Puerto Plata - the silver port, by land and water

This all-inclusive property recently changed its affiliation from Hilton to Globalia, and is now known as the Oasis Marien Hotel. My own stay occurred less than a year ago but during the time of its earlier name brand. That being noted, some impressions and recommendations are probably still valid.

The basics are still in place here: the hotel has 325 rooms in a series of three-floor buildings that provide plenty of garden space and open areas in between. Rooms are spacious, have a somewhat standardized look Caribbean decor and bright color scheme, plenty of drawer space and closet area. There is a patio that gives you a view of the gardens and, if you are in the right building facing the right direction, a view of the beach and ocean.

There are three restaurants on the premises to choose from, one being also a round-the-clock snack place where you can eat anytime. The other is a huge buffet-style establishment, while the third is a sit down, service establishment. There is a small shopping plaza onsite with boutiques selling clothes and Dominican handicrafts. The concierge desk in the lobby can usually arrange outings into the nearby Dominican countryside and the kiosk at the beach here has a variety of sailboat and windsurf boards and instruction available. You may note that taxi rates to various points nearby and along the north coast are posted on a sign at the hotel's front entry. You can try to negotiate downward on this with the man who heads the bellhop desk and seems to be in charge of arrival operations there. Explain where you want to go and quote your own price; he may counter but you may still come out ahead of what is "official" price.

For this traveler, it's always a pleasure to discover the small museum that dedicates itself with intelligence and vivid examples to displaying a little known aspect of the area. Amber is a part of the Dominican Republic's natural wealth that is shown to impressive effect at the Amber Museum located in the historic district of Puerto Plata.

The city is home to what is the most elegant and wide-ranging collection of amber on the island, the Museo de Ámbar (or Amber Museum, at Calle Duarte 61; Tel: (809) 586-2848; www.ambermuseum.com). A former Victorian period style mansion that once belonged to a wealthy local merchant family, the Museo de Ámbar has been completely renovated to house rooms of amber in both uncut and finely designed samples. Also fascinating are the samples of uncut amber with the petrified remains of insects encased at their center. Guided tours are provided from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday, but visitors must call ahead to reserve. The finest amber is reputed to come from the nearby Cordillera Septentrional mountains just south of the city, and you can buy fine jewelry and decorative items made from this pleasing semi-precious stone at the museum gift shop.

18 holes of finely cultivated, challenging fairways, 72-par golf, the dramatic Mount Isabela looming inland just behind you, and the endless vista of the north Atlantic ahead of you, along with the most pleasant of light breeezes, all combine to make this long-standing favorite among golfers a prime attraction in the Puerto Plata area.

This lush course is a Robert Trent Jones, Sr. classic that has developed a strong following among the international golf traveling set, with a strong Canadian presence in particular. The main annual golf tournament is called the Brugal International, thanks to its original sponsorship by the Dominican Republic's leading rum distillery. While this traveler did not have an opportunity to play the links here personally, he did take an extensive tour of the entire course. The gently rolling fairways are punctuated by well-tended groups of palms and other trees and foliage, and the courses derive most of their moisture from a drainage system so everything remains verdant year-round, even in the driest of periods. Two large ponds make the seventeenth and eighteenth holes the most challenging to overcome at the end of this extensive and pleasant course.

The airy, stylish clubhouse just off the eighteenth hole is a circular building of high ceilings, white walls, wicker and dark wood furnishings, contrasted by a sleek lime-colored lounge area. The large, curved bar area is a final welcoming hole after a morning or late afternoon session on the adjacent course. The adjacent pro shop can fill in with any golf attire, accessories, or equipment you might need (

This is both a club membership and day-access course for guests at some of the hotel properties within the huge surrounding Playa Dorada complex. To check on rates and services—there are golf clinics, individual and beginner instruction, caddie services, etc.—call the Playa Dorada Golf Course at (809) 320 3472 or go to their website at www.playadoradagolf.com