Destination Dominican Republic Travel Information
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DESTINATION TRAVEL GUIDE
For romantically inclined moms and dads traveling with their kids, the Dominican is famous for its many hotels offering exceptional all-inclusive values. That means parents have cash money left over, and quality time by themselves, to spend shopping for native Larimer jewelry, taking windsurfing lessons, or dining by candlelight steps from the warm Caribbean surf.
"The Dominican Republic is much more than sun and sand…it is a country of many beautiful beaches, excellent golfing, eco-tourism, sports and culture. These can add so much to a romantic vacation because couples just can’t sit on the beach all day."
When asked upon arrival why they chose to visit the Dominican Republic, people always say they came for the value, the sun, and the beach. But when they leave, their favorite part of the vacation was the Dominican people's relaxing style of life.
Playa Dorada
At this year’s Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange held in April in Puerto Plata, the focus was very much on the rebirth of the northern corridor, anchored by Puerto Plata, Sosua, and Cabarete. For decades, the hotel complex of Playa Dorada has attracted much of the tourism to the area. The 14 hotels surround an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones golf course and a multi-functional plaza with restaurants, nightclubs, car rental facilities, etc. Most of the hotels are on the beach, and most of them cater to budget/mid-market consumers. The complex is located midway between Puerto Plata and Sosua, about 15 minutes from both; and myriad eco-adventure operators offer tours into the nearby mountains.
Scheduled to open this fall in Playa Dorada, the 51-suite Casa Colonial is set to become the first Dominican member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The beachfront resort is part of the newly rebranded VH Hotels & Resorts chain, which also includes two adjacent resorts considered to be the most upscale properties in the complex: the oceanfront Gran Ventana Beach Resort and Victoria Resort located directly on the golf course.
The two low-level buildings that make up Casa Colonial resemble a romantic colonial manor, versus a beachfront resort. The walls are double thick in construction and covered with coralline stonework, rather than concrete and plaster. The floors in the grand lobby, main restaurant, and piano lounge are natural hardwoods, while the hall and room floors are marble and stone. An infinity pool and four Jacuzzis are located on the roof of the beachfront building, while the main building is ensconced in a romantic setting bordered by massive mangrove trees and a small inlet. All of the suites feature Kohler fixtures, sinks and oversized tubs; Frette linens; windows between bath and bedroom; and an austere decor of white, cream, and cafe au lait tones. Lastly, the in-house spa offers open-air showers and a full slate of treatments.
Casa Colonial should be perceived of as a private luxury estate where they want guests to recognize their ambiance, service and cuisine as world class. For EP rates and further info, Contact one of our Vacation Specialist at 1-888-898-3628.
For couples who want the attractions, activities, and cultural escapes near Puerto Plata, but not the village community ambiance of Playa Dorada, two hotels fit the bill. Just outside of town on their own semi-private beaches, Marien Coral by Hilton and Iberostar Costa Dorada offer upscale and exclusive experiences without the upscale prices.
Sosua & Cabarete
Another company changing the tourism landscape along the northern coast is Starz Resorts, with two dual-hotel resorts in both Sosua and Cabarete. The sister resort concept at each location offers guests a wealth of amenities usually found only at much larger hotels, plus shuttle service runs between the two towns for even more variety.
The company’s signature 50-room Victorian House is an EP property overlooking Sosua Bay, designed like the 19th century Victorian homes prevalent in Puerto Plata. The lobby is actually inside the first home ever built in Sosua over 100 years ago, and the structure’s design is carried throughout the rest of the boutique resort. We recommend to couples the 1- and 2-bedroom suites with Jacuzzis inside the rooms, and the Mediterranean-inspired Sabatini restaurant, easily one of the most romantic dining rooms on the entire island.
Next door, the 193-room Sosua Bay Hotel is more moderately priced and all-inclusive, but the unique Spanish colonial decor and romantic views of the bay are what one would expect from a luxury Dominican property. Between the two hotels, there are 10 restaurants and bars, along with a bevy of restaurants and nightclubs in town.
Just 15 minutes away in Cabarete, the Azzurro Club Estrella and Azzurro Club Cabarete represent a new brand for Starz Resorts designed especially for younger couples and groups. Cabarete has exploded onto the Dominican scene in recent years thanks to the Caribbean’s best windsurfing and kite boarding beach, complemented by a fun range of funky beachfront restaurants and nightclubs. We recommend Jose O’Shays, your typical "Irish beach pub." There are 11 restaurants and bars between the two Azzurros, and the decor is decidedly Caribbean with lots of wicker and wood.
