The famous white-sand beach setting on Dominican Republic coast is ‘The Taste of Paradise’

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The all-inclusive resort is the real deal and has everything for the perfect holiday

 

By Graham Warwick

13th May 2017,2:20 am

Updated: 14th May 2017,5:30 am

I’M sipping a cocktail on an impossibly perfect white-sand beach lined with palm trees.

It’s so idyllic it could have come straight out of the classic Bounty bar adverts.

 

Alamy

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Taste of the tropics … Saona Island is the setting of the Bounty adverts

And on this occasion, it actually did!

I’m on a catamaran tour off the gorgeous coastline of the Dominican Republic.

Already I’m feeling like a star after a lunch of freshly-grilled lobster and dipping my toes into the sand where the ad was filmed is the icing on the cake.

 

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Bounty advert on the perfect Saona Island in the Dominican Republic

The temperature in London when I left was 2C.

But on the beach, it’s a toasty 28C and those palm trees offer the perfect dappled shade.

The real appeal of the Dominican Republic is the great value.

And Thomson’s newest 5star Sensatori hotel in the resort of Punta Cana is the perfect example of this — luxury facilities for less than a grand.

All the rooms are suites and the decoration is chic with calming cool colours and high-end furniture.

 

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The five star Sensatori Resort is the perfect place to stay during your visit

 

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The stunning resort sits on the white sands of Uvero Alto Beach

Splash out a little more and there are swim-up rooms complete with access to the pool.

Family rooms have a separate lounge area that can be partitioned off from the bedroom, and family swim-up rooms even come complete with a child safety gate.

The hotel sits on the wide, soft sands of Uvero Alto Beach, complete with more of those swaying palm trees and four-poster day beds.

But the sea can be rough so is perhaps not great for kids.

 

TUI Sensatori Resort

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There are seven restaurants included in the all-inclusive price

GO: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

GETTING/STAYING THERE:

Thomson has seven-night all-inclusive holidays to the new 5star Sensatori Resort Punta Cana from £947 per person, including flights from Manchester on June 8 and transfers.

See thomson.co.uk or call 0871 230 2555.

However, there are four pools to dip your toe into, as well as SEVEN restaurants all included in the price, from the beachside BBQ burger bar to the high-end gastronomic Kitchen 23.

Breakfast in the Sugar Cane restaurant is stunning, with every fruit you can think of.

It almost makes you want to eat healthily!

But for those that don’t, the usual full English is on offer, along with many different varieties of bread, omelettes and — if you fancy an early start at the all-inclusive resort — bucks fizz.

Some of Sensatori’s facilities are shared with the Nickelodeon Hotel next door and, as you can imagine, there are a lot of excited youngsters running about.

 We reveal the best value short-haul and long-haul breaks still available this summer

To counter this there are adult-only areas in some restaurants, adult rooms and an adult pool but, despite the best efforts of the attentive staff, there is some crossover.

Appealing as it may be to simply enjoy the hotel’s facilities — there’s every sport you can think of, as well as a spa and even a cookery school — getting out to explore the island is an absolute must.

I loved the Jeep safari that took us to nearby Macao beach before heading inland to a coffee and cocoa plantation.

 

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The white sands of Saona Island is a true taste of paradise

 

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The classic Bounty bar ads show the idyllic spot

After trying the local produce, it was onwards and upwards to the top of the mountains for lunch with a breathtaking view.

Fully refreshed, we headed off for a “coco loco”, or coconut water and rum, followed by a visit to a picturesque lazy river among the trees adorned with hammocks — perfect if you start to feel a little tired.

And then there was the cruise, with a fast boat whisking you off to Saona Island, the setting for the Bounty Bar adverts for those old enough to remember.

 

TUI Sensatori Resort

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The resort is great for families but also have adult-only areas and an adult-only pool

The advert boasts the bar is a “taste of paradise” and the island certainly is, with miles of beautiful white sands and emerald seas.

My return journey was aboard a catamaran with the music pumping and the rum flowing.

The resort has everything you need.

And unlike so many all-inclusive holidays, this is the real deal.

Excellent food, branded booze, attentive staff, luxury accommodation . . .  and scorching sunshine.

