LOCATION OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC	ISLAND OF HISPANOLA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

To make it possible for our disabled brothers/sisters to enjoy a tropical island vacation for ten days, the Pereira Family is now providing a personal 24-hour chauffeuring service and assistance for this period.  Airport pickup and all other transportation, meals, and costs for activities is included in this special package.

ITINERARY FOR 10 DAYS (can be modified to meet the needs of our guests)
D A Y 1	Met by Rodolfo at  Plata Airport. For guests arriving early afternoon or earlier: Go for the afternoon to a beautiful resort by the sea in Sosua. Buffet Luncheon and an afternoon of relaxing along side  the pool, jacuzzi, or swimming at their beautiful beach, and enjoying unlimited tropical drinks.  6:00 pm - A beautiful 4-hour drive along the sea on the northern coast viewing much of the countryside and its culture on the way to Tropical Island Bed & Breakfast in Samana. Arrive at accommodations & relax with snacks and cocktail.
D A Y 2	8:30 a.m.  Tropical Island Breakfast in buffet. 9:30 a.m.  Leave to spend the afternoon at a beautiful resort.   Seaside buffet. Relax by the pool which overlooks the Great Bay, read, listen to music or swim at the private beach.  Return to accommodations at 6:00 p.m.  Light in-house dinner. Evening:  Relax.  Stroll along the promenade  (wheelchair friendly),  which borders the entire length of the town  by the sea.  TV/Videos/Internet or attend meeting if scheduled.
D A Y 3	8:00 a.m.:  Tropical Island breakfast in buffet. 9:00 a.m.:  Cruising on a large launch or catamaran in the Great Bay of Samana. Breathtaking excursion to Bacardi Island. Picnic lunch provided.  Relaxing in the shade of a coconut tree watching water sports, or swimming  all afternoon. Return to accommodations at approximately 4:30 p.m. Dinner:  Evening special at La Hacienda, a French Sidewalk cafe.  International cuisine with tropical banana flambeau for dessert, and the famous Dominican after dinner Mamajuana Liqueur. Evening:  Relax.  Stroll along by the sea in the promenade (wheel chair friendly) or TV/Videos/Internet, or attend meeting if scheduled.
D A Y 4	8:00 a.m.:  Tropical Island breakfast in buffet. 9:00 a.m.:  Leave for one hour trip to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world - Rincon Beach - on the other side of the peninsula.  Enjoy seeing how the Dominican people live, their culture and viewing  the beautiful mountains that are a backdrop to Rincon Beach. Enjoy delicious freshly caught fish, grilled on the beach with "comida tipica" of beans and rice and fried platanos.  Enjoy relaxing in the shade of the coconut trees or swimming/ sun bathing all afternoon.  5:30 p.m. Return to accommodations Dinner:  In-house steak dinner with famous Presidente Grande beer. Evening:  Relax; stroll along the malecon by the sea; TV/Videos/Internet, or attend meeting if scheduled.
D A Y 5	Option #1 Option #2 8:00 a.m.:  Tropical Island breakfast in buffet. 8:45 a.m.:    Field service.     Options:     Informal from car in country & mountains or     Informal on benches along the sea or     House to house     Accompany us on Bible studies. Sleep-in.  Rest in the morning. Noon:  Restaurant - El Rinconcito 1:30 p.m.:  Tour of the entire eastern part of the peninsula all along  the sea  to Las Galeras.  Relax at the beautiful Las Galeras beach.  Dinner:  Enjoy a Chinese dinner at Los Chinos overlooking the town and the Great Bay. Evening:  Stroll around town by the sea or TV/Videos/Internet or attend meeting if scheduled.
D A Y 6	8:30:  Tropical breakfast in buffet. 9:00 a.m.:  Leave for an entire day at La Fuente - A beautiful natural fresh water pool  Clean, cool refreshing waters  come from under the mountains to form a natural fresh water pool for swimming and diving.  Around this natural pool, nestled below the mountains, a witness family has built a three-level terrace with tables, chairs, and umbrellas, along with a little restaurant where you will be able to  sit, relax, and enjoy a delicious luncheon: "platos tipicos" or "comida criolla" (Dominican cuisine)  You can relax, read, or swim enjoy talking with the brother and sister who own it. They speak English.  Return to accommodations at 5:00 p.m. Dinner:  Light in-house
D A Y 7	Tropical Island breakfast in buffet. Trip to Las Terrenas to the other side of the peninsula over beautiful mountain ranges. Dine at the French cafe, Casa Papon.    Relax by the sea on the veranda of Casa Papon or on the beach,.   If desired:  shopping at quaint little shops along the main road of "Las Terrenas", a quaint little town.  Most shops wheel chair friendly and those that are not, can be accessed with the help of Rodolfo.   Dinner:  in-house.   Evening:  Relax with complimentary Tropical Rum Swizzle. TV/Videos/internet.  Or attend meeting if scheduled.
D A Y 8	7:30 a.m.:  Leave Tropical Island Bed & Breakfast for famous Caribbean resort on the other side of the peninsula enjoying a panoramic view of both sides of the peninsula from the mountains along the way.  8:00 a.m.:  Breakfast in buffet at resort; Swimming, pool, Jacuzzi, &  20 kilometers of white sand, paradise beaches.  Enjoy watching pool and beauty of the sea. Poolside bar: unlimited tropical drinks; Luncheon in buffet. Evening: light in-house dinner.
D A Y 9	8:30 a.m. Tropical Island in buffet. Option #1: Boat ride & day at Barcardi Island. Option #2: Relax at the Gran Bahia hotel. Option #3: Return to Rincon Beach. Option #4: Field Service/from car/or sitting along the sea/or on Bible studies with us. Option #5: Morning: Sleep- in.  Relax and pack. Afternoon: Lunch in Rinconcito & relax on nearby beach in the shade. Evening: Farewell gathering, wholesome association with self supporting missionaries, and special pioneers serving here.  Buffet dinner.
D A Y 10	7:00 a.m.:  Homemade banana bread, coffee 7:30 a.m.:  Leave for Puerto Plata airport -  4½ hour tour of the northern coast of the country:  Stop along the way to take pictures.  Picnic lunch at Playa Grande, a beautiful beach along the northern coast. Assistance with souvenir shopping at the little town of Cabarete if time permits. Arrive at airport: Assistance with luggage, ticketing, head tax, boarding arrangements, etc.

