Tropical House, is now called Sunset Dream, and the stay there is the worst ever. I travel alot, lived both good and bad.. This place is located in the bush at the end of a mudroad, passing a dangerous Haitian village. The apartments were dirty, no walls just steelbars. (The child of the owner, 12-13 years ) could pass between the steelbars!!). There were many spiders and lizards, and even rats in the apartment. I did not pay much, 200 US for 1 month. The owner, Ms Pellerin, promised me work in Playa Dorada in tourism sales, said that she coperated with the businesses there and that the earning was up to hundreds or thousands of US a month on commission. She have no contacts there, she has no work positions and the employers of the businesses in Playa Dorada does not even want to hear her name. It is easy to get a work in a bar or in tourism by yourself, but the earning is more 50-100 US a month, or nothing if you work in lowseason and sell nothing...
At Tropical House, aka Sunset dream, aka Suncamp, aka Dominican horseranch.. there is nothing to buy to eat or drink, there is no public tranportation, the place is not safe. I do not recommend this place to anyone, and if you plan on going anyway, at least visit the place and do not pay in advance as Ms Pellerin asks you. You will not get your money back if you change your mind. There is alots of drinking at this place, including the owners that are drunk everyday. There are also Haitians living on the property, both lovers to the owner, and workers and people in general.
Watch out and be aware!

I have stayed at Tropical House for 3 month, I came January-03. It is a great place, located 2 km across Playa Dorada.The surroundings are just beautiful with tropical garden and the river floating by.The apartment I stayed in was a 1 bedroom apartment. It was furnitured, had a kitchen and a private bath. It was very nice and clean.I made many friends, we spent time exploring Puerto Plata.Carina & Diane at Tropical House helped me to find work in tourism, I worked in sales. In this way I could stay a month longer than I had planned.They were the greatest, and so helpful.The village, where Tropical House is, was a wonderful experience and genuine Dominican.I loved the small shops, to chat with the locals...Sometimes, when I wanted a part of the world I am used to, I went down to Playa Dorada, had a few beers with the other people staying at Tropical House. I will travel to the DR again, and I have already made a new reservation for "my" apartment for this summer.

My name is Brigitte, I am from Germany, I went to the Dominican Republic and I was referred by a friend to some apartments and studios at Tropical House. A Canadian owns 19 apartments and receives people from all over the world. I staid there last year for 3 months This is located in Muñoz, Puerto Plata, at 2km across Playa Dorada I choose a one bedroom apartment and received twice some relatives visiting. (When my parents came they rented an extra bedroom). I really liked my apartment with its open style, we have a clear view to the rich nature around. I was in the apartment B-2. It is also very fresh and to my surprise no invasion of mosquitos! The apartments are very safe with steel bars, I felt safe at Tropical House and after getting to know the people in the village, I felt safe there too! They all say Hello when I walk by and now I have quite a few friends there. Most of the time, I cooked in the apartment, in the third week I was working at a vacation club in Playa Dorada and I had lunch there. When I wanted to work and agreed to work in sales, Tropical House team explained to me what were the different jobs possible. I was given the name of the manager at the Vacation Club and I was told to go after the morning meeting and I started the training that same day! The transportation is easy. Every morning the ones staying at Tropical House and working at Playa Dorada we shared the cost of a Public taxi, with Chanchi. He lives just up the hill. To come back each one took their own way back home or by ruta Muñoz (public cars)or Moto-conchos (moto-taxis).What is nice about Tropical House, we are living in a typical village and yet we are close to Playa Dorada, very convenient for work but also to get a taste of the tourist life once in a while. casinos, restaurants, golf (for my parents!). Of course the price of the apartments are affordable, after the second month I paid 220USD per month including electricity, water, gas for cooking and access to a washing machine. I looked in the city and most places are more expensive when all furnished. At Tropical House even the kitchen are equipped. Something I really enjoyed there is meeting people from all over the world.so many nationalities and we make friends with people all ages. Many of them I still keep contact with. At the end of my stay I could say what I wanted in Spanish and be understood!You wish to contact them? -----