At a Glance: Price:    $$$ Sleep:    [rating=5] Staff:    [rating=5] Feel:      [rating=5] Price range: $0-$10: $ $10-$25: $$ $25-$50: $$$ $50-$100: $$$$ $100-up: $$$$$ While traveling in the DR, we mostly stayed in cheap little “motel” run for local travelers, for locals. But from time to time we decided to hang out with the tourist and chill in some cool little hostels. Out of all of them, our favorite has to be El Pequeño Refugio. It’s where to stay in Las Galeras… …hands down. This little hostel is oh so cozy. Run by a couple, originally from Bulgaria, every detail was taken into consideration when decorating. Sure, this isn’t a 5 star, no it’s way better. It’s not cold and impersonal like a 5 star, it’s special. No two rooms are alike, and everything is decorated with special finds, specially selected for that room. Lea has a special touch, everything here makes you feel at home. The towels are thick, the sheets heavy, the pieces of scrap fabric covering the windows are sweet, and the rooms are cleaned everyday, with love. Here, have a look for yourself. The main area serves as a restaurant, bar, garden, and art gallery. At night, the bistro downstairs fills up with regulars and tourists, a perpetual meet and greet, bubbling with the excitement of new adventures. The food is absolutely delicious. We’d share the menu with you, but there is none. Each day is a new concoction, specially prepared according to the day’s mood. Indeed, Las Galeras is a fun little town. It’s a very tiny and quiet town, mostly full of divers and hikers. It’s out of the way, and the people who make it all the way to the end of the road of the Samaná peninsula seem to be a little more adventurous than others. Here you’ll see locals and tourists mingling, and people wandering the lazy streets in the evening. The air is warm and still. I imagine Cabarete was like this 30 years ago. Life is chill and lazy, and when something goes wrong, you make the best of it until it’s fixed. Besides beautiful diving, in the area you’ll also find some of the most pristine beaches in the Dominican, such as the beautiful… Continue Reading