What you should or shouldn’t do in this Caribbean paradise.
Picture this: a tropical island with warm breezes, beautiful beaches, amazing mouth-watering food, and all of that just a 3-hour flight away. The Dominican Republic is a wonderful country that should make the list for your next vacation. I personally think that the Dominican Republic is a great place to visit, 10/10, 5 stars. And even though the Dominican Republic is usually best visited during the months of November through April, it’s still beautiful all year round so it’s always the right time to book a flight.
Dominican Republic may only be half of the island of Hispanõla (with Haiti occupying the other side), but there are actually multiple regions within it. These different parts of the island may have slightly different cultures or ways of doing things, which is why you should verify where you’re going ahead of time. For example, Punta Cana has African and Taino (which is the tribe that originally occupied the Dominican Republic) influences. Puerto Plata, on the other hand, is more modern with cable cars, museums, and lots of restaurants. My mother, who is originally from the Dominican Republic, says, “Puerto Plata looks more like New York City, but Punta Cana is more like a beach town. Both are still amazing.”
While Punta Cana is more like a laid back ( and pretty big) town, Puerto Plata has a lot to do, lots of food, and lots of tourist attractions that talk about the history of the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic, although it has its benefits, does have its downsides. For example, the little demon spawns known as mosquitoes are everywhere. Obviously, they are a huge problem for tourists due to the fact that they can carry diseases, but there are ways to help with this issue.
Also, in the Dominican Republic, there is a lot of heat. And when I say it’s a lot, I mean A LOT. That’s why I recommend going in the winter because not only is the heat less harsh, but the mosquitoes are also less active.
Even with the heat and the insects, you should still go because of the food and culture. Most people would probably enjoy tostones, which are fried plantain chips. Also, the locals are (for the most part) nice and will give you their personal recommendations. Just remember to use Google Translate if you don’t know any Spanish!
Small Things You Should Keep In Mind During Your Travels
-Before even going to the airport, you should convert your American dollars to Dominican pesos because there might not be ATMs where you are going. Even though there is a likely chance there will be an ATM, you should convert the currencies just in case.
-When you fly into the Dominican Republic, you’ll notice that everybody claps when they land. Don’t be afraid to join in. Instead, you should actually start clapping with everyone else! The website Simple Flying says that nobody really knows how the “tradition” of clapping when you land started, but it is something you should still do.
-If you planned ahead and booked a reservation for a resort, venture outside of your hotel grounds. Even if the hotel is 5 stars and has many fun things to do, you should definitely check out what it’s actually like to be in the Dominican Republic. A resort showcases a small part of Dominican life. My friend Eleanor, who is also Dominican, says, “I usually go to places like Santo Domingo to have more of the Dominican culture. ” If you only stayed in your hotel, you wouldn’t even be able to experience what the Dominican Republic is actually like.
-If you do end up flying to the Dominican Republic, you will definitely need to eat something. If you didn’t eat, you wouldn’t be human. But, I recommend going to an authentic Dominican restaurant. You shouldn’t just eat stuff that you normally eat in your home country, because then you wouldn’t know what it’s like to eat Dominican food and you can’t experience the culture.
Overall, I believe that the Dominican Republic is a beautiful place. Good food? Check. Tropical temperature? Also check. Nice beaches? Check, check, and check! So, if you think that I’m lying about the Dominican Republic being an amazing place, maybe you should try and check it out for yourself. So book a flight, grab your passport, and go!
Students of the Sidewalk 