Whether you're looking for an island of exploration, relaxation or celebration, a holiday in the Dominican Republic can fulfil your needs. The island on which the Republic rests is Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti, and there are two deeply contrasting sides to the story at the Republic. One side offers luxurious resort hotels, beautiful coastline and deep blue lagoons. On the other side of the coin, the Dominican Republic is well populated with labouring heavy among the sugar cane, cocoa and coffee fields. The area is full of history, with its capital, Santa Domingo, the first Spanish settlement in the Americas. The tourist sections have grown vastly in popularity in recent years with lots of paradise areas to be enjoyed away from the more established regions. The climate is tropical and it is important to choose the time of year you visit carefully to avoid the heavy rainfall - October to April are the wettest times. Flight times are around nine hours from many UK airports on charter flights.
The Dominican Republic can fulfil everyone's needs whether you're looking to explore, relax or party…
With massive hotel complexes many visitors will spend most of their time within the immediate vicinity as they are often sold as all-inclusives and the services and amenities available make the Dominican Republic an ideal family destination. Indeed there are many family based activities on the beaches such as horse riding, and an array of watersports. The Dominican Republic is also a great getaway for those looking to relax and soak up the sun, as well as partygoers with a wide variety of late night entertainment options. With so much on offer you should find something of interest no matter what your intention or generation.
Much of your time in the Dominican Republic might be spent within the hotel complexes, which are dominated by good restaurants, swimming pools and many offer family activities including dancing lessons and more to keep the children quiet. However, when you move beyond the hotel boundaries you will find a host of wonderful resorts including Cabarete, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Santo Domingo and Sosua.
Puerto Plata is a stunning area of coastline with lush valleys and clean beaches, along with a real romantic air accentuated by the number of Victorian buildings and historic architecture. Puerto Plata has attractions galore including Fuerte San Felipe, which is a small fort situated on the bay, the Brugal rum factory, which is the local tipple of choice and the Amber Museum. The area is shadowed by Mount Isabel de Torres, which offers brilliant views of the island after a short cable car ride.
The most popular tourist destination in the Dominican Republic however, is Santa Domingo. It manages to perfectly blend the old and new with remnants of Gothic and Renaissance architecture such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria, combined with a host of restaurants, bars, small hotels and shops. The nightlife in the area buzzes with casinos, the Columbus Lighthouse Monument and a number of flourishing clubs such as the Guácara Taina nightclub that has multi-level dancefloors. If you are staying in Santa Domingo and want to escape the city atmosphere head to Boca Chica, which is only a 25-minute drive away and has beautiful clear waters, shelving sands and excellent seafood restaurants.
Elsewhere, Punta Cana is growing in popularity particularly due to the Manati Park which features performing sea animals. Cycling and cocktails are popular in La Romana, while Cabarete is a seaside area where hiking, mountain biking and surfing are all the rage. Indeed Cabarete has a beautiful large bay and a thriving nightlife with lots of bars and discos. Sosua is an attractive destination built around a synagogue and with Columbus Aqua Park within close reach.
