First discovered
by Christopher Columbus in 1492 when it was inhabited by Taino indigenous tribes, the
Dominican Republic
has gone through a long process throughout history that has made it one
of the most precious Caribbean island destinations in the world. Today
this blessed paradise is teeming with beach resorts and beach villa
rentals.
With a rich cultural heritage of European and African customs, the
Dominican people are believed to be the most friendly of the Caribbean,
no wonder when each day in their lives they face endless kilometers of
golden and white sand beaches, blue skies and breath taking scenery as a
backdrop.
WEATHER One of
the advantages that travelers enjoy in this beautiful
Caribbean island is the year-round constant weather,
sort of an "endless summer". The average
temperature is 78 degrees Fahrenheit, very tropical with
some drops in temperature in the higher elevations land
such as Jarabacoa and Constanza (eco tourism areas).
The land of many
firsts had the beginnings with the creation of the first Spanish
settlement in La Isabela,
Puerto Plata, by the
Spanish conquistadores on December 7, 1493 during their second
voyage to the New World. Curiously, the first tourist destination
in the Dominican Republic was also Puerto Plata, because of its many
attractions and specially the fantastic beaches of
Sosua,
Cabarete,
Playa Dorada
and Cofresi.
During the 1980`s tourism flourished and expanded, giving way to new
destinations such as Bavaro, Punta Cana and La Romana.
Later it also
became a source of income for Samana, and also for the islands of Cayo
Levantado ( Bacardi island ) and Catalina island. The North coast
combines many different attractions, such as golden sand
beaches and a wide range of environments where eco
friendly tours and waters sports are enjoyed by locals
and tourists, specially the ones that prefer to rent
private villas and beach condos. Cabarete is the top
destination for kite and wind surfing, Sosua has
beautiful beaches and great restaurants. Puerto Plata
has the historic homes and landmarks dating back to
Columbus's first arrival. The Eastern part of the island
has endless rows of all-inclusive resorts and golf
courses, spread along Punta Cana and Bavaro.
The capital
of the Dominican Republic is Santo Domingo,
which was founded in 1496 by Christopher
Columbus's brother, Bartholomew. It is the
oldest inhabited European settlement in the
Americas, and was the first Spanish colonial
rule in the New World. Still, the old Colonial
city remains as it was more than 500 years ago,
with many churches, buildings and streets
including Columbus house, the Alcazar.
TRAVELING TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
High Season: December 15th - April 15th
Low Season: April 15th-December 15th
Currency: Dominican Peso. USA and
Canadian dollars, Euros, Pounds and
other international currency is also
accepted.
AIRPORTS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
With 6
major airports having daily international
flights from Europe and the Americas:
-
Las Americas International Airport (code SDQ)
- Gregorio Luperon International Airport (code
POP)
- Punta Cana Int'l Airport (PUJ)
- El Catey Airport in Samana (code AZS)
- La Romana Int`l Airport (code LRM)
- Cibao Int`l Airport in Santiago (code STI)
VISA REQUIREMENTS:
US$10.00 entry fee and a US$20.00 departure tax.
Europeans, North Americans and most of all
foreign countries nationals can enter the
Dominican Republic without visa requirements.
You will need a passport to enter the country.
ELECTRICITY:
110v, 60 Hz ( U.S compliant ).
Some vacation homes and villas also have 220V,
for air conditioning and certain appliances. A
small voltage converter is usually used by
tourists that bring 220V electronics.
DRIVING A RENTAL CAR:
You can drive for up to 60 days with the driving
license of your country, there are many good car
rental agencies all over the island, including
international brand names such as Hertz and
Avis. Driving in the island might be trickier
than in your country, but it can be a good
experience. It's not advised to drive too fast
at night, specially motorcycles.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Calling the United States & Canada is
fairly easy from the Dominican Republic,
just dial 1+ the number and you're all
set. Calling Europe and other countries
vary according to each country's calling
codes. The local area codes in the
island are 809, 829, and 849.
You can use roaming from the USA and
Canada, though the charges can be $2
dollars per minute. You can buy a cheap
mobile for around US$15.00 loaded with 15-20
minutes, with additional minutes at 0.25
cents. Free Wi-Fi Internet is available
in all tourist areas and hotels.
DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC FOOD:
With a culinary style that feels more
like a blend of African and
international flavors adapted to a more
local taste, the food in the DR has many
spicy dishes, involving rice, beans,
several types of meat and vegetables.
The traditional food, called comida
criolla, has several unique dishes
worth trying, such as the sancocho and
mofongo. Many restaurants will serve
international food, American breakfast
and Italian, German, Greek, French,
Indian, Arab and even Brazilian and
Russian foods. Same with drinks, the
bars are all stocked with international
drinks and spirits.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION:
The island of Dominican Republic is the
second largest Caribbean nation of the Greater
Antilles, after Cuba. With 48,442 square
kilometers ( 18, 704 sq. miles ) and an
estimated population of 10 million people. The
country lies between latitudes 17° and 20°N, and
longitudes 68° and 72°W with Cuba to the
Northwest and Puerto Rico to the Northeast.
Flying from SDQ airport to New York takes about
2 hours. Our closest neighbor is Haiti, of which
many citizens work in the Dominican Republic,
and are nice to locals and tourists.
MAP OF THE CARIBBEAN
MAP OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
CLICK THE IMAGES
TO VIEW LARGER VERSIONS
MONEY
EXCHANGE:
One of the advantages of traveling to the
Dominican Republic is that being a smaller
economy, you get to exchange currency at a very
advantageous rate. For example, the U.S. Dollar
trades for around $38 pesos, and the Euro for
around $50.00; Visit the page we have on
currency exchange in the Dominican Republic
and you'll get the rates for the most common
currencies exchanged by visiting tourists.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
The island has a lot of beach resorts
and hotels, with international hotel chains in
Bavaro, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Sosua, Samana,
La Romana, Cayo Levantado, Santiago and Santo
Domingo. The biggest share of all inclusive
resorts is now in the Eastern region, while the
majority of self catering villa rentals is in
the North, with many luxury oceanfront condos
and beach homes set along the coast of Cabarete,
Sosua, Cabrera, Cofresi and Puerto Plata. The
Northern coast is rapidly gaining momentum as a
the top vacation rental destination in the
island.
Renting a private villa or apartment in the
Dominican Republic allows you to have the best
beach and ocean front landscapes right at your
fingertips with the convenience of having your
own private swimming pool and many other
amenities that all-inclusive resorts offer on a
collective basis. There are villas and condos in
all sizes and standards, from the very basic
affordable ones costing below US$200.00 per day
to the most luxurious beach properties that
might cost up to three thousand dollars per day
and even more. For those who want to get away
from the hustle and bustle of hotels and
resorts, vacation rentals provide travelers with
the feel of a home away from home, and complete
autonomy.
The variety is so large that it's easy enough to
find the one you like within your budget. The
best villa rentals are found in the North coast
because of the vast list of available amenities
and tours in the area. Places like Puerto Plata,
Cabarete, Cofresi, Sosua and Cabrera have some
of the best vacation rentals with excellent
services and staff. Some extras such as private
chef and driver can enhance the villa rental
experience.
Beachfront Luxury Villa in
Cabarete
4 Bedroom Villa for Rent
in Sosua
Beachfront Penthouse in
Cabarete
Affordable Villa Rentals
in Sosua
ATTRACTIONS, TOURS AND ENTERTAINMENT
The
Dominican Republic offers a vast selection of activities
to select from, including some of the best ocean shore
golf courses in the Caribbean, excellent diving sites,
sports fishing, hiking, surfing, kite surfing, sailing,
gambling, zip lining, eco tours, kayaking, horseback
riding, rafting, marine parks and much more.
The Dominican Republic Guide The Definitive Guide to planning your Dominican Republic vacation: Learn traveler's basics, how to get there, how to get around once you're there, where to stay, and what to see and do."
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DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC FOOD:
With a culinary style that feels more
like a blend of African and
international flavors adapted to a more
local taste, the food in the DR has many
spicy dishes, involving rice, beans,
several types of meat and vegetables.
MONEY
EXCHANGE:
One of the advantages of traveling to the
Dominican Republic is that being a smaller
economy, you get to exchange currency at a very
advantageous rate. For example, the U.S. Dollar
trades for around $38 pesos, and the Euro for
around $50.00; Visit the page we have on
