A Destination Celebration

What's to know before you leave!

The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola and shares a border with the Republic of Haiti.  Hispaniola, the second-largest of the Greater Antilles islands, lies west of Puerto Rico and east of Cuba and Jamaica.  The Dominican Republic was explored by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492.  He named it La Española. The capital, Santo Domingo, founded in 1496, is the oldest European settlement in the Western Hemisphere and was the first seat of Spanish colonial rule in the New World.  The first Catholic cathedral in the New World, completed in about 1540 in Santa Domingo, stands as a reminder of the city's history and culture and is still in use today.

Like many Latin American nations, the Dominican Republic has a long history of violence and tyranny, including plundering by pirates; rebellions against Spain and its neighbor, Haiti; intercession and dominance by the United States; and rule by repressive regimes. For much of the twentieth century, the government was ruled by the legendary military dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo. The Dominican Republic, largely because of the terrible earthquake in neighboring Haiti, has had increased visibility, with visitors catching up on its attractiveness as a destination in all seasons.

Surrounded by white sand beaches and the colorful Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is now a trendy vacation destination.  A Dominican getaway provides the perfect relief from city and hectic life.  In addition to the sugar-sand beaches and turquoise water, its resorts offer activities for families and an escape for those who enjoy either the laziness of an all-inclusive resort or for those whose perfect vacation includes access to spectacular golf courses, exciting deep sea fishing and thrilling scuba diving, with offshore reefs and shipwrecks from the days of the pirates to explore.

This year, the Dominican Republic was our destination of choice for that "Destination Celebration."

First of all, travel to the Dominican Republic is serviced by a number of airlines, including American Airlines, and, depending on the season, rates can be reasonable. The well-known Punta Cana Resort and Club was our resort of choice. This resort is slightly older, established and less flashy than some newer resorts in the area.  It is often associated with Oscar de la Renta, one of the country's best known citizens and designer of the resort's villas.  His home is in a gated residential enclave that is part of the resort.  With proximity to a well-serviced airport, direct flights from Paris and elsewhere in Europe help to draw a very international crowd, which adds to the resort's ambiance. The resort is also very close to the Four Seasons and The Ritz Carlton, whose reviews can be found in Frommer's Portable Dominican Republic and Fodor's Dominican Republic, 2nd Edition.

This resort is an expansive property. Because this property is so large, all guests are shuttled around in golf carts whenever and wherever needed.  Punta Cana features golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, P.B. Dye and Tom Fazio.  The variety and quality of golf in Punta Cana is unmatched, and, now more and more, delighted golfers are discovering this players' paradise.   Both challenging and spectacular, the courses overlook the incredible Caribbean water.  With 12 golf courses open and others under construction, a golfing boom is definitely happening in Punta Cana and in the area's developing resorts. If not a golfer, there are many water sports available, including boating, fishing, para-sailing and the aforementioned scuba diving.  And, of course, there are numerous spa and gym amenities.  Horseback riding is another popular sport with expansive beaches and an ecological park to explore.

From our beachside villa, our home for a week, we could view the crystal-clear water, which was pure delight.  The views alone were worth the visit and the choice of resort.  The setting was gorgeous.  The service is excellent and polished, with a huge and indulgent breakfast as part of the stay.  Our two bedroom villa included a living and dining room, full kitchen, and a spectacular entry with a soaring palm tree up to the skylight. We enjoyed poolside lunches and wonderful beach picnics and also tried many of the top-rated restaurants in the area.  While beautiful in décor (à la Oscar de la Renta) and overlooking the sea, the experiences and the settings were more spectacular than the food.

We had really wanted to take some excursions to other towns, such as Playa Macao and Uvero Alto, but we were so happy in this self-contained playground, we did not find the time to go further.

The Dominican Republic and Punta Cana were a wonderful experience.  The resort’s service was top-notch, and the year round temperature in the 70's and 80s makes this a vacation destination welcome at all times. The value for the dollar was also a pleasure.  The cost is reasonable for all the amenities.

We highly recommend looking into the Dominican Republic for a celebration getaway.  And, Punta Cana gets our raves.

Indulge us!

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