Posts Tagged ‘dominican republic’

Destination – La Vega

Saturday, February 11th, 2012

While the Dominican Republic certainly has the necessary sun, sand and surf that tourists desire, there is much, much more to the ‘DR’ than the normal tropical resort accoutrement. If you desire to experience something a bit more authentic and perhaps less “touristy”, then a trip to La Vega may be in order.

Located two hours away (*by car) from both the southern and northern coasts, La Vega is not typically what a visitor to the Dominican Republic would be expecting from a locale that is commonly associated with scenery of a more tropical nature. Pine groves abound, a lovely, lush green comprises the scenery – a definite change from the white sand beaches and blue waters at either of the coasts. La Vega is commonly referred to by locals as “Olympic city” due to the large number of athletes who call the area home.

During the month of February, the La Vega citizens celebrate Carnival in La Vega, a colorful festival that features the “diablos cojuelos”, or “mischievous devils” – performers in large, ornate masks representing dragons, demons and other animals.

The two most notable townships in the central region are Constanza and Jarabacoa; both are recognized for their adventure and eco-tourism and as such are very popular destinations for those seeking something outside of the usual tourist type of activities – if you want to go mountain biking, canyoning, horseback riding, etc., look no further.

Constanza

Constanza is a scenic village whose general landscape is more akin to Switzerland than the Dominican Republic. Pine trees dot the landscape; summer cabins and boutique hotels provide accommodation for visitors and colorful fruits, vegetables and flowers line the valley. Four thousand feet above sea level and nearly 20 miles across, Constanza is a hidden paradise in a region already considered by many to be paradise itself. Do not miss any opportunity you are afforded to try the local cuisine as it is at once unique, exotic, strangely familiar and thoroughly satisfying.

Jarabacoa

Often regarded as the birthplace of Dominican ecotourism, Jarabacoa is home to three rivers (*Jimenoa, Baiguate, Yaque Del Norte) and plenty of adventure! Tubing and rafting are available for those who love the water; for even greater thrills, try rappelling down the bi-level rapids. If the notion of white water adventure leaves you cold, try horseback tours through the pine forest or mountain biking instead. Jarabacoa is also the entry way to the central Cordillera, a range of peaks so tall (*two miles above sea level) they are often referred to as the “Dominican Alps”.

BookIt.com is an online travel company determined and dedicated to becoming the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking experience full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. Find great deals on resorts in dominican republic at BookIt.com!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in river travel | Comments Off

Columbus and the Dominican Republic

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

The island, La Hispaniola, better known as the home to both Haiti and theincredible Dominican Republic, is the site of the first settlements by Europeans in the new world. La Hispaniola is between the islands of Cuba (to the west) and Puerto Rico (to the east). It is the second largest island in the Caribbean, after Cuba, and the most populated in the Americas. It also ranks as the ninth most populous island, and the 22nd largest, in the world.

The first colonies established on La Hispaniola, were founded by Spanish explorer, Christopher Columbus, in the years 1492 and 1493. When Columbus first saw what was to become the frontier of the New World, he thought that he had merely found some uncharted islands off the coasts of Japan or China. What he had actually found was the island of La Hispanola. Columbus’ first visit there resulted in his ship, the Santa Maria, sinking. Undaunted, he founded a new settlement, La Navidad, on the north coast of what is now known as Haiti. He was forced to leave 39 men behind at La Navidad, so that he could return to Spain with the remaining ships.

Even though he did not have much to show for his first trip in the shape of gold or other valuable items, Columbus was able to convince the Spanish crown to fund a second trip. He return the following year to La Navidad, only to find that none of the 39 crew he left were still alive. La Navidad was disbanded and a second settlement was established further east in present day, Dominican Republic. The new settlement was called, La Isabela.

La Isabella had a very tumultuous start as a settlement. It was struck by two Atlantic hurricanes in the years 1494 and 1495. The location of La Isabella was poorly planned, resulting in a lot of unnecessary effort in brutally hot conditions with insufficient provisions. The surviving settlers, plagued by disease, hunger, disillusionment and the death of many men, were driven to mutiny. Bernal de Pisa led a group of settlers in a rebellion that attempted to appropriate a few ships and flee back to Spain. Columbus learned of the plot and punished all those involved.

Isabella, like La Navidad, was abandoned in favor of a new settlement. In 1496, the settlement of Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, was established. Santo Domingo became the third settlement on La Hispaniola and received official designation as a city in 1498. It has since gone on to be the oldest continually inhabited European settlement in the Americas.

