04 Feb 2023
This experience could be improved by giving full disclosure of what the tour actually provides.
* Communication with those who toured was totally absent.
*Had we known that almost 3 hours of our tour time would be spent waiting & waiting & waiting at convenience stores & gas stations on our way to & from Santo Domingo while all the drivers from other tours met up to discuss who knows what???? we would have NEVER scheduled this tour!!
*We were assured we would have an English speaking guide. Not True!
*We were so eager to see the Christopher Columbus Lighthouse! Did not happen & no explanation!
* We wanted to see authentic Dominican arts & crafts along the Calle El Conde. That was skipped too. Instead we were taken to a typical, mostly made in China souvenir shop that had nothing unique or authentic!
*The stop at the Chocolate "Factory" & gift store was a positive.
*Seeing the 3 Eyes Notional Park was lovely.
*The Cathedral of the Americas was awe-inspiring!
*I'm sure we "saw" some other significant historical places coming to & returning from Santo Domingo but our driver & guide offered very little explanation. When they did speak their English was very difficult to understand.
*If we did not have the excessive wait times at convenience stores & gas stations we would have had the time to see all that we missed & even more in Santo Domingo!
*I highly recommend that all visitors to the Dominican Republic visit Santo Domingo but please use a reputable tour company !
*All 12 touring people in our crowded mini-van were extremely upset by how poorly this tour was organized & operated!
I would love to return someday and have a "real" tour!