Also in Cabarete, the brand new Viva Wyndham Tangerine is an American-style hotel with 222 rooms, three restaurants, a full-service spa and large fitness center. The first thing visitors notice upon entering is the newness and cleanliness of the hotel, along with the comfortable layout where every room is close to the beach and large lagoon pool. During a recent walk-through, the tour desk was bustling with activity because Cabarete’s central location makes it the perfect base camp for activities across the north coast. Tours to the island of Cayo Levantado in Samana; a Pub Bus Tour featuring a bus with a bar inside; and horseback or 4x4 riding through the verdant hills are some of the more popular options. Windsurfing and kite boarding lessons are easy to arrange, as are scuba diving and snorkeling trips out of Sosua. Starting July 1, rack starts at just $74 pp dbl.
Viva Wyndham also operates the sister properties Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace and Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach in Bayahibe. Guests at the Palace property have access to the amenities at both hotels.
Samana Peninsula
East of Puerto Plata and north of Punta Cana, the Samana Peninsula is the Dominican’s best kept secret. In Samana Bay, the island of Cayo Levantado is an island outpost with some of the country’s best beaches. The small hills are carpeted with coco palms, and a bevy of beachfront restaurants serve day trippers who come for the snorkeling, pristine waters, and lack of crowds. Ferries run daily from the town of Samana.
The peninsula itself is no less sexy, consisting of thick jungles and rugged mountain plateaus. Colorful wooden homes dot the winding roadways, and the town of Las Terrenas is a diverse mix of international restaurants and shops because of so many expats who’ve settled here. For beach lovers and adventurous romantics who want to escape the throngs of mass tourism, Samana is unforgettable in its mystique and beauty.
Situated on Las Galeras beach, Casa Marina Bay is operated by Dominican-owned Amhsa Marina Hotels & Resorts. Over $3 million is being invested into Casa Marina Bay, which at present offers 200 superior rooms and 50 suites situated in bright charming bungalows. By September, 56 new superior rooms will open, and the existing units will all be fully remodeled. In addition, a new a la carte restaurant will complement the buffet, seafood and pizza F&B outlets; and a new kids’ club is scheduled to open for the upcoming winter season.
Punta Cana
The massive beaches stretching 30 miles north and south along the east coast are anchored by Bavaro Beach, home to a growing variety of modern hotels that cater especially well to the demands of American clientele. Many of the resorts are virtual cities unto themselves with multiple pools, restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping, plus guests can play at any of the hotel casinos lining the strip. Kids’ clubs and spas are much more sophisticated than they were five years ago, and almost every year sees the addition of a new golf course.
Spread over 173 acres just six miles from Punta Cana International Airport is Catalonia Bavaro Beach, Golf & Casino Resort. The 720-suite hotel consists of 30 independent villa blocks housing 24 junior suites each. For golfers, there’s one nine-hole executive golf course and another nine-hole regular course, and the fairway count will double this December with the grand opening of the 18-hole Catalonia Caribbean Golf Club. The new links encompass numerous lagoons and lakes, and the six hole looks to be the signature green with its flag planted on an island rimmed with bunkers. Also new, the construction of 288 additional junior suites is scheduled to be completed for winter season.
Catalonia is also well known for its wide range of cuisine. Seven dining areas and five bars are highlighted by five themed restaurants: Mikado, La Parisienne, La Gondola, El Paso and Creperie La Bretonne.
The sprawling MELIA CARIBE TROPICAL is a golfer’s dream vacation thanks to the resort’s 27 tropical fairways at Cocotal Golf & Country Club. This year, life on the links became even better with the resort’s unveiling of 40 new luxury golf suites situated on the back nine. Ten of the suites feature two bedrooms with one king and two twin beds, while the other 30 provide a single king bedroom. All of them sleep additional guests in expansive living areas that feature a sofa bed and chairs. Plus, groups of golfers, families, and couples sharing accommodations will appreciate the ensuite cooking facilities.
These suites are perfect for golfers because of the kitchenettes and their location on the 17th fairway. Golf is a major attribute to this resort. More and more golfers are realizing the value and quality of courses in the Caribbean. The suites are also perfect for non-golfing spouses who have easy and complete access to the 1,084-room Caribe Tropical’s wealth of nine bars, 12 restaurants, a beachfront spa and boutique shopping.
