New York City 3.25 hours

Boston 4 hours

Miami 1.75 hours

Philadelphia 4.5 hours

Chicago 5 hours

San Francisco 8 hours

Dallas-Fort Worth 5 hours

Los Angeles 7.5 hours

Punta Cana: The paradise of the east, locals call it, with has its emerald waters and 20-miles of glorious, palm-shaded beaches. This beautiful area around the Bavaro resort center has successfully balanced modest development with ecological concerns. Hotels, restaurants, and clubs here are luxury establishments dedicated to indulging visitors and hosting a complete roster of water sports.

Santo Domingo: One of the most beguiling cities in the Caribbean, La Capital is a riveting mix of colonial buildings, museums, gourmet restaurants, hip clubs, and serene, tree-lined avenues. The city's main thoroughfare, and the first stone-laid street in the Americas, Calle las Damas (Street of Ladies) is lined with historic buildings and museums. At the heart of the colonial city, a seafront promenade known as the Malecon bustles with sleek hotels, outdoor cafés, restaurants, nightclubs, and shops.

Puerto Plata: The "Silver Port" lies to the north along the Atlantic coast in the shadow of Cordillera Septentrional. Old Puerto Plata features Victorian architecture while the main tourist drag houses modern hotels on Playa Dorada.

La Romana: Located along the southern coast in an easy day-trip from Santo Domingo, this fabulous resort area houses such star complexes as the Casa de Campo, set on 7,000 acres of lush coastline. Its highlights include Altos de Chavon, a replica of a 16th century Mediterranean village perched on a cliff above the river. Nearby Juan Dolio and Boca Chica offer impressive beaches and hotels.

The second largest country in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti to the west. The majority of its people live in Santo Domingo and Santiago. The rest of the island is wild and mountainous, filled with rainforests, fertile valleys, and miles of beautiful beaches. Several national parks preserve the best of the island's natural features, including its outlying islands.

The Dominican Republic is blessed with a year-round tropical climate that can be divided into two seasons. The winter Dry Season runs from November to April and boasts pleasantly warm temperatures with low humidity and little precipitation. The summer Wet Season runs from May to October and is accompanied by high humidity and a bit more rain. Throughout the year, however, pleasant trade winds keep the air cool. The heart of hurricane season lasts from late August to early November, though strikes are rare and there is plenty of advance notice to prepare. When threatened by a hurricane strike, one should expect a 2-day displacement from evacuation to safe return.

Spring average 75°

Summer average 81°

Fall average 78°

Winter average 72°

The Dominican Republic is known for its history, fine beaches, and affordability. It has a lively culture of with animated people and great natural beauty. Travelers, especially those on a package plan, discover some of the best vacation values in the Caribbean.

Jeep Safari: Take off on your own adventure in a 4WD jeep through fruit and cofee plantations, and then hop a cruise for the Punta Cana coast!

Altos de Chavon: Step back in time on this visit to the city of Higuey, and then continue to the picturesque artists' small town of Altos de Chavon for an afternoon of shopping, sightseeing, and a sail along the Chavon River.

Santo Domingo City Tour: Begin your vacation with an orientation tour of the capital, known as "The First City of the Americas." Visit the Cathedral of Santo Domingo, Columbus Castle (Alcazar), the Old Colonial City, and many other sights. Shop at the flea market, take lunch by the river, and then visit the National Aquarium.

Shopping in the Capital: With the largest duty-free zone in the Caribbean, Santo Domingo is a shopper's paradise, especially along El Conde Street and La Atarazana, a charming row of 16th-century buildings that house exclusive boutiques, and galleries. The homeland of designer Oscar de la Renta is also famous for its rum, coffee, and cigars. Haggling for a better price is fun and expected, especially with street vendors and in the markets.

Puerto Plata City Tour: Venture through Fort San Felipe, the Amber Museum, and the Brugal Rum Distillery. After lunch, enjoy a cable car ride to the top of Mount Isabel de Torres for a breathtaking view of the city and coast.

Samana & Cayo Levantado Tour: Board a bus to the scenic fishing village of Samana. Then sail along the bay to Cayo Levantado Island. Enjoy lunch on the beach and a walk to the gorgeous Los Cocos Waterfall.

Recreational Sports: The Dominican Republic offers countless opportunities for outdoor activities including golf, tennis, mountain biking, horseback riding, windsurfing, deep sea fishing and scuba diving, to name just a few!

Cumayasa Ranch: Located on the banks of the Cumayasa River, this sprawling estate invites you to horseback ride on its lush pastures and take a boat ride along the river through mangroves. You'll also enjoy folk dances and merengue, as well as an authentic Dominican lunch served at the ranch.

Saona Island: Take an exciting ride on a motorboat or catamaran to Saona Island, a tropical paradise with pristine white sand beaches. Enjoy drinks onboard and lunch at the beach. Visit the National Park of the East.

Casa del Cordon: Tour the oldest stone house in the Americas, built in 1504 by a shipmate of Columbus.

Museum of the Royal Houses: With its stunning collection of colonial artifacts, ship replicas, tapestries and gilded furniture, this museum is best in the country.

Fort San Felipe: The oldest fort in the New World is a popular attraction at the Malecon in Puerto Plata. Originally built by the Spaniards in the 16th century to defend against pirates, the fort later served as a prison before being restored in the 1970s.

The Dominican Republic treats diners to a wide variety of cuisine in almost as many settings. Take your meal in an old colonial palace, a street-side café, along the waterfront or down in an ancient sea cave. International fare includes everything from Italian, to Middle Eastern, French, Argentine, and native fare. Typical Dominican cuisine tends to be heavy in meats such as chicken, beef, pork and goat. The meal is usually centered on a stew of brown beans, plantains and rice flavored with very mild spices. Local dishes you are likely to encounter include sancocho, a thick stew blended with meats and vegetables, mangu, mashed green plantains, and arepa, a sweet cake served with your main dish. Presidente is a high-quality local ale and a jugo is a refreshing fresh fruit drink made with crushed ice and sugar. While an All-Inclusive meal plan in your hotel will be your best bet, there are some notable restaurants around the island if you feel like exploring.