 

WHAT IS INCLUDED
1.	Airport pickup and return.
2.	Accommodations for 10 days.
3.	Personal 24-hour chauffeuring.
4.	All activities.  All entrance fees; all tours/boats; trips/resorts for the day.
5.	Tropical island breakfast each morning.
6.	All picnic lunches.
7.	Dinner each evening/restaurant or in-house.
8.	Laundry service.
9.	Computer/Internet services.
10.	Cable TV/Videos
11.	Any special personal care needed.  Help with wheelchair.  Accessing all places and activities.
12.	Housekeeper service.
13.	Complimentary tropical cocktails each evening.
14.	Last evening farewell get together.
** Airfare Not Included **

 

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:

1.  My concern is my wheelchair.  Would your vehicle hold my wheelchair?
Our vehicle is not a special needs vehicle for wheelchairs though we are hoping to obtain one in 2003.  However, it will accommodate a folded wheelchair, and we will always be with you to help you in and out of the car, to restaurants, seaside boardwalks, or to wherever we are scheduled to go.

For persons accompanied by family or spouses who prefer a larger vehicle for traveling with air conditioning, this can be rented for the 10 days in advance for approximately an additional $600 US.  We can make these arrangements and use this vehicle for chauffeuring if you wish. 

2.  I've never been to a foreign country before.  I don't speak Spanish.  Will this be a problem?
No. We will be with you the entire ten days helping you, beginning with your coming out of customs at the airport, to returning to the airport at the end of your stay. We will assist you in changing your money into Dominican pesos, knowing what to order in restaurants, shopping, and buying things, talking with the brothers in the Kingdom Hall, in the field ministry, and in whatever other things with which you might need help.

3.  Your itinerary seems to be a bit too strenuous for me as I tire easily.
Our itinerary will always be adapted to your needs.  If you need to lie down and rest between activities, or prefer to do something different, the itinerary will be modified to make your trip as enjoyable as possible.  This is YOUR vacation, and we will try to make you as comfortable as possible in planning each day.  This is a beautiful country in which to rest and relax, and we can make sure that you receive all the rest and relaxation you would like, and at the same time enjoy the beauty of the mountains and sea.

4.  I am concerned about the food.  There are certain foods that I cannot eat.  Could you tell me a little about the kind of food that will be served?
Our guests are most welcome to write ahead of time and let us know about of any food allergies or preferred foods so that we can plan the breakfasts and in-house dinners accordingly.

Picnic lunches are generally a half roast chicken per person along with rice, beans, French bread, and the beverage of your choice.  However, a different menu can be provided if desired.

We have planned lunch and dinner at a variety of restaurants with different international cuisine: native Dominican, Italian, Chinese, French, Mexican, and Spanish.  There is everything from pizza, burritos, tacos, to goat stew, guinea hen in wine sauce and rabbit.  One cocktail, beer, or beverage of your choice is included, as well as dessert.  If a particular restaurant is preferred, our itinerary can be adjusted to include this restaurant more often.