Also on Bavaro, Melia’s 500-suite sister resort Paradisus Punta Cana is designed especially well for romantic couples, and it’s one of the most upscale resorts on the Dominican’s east coast. The tone is set from the moment clients arrive, with elegant gardens and ponds thriving with water lilies surrounding the expansive open-air lobby lounge. The resort has just finished extensive remodeling to all rooms, and there are now 80 new Royal Service suites offering exclusive services and amenities. These include access to a private lounge, butler service, concierge service, more luxurious room furnishings and amenities, and more. In addition, the property unveiled four new Ambassador suites, complete with walk-in closets, a Bali-themed shower on the bedroom’s terrace and a separate jacuzzi. Wedding ceremonies start at $1,600.
This month, the Bahia Principe Punta Cana opened on Bavaro Beach, and almost all of the 600 junior suites offer ocean views. The units are spread out over a collection of 2- and 3-story villa blocks, surrounding two swimming pools and hundreds of coco palms. The huge, butterfly-shaped beachfront pool is situated directly on the sand, while the restaurants are set back from the beach behind the pool. This is a departure from the traditional layout of many D.R. resorts, where the restaurants are located on the beach. The oceanfront setting around the pool means guests are surrounded by more nature and not so much concrete. Dining options include six specialty restaurants serving Mediterranean, Italian, Rodizio (Brazilian), Japanese, Mexican and continental. (The Teppanyaki and Mexican restaurants will be open in November). Rates start at $130 pp dbl all-inclusive through summer.
At the southernmost part of the island’s east coast, Punta Cana Resort & Club is set apart from the many hotels lining Bavaro Beach. The result is an extra large beach without any tourists from neighboring hotels passing through, plus a sense of peace and exclusivity unrivalled in the region. The resort is the only full-service EP product in Punta Cana/Bavaro and it does big business with upscale golfers. To keep that crowd, owner Frank Rainieri is investing $32 million to build a new golf course this year and another in 2005. Plus, a high-end spa is scheduled to open in January 2005 inside the resort’s new oceanfront golf clubhouse.
Couples have a wide choice of accommodations including the newly remodeled nature villas. The 2- and 3-bedroom homes are wrapped within their own private jungle setting within walking distance to the best beach in the resort. The scalloped bay offers the region’s calmest waters, and some guests spend their entire vacation camped out by the super funky beach bar and grill. Each villa features a common area living/dining room and kitchenette, so the set-up is perfect for couples vacationing together. Rates start at $350 per night this summer.
Just south of Punta Cana Resort, the ambitious five-star Cap Cana project is about ready to unveil the first of three Jack Nicklaus signature golf courses. A massive "Grand Canal" has been dredged, and construction is underway on a selection of upscale homes, golfing lodges, and condos that will eventually be open for commissionable rentals. The Portofino-esque setting is framed around a Mediterranean Riviera theme, filled with myriad upscale shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions. For the yacht crowd Cap Cana will be home to the Caribbean’s largest mega-yacht marina totaling over 500 slips when it opens next year.
The Caribbean Coast
Strung along the south coast of the Dominican Republic, the communities of Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, La Romana, and Bayahibe are some of the island’s most idyllic. The pace of life is often slower on the Caribbean coast and the water is calmer, buttressed by soft winds coming out of the drier Barahona basin to the southwest. Most of the towns in the region have retained their proverbial "fishing village" appeal. Tourists strolling the beach at dawn can watch dozens of fishermen head out to sea like their fathers before them, and buy fish right from the boat when the fishermen return before lunch. The area is also home to much of the best snorkeling, scuba diving and deep sea fishing found around the island.
Outside La Romana, the mesmerizing environs around Altos de Chavon are a must for every couple to visit. The recreated 16th century Mediterranean village sits perched atop a cliff overlooking the gorge of the Chavon River. A number of excellent restaurants share the view. Reservations can be made for any special birthday or anniversary events. Within the confines, there’s also a well-regarded Taino museum, numerous high-end boutiques, eclectic art galleries, and a thriving school of design.
Altos de Chavon is part of Casa de Campo, the legendary resort that started the international influx of upscale visitors to the island a decade ago. Three golf courses including the world-famous Teeth of the Dog course are a big draw, but that’s only half the story at Casa. The 7,000-acre playground is the most complete resort in the Dominican, if not the entire Caribbean. Where else will you find a 5,000-seat, Grecian-style amphitheater in the islands, showcasing artists such as Julio Iglesias and the Dance Company of Harlem? And the variety of accommodation options is no less thorough, ranging from elegant superior rooms with hardwood furnishings to large villas with concierge and butler service.