Gourmet: La Puntilla de Piergiorgio is perched on a cliff at the edge of the sea. While your eyes enjoy a feast of their own with the view, your palate is treated to fine Italian cuisine served on the garden veranda. Don't miss the mimosa, it's a house specialty! Sosua

Highly Recommended: La Bahia makes a great first impression on its patrons with its scenic setting along the sea promenade, then outdoes the view with its exquisite menu selections featuring an amazing variety of seafood dishes from baked red snapper to sea bass and several conch specialties. Santo Domingo

Local Flair: El Mason de la Cava has a cool setting that you reach by spiral staircase; it's in a sea cave 50 feet below ground that was carved over the ages by ocean waves! The hearty menu is simple but top-notch. You'll enjoy steak, seafood, and local recipes served by an amiable staff. Santo Domingo

Romantic: Casa del Rio is set amid the turrets, bougainvillea, and candlelight of a recreated 16th-century castle that offers one of the Caribbean's most intimate and romantic places to dine. Indulge in sumptuous meals prepared with a French flair and a West Indian twist. Altos de Chavon

After dinner, Punta Cana buzzes with excitement as several bars and discos entertain late into the night. Enjoy jazz, dance music, and the latest in Latin rhythms, or try testing your luck in one of the big hotel casinos, usually open until 4:00am (weekends until 6:00am.).

Fiestas Patronales: Each village has its own patron saint, and throughout the year they are honored with wonderful festivals featuring horse races, bullfights, street fairs, food, drums, and dancing. Some of the most notable are the Fiesta de San Felipe in Puerto Plata in June, the Fiesta de San Antonio in Sosua also in June, and the Fiesta de Santiago Apostol in Santiago on July.

New Year: A grand fiesta along the waterfront rings in the New Year. Santo Domingo, January

Carnival: The festival season really gears up with this national party with many parades, street shows, dancing, traditional music and dance, native cooking, and much more. Island-Wide, February

Merengue Festival: This energetic, 10-day traditional music and dance event is very popular and always a blast. Santo Domingo, July

Christmas: The season is celebrated over a 12-day period with religiousservices and many public celebrations. Island-Wide, December

Daytime dress is tidy casual, but beachwear is only acceptable in resorts and at the pools. Evenings tend to be smarter with jackets recommended for men at better restaurants and clubs.

We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.

Gambling/Drinking: You must be 18 years or older to gamble.

Tipping: Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to your check. A further tip of 5% to 10% is usually added if the service has been good. It is customary to tip hotel porters, maids and taxi drivers as well.

Water: Drink only bottled water. Never drink water from the tap unless it has been thoroughly boiled. Fresh, bottled water is available almost everywhere on the island but if you venture off the beaten track you may have to stock up. Look for the words filtrada and purificada on the bottle's label.

Security: Most areas of Puerto Plata are safe for visitors but precautions should be taken, especially at night and in the poorer sections of Santo Domingo and Sosua. Avoid unmarked street taxis and hustlers who attempt to offer their services as guides. Pickpockets, street hustlers, and muggers target tourists. Do not leave valuables unattended on the beach or in cars. Large amounts of money and other valuables are usually best kept in a hotel safe.

Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic. English is spoken by tourism staff, however, knowing a little basic Spanish is particularly helpful in the interior. Signs and menus are generally in Spanish.

The electric is 110 volts/60 cycle AC, the same as in the United States.

We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.

Entry/Exit: The US Embassy in the Dominican Republic strongly recommends that all US citizens traveling to the Dominican Republic do so on a valid US passport. Although Dominican law technically allows US citizens to enter the country on other proof of US citizenship (US birth certificate, Naturalization Certificate, etc) along with a photo ID, numerous US travelers have been prohibited from departing the Dominican Republic on such documents. In these cases, Dominican Immigration has required the travelers to obtain a US passport from the US Embassy in Santo Domingo. Obtaining a US passport may take up to 10 business days and requires documents that most tourists might not carry, thus delaying the traveler's return to the United States.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: Effective January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including US citizens,traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.

The passport requirement does NOT apply to US citizens traveling to or returning directly from a US territory. US citizens returning directly from a US territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. US territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Dominican Republic Customs: Visitors of legal age may bring into the Dominican Republic up to two liters of alcohol and 200 cigarettes duty free.

Departure Tax: A $20 departure tax is charged upon exiting the country.

US Customs: US citizens returning directly from the Dominican Republic may bring back $600 worth of merchandise without paying duty. This may include 1 liter of alcohol as well as 5 cartons of cigarettes and 100 cigars duty free. The importation of Cuban tobacco products, however, is strictly prohibited and is punishable by heavy fines and/or criminal prosecution.

Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism: Government Offices Block D, Avenida Mexico, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, phone 809-221-4660, fax 809-682-3806

Chicago: 300 North Michigan Avenue, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601, phone 312-606-9252, fax 312-606-9012

Houston: 4507 San Jacinto, Suite 308, Houston, TX 77004, phone 713-772-3819, fax 713-772-6058

Miami: 1200 NW 78th Avenue, Suite #203, Miami, FL 33126, phone 305-718-4091, fax 305-718-4098

Los Angeles: 2401 W 6th Street, 5th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90024, phone 213-351-2075, fax 213-351-2074

New York: 21 East 63rd Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10021, phone 212-821-0314, fax 212-821-0387