Trip to The Dominican Republic
By: Abi and Reese
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
1 US dollar = 47.28 Dominican Republic Pesos
Hotel
Food
Green Jack Restaurant
- This restaurant is located right by our hotel and is a recommended place to eat.
- Hours:
Bar= 10:00A.M. – 12.00P.M. (Sunday - Thursday)
10:00A.M. – 02.00A.M. (Friday and Saturday)Restaurant= 12:00P.M. – 11.00P.M. (Sunday - Thursday)
12:00P.M. – 12.00A.M. (Friday and Saturday) The prices range from 185 - 650 pesos ($3.91 - $13.75)
Blue Jack Beach Bar and Snacks
- This restaurant is located right by our hotel and is a recommended place to eat.
- Hours: 10:00A.M. - 7:00P.M. (Sunday - Thursday)
10:00A.M. - 11:45P.M. (Friday and Saturday) - The prices range from 175 - 500 pesos ($3.70 - $10.57)
Jack's Kite and Grill
- This restaurant is located right by our hotel and is a recommended place to eat.
- Hours: 10A.M. – 7P.M. (Sunday - Thursday)
10A.M. – 12A.M. (Friday and Saturday) - The prices range from 180 - 985 pesos ($3.81 - $20.83)
Our breakfast is included with our hotel room so we won't need to spend any money on breakfast any of the 6 mornings. We will eat lunch at the Blue Jack Beach Bar and Snacks and dinner at the Green Jack Restaurant on the first day. We will spend 1323.98 pesos ($28) for lunch and 1654.97 pesos ($35) for dinner on the first day. We will eat lunch at Jack's Kite and Grill and dinner at the Blue Jack Beach Bar and Snacks on the second day. We will spend 1182.12 pesos ($25) for lunch and 1323.98 pesos ($28) for dinner on the second day. We will eat lunch at the Green Jack Restaurant and dinner at Jack's Kite and Grill on the third day. We will spend 1654.97 pesos ($35) and 1182.12 pesos ($25) for dinner on the third day. We will eat lunch at the Blue Jack Beach Bar and Snacks and dinner at the Green Jack Restaurant on the fourth day. We will spend 1323.98 pesos ($28) for lunch and 1654.97 pesos ($35) for dinner on the fourth day. We will eat lunch at Jack's Kite and Grill and dinner at the Blue Jack Beach Bar and Snacks on the fifth day. We will spend 1182.12 pesos ($25) for lunch and 1323.98 pesos ($28) for dinner on the fifth day. We will eat lunch at the Green Jack Restaurant and dinner at Jack's Kite and Grill on the sixth day. We will spend 1654.97 pesos ($35) and 1182.12 pesos ($25) for dinner on the sixth day. We will eat lunch at the Blue Jack Beach Bar and Snacks on the seventh day. We will spend 1323.98 pesos ($28) for lunch on the seventh day. All together we will spend 17968.25 pesos ($380) to eat during the 7 days we are there. This will leave us with 46528.32 pesos ($984).
Activities
Ocean World Adventure Park, Marina & Casino is the most complete entertainment complex of the Dominican Republic, located in Cofresi Beach, just 3 miles west from the town of Puerto Plata. This entertainment complex is made of an elegant Marina, a unique marine park that allows visitors to interact with marine mammals and the outstanding building where clients will have the opportunity to enjoy restaurants, bars, and theater with a live dance show, casino, and a disco-lounge.
Prices: The Day Pass costs 3309.94 pesos per person ($70) which includes:
- Round-trip transportation from hotels in Puerto Plata
- Park admission
- Snorkeling in Tropical Reef Aquarium
- Pirates Pool
- Rainforest, Bird Exhibit, and Habitat of Iguanas
- Usage of Dolphin Beach (lounge chairs are included)
- Lunch
- Dolphins Show
- Sea Lions Show
- Birds Show
- Sharks Show
We will go here on the second day and it will costs 6619.88 pesos ($140). This will leave us with 39908.44 pesos ($844).
Outback Safari Adventure Tour from Puerto Plata:
Get off the beaten path in an open-top safari truck during this 8-hour adventure from Puerto Plata. Explore the Dominican Republic's North Coast, learning about the local history, culture, and ecosystem from your guides. Lunch, open bar, and round-trip transportation from Puerto Plata hotels are included.
