Casa Ondina is a breezy house tucked into the hillside of Samana, with a wonderful view across the bay and its islands to the ocean beyond. The house has louvered doors the length of its façade opening out to a generous private terrace raised 10' above the road, a perfect place for an afternoon in the shade looking over the bay. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Dominican_Republic/casaondina/hotel/916/22/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Mon, 9 Nov 2009 05:01:55 EST It is an excellent place for the independent visitor, who wants to stay in a small town rather than a gated tourist enclave. The beach of Puerto Escondida is 5 minutes walk away, and is perfect for a morning swim. Local restaurants, market, car and motorbike hire, internet center, bank with ATM, bus stop and port are all within 10 minutes walk or motoconcho ride (motorbike taxis – also available with wagons). Transport to beautiful deserted beaches, waterfalls in the hills, islands, trips to national parks and whale watching trips are all easily arranged from the Malecon or port of Samana. The house was designed by architects specialising in sustainable architecture responsive to the local climate – it catches the breezes coming up the hill from the bay and funnels them through the house to the open sided skylight at the back of the house. In its second phase it will have a planted green roof to help keep the concrete roof cool, and a solar hot water system. The morning sun streaks through the louvers into the house, but by afternoon the terrace becomes shaded by the house and the hillside. Getting there: The house is located on the Samana Bay in Santa Barbara de Samaná – (also known simply as 'Samana'). This is a beautiful region with luxuriant vegetation and is free from mass tourism. There are many beautiful beaches on both coasts of the peninsular, and there is lush forest on the interior with streams and waterfalls. International flights come into the capital, Santo Domingo (4 hrs drive away), Puerta Plata (3 hrs away) or Santiago (2.5 hrs away). Taxi to Samana can be arranged from all these locations. Air conditioned coach: Caribe Tours Goes from Santo Domingo and Puerta Plata to Samana. Leaves from Santo Domingo at 7 –8.30 – 10 – 1.30 – 2.30 – 4 and takes 4.5 hours, including a stop for food and bathrooms. Leaves from Puerta Plata at 7am and takes 3 hours. Costs: ±150 pesos each way (±USD 6).(Confirm costs and times with Metro buses or Caribe tours –www.caribetours.com.de or 221 4422) For the more adventurous tourist there are also small local buses ‘guaguas' from all around the island. Taxi: By car or mini-bus can be arranged from the airports or towns to Samana (from Puerto Plata 2.5 hours, from Santo Domingo 3.5 - 4 hours). This kind of transfer takes more time than a little airplane, but it will give you a good first impression of the island. Many minibuses are airconditioned and take up to 6 people. Costs: Around USD 100-150 (prices fluctuate). Taxis can be reserved online from www.dominicantaxi.com Rental car: You can rent a car at the airport and drive to Samana. We recommend, that you make the reservation before you leave home (Hertz or AVIS) because cars booked from home are usually cheaper and in better condition. Small aircraft charter planes: to Arroyo Barril or El Portillo (the flight takes 30 minutes), then a taxi to Samana (15 or 30 minutes). Price of flights are approximately 300-400 USD for 1-3 people. Contact the airline for more information – www.sapair.com or Caribair in Sto. Dgo. call 809-542-6688 fax 567-7033 Formalities to enter the Dominican Republic: To enter the Dominican Republic for up to 90 days you need a passport which is valid at least 6 months later than departure date and also a valid return ticket. Please check all the formalities with you travel agency. AMENITIES: Accomodations • 2 bedrooms with double beds (1 queen, 1 full) mosquito nets, ceiling fans, closet, lamps and bedside table. • Large living room with dining area and kitchen off it, also with ceiling fan • Fully equipped kitchen (maid service available as extra) • Bathroom with shower • Utility closet with washing machine • Hot and cold water • Large stone terrace ACTIVITIES: Beaches: Breathtakingly beautiful and deserted beaches such as Playa Rincon are within easy access by car or by boat. Playa Rincon has1.5 miles of fine white sand with crystal blue water and is surrounded on three sides by vegetation-covered mountains. Conde Nast Travel Magazine has ranked this beach as the 2nd best beach in the world. Playa Rincon also has a beautifully clean freshwater stream at the lefthand end of the beach (looking towards the water) which is perfect for a refreshing dip before the trip home. Playa Anacaona (or Las Flechas) is a 15 minute motoconcho ride away, and is a small sheltered beach overlooking the Caya Levantado with a modest outdoor bar and restaurant with excellent food. On Friday nights there is candlelit dining on the beach and dancing to local music on the terrace. This draws a mixed crowd from the staff and visitors at the hotel up the road to the local residents. Playa del Valle also has freshwater streams running into it and is reached by dirt road turning off to the left from the road to Las Galeras. Las Galeras is at the end of the road east from Samana, reached by bus, taxi or motoconcho and is a small community with hostels, beach and shacks cooking fresh fish, lobster, octopus and serving delicious pina colada's served in the pineapple. The Casa Marina Samana Beach Resort – 250m along the beach road to the right when you reach Las Galeras – has a sheltered beach and also a Dive center and horse back riding center. (None of these beaches have a jetski in earshot) Las Terrenas is a short bus ride or taxi ride across the peninsular and has beautiful calm beaches, and is a bustling tourist town with many restaurants right on the beach. From here jetskis can be rented to go to other local beaches, and many people do parasurfing. Caya Levantado The beaches at the island Caya Levantado (used for the original Bacardi ad) are also easily reached by boat from Samana. El Limon waterfall can be reached after a four kilometer walk or ride by horse through the mountainous tropical forest. The waterfall is about 300 meters above sea level and has a 40 meter drop that ends in a very deep but swimable pool of crystal clear waters. Rock climbing Rock climbing enthusiasts should look into the Playa Fronton excursions. Playa Fronton is located at the end tip of Las Galeras. It is a spectacular beach, even if you are not into climbing. Parque Nacional los Haitises Boat trips from Samana can be taken to this national park with its scores of tiny jungly islands and thick mangrove forests. The park contains scores of lush hills that jut out of the ocean and make for excellent exploration by boat. The park receives a tremendous amount of rainfall which encourages subtropical humid forest plants such as bamboo, ferns and bromelids to thive on the knolls and there are many local birds including the Hispaniolan parakeet. Whale Watching Whale watching trips to watch the Humpback whales are available from January to March in Dominican republic, Samana bay is one of 2 places in domincan republic where 80% of the world's humpback whales choose to mate and bear young. Whale watching tours take place and allow observation of whales swimming, jumping and breaching. The best tours are run by Canadian marine biologist Kim Beddall's Victoria Marine, which has offices on the Malecon (Samana's main street by the bay). Kim has also been instrumental in enforcing boat to whale distance and other regulations to preserve the whale population. Restaurants Local food can be had at the ‘pica pollo' stands which sell a plate of rice and beans or plantains with beef stew/ chicken/ crab / fish. Local restaurants include La Hacienda and La Mata Rosada (both run by french expats who have lived in Samana for many years) with delicious Dominican and European cuisine. Las Flechas and Don Camillos serve good Dominican food, such as fish with coconut sauce and beef steak with peppers. Italian pizza can be had from Morris's or the Italian place next door. Delicious crepes can be had at the Café de Paris. All these places serve fresh juices and milkshakes. DINING/RESTARUANTS: Type: Villa No. of Rooms: 1 Beach Location: Next to Beach (Across the Street) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Dominican_Republic/casaondina/hotel/916/22/ Mon, 9 Nov 2009 05:01:55 EST