skittels
12-05-2004, 09:20 AM
Jimmy asked me to repost this, so here it is.
After reading some short stories on the wsgforum and spelling the BB website i took the plunge and went for a late november week break to BB.
After 12hrs flying from Amsterdam Holland I arived on the airport where the promised taxi was allready waiting for me! A 30min trip would bring me to BB.
The resort emerged as a small tastefull gemm in the middle of nowhere and very close to the waterfront.
The Resort (i would use private resort, it's small and cosy) welcomes you with a good warm vibrato knowing you are on the right spot right now! It has a real friendly open, modern style, everything looks "allmost" new or well maintained.
To the room i had to cross BB's beautifull two legged flowergarden with a wide variety of species every time suprising with new spicy flavours and friendly colours.
The Single Deluxe room suprised me as being tastefull, clean, roomy, with a REAL GOOD BED! And of course, AC,TV, Bathroom, SafeBox!
After freshing up I went down to take another peak in the flower garden. To my surprise, no-body was pushy, just plain friendly and wanted to know if i had a good flight etc... Somehow it clicked with me and actually the first girl i spoke tooo and guess what in English! She would end up staying with me for the rest of the week
I asked here and here friend for diner and went for another extreme good surprise... The Food!
Do not expect haute cuisine (go for france if ya want that), but good honest tasty spicy caribean style food. I've checked out a big part of the menu in the week and did not have bad surprises at all (not after to which tells me it's like the rooms in that kitchen "CLEAN").
After this we relaxed. And again what's most noticeable is the allmost family atmosphere of relax and no pressure. In Holland we would characterize it a little bit like a brown cafe or an irish pub. Untill someone puts on "Gasolina" then you will now pretty fast what caribean bubbling style dancing is (after you peeled youre eyes from your sun-glasses of course) and made a reservation for the washing machine ;-)
The rooms seem to be good insulated as well (well C-5, is), I did not hear anybody sporting, nor got complaints if i did, only some music. So we had a good night rest and even better wake up by a Rooster... I took a cold one from the mini-bar in the room, my eye spotted the price list, less than 1usd, and i had to smile... A mini bar which will not kill ya wallet!
The Breakfast enclosed a nice surprise again. Of course the tortilla was good, but oh man decent coffee! And no problemo if you take a refill. Thats what i call service which counts ands makes me smile and come back for more.
Reading a book in the morning near the pool i was surprised by the tranquility of the place, no children running around, most people just relax, the stereo is the only thing you hear. Very good to unwind and build up some energy for later ;-)).
Around noon the flower garden seems to grow again showing new variety every day untill 9pm when only some night creatures stay. Beware for "gasolina"!. Some local expats seem to have a soft spot for BB too showing the loyal most important friendly visitors which help to make this place so good. It's quite international as a place and somehow it looks like most people can get along allmost instantenous.
I tried snorkling the reef in front of the hotel, but David is right, it's not much fish out there, but a lot of sea-hedgehogs and sea weed in the shallows a strong current at approx 200yards out of the shore, bad visibility and a beach without people make it a little dangerous and futile to do. If you do it, please do it with 2 people. And even better ask David to plan a snorkling trip for you near Sosua.
A week went by very fast and my "girlfriend" realy made a huge part of this week but also limited outgoing a bit, so keep that in mind if you go steady.... Next year I will go with friends and make sure that i have the first days to give you an update of the excursion options at day and night.
Checking out i had the last surprise, the bill.... less than 1k for 7 days, in which we eat and drunk on average with 2.5 people and i had the single deluxe... Real your moneys worth in my opinion and in respect to dutch prices i am acustomed to.
Just a Break down for you all regarding those financial details.
BB for 1 week
Single Deluxe Room, 2 occupants USD350
Food and Drink for me and my full time occupant plus some drinks/food for invited USD650. Is approx USD 250pp, based on a 2.5 factor.
What it cost for me is therefore approx USD 600. The rest was a volunteered donation for a good cause 8)
A Beer in any bar in Holland will allready set you back twice, three times what BB is asking for his Mini-Bar fee, the same applies to the food, He is asking McDonalds, Burger King Amounts in respect to my Dutch wallet.
Of course this is not as cheap as you can get (in Thailand i've eaten/drunk for less than usd 10 a day). And some point out that you can have a LT outside BB for as much as 500pesos.
But good quality, service and safety has its price. The no hassle attitude with visitors combined with a nice room and relaxed atmosphere make it a very very good price to me.
Next year I will defenitely try to book the jacuzzi room or the penthouse when i go with friends which like me are not speaking spanish terribly well.
My Last minute comfortclass ticket from Amsterdam with Holland Exell cost me USD600 including all fees.
The cost of the chicas.
1300peso ST, 2500peso LT, 4000peso GFE. No Salida! .First two rates are BB fixed, last one is not, just an indication what you can expect, acc to my girl, I payed just 3000 peso a day though, because somehow i have given the girl a good BFE ;-)). It counts to be nice... It really does. In BB it is not essential to speak spanish (I do not).
As far as what i've heard (got a gfe all week so i did not check myselve) a chica from outside (Puerto Plata / Sosua) will set you back 1500 just as salida (barfine) on top of that expect 2500-4000 peso. But i also heard of 500pesos LT, no salida... :roll:
LOL but I am a lazzy bumm, so if i do not need, i do not hunt. :D
Only regret was leaving the place especially because the bikini contest started at the time i left ;-(( There will be a next year though.
Bottom line If you are looking for a friendly peacefull place with an excellent flowergarden which does not want to ambush you! Like me hate to sit on top of disco's or be in >100people hotels, get mugged at the check-out but don't mind to pay for service, etc. then look no further. BB is it! Next year I will be back with friend's and I guess it will be more than once.
