I really liked Sosua as it seemed more real than the bigger resorts of Playa Dorada etc. Its a very shabby place and maybe intimidating to some because of the locals constantly asking you to look in their shops.

Has internet shops, supermarkets etc. Sosua beach is lovely but the local can spoil it slightly by constantly approching. Walk further along the beach to get cheaper sunloungers and always barter.

Found the hot food to be a bit pricey if served to you on the beach. Plently of fruit and snack sellers walking up and down. Made the mistake of saying to one lady that I might buy a mango off her later in the day thinking she would leave, instead she left two mangos in a bag under my sunlounger and walked off. When she returned an hour later she sliced the mangos up for me and I paid. Give the lady credit for her technique!

Snorkelling at the beach was much better than from my hotel (casa marina) beach. Could swim quite a distant out and still felt very safe. My only warning would be about the cash machines, the money will come out before you get your card out. In a rush I managed to take the money and forget my card. Didn't realise until two days later on the flight home! Luckily it hadn't been used!

If you don't feel brave enough to go by yourself then go on a walkabout tour with one of your tour reps, usually organised for after your welcome chat.

Can't really comment on the resort entertainment as didn't venture out of the hotel at night.

The Riu complex at POP has 3 hotels, the beauty of this complex is that you can use the facilities of all 3.

It's nice to go for a walk along the beach and just call in for a drink at any of the bars.
You do have to stick to your "home base" for the evening meal though.

Beach was golden sand not like the white sand on the south . However it was well maintained by the hotel staff.The sea was warm and suitable for bathing. I would recommend bathing shoes of some kind as you can come across some rocks and coral

FLIGHTS 9 hours to DR so pay for Premier seats or use First Choice Airline who have the 33" seat space which is excellent with individual seat screens. No need to upgrade.

EXCURSIONS These can be very pricey but if there are 4 or more of you the trips are cheaper if you negotiate a Mini Bus Taxi to take you there and back he will act as guide and you have the freedom to stop off or change you itinerary, we used Eric Reyes who is based at the Merengue Hotel and he was excellent. email him direct ercilioreyes@hotmail.com
He took us to a supermarket and cigarettes and Booze were a lot cheaper than at the airport or the resort. We also went on the cable car which should have cost 200peso but when converted we were charged $7 each which worked out more expensive,also if a guide goes with you he will expect a tip, if you are going to buy stuff locally it would be better to have local currency as they all use different exchange rates and in some places that take cards have a 10% surcharge.

We also visited the Island BBQ in Cofresi which the rep said was good, it was, but very very expensive.

BEACHES The best beach is at Sosua but the sports beach north of Riu Bachata where all free non water sports is nice. The Scuba and Snorkel trips also leave from there.
It has small free beach bar for guests but limited range of drinks.
All the beaches are have gravel or stones in the waters edge the water is not very clear and sea urchins are numerous. I suggest you purchase some BEACH/WATER/AQUA SHOES before you go, they cost upwards of £10 per pair in DR or $15 US We managed to get a pair for 500 local money by only taking that amount to the stall.

DUTY FREE Good choice but Contrary to earlier reports Puerta Plata Airport shops are very expensive and all the prices a fixed at each stall, clearly a cartel in force to hike up the prices. Ie 200 cigs $23 US dollars 1 Litre Hennessey Brandy $46 US

Transfers A taxi to airport is good idea and reasonable its quicker and you get to book in before the transfer buses arrive. VIP lounge is strictly non smoking and the snacks are rubbish only 4 alcoholic drinks tickets per person and you don’t get time to use them if you need to shop. We only had just over an hour and a half to wait by the time we'd checked in and looked around the shops. The lounge in departures was full and we were taken to the downstairs lounge and were told someone would come and collect us but they didn't and we ended up rushing to board the plane. Waste of money in our opinion as the main airport lounge is also Air conditioned. We would also advise that you pay your departure tax and get your boarding card stamped as soon as you are through to the departure lounge as you won't be able to board the plane if it isn't done and you could end up queuing to pay as the flight is boarding.

The beach was lovely loads of space with plenty of shaded areas if you wanted them, You could not fault the cleanliness of the resort at all. And the entertainment team were cheerfull all the time allways laughing and happy.I could not fault the resort at all it was excellent. Would go back tomorrow if I could

Resort was very clean you could always see people sweeping, mopping and wiping things down.

Excellent entertaintment

Beach was stunning..the sea was very rouhgh though. they do have a flag system which works like traffic lights Red-Dont go in Yellow-Ok but not safe Green-Safe. For the whole 2 weeks we were there not once was it green, i dont think children should be left alone in the sea.

Fantastic resort

the resort was gleaming even the beach was raked every day lots of sunbeds with padded covers plenty of shade lots to do with the entertainment staff always busy and boy can they dance. the catamaran trip and paradise island well worth the money,but do not hire a car or moped if you value your life for driving in dom rep is a skill best left to the locals,5 people on 1 moped with no helmets scary. it is a country and a people you could never tire of visiting.

Although you are on the complex, the entertainment staff are always looking to amuse you and entertainment is going on every day at all three hotels.

We went on a Monster Truck Safari which showed you the island, this was a great way to see how life is really like and the only sad thing is the children, who chase the trucks wanting gifts, which we took pens, paper, etc to give them. We also went to Ocean World which was okay but not really worth the money.

the resort was very clean, the entertainment was non stop there was somthing to do all day long if thats what you wanted to do, the beach was small but you could have a go at snorkeling, and go out on the boats for an hour a day as part of your all enclusive package. I will be going back to this resort next year.