We picked Monster truck becuase we read a lot of great reviews and we saw this Thomson's ad about it. It looked like a fun day out and gave as an opportunity to leave the resort.

It wasn't what we expected...we expected a lot more given what we paid ($99 each) and all the good reviews we read. Although it did give us the chance to see the countryside.

What was a bit disappointing:
1. Fruit farm - we weren't shown any fruit trees. We got there and they gave us a few fruits to try...pretty average. Then try to sell us sweets.

2. Voodoo doctors house - I expected this to be more informative so learn more about the culture of the Island. But instead we basically just walked through the house..which by the way was full of Catholic items and a man sleeping at the front..was he suppose to be the witch doctor???

3. Lunch was nothing special, pasta, chicken stew, pretty average food. They also tried to sell us stuff here too. The location was nice, next to a river but unfortunately for us, that day it wasn't hot enough to swim.

Positive:

1. Our guide was funny and informative

2. Monster truck supports the local schools which is very worthwhile. The country is very poor. Driving around, going to a local school and visiting local home you could tell most people do not have a lot of money.

Kids run and yell at the truck for stuff. I found it a bit annoying when people threw stuff at them like they were some sort of animal. It's degrading and dangerous for them to be running so close.

Since doing the Monster Truck Safari my husband has not stopped gushing about how much fun he had in the Dominican Republic! I booked directly off their website and it cost $90/person--well worth the money.

We were picked up at our hotel and driven down the street to the Monster Trucks--which are huge trucks. It was a nice clear day and perfect as the sun hit our faces and breeze swept through our hair (bring a hat, plenty of sunblock, and sunglasses!).

We then drove deep into the DR with well-timed rest stops, and plenty of rum, coke, sprite, beer, and water. I don't want to spoil the surprises, but the tour leaders were great. Oto was so much fun! You are definitely going to have a great time. The lunch buffet was better than our hotel's, and you get to meet so many nice people along the way from outside of your resort.

I would say it was the best fun we've had in a long time, and is a must do in the dominican--our group was all adults, and I would say it is great for adults and older kids (not too young as it can be a bit bumpy and scary if you are too small). No mosquito bites either.

Tip: they do stop by a school where your donations are welcome. Stuff to bring: crayons, school supplies, toys, bubbles, rewards like stickers/balloons for the headmaster. DO NOT BRING SWEETS/CANDY--as they warn against that since it is bad for their health and promotes begging as well.

The Monster Truck costs us $95 each through Thomson. We were picked up from our hotel and dropped off at the Monster Truck centre. Note that we were in the Iberostar Costa Dorada so it was only a 5 minute trip for us, some people had a LONG drive (considering we headed back from the Monster Truck centre towards Sousua be aware that if you are staying over that side of Dominican then you will have to do this U-turn, you can't pick up the truck from anywhere else).

After driving for about 30 minutes through the countryside we were given some cold drinks (beer, rum or water).

The first stop was a Plantation which was interesting. Here you can buy little sweets or pencils for later (not cheap - better to bring from the UK). You also get to try local coffee and sugar cane. There is a toilet stop at the Plantation.

The next stop is the local village school (30 mins or so drive). The children are quite overwhelming so if you are planning to give out treats to them be aware that they may snatch them off you. Keep any school supplies with you when you go into the school itself and hand them to the teacher. School was closed the day we were there which is a shame.

Opposite the school is a traditional house where you look round and meet the old lady that lives there - a real eye opener.

Then you travel across rivers and streams for about another 30 minutes (more alcohol!) where you arrive at a beauty spot for a reasonable lunch of grilled meat, rice, veg and spaghetti if you're not sure of eating meat. There are toilet facilities here.

Down some steps from the restaurant is a river where you can swim or just relax on the beach area. Be warned though that when we were there a man and his son got into trouble due to the depth and under-current taking them by surprise.

Also at the restaurant there is a traditional dominican band to entertain you.