A taste of paradise indeed.

The Sun

U.S. occupies the Dominican Republic, twice

 

Aug 21, 2016

There are many historic sites and castles to visit in the Dominican Republic.Joy Gawf-Crutchfield | Courtesy photo

Earlier I told you a few fascinating tidbits I learned about Christopher Columbus and the Dominican Republic. Our historian Miguel divulged a few other interesting facts during our tour that completely astounded me. For instance, that the U.S. Military had occupied his country not once, but twice, during the 1900’s.

It all began back in 1911 when a group of rebels attacked President Caceres of the Dominican Republic and killed him.

Several years of instability followed, and in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson told the Dominicans to install a president or we would impose one. They elected a president, who resigned within two years, and we were all back at square one.

Wilson then ordered the Marines to take control of the Dominican Republic. They landed in May 1916 and had complete control of the island within two months. U.S. Rear Admiral Harry Knapp set up a government, revived the Dominican economy, reduced the national debt, built a network of roads that we used just last week, and created a National Guard.

The U.S. left the Dominican Republic in 1922 and within 8 years the dictator Rafael Trujillo had seized control. Trujillo was a true dictator in every sense of the word, and even renamed Santo Domingo after himself.

In 1961 Trujillo was shot and killed in his blue 1957 Chevy Bel Air and the country fell under the rule of a military junta until 1963. Elections were organized with the help of you know who (the United States of America) and President Gavino was elected.

On April 24, 1965 a rebellion led by the Dominican Revolutionary Party resulted in the necessary evacuation of over 3500 U.S. citizens. On April 28 a group of armed civilians attached the Villa Consuelo police station and executed every officer found inside.

President Lyndon Johnson took matters into his own hands and authorized a military intervention. On April 30, the 82nd Airborne landed and initiated contact. That day the U.S. Military had signed a cease fire with the loyalists and the rebels. By September 1966 a new government was installed and the final peacekeepers withdrew from the island.

Our guide and historian Miguel had nothing but good things to say about the U.S. interventions in his country. In fact he told us that in recent years, as the Dominican economy has struggled and Dominicans have died in droves trying to make it to Puerto Rico, the obvious affection for the United States has become even stronger and more blatantly evident.

The Dominican Republic, like so many other Caribbean nations, has suffered under corrupt politicians and policies for centuries. The general populace carries a heavy burden of inadequate education, debilitating poverty and of course lack of opportunity.

Tourism is one of the brightest lights in the Dominican Republic. Tourism brings job opportunity to even the most uneducated, unskilled worker. In fact tourism accounts for over 188,000 jobs in the coastal areas alone.

Last year the Dominican Republic welcomed over 5 million tourists. That number has more than doubled since the last time I was in the country, nine years ago.

The progress the country has made through the tourism tax of $10 per person upon entry is astounding. The roadways are now excellent, the upkeep along the highways is substantially improved. Excursion opportunities have been expanded exponentially. I saw very little of the Dominican Republic I met back in 2007.

I encourage you to meet the new and improved Dominican Republic. It’s gorgeous, the people are friendly and accommodating, and the resort areas are second to none.

Joy Gawf-Crutchfield owns and operates The Joy of Travel. Contact Joy at 918-339-4805

 

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Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Havana’s older sister with cobbled streets and historic landmarks

Santo Domingo’s cobbled streets and its air of bygone Spanish colonial glory are far from the usual beach cliché, says Chris Leadbeater

• Chris Leadbeater
• @LeadbeaterChris
• Monday 15 February 2016

Carnival in full swing AFP/Getty

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Wandering across the Parque Colon, I momentarily lose track of the fact that I am in the Caribbean. It is not that the palm trees which frame the square at Santo Domingo’s heart have uprooted themselves. It is more that I am suddenly aware that those classic symbols of the region – the beach, the lounger, the cocktail – are noticeable by their absence, their holiday aesthetic drowned by the busy noises of the city and the ghosts of colonial Spain.

As a destination, the Dominican Republic is mainly known – if it is known at all – as a haven of sun and sand; a place of escape from the European winter. And it lives up to this perception with relish in the resorts of Punta Cana, at its far south-east corner. But its capital, fixed midway along the south coast, a three-hour drive away, is a different beast – a kindred spirit of Havana, where the past waits in cobbled streets and historic landmarks.

