Vacation In Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has some of the most beautiful, sandy beaches in the Caribbean. With its stunning tropical rainforests and its heavy rainfall, the country is as green as any other on the planet, making it a prime location for environmental excursions. Over one million people flock to see this gorgeous spot each year, so you will definitely not be alone. You need to prepare a trip on your own with the following points before you go for vacation in Dominican Republic. Start planning today!
It’s time to get a vacation from the hassle of work. Pack your bags and let’s go to this beautiful country of Dominican Republic . The best time to visit is anytime, but if you have to make a choice then you can pick some of the following times
With a place on the map for almost two centuries, Dominican Republic has been able to give itself a good niche as an up and coming destination. Also known as the ‘Pearl of the Caribbean,’ this one has it all – sun-drenched beaches, colorful culture, and lively festivals. Each visit here is found to be perfect for a relaxing vacation, some adventure tourism, and even some business meetings. If you are planning a trip to this tropical island in the Caribbean Sea, pack your bags and head off!
Vacation In Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is an attractive beach destination for tourist all over the world. It is not true the saying that there are better beaches in countries like Egypt, Colombia or other Central American and Caribbean countries. The awesome climate and gorgeous weather of the island attracts lots of visitors every year for vacations.
Dominican Republic is an island nation that is located in the Caribbean Sea, to the north of Haiti. This popular Caribbean vacation destination has a population of more than 10 million. Among all tropical islands in the world, The Dominican Republic is one of the popular tourist destinations for couples and families.
Things To Know Before Visiting Dominica
Don’t expect to laze on the beach… although you can!
While Dominica has plenty of lovely beaches, due to it’s volcanic origins, the majority of the island’s beaches have black, brown and silver sand. They’re still very pretty, with palm trees and clear, Caribbean waters, but perhaps a little different to the Caribbean postcard you have in your minds.
Instead, hike into the mountains, go whale watching, visit the island’s waterfalls, take a dip in the Emerald Pool and learn to cook Caribbean cuisine – the options are endless, so you’ll never be bored!
READ MORE: Top things to do in Dominica, Caribbean
Dominica is NOT the Dominican Republic. Not even close!
I feel like an idiot for writing this, but when I told people I was visiting Dominica, they thought I meant the Dominican Republic… or that Dominica was the capital of the DR! Nope, they’re completely different islands, with different cultures, landscapes and reasons to visit. Make sure you book a flight to the right place!
Dominica is known as the nature island
As we landed in Dominica, I could see exactly why it’s known as the nature island! With lush rainforests, incredible volcanic landscapes and rugged bays, it looked wild – like a little Jurassic Park! There are nine volcanoes, 365 rivers, 18 named waterfalls and one boiling lake (the second largest in the world after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand). If you love adventures, this is the island for you.
Dominica is one of the cheaper Caribbean islands
First up, I’ll admit I’ve always found the Caribbean an expensive part of the world to travel around, especially compared to regions like South East Asia and Eastern Europe. Despite having amazing ingredients on the doorstep, a lot of items still have to be imported. Plus, once you’re on the islands, you become a captured market. Particularly on smaller islands, there aren’t many tour companies, so the ones that exist set the price they want, and that’s what you pay.
That being said, I found Dominica to be cheaper than most Caribbean islands I’ve visited (Barbados, Antigua, St Kitts, Cuba, St Martin). Here’s a quick rundown of the prices…
How much do things cost in Dominica?
Main course in a nice restaurant: $12 USD (33 ECD / £9.80)
Whale watching tour: $69 USD (186 ECD / £55)
Two tank scuba dive: $108 USD (293 ECD / £87)
Half day island tour: $45 USD (121 ECD / £36)
Car rental (per day): $50 USD (135 ECD / £40)
Taxi from Douglas-Charles Airport (Dominica Airport) to Roseau: $30 USD (81 ECD / £24)
Room (sleeping 3) at Picard Beach Cottages: $103 USD (278 ECD / £83)
Hostel dorm (at Fort Shirley): $15 (40 ECD / £12)
Also, there’s a great value pass you can buy if you plan to visit multiple attractions in a week. About that…
It’s CHEAP to visit Dominica’s attractions, yes really!
Continuing the budget theme here (and a great Dominica travel tip for you!!) you can visit most of Dominica’s natural wonders for just $12 USD (33 ECD / £9.50). The special tourist site pass gives you entry to Trafalgar Falls, Cabrits National Park, Emerald Pool, Middleham Falls, Soufriere Sulphur Springs, Boiling Lake and Morne Trois Pitons Trail just to name a few!
There’s now a luxury hotel in Dominica!
Dominica has never been associated with luxury holidays. Most people visit because they love the great outdoors. They want to go hiking, diving and explore the abundant nature of the island. Those travellers aren’t usually in need of a personal butler or swim up bar, and are happy in a more rustic hotel.
All that has now changed with the opening of Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica, just north of Portsmouth (which opened in 2019). I passed it one day, and saw the vast resort being constructed. It’s in a beautiful location, close to Cabrits National Park, in its own sheltered bay. Rumour has it, the presidential suite is around $15,000 a night – no doubt attracting a luxurious style of traveller to the island.
Just a few minutes away (and also under construction during my visit) was Cabrits Hotel Resort and Spa, which has been financed by the Kingdom of Morocco as a gift to Dominica. It’s in another lovely location, with a beautiful view over Portsmouth.
Don’t believe what you read – Hurricane Maria hasn’t destroyed this beautiful island
Dominica hit the headlines after category 5 Hurricane Maria swept over the island in September 2017. It was regarded as the worst natural disaster on record for the islands in the region. I was actually supposed to visit in October 2017, but the trip was cancelled to allow the island time to recover. And you know what? It has. Lots of people told us that they learned lessons about construction in the aftermath of the hurricane. It was also an important time to look at the island’s economy and industries. With a combination of positivity and hard work, the island has bounced back.
During my visit in July 2019 some evidence remained, but all major attractions were open, cruise ship schedules were back to normal, and Dominica was definitely ready to welcome tourism again.
There are no direct flights from the UK or US to Dominica
Don’t worry though – it’s a very simple journey! If you’re visiting from the UK, you’ll need to fly to Antigua (with Virgin or British Airways) and then catch a LIAT flight over to Dominica. The flight from Antigua to Dominica only takes 30 minutes, and on a clear day, the views are amazing. The quickest routes I found from London were around 12 hours (including the transfer). Plus, you don’t need a visa to visit!