09/2013 - Santo Domingo Guide 2013, DR1 and Minister of Tourism.

[Jao]

From DR1 travel newsletter:

"New La Romana and Punta Cana highways make driving easy. Traveling to La Romana from Santo Domingo now takes less than an hour-and-a-half as the new overpasses and express highway connecting San Pedro de Macoris with La Romana are open. On 30 November, the La Romana city bypass will open to the general public meaning it should take an hour to commute from La Romana to Santo Domingo, depending on city traffic in Santo Domingo.

From there it is another 40 minutes to Punta Cana. Once in Punta Cana enjoy traveling within that destination along the Boulevard Turistico del Este (BTE). President Danilo Medina was in Punta Cana last week to inaugurate the BTE and nearby roads and sidewalks for a total 65.2 km of major access roads in the eastern tourist area. It is now very easy to go from and to Santo Domingo to Punta Cana, including along the coastline route to Macao area beach resorts.

The Boulevard Turistico del Este is 30 km long, of which 26.4 km are four lanes wide, two in each direction from the Punta Cana International Airport. Another 3.6 km of two lanes continue to Macao in the north, 4 km of the Uvero Alto extension. The project also includes a further 17.2 km of secondary roads and sidewalks in Bavaro, Cabeza de Toro and Punta Cana area. The Boulevard Turistico is designed for a speed limit of 100 km per hour."

[DMV]

From DR1 travel newsletter:

"New La Romana and Punta Cana highways make driving easy. Traveling to La Romana from Santo Domingo now takes less than an hour-and-a-half as the new overpasses and express highway connecting San Pedro de Macoris with La Romana are open. On 30 November, the La Romana city bypass will open to the general public meaning it should take an hour to commute from La Romana to Santo Domingo, depending on city traffic in Santo Domingo.

I was in La Romana this pass week and yes with the new highway you will make great time.

A nice place to eat in La Romana:

[Jao]

Gallery, sculpture, garden, maybe classes. http://quinta.do/

From Lonely Planet: "This small art gallery, in a renovated 16th-century home, features ever-changing exhibits of colonial and contemporary art. A shady courtyard at the back with tables and chairs provides a great place to just sit and relax. BYO snacks and drinks." http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dominica...uinta-dominica

[eldorob]

So 20 years after WWII, a US tank commander decides to run over a German-made VW in Santiago? Nice

[Jao]

So 20 years after WWII, a US tank commander decides to run over a German-made VW in Santiago? Nice

LOL.

Santo Domingo, Puerta del Conde (the tank was parked).

[Jao]

http://arturofuentecigarclub.com/ probably about a block from GBP. On Avenida 27 de Febrero, near the northeast corner of Avenida Tiradentes (Ave. Alma Mater south of 27 de Febrero). The actor who played Sam from the Lord of the Rings, visited.

[Jao]

Gym opens at 5:30AM, at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel. 600 pesos to use the gym. 800 pesos to use the gym and pool. Open air staircase from the lobby, down one flight for the office where you pay (gym and entrance to the pool on this level). 8th floor lounge and bar, Azotea at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel, is very nice, floor to ceiling windows with a view of the Sea. Glass enclosed cigar lounge inside the lounge area. Jazz Friday nights in the Azotea Lounge, Dominican Fiesta Hotel, http://jazzendominicana.blogspot.com/

I drove past the El Embajador Hotel and stopped there to say hello to an amiga who works there, remodeled lobby and bar area.

[Jao]

http://www.travelpulse.com/news/hote...ngo-hotel.html "The Real Inter Continental Santo Domingo will be located in the upscale Piantini residential neighborhood on Avenida Winston Churchill next to the Acropolis, a shopping center with restaurants, shops and nearby nightlife. The hotel will feature a stylish lobby bar and multiple restaurants, with meetings rooms, business center, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center and spa."

Depiction and Photos: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...hp?p=108524366

[Jao]

Dominican Baseball League, upcoming matches: http://www.sportstats.com/baseball/d...oming-matches/

Caribbean Series, with the return of Cuba, starts February 1, 2014, on Margarita Island, Venezuela.

[frankunderwood]

[QUOTE=Jao;1250740]DR1 Travel Newsletter will appear in your email, when you subscribe.

From their newsletter September 10, 2013;

thanks for all your hard work.

[Jao]

thanks for all your hard work.

Thank you.

"When the tit’s that big, everybody gets in line." — House of Cards

[Jao]

A new hotel in zona colonial, opening March, 2014, http://www.casasdelxvi.com/

From Frommer's: "Ciudad Colonial, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
This UNESCO World Heritage Site packs in cathedral, fort, and other ancient buildings to create one of the Caribbean's richest historic areas. Now, with the 2013 completion of the new, four-lane Coral highway, it takes half the time to reach the ancient sights from the resorts of Punta Cana—you can get there in two hours, not four, making day-trips possible. The Dominican government is also pedestrianizing the old city, bringing in more cafés and shops, and keeping an eye on the quality of its tourist amenities. A new luxe hotel, Las Casas del XVI, opens in 2014 in a collection of old buildings from the 1500s. Santo Domingo is coming of age for tourists—even JetBlue flies there now—and because of the highway, you no longer have to choose between all-inclusive beach vacation or a city-oriented DR vacation. You can now experience both sides of the country." http://www.frommers.com/slideshows/8...14#slide848254

[Jao]

J.W. Marriott Hotel, Avenida Winston Churchill, Santo Domingo, should be opening soon (photo from skyscrapercity.com); http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=544420

[Jao]

To check the balance on a Claro pre-paid sim card cell number, maybe: *122# and press send. https://www.aryty.com/ and https://www.ezetop.com/ can be used to add minutes to DR prepaid cell phone numbers, with a bank card or credit card, starting at $5US increments. Cards with a scratch off code on the back can be purchased, I have seen starting at 60 pesos (some shops can also add minutes). For Claro dial something like 1133 and press send and then enter the code that appears under the scratch off part of the card (instructions are on the back of the card).

[Jao]

Schedule, upcoming match, Cuba v D.R., Monday, February 3, 2014 at 3PM (eastern time); http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/extr.../cbws/schedule

View online (and for smartphones) from Licey's (Dominican baseball Champions 2013-2014) website; http://www.licey.com/television/ (click "Aqui").

[Jao]

Licey Tigers celebration after winning the Dominican Baseball League Championship for 2013-2014, Quisqueya Stadium, Santo Domingo;

[Jao]

Merengue music by Morel probably from around the Trujillo era, http://listindiario.com/la-republica...go-un-merengue

(arrozales= rice fields, mangroves= manglares, lighthouse= faro). Video in 1080p;

[Jao]

Three locations in Santo Domingo. Daily, weekly and longer memberships.

Body Shop gym in the Naco neighborhood, near the new Silver Sun Gallery Tower, seems to have a nice rooftop pool, as well as weights, machines, classes and boxing equipment. Basketball and maybe squash.

Price is about $14US for a day, or about $11US per day with a one week membership.. http://www.clubbodyshop.com

[Jao]

10 minutes or less east of Boca Chica, Los Delfines Water Park (supposedly largest in the Caribbean), http://losdelfinespark.com/

[Jao]

Agua Splash Caribe, less than 10 minutes from Zona Colonial, http://www.aguasplashrd.com/

Not far from the National Aquarium;