After 2 hours you start back down the road where half way you will have a water fight (won't spoil this for you) which is great and then after a total of 40 minutes or so you visit a shop where you can buy rum, cigars and other tourist things. The local rum, we found, is very cheap here compared to elsewhere in resort. The shop has toilets.

The only downside is the LONG trip back from the shop to your hotel as not only do you drop people off at their hotel's on the way, after all that rum most people were dying for the toilet! I would say it was a good hour and a half from the shop to the Iberostar.

Our guide was Mercedes - she was very informative and made it really fun and interesting. Take your camera as there is loads to see.

All in all well worth the money,

The monster truck safari is without doubt one of the best vacation excurisons you can get in Puerto Plata (departures from Playa Dorada, Cabarette & Sosua too). You get to ride for a whole day, aboard a huge 8-axle zebra-painted former millitary truck. The truck accomodates about 25 passengers and you have a guide, a driver and an on-boarad bar-tender! At around $85 US (£42) this seems an expensive trip, but it's worth every penny. Check with your rep, local tour agents etc to get the best deal. We stayed at Playa Dorada and met with Nelson of Alegria Tours on the beach - he saved us $30 US (£15) on the rates charged by the holiday rep at the hotel - so shop around.

The day is an unexpected mix of emotions - all hugely rewarding.

You are collected by minibus from your hotel and transported to the Monster Truck depot - near the Brugal Rum Factory in Puerto Plata. There you can refresh, buy a mosquito patch for $2 US (if you have forgotten your spray) and board the truck.

You set off east along the coastal highway and then head into the intereior. Within minutes, you are traversing a bumpy track through a sugar cane plantation - ideal photo opportunities with towering sugar crops at either side and breathtaking views back to the coast. Then it's happy hour! The free on-board bar opens (water, beer, rum, rum & coke, sprite etc).

Your first stop is to meet some locals at a fuit farm. You can see dozens of unusual fruits - your guide explains what they are - and you can try some straight off the tree (coffee beans, cocoa beans, paprika, exotic fruits). There's then an opportunity to buy bags of lolipops, pencils and such-like. Okay - the question you're asking is "why do I want to buy candy and pencils in the middle of the Dominican countryside?". The answer is touchingly simple. As the huge truck rumbles up into the hills, along dirt-tracks, the kids in the shack-like houses hear it's engine. They run - barefoot - to the side of the road - broad smiles, waving and holding out their hands for a treat. You can share the lolipops and pencils with the road-side kids as the truck drives past - gently throw them to eager out-stretched arms and see little faces light-up! The inner country - away from the resorts - is another land altogher - with families eeking a living in impossible conditions. The passing of the Monster Trucks is the highlight of the week for these children.

Go a step further - and bring some other things along for the kids in your backpack (some small note pads, coloured pens, etc).

Your next stop is a remote village and small school. You can see the kids at their class and if you wish donate spare pencils etc that you may have brought along or acquired on the trip. They are gratefully received. In fact the Monster Truck Company sponsor 3 local schools and 40% of the profits from merchandise sold (Monster truck hats, T-shirts etc) goes directly to bu uniforms and basic equipment for the schoolchildren. It's rewarding to give a little boost to such a worthy cause.

You visit a typical village and meet some locals.

On then to a ranch for lunch. A free buffet barbeque with opportunity to swim in a breathtaking river.

Then you're off back into the countryside- driving through rivers in spectacular fashion, up bumpy roads, over ridges etc. The free on-board bar keeps serving-up drinks.

You rendezvous with 2 other Monster Trucks and have a water-fight as the huge vehicles pass each other! squirting the other truck's passengers with some water-bags, getting a bit wet and have a great laugh in the process!

You rumble through the countryside on roads and riverbeds ending up at your final stop - a farm owned by the Monster Truck company. Have a drink - a snack of fruit and the opportunity to visit a Monster-Truck themed gift-shop.

Then it's back to your hotels!

You leave around 8-30am in the morning and return to your hotels at around 6-30pm.

A simply brilliant day out of mixed experiences and great photo-opportunities.

Unmisssable!