LOCATION OF TROPICAL ISLAND BED & BREAKFAST

For guests coming by car from SDQ International airport or city of Santo Domingo:

There is a beautiful new highway beginning not far from SDQ airport that leads directly to the Peninsula of Samana.  The trip takes about 3½ hours, Follow the new highway the entire way for 2 hours - all the way until it dead-ends into the main road.  Turn right on to the main road and head east toward the town of Samana.  You will pass the entrance to El Catey Airport; just keep going straight.  It is one straight road without any turns right into the little town of Samana.

LUGGAGE TAGS

For those coming to Bed & Breakfast from out of the country:

Your name, c/o Marilyn Pereira;
LaCalle Teodoro Chasereaux #6;
Samana, Dominican Republic
Telephone:  (829) 342-5234
E-mail address:  yours

Check-in Time:  12:00 Noon -- Check-out Time:  11:00 a.m.

Clothing:  Sisters / Comfortable skirts for riding on back of motor bikes (wide A-line, knee length may be most practical).  In Samana, shorts are considered appropriate for the beach only.  Jeans, long pants are acceptable.  Wash and wear clothing, for both brothers & sisters, is most practical for the Dominican Republic since regular irons (1200-1500 watts) are often not supported by electrical systems at accommodations.

For the ministry:  Shoes / Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes for rough rocky or muddy terrain in the countryside.

Brothers:  not required to wear suit jacket in service or at meetings.  Dress shirt & tie acceptable.
 

PRACTICAL ITEMS TO PACK


 

Very lightweight fold-up rain-cape or poncho. Small fold-up umbrella.

"OFF" insect repellant.  For emergency, small Pepto Bismol, and package of Modium tablets for upset stomach or diarrhea.

Water bottle for field service.
 

SAMANA CONGREGATION:                             LAS GALERAS CONGREGATION
    Town: Villasalmas, 5 min away                     End of Peninsula: Liceo School, 20 minutes away
 Thursday: 7:00 pm;  Sunday: 9:30 am                  Wednesday: 6:30 pm; Sunday: 9:30 am

PREACHING IN THE COUNTRY

Got your mud shoes?  Water bottle?  Umbrella?  Rain cape?  Sun hat?  [The name of the game is comfort, not beauty!]
 

TELEPHONE NUMBERS:

AIRPORT PICKUP & RETURN


 

For those with airport pick up (Economy, Semi & All-Inclusive plans):   Please make sure your arrival time is not after 7:30 pm & that your departure time is not before 12 o'clock noon, due to traveling distance to and from the airport.
 

As you come out of Customs, your chauffeur, Rodolfo, will be waiting for you, holding up a sign with your name on it.  IF you do not see him immediately, do not attempt to find him; he will find you.  If your plane is delayed, or you are delayed for a pickup at another location (such as Bethel), the brother will wait for you for as long as it takes.  There is no additional charge for this.  However, tipping is in order as the brother must change his entire schedule for the day or evening when there are delays.

MONEY EXCHANGE

It would be a good idea to change a few dollars into pesos ($40 pesos to $1.00 US.  One peso equals 2½ cents) at the money exchange inside the airport.  The rest can be changed another time in Samana.

50 pesos = $1.25 U.S.	1,000 pesos = $25 U.S.
100 pesos = $2.50 U.S.	2,000 pesos = $50 U.S.
200 pesos = $5.00 U.S.	4,000 pesos = $100 U.S.

CREDIT / DEBIT CARDS ATM MACHINES
 

Most businesses & restaurants do not accept credit cards due to the high government taxes charged.
However, there are always a number of ATM machines nearby where money may be withdrawn

TIPPING CUSTOMS


 

For restaurants, it is customary to tip 10%.  The percentages added to the bill in restaurants and hotels are for government taxes; not the tip.

Hotel maids/housekeepers:  60 pesos or $1.50 U.S. a day or more depending on services rendered.

May be left on the day of departure if desired.

Transportation:  For private chauffeuring, depending on the service rendered and the time chauffeur must wait for delays, etc., 10-20% ($20 to $30 U.S.) for a 3-5 airport pickup trip is a fair amount to tip.  For just simple normal regular taxi service, 10% is acceptable.  Because the Dominican Republic is a "third world country" work is scarce and salaries are very low.  For this reason, most persons depend on their tips to support their families.

RESTAURANTS
 

Two blocks from TIBB is a quaint little Italian restaurant with excellent real Italian pizza!! 

