All tours, be it hiking, tubing, sea kayaking, snorkeling, whale watching or touring Roseau can be set up at the hotel desk. In fact, you can have your whole vacation planned before you even arrive. With roads that twist and turn, rising and falling dramatically, Dominica is not an easy place to drive around. The only flat land on the island is the airstrip that accommodates small planes. Let the hotel pick you up from the airport for an extra charge.
Getting There
Most flights originating in America transfer in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Taxis from the airport to Papillote cost around $30 per adult and is about a 90-minute drive. As mentioned above, having someone else drive is preferable to renting a car.
The Art of Smart Timing
The dry season for Dominica is January through May. Pay particular attention to this fact or you'll be dressed in a rain jacket and carrying an umbrella for most of the trip. Obviously, January, February, and March are also the high-season months, but fortunately Dominica is not a very expensive island. If you can somehow push your trip back to mid-April, when the shoulder season rates start to apply, you'll save even more.
Mom and Dad are Family Too
Kids might enjoy the hot spring, but it's nice to have a natural pool for two. Inquire at the front desk about babysitting, which is usually available. The walk to Trafalgar Falls is also nice to visit in the early morning, before tour buses arrive. So sneak away during this quiet time and it will be you, the birds, and the butterflies.
