|
|
La Romana,
37km east of San Pedro, has been a one-company town since
the South Porto Rico Sugar Company built the mammoth Central
Romana mill in 1917; it was the only sugar operation not
taken over by Trujillo during his reign. The mill was sold
to Gulf & Western in 1967, who used the profits to diversify
their holdings in the area, constructing the lavish Casa
de Campo resort.
The town itself is not especially
interesting, though nightlife is good and a walk
along the rambling barrio that borders the river's western
bank makes for a pleasant hour. Also worth a visit in winter
is Michelin baseball stadium on Abreu and Luperón at
the city's west end, home of the La Romana Azucareros (check
Santo Domingo newspapers for schedules; RD$50-150 for
tickets) - perhaps not as exciting as the games in San
Pedro, but good play nevertheless.
The Casa de Campo resort just east of La Romana,
accessible via a marked Highway 4 turn-off, is a massive
complex. It costs a bit more than the all-inclusive along
Bávaro Beach, but you'll be spared the security paranoia,
compulsory plastic wristbands and terminally bland buffet
fare of most deluxe Dominican accommodations.
The complex
encompasses seven thousand manicured acres set along the sea
and boasts two golf courses, a 24-hour tennis centre,
fourteen swimming pools, equestrian stables, a sporting clay
course and so forth. In addition to the spacious,
comfortable rooms, there are 150 luxury private villas with
butler, private chef and maid. The crowning pleasure is
Playa Minitas , a gorgeous strand of beach protected by
a shallow coral reef - nice enough that some spend their
whole vacation on it.
|
Flanking the resort to the east is another Gulf & Western
brainchild, Altos de Chavón , a high-concept shopping
mall perched atop a cliff looking out over the Chavón River.
Constructed to the specifications of a sixteenth-century
Italian village with artificially aged limestone, it exudes
dreary kitsch like few places in the country, its
cobblestone streets littered with double-parked tour buses
and its "Tuscan" villas crammed to the gills with dime-store
souvenirs.
|
Dominican
Republic
travel guide
Dominican Republic
Where to go
 When
to go
Getting there
Entry requirements
Money and costs
Getting around
 Food
and drink
 Communications
Crime and safety
 Brief
history
Best of DR
Info and maps
 Diving,
surfing
 Festivals,
holidays
Explore
Dominican Republic
Barahona
Barahona
The City
East of Barahona
San
Cristóbal
San José de Ocóa
West of Barahona
Bayahibe
Bayahibe
Travel info
Boca Chica
Boca de Yuma
Cabarete
Cabarete
Windsurfing
Restaurants
Sports outfitters
Cibao
Cibao
Explore Cibao
Cordillera Central
Explore Cordillera Central
Jarabocoa
Jarabocoa
Arrival & accommodation
Restaurants,
tour operators
|
La Vega
La Vega
Pico Duarte, Cordillera
Central's Nat'l Parks
San José de las Matas
Santiago
Arrival and getting around
Places to eat
Nightlife
El Castillo and La Isabela
El Limón
Hato Mayor and
Sabana de la Mar
Juan
Dolio
La Romana and
Casa de Campo
Practicalities
Las Galeras
Eating options
|
