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Out & About in Dominican Republic – Casa de Campo

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By Connor Smith of Golfbreaks.com

Where to Stay:

If you are looking for an all-inclusive trip, look no further than Casa de Campo. Aside from being an exclusive golf destination, Casa de Campo offers many additional activities and relaxation benefits, including horseback riding, polo fields, trap shooting, a beautiful beach and a stunning marina filled with massive yachts. From the time you arrive at Casa de Campo, you feel right at home; the friendly staff assists you to your room and is available for any need you may have during your stay. During your stay at this stunning resort, regardless of whether you choose to stay at the luxurious Hotel or one of the beautiful private Villas, you will have a 4-person golf cart to explore the property. With an endless list of activities alongside three magnificent golf courses, you will find yourself never wanting to leave.

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Where to Play:

Casa de Campo has three outstanding golf courses; Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore, and the Pete Dye Links. Their crown jewel, Teeth of the Dog, has 7 of its 18 holes running right along the Caribbean Sea. This course will challenge you throughout your entire round, plus add in the spectacular ocean views, Teeth of the Dog will keep you coming back for more.

During your stay, I also recommend playing Dye Fore, a 27-hole masterpiece with two main nines, Chavon and Marina. Chavon plays atop high cliffs overlooking the Chavon river. Make the turn to the back nine, and you’re at Marina where you have four holes along the coast making for spectacular ocean views. The two different nines pair together perfectly for an unforgettable Caribbean golf experience.

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Where to Eat:

Start your morning off with breakfast at Lago Restaurant, a buffet style restaurant overlooking the 18th hole of Teeth of the Dog adjacent to the pro shop. Once you have finished up your morning meal, you can take a short walk to the pro shop to check in for your round.

Upon finishing your round, head up to the 19th Hole Bar located on the backside of the pro shop for a light lunch. You can sit up on the open deck and watch the other golfers as they finish up on the 18th hole.  In the mood for a bigger lunch? Make your way to Minitas Beach at the Beach Club, where they serve Mediterranean Cuisine with a Dominican twist. If you are heading to the Beach Club for dinner, evenings are a little more formal so remember to pack a collared shirt!

Lastly, my favorite restaurant at Casa de Campo is Pubbelly. Here you will find a fun Asian Fusion menu that has a Tapas feel to it. Pubbelly is situated down in the Marina, so be sure to enjoy the pleasant walk and exquisite scenery enveloped with many elegant, docked yachts on your way there.

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What to Do Away from the Courses:

There are two activities in the all-inclusive package that guests have the option to partake.  First, you get one round of 25 shots of trap shooting per Adult at the Shooting Area. A guide is on hand to accompany you for the duration of your shoot. Following your session, you can enjoy a cold drink at the Shooting Area Bar.  Second, as an all-inclusive guest, you can enjoy unlimited horseback riding during your stay.

I would also recommend taking an excursion to Catalina Island.  After just a short Catamaran ride you will have a sun-filled day on the beach where you can relax, swim in the crystal-clear water or snorkel the reef teeming with sea life.  Although this is not part of your all-inclusive package, it’s only $35 per Adult and $25 Per Child (5-12).

Nightlife:

After a full day of golf, sunbathing at the beach or any of the endless activities you can enjoy at Casa de Campo, make your way up to La Cana for some evening fun.  Here you can enjoy a few drinks at the bar, listen to live music and let loose on the dance floor.

Local Tips:

You will need to pay $10 per person to enter customs at Punta Cana International Airport, so make sure to have some cash on you when you arrive.

While in the Dominican Republic it is unlikely that you will need to go offsite from the Resort. With that in mind, I would not recommend anyone staying at the Resort to get a rental car as it will just sit in the parking lot until your departure day.  It is straightforward to organize transportation from the Airport on the day you arrive, and the Resort will help you get back to the Airport the day you leave.

If getting a rental car is a must, I have three simple pieces of advice:

  • Avoid driving at night. Make sure to allow enough time to get where you are going before nightfall.
  • Avoid driving in Santo Domingo. Everyone I spoke with, mainly locals, do not advise anyone to try and drive through this area.
  • Make sure to get some cash converted to Dominican Pesos. If you are traveling from Punta Cana to Casa de Campo (La Romana), you will pass two toll booths.  One does accept credit cards, but the other only accepts cash. Both are between 400 & 600 pesos ($2-$3 USD) per vehicle.

As it goes with driving anywhere, always make sure to pay attention, and you will be fine. I drove myself around Punta Cana and La Romana for six days and didn’t have any issues.  But if you are staying at one resort for the duration of your trip, a rental car is not necessary.

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Republished with permission from Golfbreaks.com