IMPORTANT DETAILS ENCLOSED: PLEASE READ Punta Cana! Punta Cana!
Terri Burch
Good News! Everyone has booked their travel for Punta Cana! Below is
the list of travelers:
Deric
Quetta
Omari
Kanika
Nakia - by way of TX
Terri
Below and attached is loads of info that you may find helpful in
preparing for our trip. This is by no means an exhaustive list and you
should do your own research as well.
There are also a few laundry items that we need to take care of asap.
ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED:
Currently Quetta had to pay for a single accomodation, which was an
additional $165 over everyone else. We are not able to make additional
changes to our reservation without penalty and we would otherwise have
3 persons to a room. Can we divide this amount equally between us to
share in her expense? This could change in the event that someone else
joins us. We can then maybe flip between who gets the single room. The
cost would be an additional $27.50 per person divided by six people
due to Quetta. If you prefer another solution, please let us know.
Maybe someone wants to pay more to ensure their own room?
TRANSPORTATION TO & FROM DTW
800-745-5191 - METRO TAXI - MiniVan to fit 5 +baby = $41 pick up / $46
airport pick up ; TOTALING $87 FOR A MINVAN TAXI OR $21pp including
tip. If you want to be picked up from your home pay $10 extra dollars.
Or we can meet at one person's home and ride from there. I can fit one
additional car in my garage if you guys want to car pool.
TRANSPORTATION TO & FROM FROM PUJ
We will need to add ground transportation to and from the our
reservations for an additional $28.75/pp.
*Omari & Kanika you have a $24.42 credit in the account
Total Additional Cost for Ground Transporation for Detroiters: $49.75
per person. If you put into the account or give to me, I can make our
booking. Let's try to take care of this by April 2nd.
Nakia, the hotel does not provide a shuttle and the rates are about
the same or more in some cases if we book outside of Travelocity, so
it should just be addded to your reservation.
INSURANCE/SAFETY/HEALTH
Travel Guard
Travel Guard, at 1-877-240-3235
Estimated individual cost: $43 per person / $79/2 person household.
Insurance includes trip cancellation due to illness or injury,
interruption expense coverage, medical assistance, other unforeseen
circumstances. All are on an excess or secondary basis, so check to
see if you have this coverage available to you anywhere else prior to
purchasing. I will forward quotes if anyone is interested.
U.S. Department of State:
Please go to the link below and input your information so that we are
registered with the U.S. Department of State. Username:
"FriendsTravel1" Password "Friends10"
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/pages/organizations/AccountInfo.aspx
CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR POTENTIALLY NEEDED VACCINATIONS
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/dominican-republic.htm
ARRIVAL IN D.R
There will be a $10 cost for a tourist card that we can also get in
advance. It should not be an inconvenience to get upon arrival
however.
Getting in and out of the airport is pretty easy. When you get there
they take your picture, no getting around it. You can buy the picture
when you leave. They do not hassle when you leave. Buy the tourist
card $10 per person, even for babies. They will give you half after
going thru passport control. Keep these with your return tickets.
You will need it to leave or else you pay $10 per person again. You do
not need to fill out the tourist card when you arrive in the DR. Just
pay for it and take it with you . Fill it out sometime before you go
back to the airport to leave. This will save you a lot of time when
you arrive in the DR. Just go thru customs and then go grab your
luggage.
HOTEL / SPA SERVICES
Melia Caribe Tropical - Spa Menu attached
The hotel itself doesn’t organize excursions or any other activities
outside the hotel.
Find here below the name of the external company the hotel works with
providing to our clients Snorkel, Diving lessons, Diving Certificate
and others. We can book once we are at the hotel.
Below is the contact info fo rthe excursions:
Sonia Llorente
Scubaquatic Online Assistance |
Email: sonia.l...@scubaquatic.com
Tel: +1809 468 40 55 · Fax: +1809 468 40 54
Scubaquatic Building· Crtra Arena Gorda Macao s/n
Playa Bàvaro· Dominican Republic ·
http://www.facebook.com/SCUBAQUATIC
www.scubaquatic.com
Hotel Guest Services who can help with other inquiries
Karol Genao
Gerente Atencion al Huesped – Meliá Caribe Tropical
@ rr.pp.mel...@meliacaribetropical.com
Playas de Bávaro
Higüey, República Dominicana
T: 809 221 1290 Ext 6348, 6269 F: 809 730 6768
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Download podcasts that teach common phrases from itunes. Check out
some from the link below
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/learn-spanish-survival-guide/id170271930
EXCURSIONS/FUN
Pontoon Party Boat
Santo Domingo day trip
Spa Services
Segway Tours
Horseriding tour
Golf lessons
Church / Visit the Embassy - Omari
OTHER INFO TO READ BEFORE WE TRAVEL - COUNTRY DATA
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1103.html
CURRENCY
The local currency is the Dominican Peso. Its value fluctuates between
30-40 pesos per US dollar and 48-53 pesos per Euro. Although any
currency can be changed into pesos, it should be noted that in some
situations it may be difficult to exchange pesos back into your
original currency. We recommend exchanging only small amounts of money
at a time to avoid any inconveniences. Most banks exchange Dollars,
Euros, and Traveler's cheques and can process cash advances on credit
and debit cards. Don't forget to bring proper identification, such as
a driver's license or passport. Please note that local ATM machines
disburse only pesos, contact your bank for related service fees. If
you are planning a day tour to Santo Domingo, you will find that
everything is much cheaper than you would at the resort. Souvenirs,
clothing, artwork, liquor, etc., will be about 1/4 to 1/3 the price at
your resort. Also, in the area all shops, restaurants, bars, excursion
companies accept US dollars, Euros, Canadian dollars, British pounds,
but it is a bit cheaper to pay in Dominican pesos
The CDC in the United States has stated that the entire province of La
Altagracia, including the resorts, is at some risk for malaria.