5.  Are there persons at your bed and breakfasts that are not Jehovah's Witnesses?
We have as guests only Jehovah's Witnesses and their family members or caretaker regardless of whether they are witnesses or not.  Often brothers will come with their parents who are not in the truth, or maybe with their son or daughter or caretaker who are not witnesses.   Our home is always filled with loving brothers and sisters stopping in to say hello and to meet our current guests.  Pioneers, special pioneers and missionaries often drop by for a cup of tea on their break.

6.  My child is disabled.  We would love to bring him on a vacation to the Dominican Republic.  How do you feel about this?
We would love to have him!  Children are most welcome whether they be very young or older.  There are so many things your son could enjoy seeing and learning about in this country.  It would be a wonderful experience for him and we will do everything in our power to make your visit as a family a joyous one!

7.  I was wondering about stairs, bathroom facilities, and hot water.  Are there stairs leading to your bed and breakfast?  Also, what are the bathroom facilities like?  Do you have hot water?
There are no stairs at either bed and breakfast.  Each place has a nice veranda level with the lawn or sidewalk.  This is no problem for a wheelchair.  The bathroom in Jarabacoa has hot water and a bathtub.  The one in Samana has a shower, but no hot water.  However, water can be heated on the stove for your convenience.  (Samana is considerably warmer than Jarabacoa, so a cool shower is usually most welcome).

8.  I am deaf.  Will this be a problem?
Not at all.  A totally deaf sister in her 50s came and stayed with us for an entire month and pioneered, searching out and studying with the many deaf persons we have in our territory.  She brought with her teenage granddaughter who also pioneered, helping her.

We do not know the sign language, but this will not be a problem if you come with a companion, or are able to write notes to us (if you are alone), telling us of your needs and wishes.

9.  I am blind.  Will this be a problem?
Not at all.  It might be well to come with a close companion, however.  If you do not, we will meet you at the airport and be your eyes 24-hours a day for the 10 days.  We will have a wonderful time and modify the itinerary for your enjoyment.  We would be delighted if you would like to accompany us on Bible studies. We'll explain everything around you so you can visualize it as well.  I had a close friend who was blind and was a world traveler. When she would return from trips abroad, she would tell us about things in such detail that we were sure that she must have somehow seen them!

10.  I have difficulty speaking.  It could be that you might not understand me.  Do you think this will be a problem?
No.  Definitely not.  We will communicate with you one way or another.  Before you come you can communicate a lot of your wishes and things you would like us to know via the Internet.  If we have a problem with something when you are here, you can either write it down or type it on the computer.  One of the services we offer to all guests who are part of this ten day vacation plan is use of the computer and the Internet service.

11.  I am up in years now, but would love to travel and see your lovely Island.  I am 75 years old.  However, my health is still quite good.  Do you foresee any problems if I should come alone?
Not at all.  We will take good care of you for the entire ten days.  We will look out for you and show you a marvelous time!  Recently we had a 75 year old sister from Belgium who came alone and she had a marvelous time!

12.  My dear husband and I would like to make this trip together.  He is able to help me in every way that is necessary, so I do not need much help from anyone else.  How much privacy would we have?
As much privacy as you would like.  When it is not necessary to be with brothers or sisters every moment in order to help them, we merely do all the private chauffeuring to the different places, such as restaurants, beaches, and other places, returning at the time specified by our guests.

13.  In what languages are your television programs?  Are there any brothers who speak Danish there?  I know a little German and some English.  Will I have a problem?
You definitely will not have a problem here.  There are English, Spanish, Italian, German, and French television channels.  Also, we have brothers from all over the world (Europe, Canada, and the USA) serving as self-supporting missionaries who speak French, German, Italian, English, Swedish, and Danish.  If you are from Denmark, you will feel right at home as regards the language.  The same is true for people who are from Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, or Italy.  With English there is never a problem because it is the international language spoken by most foreigners.

14.  What kind of medical attention is available in the Dominican Republic?  Would I be able to get prescriptions filled there?
There is good basic medical care here. There is FREE emergency care in small hospitals, and reasonably good clinics that charge minimal rates.  However, these medical care places are not equipped for major or complicated emergencies.

There are pharmacies for obtaining prescriptions that have been written by doctors in THIS country only.  Not all prescription medicine can be found in small towns or pueblos.  Anyone suspecting they might need prescription medications during the time they are here should see their doctor about writing and filling these prescriptions in their own country before coming here.

15.  I have many questions about the history of the Dominican Republic and its culture, and what life is like there.  Where can I find more information on these things?  Also, can you help me with best airfares from Europe?
Please visit http://Island_Bed_Breakfast.tripod.com  There are several links on this web site devoted to answering these questions.

16.  Would it be alright to e-mail you with questions of a personal nature that have not been answered here?
By all means, please do!  We would love to hear from you, and we will take delight in answering any questions you might have.  Write to MarilynPereira@usa.net and Molly-Ann@usa.net