Tobago, Caribbean Holiday Review - Trip to the heavens

Submitted by: rebecca
Date of travel: 04-April-2009

i booked my lovely holiday on this very website and was a holiday to remember. As soon as i reached my hotel in Tobago i put the bag in my room and ran down to the white soft sandy beaches. I saw the light blue warm sea's still it was as if i had stepped into a magazine.

Dominican Republic, Caribbean Holiday Review - Great Resort

Submitted by: Bonnie
Date of travel: 03-December-2008

We are from Winnipeg, Canada and stayed at the Paraiso del Sol just east of Cabarete from March 12-26th, 2008. We chose this all inclusive because of the price, Cabarete location and because it offered singles’ rates. Eight of us stayed at this resort, two couples and four singles. It is really hard to find affordable single rates and the Paraiso del Sol offered this. Initially, because of so many poor reviews we had read on this resort, I was very apprehensive but as this was my 7th trip to the Dominican and my boyfriend’s 10th, we knew that you have to take the poor reviews with a grain of salt. This was a great resort and all of us plan to return to it next year. We have stayed at other Cabarete area resorts (Wyndham Tangerine) and PdelS location was great as it is out of Cabarete so there are no early morning night noises from nearby resorts or bars in town but close enough to take a cab or moped or free shuttle. The beach is great with miles to walk in either direction. Waves can be big but that is what to expect at times from the ocean……..it is a big, powerful, beautiful ocean and makes you wonder at the power of Mother Nature. Cabarete is a free shuttle or a 50 pesos moped ride away so if you like calm beach then you can go there. The ocean view is great. The resort was great, staff helpful and friendly and there are three pools that kept us cool - a huge more shallow pool and a nice deep pool closer to the beach as well as another near the restaurant that we didn’t go to. Our rooms were clean, which is my main concern on any trip. (The women in our group liked the fact that bleach was used on the floors in our rooms and hallways). The single people in our group had rooms with two double beds so they really liked the extra space. Air conditioners help but be advised that the air is turned off during the day as this is a country that does not have services we take for granted here in Canada, like drinkable tap water, great electrical, etc. We were never in our rooms during the day anyway except to change for supper and to sleep. As long as air is circulating, a ceiling fan or air conditioner will do the trick to get the air moving. No complaints at all about our room, showers, or anything. Pillows were a bit lumpy but after a day in the sun and sand, I could have slept on the floor. No one lost weight on the trip and my compliments go out to the chefs and kitchen workers on this resort who gave us tasty, nutritious meals with local, fresh produce in, I am sure, a non-air-conditioned kitchen prep area. Beets and carrots grow well in the sandy soil and all of us in our group ate fresh chicken at both lunch and supper every day. There is a big taste and texture difference between fresh Dominican poultry/fish versus the frozen chicken that we get here in Canada. The breads were made fresh each day and Swiss meringue is the icing they use on their cakes. The rice pudding is the stovetop kind and was every bit as good as my grandma’s. Chicken, fish, rice and beans and fresh cabbage salad are Dominican staples and are nutritious and good for you. Pork is also fresh and tasty. You will not lose weight unless you choose to eat fresh, juicy pineapple and rice every day. This is an underdeveloped country that is doing its best to satisfy everyone that comes and visits. It is unfair of tourists to expect the things we take for granted in our countries of origin to be readily available in this country. What is available in the Dominican is: wonderful people, sun and sand, fresh produce and fruit, inexpensive Brugel rum and any other kinds of spirits and beautiful breathtaking scenery. All in our group like to support the Dominicans so would buy beer from a local for ½ or less the price that they would charge at a restaurant or bar run by non-Dominicans. Ice cold Dominican made El Presidente is a great beer!!! My boyfriend and I always go to the Cabarete area as we have made friends with three local famil