
Congeniality, hospitality, Latin culture, reasonably priced resorts and great white sand beaches are among the qualities that have made the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean one of the most frequented tourism and vacation destinations in the region. The nation has become one of the fastest growing, largely due to its high appeal with foreigners seeking Caribbean vacations at a relatively inexpensive price who appreciate the island’s attractive natural terrain.
Dominican Republic is within the island of Hispaniola and calls the nation of Haiti its neighbor. Hispaniola, which translates to “Little Spain”, is also the island’s original name bestowed upon it by Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, was built by Columbus’ sibling Bartolomeo Columbus and was originally called New Isabella. Hispaniola went through a period where the French and the Spanish attempted to gain control, a drawn out feud which would eventually lead to the Spanish speaking Dominican Republic and the French influenced, Creole speaking island of Haiti.
Dominican Republic has a considerable amount of historic sights to explore, Monte Crisi for example was the first European settlement in the Caribbean island and its ruins can still be visited to this day. While the Dominican Republic is rich in history, it’s the beaches on Puerto Plata and La Romana that remain the highlights and draw heavy tourism among beachgoers seeking Caribbean vacations.
Speaking of tourism, the industry continues to pump considerable funds into the Dominican Republic’s economy and has also opened up a substantial amount of job opportunities. As a result, the island continues to expand in its tourist attractions, developing massive new resorts while focusing on promoting ecotourism activities that take advantage of the island’s many natural attractions and landscapes.
The culture of the Dominican Republic is tinged with influences shared by other islands in the Caribbean. Although Spanish is the official language and Latin dishes are common, Dominicans use several African and European customs in their everyday meals and way of life. The Dominican Republic is also where the popular Latin music genres of “merengue” and “bachata” originate, the former a musical style recognized by its fast paced, highly danceable rhythm often used in celebrations.
Annual events held in the Dominican Republic include the Santo Domingo Carnival, the Santo Domingo Music Festival which invites performers from around the globe to come and perform on the island, and the larger La Vega Carnival that takes place between January and March. Every weekend, Dominicans celebrate their African heritage with a display of colorful costumes, art and lots of music featuring their own merengue genre as well as salsa.

This extremely popular tourist destination has a variety of property options to choose from like homes, condos and vacant land. Dominican Republic property can range from eight-bedroom mansions with several hundred feet of private beach in San Cristobal to two bedroom condos on the water in Puerto Plata to buy or rent. Condos and homes in the Dominican Republic are both appealing to visitors and have their own individual benefits. The Dominican Republic has a huge inventory of available properties that are among the most affordable in the Caribbean.
Homes in the Dominican Republic--whether toward the inland hills regions or the low-lying coastal region--are typically large. Four bedroom homes with a patio, outdoor pool, spacious terrace and sun room often come standard with many Dominican Republic properties. Oceanfront homes tend to be very stylish and have Caribbean-style open designs with lots of light coming in. Porches tend to lead to sandy beaches with beautiful views of the ocean.
Resort living in the Dominican Republic is very popular with places like Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort, Casa Colonial, Casa de Campo, Hilton Santo Domingo and Hotel Santo Domingo that are accredited for their nice residential features and fine service. These hotel-resorts offer concierge services, security, valet, pools with attendants, housekeeping and easy beachfront access.
The Dominican Republic tourist industry fuels its economy and real estate market by drawing visitors from all over the world. Real estate and rental investments are sound and the value of Dominican homes is steadily rising. Recent industrial developments have surged Dominican Republic ahead of many of its Caribbean neighbors and its economy looks to have a bright future.

Barceló Bávaro Beach, Golf & Casino Resort
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Casa Colonial
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Casa de Campo
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Hilton Santo Domingo
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Currency:
The official currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican Peso (RD$).
Telecommunications:
Calling Code: 1 (809)
Top Level Domain: (.do)
Government:
The Dominican Republic is a Presidential Republic with the President and Vice President acting as heads of state.
Passport requirements:
Passports: Required
Valid Travel Documents: Required upon Exit and Entry
Government Issued Photo ID: Required
Climate: The temperature for Dominican Republic is 28° C-31° C (81° F-87° F) in most places for most of the year.
Religion: Christianity
Language: English
Tips when you get there:
The Dominican Republic is a relatively large island in the Caribbean with multiple international airports managing direct flights to and fro. There are multiple chains of car-rental companies, taxis, Metro-buses and Carib-tours. Tours of the island are incredibly popular and offer valuable insight for the rest of your stay in the Dominican Republic. However, renting your own car or motorcycle allows the freedom to explore the island in privacy.
What to do
The Dominican Republic, being one of the more popular and industrialized Caribbean nations has a long list of entertaining activities and locations. Museums, historic buildings, festivals, events, fine dining and nightclubs are part of the exciting entertainment venues in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic's annual Carnival and Jazz Festival highlight the boisterous and colorful aspects of Caribbean culture.
Some of the more active pursuits on the island include playing tennis on the pro-tennis courts of Casa del Mar, snorkeling at Casa de Campo, horseback riding on the beach and playing golf at the renowned Romana Country Club. Also, hiking through the Dominican Republic's vast natural habitats is a good way to see all of the natural beauty on the island.
The Dominican Republic, being one of the more popular and industrialized Caribbean nations has a long list of entertaining activities and locations. Museums, historic buildings, festivals, events, fine dining and nightclubs are part of the exciting entertainment venues in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic's annual Carnival and Jazz Festival highlight the boisterous and colorful aspects of Caribbean culture.
Some of the more active pursuits on the island include playing tennis on the pro-tennis courts of Casa del Mar, snorkeling at Casa de Campo, horseback riding on the beach and playing golf at the renowned Romana Country Club. Also, hiking through the Dominican Republic's vast natural habitats is a good way to see all of the natural beauty on the island.
Dominican Republic beaches also vary from the popular to the secluded. Some beaches are filled with activities, locals and tourists enjoying the Caribbean sun, while others are well preserved and isolated. A couple of nearby islands offer beaches with total seclusion, the sea turtles and marine life being the only neighbors joining you in the private experience.