Currently the recommended preventative is chloroquine. Use mosquito
repellent containing DEET, especially at dawn and dusk.
[edit] Medical Services
Centro Medico Caribe Bavaro
(809) 552-1415 Located in Plaza Brisas de Bavaro, suite 207. It
features a bilingual staff for out-patient medical attentions. Open
24/7 for emergencies
Centro Medico Punta Cana
(809) 552-1506 Near Plaza Bavaro and the local bus terminal It
features a multilingual staff and in-house pharmacy. Open until 9PM
for visitors and 24/7 for emergencies
Hospiten Bavaro
(809) 686-1414 Situated near the airport, Hospiten's multilingual
staff and fully equipped facility is available 24/7 for emergencies
Dental SPA Clinic
(829) 354 2664 Dental clinic located in Shopping Mall Plaza Rivieras,
2nd floor, offers dental services. Call Dra. Cindy Korac at 809 552
1613 for more information and to make an appointment or visit the
website Dentist Punta Cana [18]
[edit] Pharmacy
Pharma Cana
(809) 959-0025 Hours: 9AM-10PM This pharmacy is located near the
airport and is the main pharmacy of the area of Punta Cana.
Farmacia el Manglar
(809) 552-1533 Hours: 8AM-12PM This pharmacy near Plaza Bavaro offers
delivery to many of the local hotels in the area.
[edit] Police
(809) 686-8227
There are 8-hour stations next to the Sitrabapu bus terminal in Bavaro
and at Galerias Punta Cana near the airport.
--
"The vision of Friends Travel Group is to create a worldwide travel club
assisting friends and friends of friends to become well-traveled throughout
the world."
Deric B. Williams Ii
Deric
Please excuse brevity or any typos; sent from a mobile device.
> <M_CARIBE_TROPICAL_YHI.PDF>
> <DR Details.doc>
Terri Burch
Hi Friends!
Good News! Everyone has booked their travel for Punta Cana! Below is
the list of travelers:
Deric
Quetta
Omari
Kanika
Nakia - by way of TX
Terri
Below and attached is loads of info that you may find helpful in
preparing for our trip. This is by no means an exhaustive list and you
should do your own research as well.
There are also a few laundry items that we need to take care of asap.
ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED:
Currently Quetta had to pay for a single accommodation, which was an
additional $165 over everyone else. We are not able to make additional
changes to our reservation without penalty and we would otherwise have
3 persons to a room. Can we divide this amount equally between us to
share in her expense? This could change in the event that someone else
joins us. We can then maybe flip between who gets the single room. The
cost would be an additional $27.50 per person divided by six people
due to Quetta. If you prefer another solution, please let us know.
Maybe someone wants to pay more to ensure their own room?
Each of us owe $20.62 to Quetta to cover half ohetr cost for her own room.
TRANSPORTATION TO & FROM DTW
800-745-5191 - METRO TAXI - MiniVan to fit 5 +baby = $41 pick up / $46
airport pick up ; TOTALING $87 FOR A MINVAN TAXI OR $21pp including
tip. If you want to be picked up from your home pay $10 extra dollars.
Or we can meet at one person's home and ride from there. I can fit one
additional car in my garage if you guys want to car pool.
Please have an additional $5-9 for extra tip tip provided to our driver. I just looked it up and the average is 15-20%.
TRANSPORTATION TO & FROM FROM PUJ
We will need to add ground transportation to and from the our
reservations for an additional $28.75/pp.
*Omari & Kanika you have a $24.42 credit in the account
Total Additional Cost for Ground Transportation for Detroiters: $49.75
per person. If you put into the account or give to me, I can make our
booking. Let's try to take care of this by April 2nd.
Friday - 13th to adjust reservation.
Below is the contact info fo rthe excursions: