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Samana, Dominican Republic
MarilynPereira@usa.net Phone: 809-538-2829
http://www.tropicalislandbb.com/
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8-Day
Tropical Island For those
physically challenged
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Includes:
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SUGGESTED ITINERARY
DAY 1
Met at airport by brother who will be your chauffeur, Rodolfo. Scenic ride through the interior enjoying the rugged mountain scenery and the picturesque countryside with luxurious African oil palm groves lining the "carretera" on the way to...

the charming little town of Samana, located on the Peninsula of Samana' on the northeastern part of the island.

FOR MID TO LATE AFTERNOON ARRIVAL:
After arriving at Tropical Island Bed & Breakfast and dropping off luggate, chauffeured to beautiful CAYACOA BEACH, 10 minutes from TIBB for swimming and relaxing.

Browse around town to unique tropical shopping plaza "Pueblo Principe

Visit Samana's colorful Tropical Flea Market located along the great Bay of Samana and meet the many brothers and sisters who have stalls there, selling paintings, jewelry, clothing and unique island souvenirs. These brothers enjoy meeting our visiting brothers from around the world (Flea Market on the days Cruise Ships dock in Samana only)!


Evening: Dinner
Recommended Restaurants:
Los Chinos (Excellent international cuisine, Chinese, American, Dominican),Reasonably priced.
El Bambu (Dominican cuisine)
La Hacienda (excellent seafood, steaks, French, American, Dominican cuisine)
La Rosa Mata (French & Dominican cuisine)
Pizza Italiano (Quaint ambience, excellent real Italian pizza, around corner from TIBB, open 6 pm)
DAY 2
Spend day at one of the most
beautiful beaches in the world--Rincon Beach - on the other side of the
Peninsula. Enjoy freshly caught fish cooked on the beach with
native cuisine
Enjoy freshly caught fish cooked on the beach with native cuisine.
DAY 3
8:00 a.m. - Tropical Island breakfast in buffet.
8:30 a.m. - Beautiful excursion to Barcardi Island

DURING THE MONTHS OF JANUARY, FEBRUARY:
Whale-Watch Excursions will be included with the above tour.
See: www.tropicalislandbb.com/Whales.htm. This includes whale-watch in the morning, buffet luncheon on Bacardi Island at noon.
DAY 4
8:00 a.m. Breakfast in buffet
8:30 a.m. Field Service with the Congregation
DAY 5
9:00 a.m. - Breakfast in buffet
10:00 a.m. Leave for a 3-hour cross island sightseeing tour through the interior of the country to the southern shore along the Caribbean to Santo Domingo to visit the Dominican Branch.
2:30 p.m. - Tour of Bethel
4:30 a.m. Leave for Samana
DAY 6
9:00 a.m. Breakfast in buffet.
10:00 a.m. Tour to the end of the Peninsula to the quaint little village of Las Galeras:
Luncheon: Dominican Cuisine on beautiful Las Galeras Beach

1:00 pm Luncheon in Buffet
7:00 pm Dinner in
Buffet
9:30 pm-11:00 pm Evening show
11:00 pm (or at time requested): Return to accommodations
DAY 7
9:00 a.m. Breakfast in buffet
10:00 a.m. Tour across the Peninsula to the little village of Las Terrenas, located on the norther coast, where many beautiful beaches are located. Dinner along the sea if desired.
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Return to Samana: Beautiful panoramic view of the
entire Peninsula while crossing over the Samana Sierras
Airport Pick Up:
Santiago International Airport (STI) is the preferred airport to come through for airport pick up & return. However, guests may also be picked up at Santo Domingo International Airport (SDQ) for an additional charge of $50 US. For arrivals through Puerto Plata (POP), there is an additional charge of $60 US. There are no airport pick ups from Punta Cana.
El Catey International Airport,
(AZS), is the nearest international airport to Samana, with daily flights
from Toronto, Canada, & Europe, [Germany, Spain, France, Italy, United
Kingdom].This airport does not serve the U.S.
There is no airport pick up for flights arriving after 7:30 p.m., however, our chauffeur will wait for flights that were scheduled earlier that are delayed For airport return, departing flights must be scheduled no earlier than eleven o'clock a.m. due to the traveling distance to the airport.
Breakfast in buffet:
A breakfast buffet, varied each day, is served every morning between 7:45 & 8:00 a.m. Guests enjoy an array of fresh tropical fruits in season, juices or papaya shakes, eggs & ham accompanied by one of the following selections: pancakes, potato-cheese tortas, quesadillas, home fries, fried platanos, or yucca & onions. Choice of: our traditional island cereal: hot "avena de chocolate" or fresh yogurt served with almond granola. An assortment of fresh bakery breads & "biscochos" served with tropical fruit jams & locally made Dominican mozzarella cheese. Our Dominican coffee, famous for its aroma & unique smooth full-bodied taste, is served with a special chocolate liqueur and Dominican rum.
Accommodations:
Tropical Island Bed & Breakfast is not a resort, but a homey bed & breakfast hosted by Jehovah's witnesses. Brothers on vacation, desiring economical accommodations and the quiet relaxing atmosphere a bed and breakfast has to offer, come to Tropical Island Bed & Breakfast from all around the world.
TIBB is located two blocks from the sea, not far from nice restaurants & transportation to beautiful beaches, and is only a five minute ride to the Kingdom Hall. Each room has two queen-sized beds & a small refrigerator and is equipped with cable TV, DVD player & a large selection of movies, as well as a computer & internet service. Rooms with air-conditioning are additional. Kitchen may be used after two o'clock in the afternoon for light cooking and reheating. TIBB is not equipped for our guests to prepare large meals. A microwave oven available for guests.
Air-Conditioning:
Room with air-conditioning for one person is an additional $5.00
US per day. Rooms with air-conditioning for two or more persons is an
additional $8.00 US per day. Note: Electrical cuts
throughout the day are common in all parts of the country. During these times
there is no air-conditioning. TIBB, however, does have a
battery-operated inverter system that permits use of all other electrical
devices such as overhead fans, TV, lights, & computers during these periods. When
reserving please specify whether or not you would like a room with
air-conditioning.
1. My concern is my wheelchair. Would your vehicle hold my wheelchair?
Our vehicle is not a special needs vehicle for wheelchairs. However, it will accommodate a folded wheelchair, and we will always be with you to help you in and out of the car, to restaurants, seaside boardwalks, or to wherever we are scheduled to go.
For persons accompanied by family or spouses who prefer a larger vehicle for traveling with air conditioning, this can be rented for the 10 days in advance for approximately an additional $600 US. We can make these arrangements and use this vehicle for chauffeuring if you would like.
2. I have never been to a foreign country before. I do not speak Spanish. Will this be a problem?
No. We will be with you the entire ten days helping you, beginning with your coming out of customs at the airport, to returning to the airport at the end of your stay. We will assist you in changing your money into Dominican pesos, knowing what to order in restaurants, shopping, and buying things, talking with the brothers in the Kingdom Hall, in the field ministry, and in whatever other things with which you might need help.
3. Your itinerary seems to be a bit too strenuous for me as I tire easily.
Our itinerary will always be adapted to your needs. If you need to lie down and rest between activities, or prefer to do something different, the itinerary will be modified to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. This is YOUR vacation, and we will try to make you as comfortable as possible in planning each day. This is a beautiful country in which to rest and relax, and we can make sure that you receive all the rest and relaxation you would like, and at the same time enjoy the beauty of the mountains and sea.
4. I am concerned about the food. There are certain foods that I cannot eat. Could you tell me a little bout the kind of food that will be served?
Our guests are most welcome to write ahead of time and let us know about any food allergies or preferred foods so that we can plan the breakfasts and in-house dinners accordingly.
Picnic lunches are generally a half roast chicken per person along with rice, beans, French bread, and the beverage of your choice. However, a different menu can be provided if desired.
We have planned lunch and dinner at a variety of restaurants with different international cuisine: native Dominican, Italian, Chinese, French, Mexican, and Spanish. There is everything from pizza, burritos, tacos, to goat stew, guinea hen in wine sauce and rabbit. One cocktail, beer, or beverage of your choice is included, as well as dessert. If a particular restaurant is preferred, our itinerary can be adjusted to include this restaurant more often.
5. Are there persons at your bed and breakfasts that are not Jehovah's witnesses?
No. We have as guests only Jehovah's witnesses. However, often brothers will come with their parents who are not in the truth, or maybe with their son or daughter who are not witnesses. Our home is always filled with loving brothers and sisters stopping in to say hello and to meet our current guests. Pioneers, special pioneers and missionaries often drop by for a cup of tea on their break.
6. My son is disabled. We would love to bring him on a vacation to the Dominican Republic. How do you feel about this?
We would love to have him! Children are most welcome whether they be very young or older. There are so many things your son could enjoy seeing and learning about in this country. It would be a wonderful experience for him.
7. I was wondering about stairs, bathroom facilities, and hot water. Are there stairs leading to your bed and breakfast? Also, what are the bathroom facilities like? Do you have hot water?
There are no stairs at either bed and breakfast. Each place has a nice veranda level with the lawn or sidewalk. This is no problem for a wheelchair. Yes we do have hot water though not 24 hours a day. But hot water showers can be worked around the city's schedule for water from the street. Our bathroom, unfortunately, is not wheelchair friendly.
8. I am deaf. Will this be a problem?
Not at all. A totally deaf sister in her 50s came and stayed with us for an entire month and pioneered, searching out and studying with the many deaf persons we have in our territory. She brought with her teenage granddaughter who also pioneered, helping her. We have a young deaf brother and several other hearing-friends who know sign language that love signing at the meetings and helping out in the ministry.
We do not know the sign language, but this will not be a problem if you come with a companion, or are able to write notes to us (if you are alone), telling us of your needs and wishes.
9. I am blind. Will this be a problem?
Not at all. It might be well to come with a close companion, however. If you do not, we will meet you at the airport and be your eyes 24-hours a day for the 10 days. We will have a wonderful time and modify the itinerary for your enjoyment. We would be delighted if you would like to accompany us on Bible studies. We'll explain everything around you so you can visualize it as well. I had a close friend who was blind and was a world traveler. When she would return from trips abroad, she would tell us about things in such detail that we were sure that she must have somehow seen them!
10. I have difficulty speaking. It could be that you might not understand me. Do you think this will be a problem?
No. Definitely not. We will communicate with you one way or another. Before you come you can communicate a lot of your wishes and things you would like us to know via the Internet. If we have a problem with something when you are here, you can either write it down or type it on the computer. One of the services we offer to all guests who are part of this ten day vacation plan is use of the computer and the Internet service.
11. I am up in years now, but would love to travel and see your lovely Island. I am 75 years old. However, my health is still quite good. Do you foresee any problems if I should come alone?
Not at all. We will take good care of you for the entire ten days. We will look out for you and show you a marvelous time!
12. My dear husband and I would like to make this trip together. He is able to help me in every way that is necessary, so I do not need much help from anyone else. How much privacy would we have?
As much privacy as you would like. When it is not necessary to be with brothers or sisters every moment in order to help them, we merely do all the private chauffeuring to the different places, such as restaurants, beaches, and other places, returning at the time specified by our guests.
13. In what languages are your television programs? Are there any brothers who speak Danish there? I know a little German and some English. Will I have a problem?
You definitely will not have a problem here. There are English, Spanish, Italian, German, and French television channels. Also, we have brothers from all over the world (Europe, Canada, and the USA) serving as self-supporting missionaries who speak French, German, Italian, English, Swedish, and Danish. If you are from Denmark, you will feel right at home as regards the language. The same is true for people who are from Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, or Italy. With English there is never a problem because it is the international language spoken by most foreigners.
14. What kind of medical attention is available in the Dominican Republic? Would I be able to get prescriptions filled there?
There is good basic medical care here. There is FREE emergency care in small hospitals, and reasonably good clinics that charge minimal rates. However, these medical care places are not equipped for major or complicated emergencies.
There are pharmacies for obtaining prescriptions that have been written by doctors in THIS country only. Not all prescription medicine can be found in small towns or pueblos. Anyone suspecting they might need prescription medications during the time they are here should see their doctor about writing and filling these prescriptions in their own country before coming here.
15. I have many questions about the history of the Dominican Republic and its culture, and what life is like there. Where can I find more information on these things? Also, can you help me with best airfares from Europe?
Please visit http://www.tropicalislandbb.com There are several links on this web site devoted to answering these questions.
16. Would it be alright to e-mail you with questions of a personal nature that have not been answered here?
By all means, please do! We would love
to hear from you, and we will take delight in answering any questions you
might have. Write to
MarilynPereira@usa.net
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Page updated May 2009