Casa De Campo Caribbean Resort and Vacation Paradise
Villa at Casa De Campo Resort
~ Everything You Need To Know & More ~

Suggested Checklist
Spanish Dictionary; particularly beneficial is a "quick reference" type … for "most commonly used words" , especially verbs (… mostly for maid; Nearly all staff throughout Casa De Campo speak English)
Money: Most of Casa De Campo accepts dollars but there are sufficient number of times where you will want to have pesos, such as shopping in the supermarkets and tipping (5% to 10% where needed, like restaurants, lounges, cab, your maid (about $5 to $8 per day depending on workload); you do need to tip the towel person or any of the attendants at the beach etc. They can exchange for you at the Main office.
Food Shopping. Have a list prepared in advance: -Because you’ll want to go right away when you arrive so that you can control your dependency on eating out: There’s two places to shop, the huge supermarket just outside Casa De Campo (about 10 minutes ride by car) or the medium–size market in the Marina. Here’s what we do (And what we suggest you do): As soon as you arrive, take you prepared-comprehensive-food-shopping-list … and ask the Main Office (dial 0 on the home phone) for an English speaking helper to give you a ride and go with you to, the huge supermarket downtown. Ask the helper to assist you in converting dollars to pesos; then try to buy everything you’ll need for you entire vacation. Later, if you forgot something, you can probably get it at the Marina’s market (and you’ll need pesos there too; they do exchanges). Some shopping suggestions:
  • Cooler (you can buy one at the supermarket in the Marina; they’re inexpensive.
  • A wine/liquor Bottle-specific insulator for beach, pool (be subtle) and sight seeing rides etc. (see Sharper Image or BrookStone products; this will save you big money .
  • Sun Block (sun is very strong & easy to underestimate);
  • Solarcaine (pain reliever for sun burn);
  • Fruits that keep well, e.g.: Apples, bananas, plantain, Kiwi, watermelon
  • Snack foods for the beach, e.g.: nuts, granola bars, etc.
  • Preparation for Faucet water: If you are not from any country that you visit, then it is highly likely that your immune system does not have the ability to avoid sickness from drinking faucet water. I have friends in the military who tell me about the new recruits who get sick in every country they visit because they didn’t heed the warnings abut faucet water in foreign countries. The Dominican Republic is no exception: If you are not born and raised there, then you most likely need to be cautious about the faucet water, just like most any foreign country. It is fine to shower with etc … but you should not get the water in your mouth ... at all … and certainly not drink the water; e.g.: do not wash your tooth brush with faucet water. Tell the maid that you want all utensils etc boiled, all plates, vegetables and fruit washed via bottled water. To minimize probabilities: Buy 1 gallon worth of bottled water per person per day of your stay (remember it’ll be used not only to drink, but also to wash vegetables etc.. Buy Paper plates, cups and plastic utensils. I also suggest that at any bars, lounges, restaurants, snack bars, etc that you order your drinks in PLASTIC CUPS: Remember that in all countries the natives are immune to their water and they are therefore (unintentionally) INSENSITIVE to how it may (will) affect you. You are probably NOT immune. So please be alert on this water issue; that goes for any county, in case you are new to travel. I personally do not eat any salads or fruits or anything from a restaurant where there is even a remote possibility it was washed with the faucet water. The first, second and third times I got sick from foreign water (DR, Brazil, & Mexico) the only thing that alleviated it was Cypro, which is a prescription; you could try to carry some as a preventative when you travel; I ALWAYS DO.

Golf Cart: You should absolutely get one unless you prefer a rental car (which is excessive for most purposes within Casa De Campo). When you rent the golf cart from the main office, it usually includes gas (but it may be market affected, ie: there may not be any available during holidays and tournament seasons. I f you have teenagers or couples, you will probably want more than one cart. The cart at this house is rented for $35/day per custom and practicality (their dependency can not be guaranteed; though this one seems to be a good one, therefore it must be a separate transaction. You get gas at marina or you can ask our Gardener to get it for you; remember to check oil every 6 to 8 hours of operation, or ask Gardener to do it. Thanks.)
Restaurants & lounges: Are fairly pricy; its not unusual to spend $200 for 4 people for a modest dinner. So we use the supermarket, refrigerator and the maid cooks well. We bring a COOLER to carry snacks to beach and rides etc.