Have Funn and say Hi to BB from Ivo
After reading some short stories on the wsgforum and spelling the BB website i took the plunge and went for a late november week break to BB.
After 12hrs flying from Amsterdam Holland I arived on the airport where the promised taxi was allready waiting for me! A 30min trip would bring me to BB.
The resort emerged as a small tastefull gemm in the middle of nowhere and very close to the waterfront.
The Resort (i would use private resort, it's small and cosy) welcomes you with a good warm vibrato knowing you are on the right spot right now! It has a real friendly open, modern style, everything looks "allmost" new or well maintained.
To the room i had to cross BB's beautifull two legged flowergarden with a wide variety of species every time suprising with new spicy flavours and friendly colours.
The Single Deluxe room suprised me as being tastefull, clean, roomy, with a REAL GOOD BED! And of course, AC,TV, Bathroom, SafeBox!
After freshing up I went down to take another peak in the flower garden. To my surprise, no-body was pushy, just plain friendly and wanted to know if i had a good flight etc... Somehow it clicked with me and actually the first girl i spoke tooo and guess what in English! She would end up staying with me for the rest of the week
I asked here and here friend for diner and went for another extreme good surprise... The Food!
Do not expect haute cuisine (go for france if ya want that), but good honest tasty spicy caribean style food. I've checked out a big part of the menu in the week and did not have bad surprises at all (not after to which tells me it's like the rooms in that kitchen "CLEAN").
After this we relaxed. And again what's most noticeable is the allmost family atmosphere of relax and no pressure. In Holland we would characterize it a little bit like a brown cafe or an irish pub. Untill someone puts on "Gasolina" then you will now pretty fast what caribean bubbling style dancing is (after you peeled youre eyes from your sun-glasses of course) and made a reservation for the washing machine ;-)
The rooms seem to be good insulated as well (well C-5, is), I did not hear anybody sporting, nor got complaints if i did, only some music. So we had a good night rest and even better wake up by a Rooster... I took a cold one from the mini-bar in the room, my eye spotted the price list, less than 1usd, and i had to smile... A mini bar which will not kill ya wallet!
The Breakfast enclosed a nice surprise again. Of course the tortilla was good, but oh man decent coffee! And no problemo if you take a refill. Thats what i call service which counts ands makes me smile and come back for more.
Reading a book in the morning near the pool i was surprised by the tranquility of the place, no children running around, most people just relax, the stereo is the only thing you hear. Very good to unwind and build up some energy for later ;-)).
Around noon the flower garden seems to grow again showing new variety every day untill 9pm when only some night creatures stay. Beware for "gasolina"!. Some local expats seem to have a soft spot for BB too showing the loyal most important friendly visitors which help to make this place so good. It's quite international as a place and somehow it looks like most people can get along allmost instantenous.
I tried snorkling the reef in front of the hotel, but David is right, it's not much fish out there, but a lot of sea-hedgehogs and sea weed in the shallows a strong current at approx 200yards out of the shore, bad visibility and a beach without people make it a little dangerous and futile to do. If you do it, please do it with 2 people. And even better ask David to plan a snorkling trip for you near Sosua.
A week went by very fast and my "girlfriend" realy made a huge part of this week but also limited outgoing a bit, so keep that in mind if you go steady.... Next year I will go with friends and make sure that i have the first days to give you an update of the excursion options at day and night.
Checking out i had the last surprise, the bill.... less than 1k for 7 days, in which we eat and drunk on average with 2.5 people and i had the single deluxe... Real your moneys worth in my opinion and in respect to dutch prices i am acustomed to.
Just a Break down for you all regarding those financial details.
BB for 1 week
Single Deluxe Room, 2 occupants USD350
Food and Drink for me and my full time occupant plus some drinks/food for invited USD650. Is approx USD 250pp, based on a 2.5 factor.
What it cost for me is therefore approx USD 600. The rest was a volunteered donation for a good cause 8)
A Beer in any bar in Holland will allready set you back twice, three times what BB is asking for his Mini-Bar fee, the same applies to the food, He is asking McDonalds, Burger King Amounts in respect to my Dutch wallet.
Of course this is not as cheap as you can get (in Thailand i've eaten/drunk for less than usd 10 a day). And some point out that you can have a LT outside BB for as much as 500pesos.
But good quality, service and safety has its price. The no hassle attitude with visitors combined with a nice room and relaxed atmosphere make it a very very good price to me.
Next year I will defenitely try to book the jacuzzi room or the penthouse when i go with friends which like me are not speaking spanish terribly well.
My Last minute comfortclass ticket from Amsterdam with Holland Exell cost me USD600 including all fees.
The cost of the chicas.
1300peso ST, 2500peso LT, 4000peso GFE. No Salida! .First two rates are BB fixed, last one is not, just an indication what you can expect, acc to my girl, I payed just 3000 peso a day though, because somehow i have given the girl a good BFE ;-)). It counts to be nice... It really does. In BB it is not essential to speak spanish (I do not).
As far as what i've heard (got a gfe all week so i did not check myselve) a chica from outside (Puerto Plata / Sosua) will set you back 1500 just as salida (barfine) on top of that expect 2500-4000 peso. But i also heard of 500pesos LT, no salida... :roll:
LOL but I am a lazzy bumm, so if i do not need, i do not hunt. :D
Only regret was leaving the place especially because the bikini contest started at the time i left ;-(( There will be a next year though.
Bottom line If you are looking for a friendly peacefull place with an excellent flowergarden which does not want to ambush you! Like me hate to sit on top of disco's or be in >100people hotels, get mugged at the check-out but don't mind to pay for service, etc. then look no further. BB is it! Next year I will be back with friend's and I guess it will be more than once.
Have Funn and say Hi to BB from Ivo