Thanks for the replies, I'll file them for another year. Varadero didn't work out for us this year.
We are booked to go to the DR, Viva Wyndham Tangerine in Cabarete. Got a great deal. There are four of us going this trip. We had a two or three day window for departure from Halifax (other commitments). When we finally booked, it was like a weight had been lifted.
In three weeks I will be leaving for Edmonton to visit my daughter and maybe Debmich. We leave for our DR vacation 2 1/2 weeks after I get home from Edmonton. :D