A week in Puerto Plata that started exactly how I planned… and then absolutely did not
I’ve been to Puerto Plata more times than I can count, and at this point it’s less about “going somewhere new” and more about going somewhere I already understand. I know the airport, I know the drive, and I know exactly where I want to be within an hour of arriving.
And yes, for full transparency, we do have a membership at Lifestyle Vacation Holiday Club. So this isn’t a first impression kind of trip — this is a “we’ve figured out our rhythm over time” kind of trip.
We landed late on day one, and it was one of those arrivals where you’re just done. Not excited, not exploring — just tired, slightly disoriented, and ready to sleep. We checked in, dropped our bags, and called it a night. Vacation didn’t really start until the next morning.
And that next morning started exactly how all of our mornings start there — at Vienna Coffee House. At this point it’s not even a decision, it’s just what we do. The coffee is actually good (which matters more than it should), and it sets the tone for the whole day.
From there, we headed straight to Harmony Beach, which has quietly become “our spot.” It’s calmer, a little tucked away from everything, and just feels easy. We’ve tried the other beaches over the years, but we always seem to end up back here. The little restaurant there does ice cream and crepes, and somehow that has become part of the routine too.
Day two was exactly what I needed it to be. No plans, no pressure, just moving between coffee, beach, and doing absolutely nothing without feeling guilty about it. We had dinner at Casablanca buffet in the Tropical section, which, in my opinion, never disappoints. At this stage I don’t experiment — I go where I know I’ll be happy.
By day three we decided we should probably leave our little routine for a day and actually do something. So we booked Ocean World, which you can see from the beach and this ended up being one of those unexpectedly perfect days.
We completely lucked out because there were no cruise ships in port, which meant the entire place felt relaxed instead of chaotic. No long lines, no crowds, no rushing from one thing to the next — it just flowed naturally.
We started with the snorkel swim, which was surprisingly good, and then somehow I ended up being pulled into the macaw bird show. One minute I’m watching, the next minute I’m standing there holding a bird like this is something I do regularly. Completely unplanned, but also kind of perfect.
The love birds were probably my favourite part — I could have stayed there much longer than I did. And the dolphin and sea lion shows were honestly really well done. Not overly commercial or rushed, just enjoyable to sit and watch.
What I liked most though was that it wasn’t just shows. There’s a small beach area, a pool, even water slides, so you can move around and just enjoy the space instead of feeling like you’re on a schedule. It ended up being a full, really easy day, and if you hit it on a quieter day like we did, I would absolutely recommend it.
And then… day four.
Out of nowhere, I got hit with what I can only describe as full-on gastro. No warning, no easing into it — just completely taken out.
A solid 24 hours where I didn’t move, didn’t function, and genuinely thought at one point, “Okay… this might actually be it.” I did, in fact, say, “I think I’m going to meet Jesus,” and I stand by that statement.
At the time, not funny. Now… slightly.
But what I do want to say is that this did not feel like food. This felt like one of those viruses that are going around everywhere right now — travel, shared spaces, airports, resorts — it’s just part of being around people.
What it did do was reinforce something I always tell clients but had never personally experienced like this before: get the medical insurance.
I’ve travelled a lot, and I have never needed it. Until now. And in that moment, I was very, very glad I had it, because when you feel like that, the last thing you want to be thinking about is cost.
By day five I was finally starting to feel human again, so we decided to get out for the day and hired a taxi for $45 USD. No plan, just “take us around.”
We went into Puerto Plata first, did a bit of shopping, took it in for a while… and then I was ready to leave. It was busy, lots of energy, lots going on — and at this stage, I’ve realized I prefer something a little quieter.
That’s when our driver said he wanted to show us where he grew up, and took us out to Maimón. That part of the day ended up being something really special.
He brought us into a small community called Los Mangos, where we visited a family-run compound. They grow everything they need — fruits, herbs, honey — and make their own souvenirs right there. They have it set up for tourists, although it wasn’t polished, it was just real life, and those are always the moments that stay with you.
I bought some honey, and I will say this — Caribbean honey is completely different. The smell alone caught me off guard.
At one point Rob was standing there sharing a Mamajuana shot with the farmer like they’d known each other forever, and we just stood there talking, no rush, no schedule.
Somewhere along the way we stopped for food, and I ordered fish. What came out was a full fish, head and all, looking directly at me. I laughed, took a second, and then decided we were doing this. And honestly, it was one of the best meals of the trip.
We were so sad to say goodbye to Christino our amazing taxi driver. We have his number and he is now our official Puerto Plata tour guide.
By day six we were fully back to ourselves and decided to go off resort again for dinner. That’s when we found Chris & Mady’s, and this is one I would absolutely go back to.
It’s run by Chris, who’s originally from Canada and moved to the Dominican 49 years ago, along with his wife Maddy and their extended family. Nothing fancy, nothing overdone — just really good food and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. You can feel that it’s been built over time, not designed for tourists, and that’s exactly why it works.
Day seven came quickly, like it always does. We took advantage of the late checkout, had one last coffee at Vienna, one last walk along the beach, and one last moment of sitting there not quite ready to leave.
This wasn’t a perfect trip. It had one of the best days, one of the worst days, and a lot of simple, really good moments in between.
Puerto Plata isn’t polished, and Lifestyle isn’t perfect. But if you know how to navigate it — or you’re willing to just go with it — there’s something here that keeps pulling me back.
Even after a 24-hour stretch where I thought I might not make it…
I still came home thinking,
“Yeah… I’d go back.”
— LaVerne ✈️🌴
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