If our flight schedule at the beginning or the end of a trip or the interests of the group are such that we need to stay in a hotel, then we have a few in the Puerto Plata and Santiago area that welcome groups such as ours and that we make work for us as volunteers, not tourists.

We most often stay in easily accessible, local, volunteer or retreat centres that are reserved exclusively for us while we are there, some of which are located on the top or edge of a mountain. Offering us safe, secure, basic, and just-comfortable-enough accommodation, volunteers are happy to have the freedom and the peace and quiet to rest, relax, socialize, or take in the lush gardens and beautiful panoramic views at the end of a work day. Such centres allow us the opportunity to 'truly take in' the local culture at the same time as we enjoy facilities, a menu, and program activities that we can coordinate ourselves. Participants appreciate the genuine hospitality and the family-like feeling from the caring staff of each of the centres we use. The experience of living without all the modern conveniences of North American homes, learning to cope with intermittent hydro power, the lack of a hot water tank, the sounds of Dominican music or barking dogs in the night and a daily diet of healthy home-cooked, typically Dominican food all becomes part of the Go.See.Do. adventure. A real 'slice of life' is what most volunteers experience and understand as they are accommodated in such centres.

For more information, visit www.tubagua.com