Travel Tips

Sometimes the constant stress we are subjected to while living and working in the city can take its toll, and we feel that we want to get away from the congested confines of the tightly packed buildings, the sight of traffic jams, and the general stoic and business-like manner of the people. You suddenly feel like an automaton in a hurly burly world and feel the wanderlust taking its hold on as you stare at the horizon. When one thinks of having a holiday, the most common phrase you’ll ever hear is ‘a trip to the Caribbean’ that it’s already considered a clich. A trip to the Caribbean is one of the most sought-out holidays for some time now, especially during Dominican Republic holidays. The Dominican Republic is also a favorite destination during winter due to its magnificent beaches, laid back culture, lush vegetation, and fine weather.

The Dominican Republic constitutes most of the Caribbean island, and is replete with beautiful resorts, top-class hotels, and baroque historical landmarks. Aside from enjoying the sun in the beautiful beaches, you can also immerse yourself in the region’s rich culture – which has an interesting Hispanic twist to it!

PARTY BEACHES
If you are in a party mood, the Cabarete beach is the ideal destination for its festive atmosphere and big crowds. It’s where hip tourists go to, and where parties and events are held everyday. The vim of the waves also makes it ideal for surfers. And also be ready to tune up your dancing so that you can dance to the infectious beat of the merengue, the national dance of the Dominican Republic. Visit the chic resort bars in Punta Cana and you’ll find yourself mingled with fellow tourists and friendly locals. The Cabarete beach is simply where the action is!

BEACHES FOR THE SPORTY
For thrill seekers, a visit to the La Romana-Bayahibe Underwater Park presents you with an adventure diving for the shipwrecks that have a biological and cultural significance in the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana and the Sosua Beach is also a great site for snorkeling because of the coral reefs situated under the water. Windsurfing is one of the main attractions of the Dominican Republic. Cabarete is the premiere spot for this sport. In fact, it is the most popular location for windsurfing all over the world. The Cabarete bay and its surrounding areas provide the perfect conditions for both beginners and experts.

FAMILY BEACHES
You can have a grand time with your family at the Ocean Park Marina, located on the north coasts of the Island of Hispaniola, by seeing the teeming variety of marine life like dolphins, sea lions, and sharks. The aquatic animals are extremely well trained (except for the sharks, of course) to provide great entertainment for the whole family.

SOLITARY BEACHES
If you want a more laid back atmosphere, and just bask in the serenity of the tropical seas, you can opt for the secluded beaches in the region. The romantic sunset on the El Morro Beach, located in the north-western corner of the Dominican Repubic, is a spectacular view to behold. Playa Montecristi is a perfect place to become solitary, and is popular to honeymooners all over the world.

Once you go back from your holidays in the Dominican Republic, the tan you have developed will soon fade away, but I assure you that the memories will stay.

Thinking of a good travel get-away? Have a Dominican Republic holiday and experience culture and life in the Caribbean.

Dominican Republic prides itself with its rich culture and tourist destinations. If you’re planning to visit this great traveler’s haven, make your trip more meaningful by knowing the country’s background and profile. Here are some good-to-knows about Dominican Republic that will help you appreciate your travel to this country.

An Overview
Dominican Republic is in the island of Hispaniola, located in the Greater Antilles region in the Caribbean. It is a country influenced by Spanish, French, Haitian, and African cultures. Its population is very diverse, majority of which are Europeans and Africans. You would also see a number of Haitians, Asians and Americans. The official language of the country is Spanish and Castilian. English, Chinese, Italian and French are also used in different transactions especially in their popular tourist destinations. The government is a Representative Democracy and the currency they use is Dominican Peso. Majority of the population is Roman Catholic. Other religions in the country are Protestant, Seventh Day Adventist, Baptist and Mormon.

History
To appreciate a country more, it’s important that you know a few things about its history.

Christopher Columbus reached the area in 1942 and put up the first permanent European settlement in the region. Santo Domingo became the capital of Dominican Republic and the first capital of Spain in the new world. After the Spanish rule, French and the Haitian took over the country.

The country gained independence from Haitian rule in 1844. During this period, Dominican Republic faced numerous political strife and tyranny. Spain took over again in 1861. In 1865, Spain left the country after 2 years of fighting against the United States of America.

Government
The founding fathers of Dominican Republic are Juan Pablo Duarte, Ramon Matias Mella and Francisco Del Rosario Sanchez. The country follows a Representative Democracy type of government with 3 branches, which are the executive, legislative and judicial. The president and vice-president have a 4-year term. Their government’s legislature is bicameral. The senate has 32 members and the Chamber of Deputies has 178 members.

Election is held every 2 years alternating between the presidential elections and the congressional and municipal elections. Today, the president of Dominican Republic is Leonel Fernandez.

Society, Climate and Culture

Dominican Republic is a tropical country. The average temperature is 25 C. The coldest months are January and February while the hottest month is August.

Dominican Republic can be viewed as a melting pot of many cultures because of the mix of population in the country. Visiting the country would let you experience a blend of Spanish, French and African cultures. Dominicans love fast and lively music, which is represented very well by their music known as Merengue. They also excel and are passionate about baseball.

Eco tourism is one of the reasons that people want to visit Dominican Republic. They pride themselves with their lovely beaches and mountain ranges. Some of the most popular places in the country are the towns of Jarabacoa and Constanza, Pico Duarte, Baha de las Aguilas and Puerto Plata.

Have a Dominican Republic holiday and see for yourself what this rich country has to offer.

You cannot go on an Italy vacation without doing some sightseeing. In fact this is one of the most cited reasons for visiting Italy. The country has a rich culture and a rich history. All over Italy are historic buildings, monuments, museums and all kinds of places to visit that will make your Italy vacation truly eventful. Italy is also a center for high fashion and along with the great food, friendly people, wine and the Catholic Church this may be one of the best sightseeing vacations you have ever been on. It is important to make sure you see the most important sights before you leave. So where do most people go to when they are on an Italian Vacation?

When you go to Italy you must visit Rome. There are several popular places here for sightseers. The Colosseum is a very famous landmark in Rome. It is a huge open air theatre that was built by Emperor Titus in AD80 for games and gladiatorial battles. When many people see the Colosseum the movie “Gladiator” comes to mind. Another magnificent sight is the Pantheon in Rome. It is a huge temple built in AD120 and up until 1960 it had the largest dome in the world. Rome is also the home of the Pope in Vatican City, another popular destination for sightseeing on an Italian Vacation. Other cities in Italy that are popular for sightseers include Milan, Venice, Naples and Sicily.

Pisa is a smaller city but it is world famous due to the Leaning Tower. It is a bell tower in the Pisa Cathedral that is made up of a group of 4 beautiful white marble buildings. Construction on this started in 1173 and went on for 200 years because of a lot of interruptions. Since the construction took so long, the bell tower started to lean hence the name.

If you are a savvy sightseer or traveler and know some Italian you may be able to arrange to see all these sights for yourself. But you may want to consider having everything arranged by someone else because you don’t want to miss any of the important places and you will benefit greatly from a guided tour. There are several sightseeing companies that offer tours for visitors. Guided tours will usually follow a pre-set route through a city or town during your Italy vacation. Not only are the guides fluent in English but they also have a wealth of information on the historical sights and there are opportunities to ask questions. Some tours on your Italian vacation will allow you to get off the tour vehicle to explore and then catch another tour vehicle from the same company later on.

Or if you prefer not to walk, you can just sit back and enjoy the ride without leaving the bus. Sightseeing tours on your Italian vacation range in price. There are luxury tour coaches, full day tours, night tours and also several tours for vacationers on a budget.