For wedding and receptions, the outdoor plaza and cliff top setting at Altos de Chavon is one of the most requested venues in and around charming St. Stanislaus Church. Also, couples can tie the knot on a secluded beach rimmed with tall palm trees, or inside a formal ballroom. For wedding options, call 1-888-898-3628.
South of La Romana, the National Park of the East encompasses thousands of acres of protected beaches, mangroves, corals, caves and forests. And just offshore is Saona Island, one of the most pristine islands in the Caribbean with endless white beaches and a tiny authentic town where visitors can buy Haitian art and sample local foods. Adjacent to the National Park, five hotels and the colorful village of Bayahibe offer the best of everything Dominican. Bayahibe’s beaches are among the island’s whitest; Saona and Altos de Chavon are easily accessible day trips; and the branded resorts are all packed with amenities. Lined up side-by-side, the resorts are: Canoa Coral by Hilton, Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus, Viva Dominicus Beach/Viva Dominicus Palace and Sunscape Casa del Mar.
Situated conveniently between La Romana and Santo Domingo, Santana Beach Resort & Casino is an easy drive to both the capital city’s colonial zone and Altos de Chavon. Plus, it’s next door to the Gary Player golf course at Guavaberry Country Club. Starting Nov. 1, the resort is going 24-hour all-inclusive, and wedding packages will be complimentary with wedding groups of 20 or more. In addition, all honeymooners with proof of their recent marriage will be automatically upgraded into the resort’s VIP Package. The exclusive program offers couples a host of added values, including massages, preferred dinner reservations, horseback riding, a welcome bottle of rum and flowers, turn-down and more.
Santo Domingo
Within the heart of the Caribbean’s largest metropolis, the colonial zone in Santo Domingo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of the Americas. Over 100 square blocks are filled with colonial homes, palaces, courthouses, churches and fortresses, some of which have stood since the city’s founding in the early 1500s. Sequestered inside 15-ft. thick ramparts towering above the Ozama River, the most notable attractions were constructed when Columbus’ son Don Diego Colon ruled the Spanish Admiralty. The Cathedral of Santa Maria is the oldest church in the western hemisphere. Alcazar Colon (Columbus Palace) was once the home of Columbus’ son Don Diego, which today includes priceless 16th century furnishings and art. And across the Ozama, the Columbus Lighthouse is a mammoth museum and mausoleum that houses the remains of Christopher Columbus.
Next to the colonial zone, Santo Domingo’s bustling malecon is an oceanfront boulevard teeming with nightclubs, restaurants, and shops, along with a selection of upscale hotels catering to couples seeking an unsurpassed cultural experience in the West Indies. Located on the waterfront, the 196-room Inter-Continental V Centenario is presently completing a comprehensive renovation to its room inventory and public areas, complemented by a brand new full-service casino opening later this year.
A sample I Love Santo Domingo package offers an oceanview room, American breakfast, casino coupons and welcome cocktail starting at $118 dbl nightly. For honeymooners, Wedding Night deals starting at $149 nightly include an oceanview room or suite, in-room breakfast, bottle of champagne, fruit basket and more. Packages are commissionable at 20 percent. For more information call one of our Vacation Specialist at 1-888-898-3628.
This fall, the brand-new Hilton Santo Domingo is scheduled to open on the waterfront. The 228 rooms and suites will offer panoramic views of the city and sea, plus an executive floor with a dedicated lounge and concierge service. The hi-rise property is sure to be popular at night with the island’s largest casino, while the signature Sol y Sombra Restaurant & Bar will serve both classic and fusion cuisines catering to American and Latin Caribbean tastes. To work off the lobster asopao (a sort of Dominican gumbo), the Hilton hotel features a 2-story, state-of-the-art fitness center with wraparound windows. And right next door, the new Malecon Center complex showcases 170 shops, numerous restaurants and a movie theater.
Destination Information
Official language: Spanish, but English is spoken widely
Government: Representative democracy
Temperature: Averages 78ºF
Rainfall: About 60 inches annually
Official currency: Dominican peso, but the dollar is widely accepted
Entry requirements: Valid passport or an original birth certificate with picture ID, and purchase of a $10 tourist card
Departure tax: $20
Marriage requirements: Passport, original birth certificate, single status affidavit in Spanish, Divorce Act in Spanish
Gaming: Numerous European- and Las Vegas-style casinos in resorts around the country
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