Prices: The pass costs 3735.51 pesos per person ($79) which includes:
8-hour safari truck ride through the Dominican Republic's rural north coast
Pickup and drop-off in Puerto Plata
Open bar and buffet lunch
Swim in a freshwater river
Visit a local farm and school
- Relax on a hidden beach
We will go here on the third day and it will cost 7471.01 pesos ($158). This will leave us with 32437.43 pesos ($636).
Puerto Plata City Tour with Cable Car Ride:
Prices: The pass costs 3073.52 pesos per person ($65) which includes:
Full-day city tour of Puerto Plata
Visit the Amber Museum and San Felipe Fort
- Take a cable car ride up to Isabel de Torres Mountain
- Learn about the history and culture of Puerto Plata from your local guide
- Entrance fees and hotel pickup and drop-off included
We will go here on the fourth day and it will cost 6147.03 pesos ($130). This will leave us with 23926.15 pesos ($506).
Experience the incredible offerings of the Samaná Peninsula on a day trip from Puerto Plata. Set out on the white sands of Cayo Levantado and spend some time in its crystal-clear waters before a Caribbean buffet lunch. Once back on the mainland tour the bustling port city of Santa Bárbara de Samaná, then take a horseback ride through the jungles of El Limón National Park and cool off beneath the cascades of El Limón waterfall. Afterward, sample locally made cacao, coffee, and honey at a local agricultural ranch.
Prices: The pass costs 6383.46 pesos per person ($135) which includes:
12-hour tour to the Samaná Peninsula from Puerto Plata
Cruise by boat to Cayo Levantado for free time on the beach
Dig into a beachside buffet lunch with provided beverages
Ride by horseback into the jungle, and swim under El Limón Waterfall
Explore the town of Santa Bárbara de Samaná
- Visit a Dominican ranch and taste agricultural products like coffee, chocolates, and fruits
We will go here on the fifth day and it will cost 12766.92 pesos ($270). This will leave us with 11159.23 pesos ($236).
Bay of Sosua Catamaran Cruise and Snorkeling:
Spend a day living like the rich and famous aboard a 54-foot classic catamaran. Enjoy an afternoon in the sun as you cruise through the crystal blue waters of the North Coast, Bay of Playa Dorada and the Bay of Sosua. Explore hidden beaches, snorkel in crystal clear waters and enjoy the fierce and wild beauty of Dominican Republic on this Bay of Sosua Catamaran Cruise and Snorkeling excursion.
Prices: The pass costs 4492.06 pesos per person ($95) which includes:
Catamaran cruise
Hotel pick up and drop off
Use of snorkeling equipment
Buffet lunch
- Open bar (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
We will go here on the sixth day and it will cost 8984.13 pesos ($190). This will leave us with 2175.10 pesos ($46)
Rationale for the vacation destination selected:
We wanted to go someplace warm, someplace where our money would take us far, and somewhere with great scenery.
An explanation of what created differences in money values in the U.S. versus the vacation destination:
To start off, the United States GDP is $18 trillion compared to Dominican Republic’s $68.1 billion. This means more money is being circulated throughout the United States and less in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic may find it hard to expand businesses into other countries just because they would have to save and use a lot more of their money in order to get somewhere. The population size of the United States is 321 million people vs. Dominican Republic’s 10.5 million people. Along with this, the percentage of unemployment in the Dominican Republic is 15% compared to the United State’s 7.3%. This makes the country look like it has a weaker economy than other countries. The Dominican Republic has a free floating currency which means the value of the currency is determined by the exchange market. The Dominican Republic imports $15 billion worth of goods whereas it exports only around $6 billion worth of goods. It’s harder for them to import goods and services. Because of their imports and exports, this also makes the country look like it has a weaker economy, and the currency’s value is lowered because of it.
Financial and non-financial incentives to go to that destination:
The biggest financial incentive was that our money would go a lot further in the Dominican Republic than it would in the U.S. For every U.S. dollar we had, we could get 47.08 pesos. Non financial incentives included seeing new parts of the world, scenery, and getting to try new things