Safety: It’s a very safe area; we have never heard of a problem. But just to avoid grief, we still lock & hide our valuables.You do not need linens, pillow cases, and blankets. The maid does the laundry as needed. If you have hypoallergenic concerns, have the maid use your choice of laundry detergent etc.

At Your Arrival...
(Directions, etc):
We urge you to follow this sequence … to maximize your enjoyment:

1.) Transportation from Airport: Do not use cab drivers who are not recommended by us or by a MANAGER/Supervisor of the Casa De Campo office (-this applies to ANY country you visit).

2.) Going through the security gate at Casa De Campo: Have your lease ready and the ph# of Justina is on there. And have everyone who drives outside of the security gate carry a copy of a lease with them too.

Directions to #57 Los Caujuiles: Have your driver ask the security gate guard how to get there. If you are driving yourself, then from the security gate, go about 1/3 mile (passing-by first right turn) and take 2nd right where you see the big sign "Los Cajuiles", then quickly turn left, go about 170 yards and #57 Villa is on your right (light tan color). Learn more about Los Caujuiles.

Look for this villa
3.) Visit "Guest Services" in the Main Area to obtain a free color MAP of Case De Campo and get you id badge. This color MAP is essential for you to have … because it clear and complete; so it will expedite your familiarity with all of your options and how to access them … so that you have a GREAT time.

To get to the main area and get your free color Map at "Guest Services" office:

Walk (about 10 mins) or take cart (about 3 mins).

If you walk: take a right out of your driveway, bear left (top portion of cul de sac, keeping pool on right) as you approach where the cul de sac starts turning right sharply you’ll notice a narrow footpath with a low-height stone wall, proceed down this path (be careful if in the cart because its narrow and the rocks are jagged enough to seriously damage the cart); then you will come out onto a paved drive; hug the left side (until another cart comes towards you, then you must move right a little to let them pass on your left); go about 200 yards and look for the backside commercial looking building on your left (it has a big fence surrounding the pool area; if you come to a fork in the road you’ve gone to far); walk in through the doorway of the fence, go past the first pool, up the stairs and take right up stairs again and look for ‘Guest Services’ to get MAP.

If you go by cart: Go past the commercial looking building mentioned above and bear RIGHT at the fork, go to end (you will be looking at Bongi and Lago Grill across street) take a LEFT go up about 200 yards and park where guest parking s for carts = across from the little pond. Walk towards the concierge and ask them where ‘Guest Services’ is.

While you are at the Main Area, ask employees (they are everywhere) where the following are and visit them: The Internet Café, bike rentals, Fitness Center, Spa, and the Shuttle for traveling in Casa De Campo (make sure you get written schedule); and anything else that interests you.

4.) Food Shopping: Next, we strongly advise that you go food shopping to stock up for the week.

If you want large variety, then you will want to go to the big Shopping center outside Casa De Campo (about 15 mins drive by car or taxi). There are several restarants that deliver too, like Dominos.

5.) Go Sight Seeing to learn your way around: With your co-pilot holding the color MAP (obtained above) while you drive the cart, you should drive around Casa De Campo to learn the areas. The MAP is very clear and easy to follow!

6.) Visit Bongi: For free internet and activities for toddlers to teens and 24-hour baby-sitting: See directions above for "If you go by cart".

7. ) Beach: Bring your own snacks and alcohol and SUN-BLOCK (and don’t skip on an inch of your body with the sun-block because the sun is subtle yet very strong!). Directions and what to look for!

By Shuttle: Go to Main office using directions given above to get shuttle ride.

By Golf Cart: See #3.) directions above for getting to "Main Area" "By Golf Cart" and at Bonchi, take a right and go all the way past the Main Offices and up to the Main road (there’s usually a police/traffic guy there) then take right onto Main road and continue for about 450 yards and take right at (see sign) "Las Minitas Beach" eventually you will come to a fork, bear LEFT at that fork, then go about 600 yards+ and take a RIGHT to beach area, go into the LEFT portion of the parking lot because it is for carts.Since the carts all look the same, you need to pick some characteristic about your cart that you can remember (like the lock-chain), Walk down the path and sign-in to pick up TOWELS (they’re free to use, if you return them).

On the beach the Waiters will serve you so ask for a menu, expect expensive; normal tip is 10% (dollars and pesos are ok). As you lool at the beach: to your right is the bathrooms behind restaurant.

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