bisected by a narrow creek.

Description:
A verdant, well-planned and completely sanitised purpose-built 250-acre holiday oasis. It is shielded from the local population by a security-patrolled perimeter and main gate _ guests are obliged to present their resort identity cards or wristbands on re-entering. More than a dozen luxury resort-style hotels are grouped around a meandering 18-hole golf course and a couple of attractive lakes. The focal point is Plaza Playa Dorada, with its simple concentration of minor shops, handful of restaurants and a couple of banks, situated off the main drive. Little of Dominican life will be seen from within the safe precincts of the complex, and the prices are higher than "outside".

Suitability:
Predominantly well-funded beach-loving couples of all ages; particularly popular with honeymooners. Many come just for the golf.

Accommodation:
A dozen or so good-quality hotel complexes, some better than others, but all pretty much adhering to the same formula. Several are set behind the long sandy beach; others less fortunate generally have small private sections with beach bar and loungers. Most now cater for all-inclusive packages so are popular with European tourists.

Shopping:
Unsophisticated; poor even for basic essentials. Most properties have a shop or two, and basic gift shops selling sun creams, bottled water and toiletries. A small hub of retailers, banks, restaurants and airline services concentrated around the Plaza. A colony of "artesanias" has appeared half a mile along the road toward Puerto Plata.

Beach:
Part of the 75-mile strand that runs along the Atlantic coastline. Over 2» miles of fine golden sand fringed with mature palms; many hotels back directly onto the shore and provide their own complement of thatched parasols, loungers and simple snack bars, although the entire length is accessible to visitors. Although a little scruffy in parts, it offers a good range of water sports including coral reef snorkelling, windsurfing and banana boat rides.

Entertainments:
Daytime: beach- or pool-based. Most complexes have comprehensive organised programmes for both adults and children. Horse riding; golf. Nightlife: a choice of discos and unsophisticated casinos at a handful of larger hotels, with one or two lively music bars around the Plaza. All properties provide live shows and Tannoyed music until late. Cigar-making stalls.

Eating:
Visitors on all-inclusive packages tend to frequent their own hotels, which provide generous buffets, although most have at least one a la carte specialist restaurant. Several cafeterias and relaxed restaurants in the Plaza, some with nightly entertainment. Don't drink the tap water (brush your teeth with bottled water). It's advisable to avoid salads or cold meats that are displayed without the benefit of chilling devices.

Public-transport:
Guests are encouraged to use taxis or hotel transportation (usually tractor-drawn trailers). Frequent public guagua (minibus) service plies the coast road.

Local-excursions:
See Puerto Plata.