Today, Santo Domingo, is the capital of the Dominican Republic. It is a thriving tourist destination with a population of over 4 million people, making it the largest city in the Dominican Republic and the most populous city in all the Caribbean.

BookIt.com is an online travel company determined and dedicated to becoming the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking experience full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. Find great deals on dominican republic all inclusive at BookIt.com!

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in tourism | Comments Off

The Economy of the Dominican Republic

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

The Dominican Republic (or the “DR”, as it is referred to by locals) currently has the second largest economy in the entire Caribbean and continues to experience growth in upper to middle income families. In recent years the service industry has completely overtaken the once dominant economic platform of agriculture; largely due to the steady increase in tourism and the overall acceptance by other nations of the DR as a desirable vacation destination.

The tourism industry has shown incredible growth since its inception. Every successive government has invested in the tourism industry, and as such, its revenues have increased from 173million US Dollars in 1980 to more than 2billion US by 2000. Currently, there are over 70,000 hotel rooms available and over 50,000 Dominicans employed in the tourism sector of the economy. Some estimates indicate that the DR has occupancy rates in its resorts and hotels higher than any other region in the Caribbean. Also of note, the same metrics nicely indicate that visitors to the DR have shown a tendency to stay longer (*between 10 to 14 days) than the average visitor to any other Caribbean location (*average of 7 days). Interestingly, the majority of visitors, both new and repeat, are from Europe (*64%), with significantly fewer numbers coming from the United States and Canada (*11% each). The tourism industry in the DR stands to grow considerably once a larger share of the North American market can be gained.

Agriculture may no longer be the main support of the local economy, but it is still a necessary and vital sector in domestic consumption. Perhaps expectedly, the main trading partner of the DR is the United States, accounting for 75% of all export revenue. Chief amongst exports are coffee, cacao, tobacco, sugar, and nickel (*mining comes in third behind service and agriculture in the economy). One of the aspects of the DR that makes agriculture so prominent is the fact that over 30% of the total land areas are highly suitable for farming and livestock. The most ubiquitous and important crop in the country is sugar cane. Rice, coconut, eggplant and tomatoes all account for considerable, if smaller, export numbers.

Fishing and forestry play smaller roles in the economy. Despite the fact that the local waters are abundant in many types of fish, the fishing industry in the DR is surprisingly underdeveloped. In fact, much of the fish consumed by residents is actually imported from other locations. Barracudas, Marlin, Mackerel, Tuna and Tarpon account for most of the inland catch. Mining has suffered a slight decline in the past two and a half decades but has shown recent indications of growth due to the increased price of nickel, the country’s most prominent mineral export. In the 1980s the gold mine at Pueblo Viejo was the major source of mining in the region as the mine was the largest in the entire Western hemisphere. Production based on this mine was ceased in 1999.

Tourism is of course the backbone of the economy; this seems unlikely to change, at least in the immediate future. However, growth in the industries of mining, telecom and energy indicate opportunities for continued growth in the future, which should have the effect of strengthening and expanding the economy in a positive manner for some time.

BookIt.com is an online travel company determined and dedicated to becoming the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking experience full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. Find great deals on resorts in dominican republic at BookIt.com!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in tourism | Comments Off

Dominican Film: Sanky-Panky

Friday, November 4th, 2011

The film industry in the Dominican Republic is not exactly equivalent to Hollywood or even Bollywood, yet there have been a few important movies to emerge from the country. In this series of articles on Dominican film we have and will cover several examples of notable documentaries, as well as dramatic pieces that do well in illustrating the culture found there.

There are two common themes to Dominican movies: political conflict and economic struggle. The history of the country is packed with material in these two categories, and it has been easy for film makers to tread the well-beaten path of making a sad and dark dramatic film. Yet here we find a production of a different kind. Let’s take a look.

In 2007 Spanish film maker Jose Pintor released the comedic film Sanky-Panky. A sanky-panky is the Caribbean version of an escort, but is unpaid. The ultimate benefit for a successful sanky-panky is marriage and/or citizenship in a developed nation like the US, Canada or England. In Pintor’s film the story follows the life of Genaro, played by famous Dominican comedian Fausto Mata. The film begins with a close friend of Genaro’s relating his own success in finding a wealthy American woman and eventually marrying her. Genaro sees the benefit of the scheme but is unsure of his own willingness to deliberately deceive someone for his own personal gain.

Eventually Genaro finds his way from a life of poverty in a remote farmland to the tourist laden area of Punta Cana, in hopes of landing a job at a resort. Genaro lands his job, and through his work as an attendant he meets an American woman and her two older aunts. As a goofy but soft hearted character, Genaro finds himself befriending the heartbroken woman while trying to fend off the amorous advances of the two aunts. The film makes for a good comedic-drama that incorporates the beautiful natural environment that is the Dominican Republic.