It is older than Cuba’s kingpin, of course – the first city in the Americas, founded in 1496 by Bartholomew Columbus, just four years after his elder brother, Christopher, had stumbled across the wider island (Hispaniola) during his initial voyage of “discovery” to the New World. Over 500 years on, Santo Domingo still breathes this era, its Zona Colonial – alive with churches and palaces – protected as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

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As such, it is a beacon for tourists who are keen to add a dash of culture to their week of Caribbean relaxation. Not least in February, when Carnival season is in full flow – building up to Independence Day (27 February), which fills Santo Domingo with costumed colour.

Naturally, independence is a treasured idea in a city which faced centuries of attacks from British ships, Spanish overlords and neighbouring Haitians – and lost its name from 1936 to 1961 when the dictator Rafael Trujillo retitled it in his own honour (“Ciudad Trujillo”). But it wears these scars with beauty – a fascinating enclave for any who care to explore it.

Matter of taste: Dining in the Zona Colonial

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Sir Francis Drake made short work of what is now the Fortaleza Ozama museum (Calle Las Damas; 001 809 686 0222). The city fort was constructed between 1503 and 1507 – and though overrun by the English seadog and his men, it was sturdy enough to continue to be in military use until 1965.

Alas, the Alcázar de Colón (Plaza Espana; 001 809 682 4750) proved less resilient. The ornate structure, built by Diego Columbus (Christopher’s son) as a family mansion between 1510 and 1512 was left in ruins by Drake. What exists today is a reconstruction, albeit a faithful one, done from 1955 to 1957, with rooms full of tapestries, period furniture, and the Ozama river ebbing behind.

The Museo de las Casas Reales (Calle Las Damas; 001 809 682 4202; same hours, price as the Alcazar) makes fine use of what was the Spanish governor’s home – as a museum which recalls the Taino Amerindians who once lived here, as well as the voyages of Columbus.

 

Unpack

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Santo Domingo’s hard-wired heritage runs to accommodation in the form of the Hostal Nicolas de Ovando (001 809 685 9955;mgallery.com) – a fabulous five-star where 104 rooms yearn for 16th-century Spain in bare stone walls and cool ochre floor tiles. Doubles start at £124, room only.

Rather more contemporary, but well located, just two blocks from the cathedral, the Hotel Mercure Comercial (001 809 688 5500;mercure.com) offers double rooms from £65,  with breakfast.

Think local

Two emblems of Dominican pride crown the city’s grid. The Panteón de la Patria (Calle Las Damas;  001 809 689 0089) is an 18th-century Jesuit church which now serves as a mausoleum for national icons, its marble tombs containing a crew of presidents and poets.

Rather odder, on the east bank of the Ozama, is the Faro a Colón (Parque Mirador del Este; 001 809 5921492) – a vast cement bastion, opened in 1992 in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the “discovery” of the Americas, which purports to hold Columbus’s remains (though he is probably in Seville) while resembling less a lighthouse than a Soviet nuclear bunker.

Eat

The Hostal Nicolas de Ovando offers the gourmet jewel of La Residence – a French affair in an enclosed courtyard where the three-course “Menu de Chef” features the likes of roast duck, and is good value at US$26 (£18).

Nearby, Meson D’Bari (001 809 687 4091) clings to more local flavours , serving dishes such as grilled Dominican crab (DP350 /£5.30) in a restored colonial pile decorated with island artworks.

Drink

The Zona Colonial is dotted with options for a potent glass or two. Segazona (001 809 685 9569; twitter.com/segazona) proffers a giddy array of cocktails and regular 5pm to 8pm happy hours, with tables on the street. Elsewhere, Maquiavelo  (001 809 817 3254;facebook.com/maquiavelo1) parties late, staying open until 4am.

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Spend

Bettye’s Galeria (Calle Isabel La Catolica 163; 001 809 688 7649) is a merry jumble, selling Haitian arts and crafts, and Dominican jewellery. Hombres de las Americas  (001 809 686 2479; facebook.com/hombresdelasamericas), meanwhile, deals in sartorial elegance – selling Latin accoutrements such as Panama hats.

