PLAYA GRANDE
Area: Dominican Republic
Country: Dominican Republic


Location:
On the Atlantic N coast, 61 miles E of Puerto Plata, 38 miles E of its international airport by reasonable coast road. 5 miles Rio San Juan.

Telephone code from UK:
1 809

Position:
On a 10-mile stretch of lush, gently undulating tropical coastline in an area known as Costa Verde (the Green Coast), with Playa Grande in the centre of a series of beaches.

Description:
Not a resort in the true sense, especially since development plans of the mid-1990s seem to have come to a halt. Playa Grande itself is a section of coast with a fine beach but not much else, save a handful of simple bars and eateries and one large all-inclusive property in private grounds on a low cliff. Other significant accommodation is several miles in either direction, the farthest situated beyond the nearest town of Rio San Juan to the W. To many this isolation is a blessing, allowing this attractive coastal region to remain largely undisturbed.

Suitability:
Middlemarket holidaymakers seeking a quiet, less developed flavour of the tropics. Be prepared to travel for shopping and alternative entertainments.

Accommodation:
Currently only two hotels that can be considered to be at Playa Grande itself. One is a sprawling all-inclusive club-style complex with the full range of in-house facilities, sitting proudly on low cliffs surrounded by a prestigious golf course. A smaller, budget establishment is just off the coast road. A third, more upmarket all-inclusive establishment lies 12 miles W beside Playa Escondida.

Shopping:
Confined to hotels, though a couple of local gift shops and handicraft stalls are dotted along the busy coast road.

Beach:
Several miles of sandy coastline. Playa Grande itself is a gently shelving beach of fine pale brown sand, occasionally fringed by stunted palm trees, that stretches for about a mile. Water sports arranged at main hotel.

Entertainments:
Daytime: beach and hotel-organised programmes. Nightlife: nonexistent outside hotels.

Eating:
Mainly confined to hotels, though a few beachside eateries offer simple seafood dishes. NB: 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:
Poorly maintained, unreliable local minibuses, mainly used by the locals, are best avoided. Taxis from hotels.

Local-excursions:
See Puerto Plata.