Mrs Caber & I went to Bahia Principe San Juan which is just outside Puerto Plata 7 years ago this Feb and it was excellent. The place was beautiful and the staff were very friendly, we observed the groundskeeper climbing a coconut palm one morning and he brought down a coconut and trimmed it to give to one of the female staffers to drink from. We were simply entertained by his expertise doing this, then he saw us smiling and he gestured to us to wait. He then climbed up for another coconut to prepare & give to us. The place was all-inclusive (at least with our specific wrist bands) so there was no tipping, but I figured that was just for the actual service people and that the landscaper would be OK. He refused a tip, but he noted that he'd appreciate a Coke so we fetched him one from one of the beach bars.
I would recommend to book slightly off from common spring-break times for universities to avoid that party crowd. Or during it if that's your preference...
There were guards at either end of the beautiful long beach and I wondered if their shotguns were actually loaded
If you go and find some Ray-Bans in the Ocean near the kayak rental bring them back for me please!
Puerto Plata "Where to stay?"
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