Costambar, Puerto Plata

Year Purchased: 1989

About: I bought my apartment in 1989 when I lived in Rhode Island. I always enjoyed being away from the telephone and the pressures of life at home. Winter vacations are not as important since I moved to Clearwater, Florida but I still like getting away from the USA and enjoying the Puerto Plata attitude to everything, 'No Problem'. I am a retired mailman.

Why Costambar, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic:
I bought it in 1989 because for me it was the affordable Caribbean. Puerto Plata is a charming town, the people are very friendly and the weather is reliably warm in the winter. Florida in the winter is not a reliable beach vacation. It seemed as though everytime we vacationed in Florida we caught a cold front. Not the case in Puerto Plata. The water is 80 degrees in the winter and 85 in the summer. My unit is on a short street, Calle Padre Bilini, that ends at the beach. There is a green area behind the complex. The mountain in the background is Mt Isabela which has the Caribbeans only cable car. I always enjoy getting away from the hustle and bustle of life in the USA.

The Unique Benefits at this Condo:
My unit is in a small 18 unit complex called Seabreeze Suites which is located in Costambar a community 3 miles west of the City of Puerto Plata. Costambar is rural and the DR is third world. My place is nice but it is for experienced travelers. The DR is not the US. You will know you have been on vacation out of the US. The people are very nice and it is safe to go wherever you want taking the precautions you would take anywhere else. I can recommend a Spanish tutor for those of you that have an interest in learning a little Espanol or want someone to work with your children. She could also serve as a guide and her rates are very reasonable. She will come to your apartment. If you don't speak spanish and haven't been to Puerto Plata before she would save you money. Rental cars are cheaper in the DR than here in Flordia. I've stayed in the Playa Dorado complex several times and the rooms there weren't impressive in relation to my unit. So the difference in renting my place from a hotel is that you are on your own. The benefit of being able to cook your own food is two fold, it is cheaper and you don't get sick.