Comparable to Wal-Mart Super-Centers, Jumbo's chain is rapidly spreading across DR and waging price wars against long-standing grocery/department stores Orenses and Iberia; both found in La Romana. In addition to credit cards readily accepted, open cash tills also revealed US$ with amount determined by daily exchange rates, change returned in RD-pesos.

Jumbo's biggest advantage is convenience of location along the town's main artery of Avenida Libertad/Highway 3. For tourists staying in Bayahibe area resorts and using public transportation, the easily found shopping complex (which always had a large percentage of foreign patrons) is just a short two-block walk for carrying purchases back to the publico stop.

In addition to full lines of department store goods, clothing and grocery, you'll also find convenience of banking, optometry, phone center, cigar shop, one-hour photo and other services including a pharmacy though I caution potential customers on the latter. Medicines are outrageously expensive in the DR which also includes vitamins, chapstick, ointment creams, and other related items sold only through the pharmacy; come prepared!

I'd been in the village about a week when going on a shopping run with my boy which included my first trip to Jumbo. Arriving around lunchtime provided what could be one of the biggest bonuses for coming here. As part of grocery, there's a Full-Line Deli with a wide variety of excellent locally prepared specialties which can be eaten in an upstairs dining courtyard overlooking the store.

Items are priced/sold by the pound; rice, beans, a meat selection, and a vegetable selection with drinks for two never costs more than $5. Along the outer hallway opposite the deli are separate counters selling pizza, sandwiches, ice creams, and another dessert counter with Dominican sweets including custards/flans for less than a dollar making this entire experience what I highly recommend as La Romana's best dining option.

We'd been sitting at a table over lunch during that first visit when realizing two hours had passed, and we were in for a scolding from Mami after being gone so long. We hurriedly finished the shopping and when preparing to exit the store, were all but walloped by the immense heat which swallowed us once stepping beyond the electronic doors.

From that point, I realized Jumbo was more than just about shopping and dining; the place was a God-sent haven! During the remainder of my stay, we calculated excuses for coming back many times to enjoy quality time without interruptions. Wandering the aisles, often acting like fools, was pretense for absorbing air-conditioning; a revitalization ritual that even had us contemplating test-sleeping one of the sofas, beds or recliners.

However you justify it, Jumbo is the place to come -- for everything!