This will be a “straight to the point” review of our trip to the Commonwealth of Dominica. We had the pleasure of staying at two inns and I dove at a local dive shop. Let me start by saying if you are the type of person that is looking for or enjoys Hiltons, Sandals, or the Ritz Carlton type of accommodations, Dominica is not the place for you. This country has taken an eco-friendly approach, limiting the amount of topographical and environmental changes it allows. Thus, the natural beauty of this country is preserved and not destroyed through commercial industrialization.
Our first stay was at the Titiwi Inn, Roseau, Dominica, it was outstanding. The hospitality and personalized treatment by owners Keith and Janet was the best. They are located in the capital, so you have access to shops and restaurants if you chose to walk or take a taxi, it’s not far. Keith has a new 32 foot boat, if you chose the personal touch for whale watching, snorkeling, scuba or deep sea fishing, he can accommodate you. And can make arrangements for your hiking, river tubing, or tropical forest explorations. “Janet and Keith you have a jewel of a place and we will be back next year”.
Our next stay was at the “Silks Hotel” in Marigot, Dominica, for those of you who want a truly jungle/tropical experience this is the place. No televisions, clubs, shopping malls, just the beautiful forest, water falls and river. Joe and Emily will treat you like royalty and ensure your stay is comfortable and relaxing. The rooms are comfortable and very romantic; the food excellent, this place is for relaxing and enjoying the natural beauty of the tropical forest. We only spend one night here, but it was well worth it.
For those of you that enjoy diving, Dominica surpasses most of the other Caribbean islands in its determination to stay as natural as possible, especially its coastal areas and marine preserve. I dove with “AlDive” in Roseau and from the time we entered the water the natural beauty was evident. The abundance of marine life and healthy coral reefs were astonishing. My wife, who is not a diver decided after snorkeling to try the “Discover Scuba”, just because of the abundance of marine life she observed during her snorkeling time. I have try over the past several years to get her to try scuba, without success. The owners of AlDive, Samantha and Billy are the best and I give them the highest accolades for making her feel comfortable enough to try scuba, for being safety oriented and accommodating to their customers, this will not be the last time I dive with this shop.
Again, for those that want to relax and enjoy an eco-friendly island/country, where the people are friendly, not harassing you for money or to buy souvenirs, and the natural beauty of the tropical forest, rivers, and coral reefs hasn’t been polluted, this is the place.
Keith & Cathy McGhee
Stone Mountain, Georgia USA