Getting there

There are no direct flights from the UK to Santo Domingo, but BA (0344 493 0787; ba.com) flies to Punta Cana twice a week from Gatwick. Indirect options to Santo Domingo include Iberia via Madrid (020 3684 3774; iberia.com); Air France via Paris (020 7660 0337; airfrance.co.uk); and American Airlines via Miami (020 7660 2300; aa.com). Most Punta Cana resorts offer excursions to Santo Domingo. Olympus Tours (001 809 831 6003;olympus-tours.com) runs day trips to the capital for US$105pp (£75).

More information

godominicanrepublic.com

 

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At height of tourism season, Zika virus puts Caribbean economies at risk

WORLD

 

BY KENYA DOWNS  February 4, 2016 at 4:56 PM EST

The Caribbean is one of the most tourism-dependent regions in the world. Comprised of more than 700 islands spanning 30 territories, the West Indies sees more than 25 million visitors annually and the U.S. is its No. 1 source. About 15 million Americans visit the Caribbean for vacation every year, contributing nearly $50 billion toward the region’s overall GDP.

So with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcing a level two travel warning — meaning the agency is issuing a caution, but stopping short of telling people to avoid travel there — due to a presence of the Zika virus in several Caribbean nations, an essential part of Caribbean economies could take a hit. The travel alert poses a significant threat to islands like Barbados, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, where foreigners often flock to escape winter.

“We call them snow birds,” said Hugh Riley, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). “Not only is this the most popular travel time of year, but the Caribbean is on a strong trajectory right now in terms of visitors to the region overall.”

Riley said the Zika virus hasn’t had any significant impact on arrivals to the Caribbean so far but the data relies primarily on cancellations. What worries him most is what Riley calls “missed business.” That is the unknown number of people who may opt out of booking travel to the Caribbean altogether.

Dr. James Hospedales, executive director of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), said some of the most vulnerable destinations could be at risk.

“We’re very concerned about it. And it’s hard to avoid the media amplification,” he said. “Even a 2-to-3 percent decline in tourism is a huge blow, especially for countries that are already in debt or whose economies are struggling.”

This week several Caribbean nations have stepped up efforts to combat the spread of the disease. France’s health ministry is sending additional medical equipment and personnel after reaching “epidemic” levels in two of its Caribbean territories: Martinique and French Guiana. Together, both countries have more 2,500 potential Zika cases, 100 of those have been confirmed.

For now, the priority is minimizing the spread of the virus throughout the Caribbean, both for nationals and visitors. Many nations including Jamaica and Suriname have announced plans to step up Zika prevention. But countries where poverty and environmental degradation are more prevalent are especially at risk, including Haiti and Guyana. Dr. Hospedales said, similar to last year’s spread of the chikungunya virus, Zika will spread quickly.

“It’s a new disease that is evolving in our region. But the majority of people who get Zika don’t get ill so it’s hard to count them,” he said. “Still, we’re enhancing our existing surveillance systems. We’re keeping track of which islands and which areas are experiencing it.”

At the height of tourism season, Riley said the best way to prevent a dent in tourism revenue is to address the issue head on.

“We need to make sure people aren’t cancelling their vacations and making life-changing decisions based on misinformation,” he said. “We’re not at all shy about pointing out there are very few [confirmed] cases that have popped up in the Caribbean and there is no link we can find between Zika and microcephaly (a severe birth defect). But we understand that is the main source of people’s concern.”

The CTO and CARPHA together released travel facts and guidelines for would-be visitors worried about a potential Zika outbreak. To further calm fears, the Caribbean Tourism Organization gives 10 reasons why visitors shouldn’t cancel their trip.

CARPHA’s Dr. James Hospedales said Caribbean governments and health officials are working tirelessly to reduce the risks, but that visitors shouldn’t avoid the region out of fear.

“We want people to know you can come to the Caribbean and not let mosquitoes ruin your vacation. Just take the normal precautions,” he said.

Source

Catalonia Santo Domingo, nuevo referente de eventos

TURISMO

Dato. Catalonia Hotels & Resorts será remodelado mediante una inversión de US$3.0 millones.

