I love Dominica. I spent 11 days there in March, my 12th trip since 1998. It was part of a big birthday celebration, one of those frightening ones that end in a zero, so I rented an upscale villa in the hills above Roseau, with a pool and household help. Beautiful, and all for $170 per night. Dominica is inexpensive, except for trendy ecojoints. Food is the only issue. Most restaurants are mediocre at best. We had a cook come in every other night. What the hell, you only turn 70 once. There is one big problem, though.
I suggest scheduling soon, because the best way to get there is American Eagle from San Juan. American Eagle is going out of business in 10 months, and the only other air service I know of is LIAT. Terrible company, poorly maintained aircraft, unpleasant people, difficult, unreliable, 'Luggage In Another Terminal'. Perhaps a new carrier will step in, absorb American Eagle's 1 pm flight into Dominica, but the small group of businesses in Dominica that cater to the non-cruise ship customer are very worried, and with good reason.
If you go, consider renting a 4 wheel drive vehicle. I drive one every trip, wouldn't consider any other way. The freedom and mobility are priceless. Those who say the roads and driving there are too difficult are a pack of crybaby little girls, most of whom cannot even drive a standard shift. I've never had a problem driving there. It requires total focus, but is thoroughly exhilarating. It's an incredible island, very few tourists, most of the interior untouched, primal, mad scary beautiful, most of the topography more vertical than horizontal, and more shades of explosive green than you ever imagined existed. Don't be one of those lazy frightend tourists who pathetically wait for people to drive them to places as if they were 12 years old waiting for mom to bring them to soccer practice.
Did I mention that the diving is superb? Do Scotts Head without fail.
I suggest scheduling soon, because the best way to get there is American Eagle from San Juan. American Eagle is going out of business in 10 months, and the only other air service I know of is LIAT. Terrible company, poorly maintained aircraft, unpleasant people, difficult, unreliable, 'Luggage In Another Terminal'. Perhaps a new carrier will step in, absorb American Eagle's 1 pm flight into Dominica, but the small group of businesses in Dominica that cater to the non-cruise ship customer are very worried, and with good reason.
If you go, consider renting a 4 wheel drive vehicle. I drive one every trip, wouldn't consider any other way. The freedom and mobility are priceless. Those who say the roads and driving there are too difficult are a pack of crybaby little girls, most of whom cannot even drive a standard shift. I've never had a problem driving there. It requires total focus, but is thoroughly exhilarating. It's an incredible island, very few tourists, most of the interior untouched, primal, mad scary beautiful, most of the topography more vertical than horizontal, and more shades of explosive green than you ever imagined existed. Don't be one of those lazy frightend tourists who pathetically wait for people to drive them to places as if they were 12 years old waiting for mom to bring them to soccer practice.
Did I mention that the diving is superb? Do Scotts Head without fail.