There are several other restaurants within walking distance with International, French, Dominican, Chinese, and Italian cuisine.  Most restaurants do not accept credit cards.  ATM machines are available nearby to make withdrawals from foreign and local banks.

Please visit: www.tropicalislandbb.com/Restaurants.htm

SUPERMARKETS

Around the corner from TIBB is “Supermercado Popular”, also owned by Italians & catering to the gusto of foreigners.  Credit and debit cards are accepted by this particular supermarket.

Please visit: www.tropicalislandbb.com/Restaurants.htm

BEVERAGES

To avoid "traveler's diarrhea" it is best to drink only juices that are in a sealed can, carton, or bottle.  Beware of fruit juices or papaya/pineapple shakes sold at street stands or on beaches, as often the water used to make them is contaminated.

LETTUCE, CABBAGE, CELERY

Beware!  From the time you enter the country until you leave - in order to prevent "traveler's diarrhea" it would be wise to stay away from salads with uncooked cabbage, celery, and lettuce.  These are high risk foods for salmonella in tropical countries.

SEAFOOD



 

Caution is also required when ordering seafood due to problems with refrigeration in the country.  Freshly caught and cooked fish on Rincon Beach and Bacardi Island can be trusted.  Seafood can be trusted also at LOS CHINOS and LA HACIENDA.  Ask your host/hostess about restaurants where it is save to order seafood.

Kitchen may be used each day after 3:00 p.m.  Tropical Island Bed & Breakfast is not equipped for guests to cook heavy meals, but guests may use the kitchen after 3:00 p.m. for light cooking.  Microwave oven is also available from 3:00 p.m. onward whenever there is electricity from the street.

We Courteously ask  that guests  please kindly wash,  dry & put away dishes  used by them from three o'clock  onward for the benefit of other guests using the kitchen as well as for the benefit of the  housekeeper who begins  preparing breakfast for the guests at six o'clock in the morning.  

Each guest room is provided with a small executive refrigerator.

A simple breakfast buffet, varied each morning, is served between 7:45 & 8:00 a.m.
Guests enjoy an array of fresh tropical fruits in season, juices , eggs & ham accompanied by one of the following selections: pancakes, potato-cheese torta, , home fries, fried platanos, or yucca .
Choice of: our traditional island cereal: hot "avena de chocolate" or fresh yogurt served with almond granola. An assortment of fresh bakery breads & "biscochos" [carrot, banana cake, etc.] 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 or Dominican rum.

Note: Due to the early meeting Sunday mornings, only a simple or "continental breakfast" is served.
 

EAR PLUGS
 

Tiny tree frogs with powerful little voices sing throughout the night,

They are accompanied by hundreds of chirping little crickets. 

Many who are not accustomed to such a concert find it difficult to sleep without ear-plugs  It would be good to bring along a pair just in case!

Each guest room is equipped with a laptop computer and WiFi.

LAUNDRY SERVICE


 

TIBB has a laundry service.  For a small charge, laundry may be given to the housekeeper early morning, to be washed, dried, and folded.  Most of the time it is ready within 24-48 hours (rates:  $2.50 per load; $5 minimum).

Bed & Breakfast guests who need to iron clothing while visiting, should not bring a regular iron as the high wattage of a regular iron cannot be supported by the electrical system ("inverter system") used at the hostel to assure that guests have 24-hour electricity.  A regular iron will burn out the inverter providing the electricity.  Hostel guests should ONLY bring a small travel iron with them.  A regular size high voltage iron cannot be used.  It is

The housekeeper will iron an occasional item, but for the most part, it is best to bring wash and wear clothing.

There is an additional charge for air conditioning.  Now and then there are electrical cuts by the town for very short periods of time.  When this happens, there is neither air conditioning nor hot water.  However, there ARE lights, fans, TV, computer, and WiFi in the hostel (inverter system assures this).

Regular hair dryers (1200 - 1500 watts) cannot be used as B&B is on an "inverter system," to assure that guests have 24-hour electricity.  This "inerter system" (which provides electricity during the town's electrical cuts) cannot support the high wattage of a regular hair dryer.  Howerver, curling irons are OK.

Microwave oven available for when there is electricity from the street.

MOSQUITOS

Mosquitoes are not a big problem.  TIBB has mosquito nets for those who would like them, but generally, the overhead fan is sufficient to keep away any mosquitoes during the night.  You might want to purchase a can of OFF insect repellant.  This can be obtained in the US or locally here in the Dominican Republic.