Dominican Republic Holiday

The Dominican Republic has many resort towns such as Puerto Plata, Boca Chica and La Romana with great beaches, reefs to explore and the sunken galleons offshore. The locals love a party, which is apparent by the many festivals, parties and carnivals that can be found throughout the Dominican Republic. Santo Domingo has two Carnivals complete with parades, floats, live music and dancing in the streets.

Beaches

The beaches in the Dominican Republic are unspoiled Caribbean jewels that sparkle in the island sun. The country boasts almost 800 miles of coastline, featuring some of the most stunning sands in the Caribbean. With so many beaches on one island, vacationers will never have to search for great surf and sand.

Sugary white sands and crystalline blue waters are just a few reasons to visit any of the Dominican Republic's pristine beaches. In addition to the ample sunshine and powdery sands, an assortment of watersports are available at many of the island's beaches. Also, because the Caribbean's tourism industry is mainly focused on other islands in the region, vacationers won't have to deal with heavy crowds, which gives beachgoers a truly relaxing time on the island's seashores.

Shopping

Best buys are products made on the island including amber jewelry and decorative pieces. These are a national specialty, some pieces encasing insects, leaves or dew drops within ancient petrified pine resin. Larimar or Dominican turquoise is another popular stone. Milky blue and polished pink pieces of conch shell are also made into jewelry. Rocking chairs, woodcarvings, macramé, pottery, Taino artifacts, Creole dolls, baskets, limestone carvings and CDs of salsa and merengue also make good buys. Bargaining is recommended.

Nightlife

If visiting a variety of exciting night clubs is a vital part of your ideal vacation, you may have a little trouble finding what you want since the Dominican Republic is known for its quiet natural beauty - not its nightclub scene. Nevertheless, if you find the right place to stay, you will certainly have some entertaining choices for enjoying the evening hours in the Dominican Republic.

Some of the more unique clubs include Mesón de la Cava, which is a restaurant and late-night disco located in a cave 50 feet underground; Gasolina, which was built to represent a 1950s gas station; and Atarazanas Nueve, located in the Colonial District near the Plaza de Espana where the city's young and hip flock to eat and drink. Or you can simply stroll along the waterfront promenade known as the Malecón, where a huge outdoor party is fueled almost nightly by roving musicians, impromptu dancing and local rum made by Barcelo and Brugal.