Sanky-Panky also offers viewers an excellent insight into the real poverty existing beyond Punta Cana and other tourist areas. The Dominican Republic may have the second largest economy in the Caribbean and receive the most tourism dollars in the region, but there is a significant lack of equality in income levels. The film documents these differences while still maintaining an entertaining plot line. If there is a vacation to the Dominican in your future, take in this film before embarking on your trip. It will help get your frame of mind in the right place, while highlighting the beauties of the culture.

BookIt.com is an online travel company determined and dedicated to becoming the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking experience full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. Find great deals on punta cana resorts at BookIt.com!

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in tourism | Comments Off

Tips for Going to the Dominican Republic

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

The Dominican Republic incorporates the western half of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, while Haiti occupies the eastern and smaller portion of the island. The Dominican Republic is about 18,000 square kilometers, and according to the 2009 census, home to about 10 million people. Like most Caribbean countries, there is a heavy Spanish flavor to the culture of the country.

Should you decide to visit the Dominican, the first thing that must be done is learn at least a little bit of Spanish. The Dominican Republic is a Spanish speaking country with little English spoken or understood, except in areas popular with tourists. However do not think you can simply stay in those areas and get away with having no Spanish, which will only ensure you don’t have much idea of what is going on around you. Knowing at least a little Spanish will mean you can engage in more activities, know what you are eating and where you are going. However, most importantly you will earn the respect of the locals, who will then treat you with much more courtesy and respect.

Learn to like goat. Goat meat is a regular part of Dominican cuisine, as is sugar cane, plantains, black beans and rice. The food is good, a lot like Spanish but with Taino (indigenous peoples) and African twists. There is a clear focus on starches and meats, rather than fruits and vegetables. Do not expect fine French cuisine, even though the French did occupy the island a few times.

The Dominican Republic is a Catholic country, so when you are planning your travel dates try to keep traditional Christian holidays in mind. For example, Holy Week usually falls somewhere between the end of March and the end of April (the dates are different every year), so activities and services may be quite limited during those holidays.

Tip your housekeepers, bellboys, servers, and bartenders. You don’t have to give them huge amounts of money, just a little something to show your appreciation for their efforts. The gesture will make a big difference in your service. Even gifts from your home country are appreciated. Treat the hotel or resort staff with respect, not like servants, and they will reciprocate the behavior.

Keep the romantic gestures to a minimum. The Dominican people are friendly, even playful in their behavior. However they are also (for the most part) deeply religious and view intimate act such as kissing or cuddling in public as inappropriate, even distasteful. It may be your honeymoon or romantic getaway, but it is their country and their customs. We would demand the same respect for our own customs in our own country.

BookIt is an online travel company determined and dedicated to becoming the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking experience full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. Find great deals on melia tropical punta cana at BookIt!

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in tourism | Comments Off

A Glimpse of Dominican Republic Honeymoon

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

No marriage is complete without the couples’ first night together on their honeymoon. Deciding the venue where to have your honeymoon could be very difficult especially if the two of you have different wants. A Dominican Republic Honeymoon might be the right place for you and your partner without the need of compromising your partner’s desire.

You’d be in awe when you see the architectural designs at Dominican Republic which are mostly Spanish influenced. The beautiful plazas surrounded by stunning landscaping and most of all the balnearios found along the prime coastlines of the Dominican Republic. The place is best for couples who want to enjoy the outdoors and get to relax at the sight and beauty of nature.

Dominican Republic comprises much of the Caribbean and has diverse ecology which is one of the reasons it has so much lush green forests. There are also changes in climate on various land elevations that turn from the heat of the summer sun to the cold tundra in just a few kilometre hikes. With your Dominican Republic Honeymoon, you are sure to experience hiking and camping at the most challenging situations and in the end relax and have fun as you begin to be at ease with the harmony of nature.

If you want to seek the most delightful destinations, come and visit the Punta Cana where you’d be able to enjoy great services at affordable prices. Resorts line the coast and you’d have a great and satisfying time getting spa treatments along the beach while you’re enjoying the view of the sunset. For dinner, you can go for dinner buffets and eat all you can on mouth watering local cuisines such as seafood and grills.

