Caribbean Vacation Part 1 - Dominican Republic
Story
We went on a 10 day trip to the caribbean. Starting with a trip to the Dominican Republic! Our original plan was to fly into Santo Domingo where we booked an Airbnb for November 28th(Thursday) - December 1st(Sunday). There's an overnight ferry from Santo Domingo to San Jose that we were going to take the 1st and spend six days in Puerto Rico. But we didn't book the ferry in time and it ended up selling out. After a bit of a panic we ended up getting a flight from the DR to the west side of PR, on a local Dominican airline, for the afternoon of the 2nd. This ended up saving us a 2 hour drive across the island. Our plan in PR was to spend most of our time in Aquadilla before making a bit of a winding trip back to San Juan to see a baseball game and the city for a couple nights before flying back to Chicago.
Travel Day to Santo Domingo
Ipad TimeThe kids watch the TVs in their seat while Rachel sleeps
Riding the Airport Tram
Cora and Hudson enjoying our AirBNB
Kids enjoying our AirBNB, while we unpack
We had a 6AM flight out on Thanksgiving morning with a 1.5 hour layover in Atlanta before continuing on to Santo Domingo. I was extremely nervous to be flying into one of the countries busiest airports on what could have been the busiest travel day of the year and trying to make a connecting flight with two young kids, one of which would almost certainly need to go to the bathroom and both would be in varying states of sleepiness.
Our travel to Santo Domingo could not have gone better. Atlanta airport was probably as empty as it could have been and we had more than enough time to deplane, go to the bathroom, get a snack, get to our next gate, get another snack and go to the bathroom again. Hoping our luck continues on future flights. 🤞
The kids continued their great travelers streak propped up by more toys than I know how they fit in our carryons and two parents that are very fearful of crying kids on planes.
We successfully got through the airport and found a taxi driver to take us to our AirBNB in the heart of the Zona Colonial, a main tourist destination in Santo Domingo. There was a lot of construction and after a couple circles our taxi driver couldn't drive down the street but we were able to check in and get our luggage down the street into the AirBNB.
I(Nick) was having some ear issues after the flight and went to find a pharmacy. The closest one was right off the main tourist square area called Parque Colon. Upon arriving I thought it was so cool I immediately went back to get Rachel and the kids because I wanted them to see it. It was a little late given how early everyone was up but the kids had fun at a local pizza place and seeing all the lights.
Santo Domingo Sights
Nick and the kids waiting to start the cocoa baking tour
The kids pose in image frames every chance they get
Enjoying baking some cocoa
Kids playing with real(?) cocoa beans
Kids did not enjoy testing the dark chocolate so much
Walking back from the Cocoa TourIt was insanely hot and humid every day we were there
Hudson and Rachel walking down into the cave
All of us in one of the caves
The boat to take us to the third cave in the system
Cora on the boat ride to the third cave
Rachel and Hudson on the boat to the third cave
The third cave in the system
All of us in front of the third cave in the system
View of the boat launch from the other side of the cave, showing the stairs to get to the boat launch
Merry Christmas from Santo Domingo
Hudson playing in a sand table in the mall aquarium
Koi in the mall aquarium
Kids in the mall aquarium walk through tank
Kids with a Mickey Mouse in an Ice Cream shop
Our first day out we