FABULOUS WEEK!
Review Submitted: July 29, 2011
Date of Stay: July 2011
My brother, our spouses, and 4 older teenaged sons recently spent a glorious week at Villa Harty. This vacation exceeded our expectations. The house is wonderful and the lanai became our living area. The lush vegetation and the pool which surround it, lend a tropical resort feel. The entrance to a gated walkway, which leads to the beach, is on the other side of the bridge. It is a QUICK walk. You cannot see the beach from the house but the beauty of the trees along with the privacy and shade they provide to the lanai make up for it. The 2 bedrooms downstairs are only accessible from outside. Great for us, as the boys felt as though they had their own area. Luis, the groundskeeper, helped us purchase ice and water. He took us to a local fish store and to the local grocery store.He understands some English and smiles continuously! Lile, the maid, sang as she cleaned up our breakfast dishes,did laundry, changed our sheets, and mopped the house on a daily basis. For a small additional fee, she cooked 2 dinners for us. She fried the fish and made wonderful sides to go with it. She also made her traditional meal of rice, beans and chicken. We insisted they join us for dinner! Francio, the private night security gaurd was also great. He helped the boys build a bonfire on the beach and hung out with them too! He was always there to open and close the locked front gate as we went in and out of the complex. We so enjoyed all of them, that by the end of the week it became hard to say goodbye. Even our boys were touched! Shirley the owner is great. We called her with ?'s and she was very helpful. Cabarete is a fun place to go at night. Be sure to access the beach front area where the restaurants have all kinds of wicker and pillowy furniture to lounge upon while you drink and dine. The boys loved the young crowd and party atmosphere. The drinking age is 18 and the rules are quite lax. One cautionary note, they were solicited by women and also for drugs on the streets of Cabarete at night. They were never hassled after saying "no" but I would not advise having anyone unattended on the streets at night. Playa Grande is a gorgeous beach..
.white sand, coral reefs, good for snorkling. 27 waterfalls is an excursion NOT to be missed! Our favorite! Ocean World would be nice for younger kids. It is pretty and clean, but do not expect the caliber of Sea World or Discovery Cove. If you rent a car, be prepared to drive aggressively and defensively. It's loco!
Recommended for:
Adventure Seekers,
Girls Getaway,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Romantic Getaway
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