After a tiresome day of discovering the secrets of Dominican Republic, you can reward yourself by having a massage at various massage centres. Let go of your worries and just think about having a great time with Dominican Republic Honeymoon

Harvin Gulfill is writing about Romantic honeymoon. Do also read more about Honeymoon Dominican Republic.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in europe | Comments Off

Saturday, October 9th, 2010

If you’re thinking of saving money, lots of people often assume that they need to skimp on the luxuries. For some people this might be sacrificing a number of extraneous items that to which they’ve already grown accustomed. This could include things like cable television or perhaps going out to feast as much as they accustomed to. In some respect this would also involve giving up you and your family holiday or romantic getaway this year. Even while you may need to reduce what you will be having to pay, you’ll continue to find reasonably priced Caribbean breaks if you merely learn where to take a look.

Clearly the world wide web makes it very simple to find Inexpensive Caribbean getaways. For one, you can get travel companies that happen to be close to the islands and see what kind of offers they are providing. Simillar to in lots of various other tropical or unusual places, the regional economy within the Caribbean will depend very much on travel and tourism. Once you make contact with a local travel agent, holiday resort, or vacation company, one can almost always acquire wonderful, cheap package deals that should bring people to the islands. Simply a quick online search is precisely what it takes to find a Inexpensive local Caribbean holiday break bargain.

On top of that, you can also take advantage of web-based service to formulate your own private Caribbean holiday vacation deal. As a result you won’t have to consider bargain-priced Carribbean escapes, instead you can easily come up with your own. By using these facilities you are able to pinpoint many aspects including when your flight leaves, the place you will lodge, and what locations you may want to pay a visit to, amongst other things. A technique that it’s possible to make the most of this is by using specific expert websites than enable you to appreciate if airlines get unfilled seats and are passionate to occupy them, and sometimes it means slashing airline ticket costs.

Along the same lines, additionally, there are loads of sites that promote either accomodation and vacation packages or simply hotels rooms on their own in the same way. If you’re searching for reasonably priced Caribbean vacation trips, you might be able to save some money by searching for deals in this way. Generally you can even book your flight and hotel room together to save lots of money. This does not just affect casual family resorts, either. Even top resorts in the world have empty rooms that they have to occupy.

Certainly, all-inclusive Carribbean vacations are undoubtedly something you should look into. Though these packages will set you back big money up front, they could be considerably inexpensive compared to trying to arrange for all your parts on their own. Additionally you can make repayments on them with time, which inturn gives you the flexibility to set an agenda so that you’ll be capable of paying it off just prior to leaving. This is often the way it operates when you want to go on a cruise. As soon as you get on the sail boat, you do not need to get worried about a thing, and can purely have a ball.

If you’d like to find out more when it comes to low cost Caribbean family vacations or more information on Carribbean Voyages then why don’t you go to our internet page for additional information?

categories: caribbean islands,cheap holidays caribbean,vacations,cruises,Caribbean vacation,Caribbean cruises,Caribbean travel,jamaica,royal caribbean,bahamas,dominican republic,antigua,st lucia,trinadad

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in cruises | Comments Off

The Culture Of The Dominican Republic

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

The Dominican Republic is an island in the Caribbean rich in history and culture. The Dominican people have a mixed heritage, with aboriginal, European and African influences. The island was among the first encounters of Europeans and the natives of the Western Hemisphere, when Christopher Columbus landed in the Dominican Republic in 1492 and named it La Isla Espanola. The island later became known as Hispaniola.

The island was home to the Arawak people of the Taino tribe, an aboriginal population that is recorded in the logs of Columbus on his first voyage to The New World. The island’s unique placement in the Caribbean right along the trade winds route made it a prime location for sea travelers and opened the island up for centuries of European interest after Columbus’ initial discover of its location.

Hispaniola was a Spanish possession until 1795 when it was ceded to France following French incursion on the western end of the island. Throughout the Spanish period of control, Hispaniola was major port in the African slave trade, so the population of black African slaves present on the island at all times was high. Some were owned by Spanish slaveholders, and many were in route to other locations throughout the Western Hemisphere.

The Dominican Republic shares Hispaniola with Haiti. While in French originally occupied the Western end (which is now Haiti), they eventually gained control of the entire island. In 1804, the slave population of Haiti rebelled against the French colonial government and took over rule of whole area for some time.

While the French eventually regained control, they would not hold that control for long. Dominican revolutionaries formed a secret society in 1838 called La Trinitaria with the goal of eliminating Haitian rule on the Dominican side of the island. The Haitians were overthrown, and the Dominican Republic became a nation in 1844. Pedro Santana, one of the revolution’s leaders, became the first president of the fledgling nation.

The complex cultural heritage of the Dominican people was born of mixed traditions. Arawak, African, Spanish and French culture, history, and language all informed the Dominican ethnic make up. The establishment of independence in the Dominican Republic prior to the abolition of slavery made the island unique in the Caribbean. Slavery remained an active institution in for the rest of the Caribbean for many years following Dominican independence, and it was nearly a century later before other islands of the region were released from European colonial hold. Additional cultural influences of the Dominican people include Haiti, being its nearest neighbor, and the United States, which occupied the island in the early 20th Century.

The Dominican Republic maintains close relations with the United States, but the Dominican people associate themselves with a Latin American identity more than a Caribbean one. The mixed heritage of the Dominican population has led to some stratification of the classes. The elite of the Dominican are still primarily lighter skinned of strong European descent. The darker skinned Dominicans with clear African heritage make up the lower economic and social strata, while the growing middle class is of various mixed descent.

Its early independence and relatively peaceful existence has made the Dominican Republic one of the more traveled Caribbean islands for some time. The weather conditions and beautiful terrain has made the island popular among tourists for decades.

The island has a population of nearly nine million. Dominicans are primarily mixed in ethnicity and race, with the majority of the population being mullattos descended from Spanish, West African and Aboriginal population. Less than 20% of the population is Caucasian and little more than 10% is black, including the Haitian minority group among the Dominican nationals.

Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic, and holds fast to the Castilian tradition. There are strong African and Taino influences in the language, with popular expressions and place names commonly emerging from West African and Arawak traditions. English is common due to the tourist industry, and Creole also has a foothold among the Dominican populations near the Haitian border and in some of the outlying villages in the Sugarcane region, where many Haitians live and work.

Family holds a strong place in Dominican culture, with particular influence placed on the importance of familial relationships and the placement of families in the strong class system still present in the modern Dominican Republic. The Dominican people are friendly, warm, and outgoing. The children of the island are seldom shy, being taught the open and welcoming ways of the Dominican culture.

Dominicans are relaxed, often spending time socializing rather than working, and value relationships between people with a higher regard than they do formalities associated with more rigid Western traditions. The Dominican’s mixed cultural, ethnic and racial heritage heavily influence popular culture, music, art, and cuisine, making it a fantastic place not just to visit but to stay.

BookIt.com is an online travel company determined and dedicated to becoming the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking experience full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. Find great deals on dominican republic hotels at BookIt.com!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in tourism | Comments Off

Caribbean Beach Weddings Deliver True Romance

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Do you want to get away right now from the stresses of planning your wedding? Take a mental Caribbean honeymoon by exploring which of the top Caribbean honeymoon locations are for you.

Which are the most popular Caribbean wedding destinations? The following are, in our opinion, the top five locations on the Caribbean to celebrate a destination wedding.

Antigua is offers a fascinating landscape of low-lying limestone and coral islands with some higher volcanic areas. This paradise island perfect for honeymooners looking for a place to relax and have fun in their own tiny spot in the Caribbean. Places like Antigua Bay provide a tranquil and beautiful backdrop for your vacation. Runaway Beach is home to many renowned resorts that are top honeymoon destinations and seems to have an endless expanse of white sands. This is a terrific destination to discover the classic Caribbean holiday. The resorts on this island are breathtaking and ones to remember.

Jamaica. For some people, Jamaica is the perfect location for a destination wedding. If you like places away from the crowded tourist spots, Jamaica can be a great selection. Places like Rio Grande River,Blue Mountain or Y.S. Falls should be visited, making the trip to Jamaica a wonderful one. Take a cruise to the Caribbean. There are packages that allow you to get married on them, visiting more than one location in the Caribbean.

The Dominican Republic – Beaches, Beaches, Beaches: if you are an adventurer or a sun lover, the beaches in the Dominican Republic are for you. People from all over the world travel here to to improve diving skills or to learn windsurfing. Punta Cana-Bvaro is on the east side of the island. Punta Cana is 20 miles long and offers the farthest stretch of white sand beaches in the Caribbean. Coconut palm trees tower above the beach and luxurious resorts line its boundaries. Since Haiti borders the west side of the Dominican Republic, you can find most of the beaches on the north and south sides of the island. The main beach areas of the north side include Monte Christi, Puerto Plata, Rio San Juan, Cabrera, Samana and Miches on the east. The east side of the island contains many first-class resorts built right on the beaches.

These are our top five locations to celebrate a destination wedding in the Caribbean. Of course there are many other locations, and any of them can be an excellent place for your wedding. But the important thing is to plan the wedding, and a wedding planner with experience in Caribbean Destination weddings is almost compulsory if you want to have an unforgettable one.

All the underground, ninja stealth tactics for great Destination wedding dominican republic can be yours! Check out this free website Destination wedding dominican republic before they try to shut it down.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in travel | Comments Off