Santo Domingo

La cadena Catalonia Hotels & Resorts anunció la apertura de su nueva instalación, el hotel Catalonia Santo Domingo, un establecimiento destinado a la celebración de eventos sociales, corporativos, congresos y orientado, principalmente, al turismo de negocios.

Ubicado en la avenida George Washington de la capital dominicana, el hotel ofrece los más altos estándares de calidad presentes en los más de 60 establecimientos que completan el portfolio de la cadena, convirtiendo el Catalonia Santo Domingo en un nuevo referente en la organización de eventos sociales y corporativos.

Instalaciones

El gerente general del establecimiento, Iván Cunillera, asegura que en las nuevas instalaciones gestionadas por Catalonia Hotels & Resorts “pondremos en práctica en la ciudad de Santo Domingo nuestra experiencia en turismo de negocios, congresos y eventos, además de ofrecer un servicio de excelente calidad”

El Catalonia Santo Domingo cuenta con 228 habitaciones, 1.100 metros cuadrados de salones para congresos, eventos sociales y corporativos, así como 400 parqueos y la mejor ubicación en el Malecón de la capital dominicana. La torre, ubicada en el centro de la ciudad, cuenta con 21 pisos de altura, incluyendo una planta ejecutiva y excelentes ofertas de entretenimiento como casino, restaurante, tres bares, zona de fitness con vistas al mar y una piscina exterior.

El establecimiento supone la primera instalación urbana en el área del Caribe de Catalonia Hotels & Resorts y será remodelado mediante una inversión de US$3 millones para adecuar sus espacios a los más altos estándares de calidad exigidos por la cadena.

La cadena hotelera de carácter familiar fundada en Barcelona a principios de los años ochenta. Actualmente la compañía cuenta con 65 establecimientos situados en 18 destinos diferentes: 55 hoteles en España, uno en Bruselas, uno en Berlín, 4 resorts en la zona del Caribe (3 en República Dominicana y 4 en México) y el reciente hotel urbano en Santo Domingo.

En estos momentos Catalonia Hotels & Resorts cuenta con más de 10,000 habitaciones.

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Fuente

Dominican Republic’s economy most robust in Latin America, Caribbean region

Published January 07, 2016

Fox News Latino

Dominican flag latino.jpg
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – MARCH 13: A fan flies the Dominican Republic flag during the game against Cuba during Round 2 of the World Baseball Classic on March 13, 2006 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) (2006 GETTY IMAGES)

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SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (AP) – The economy of the Dominican Republic grew 7 percent last year and established itself as the most robust in the Latin American and Caribbean region, officials said Wednesday.

Central Bank Governor Héctor Valdez credited in part the drop in international oil prices and the strengthening of the U.S. economy for the economic growth, which he said helped generate more tourism and remittances for the Dominican Republic.

The GDP grew 7 percent for the second consecutive year, according to central bank figures, with help from strong performances in construction, tourism and banking, he said.

“The results have been extremely satisfying. I would say better than expected,” Valdez said, adding that the growth comes as other countries in the region struggle with sluggish economies.

The Dominican Republic’s foreign exchange earnings from tourism, remittances, foreign investment and exports of goods and services exceeded $23 billion, or 35 percent of the total GDP, Valdez said. Inflation remained at 2.3 percent, below the 4 percent target set by the government. However, Valdez noted that despite the positive economic performance, a large part of the population still does not earn enough to buy basic food staples.

Statistics released by the World Bank showed that while Panama’s economy also remains strong, with its GDP growing 6 percent last year, Latin America overall saw a nearly 1 percent drop in its GDP. The bank predicts the region as a whole will see zero economic growth this year, but says there is potential for 2.2 percent growth in 2017-18.

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Fathom Announces Recreational Activities in the Dominican Republic

Photo by Freeimages.com/Douglas Bauer

Fathom has announced its lineup of recreational activities in the Dominican Republic, which will be available to guests when not engaged in social impact projects.

The top recommended activities are:

Traditions and Local Flavors – Puerto Plata is home to the first fort built by European settlers in the New World and is one of the many scenic areas on the island. Travelers can explore the city’s historical features and shop in the bustling downtown area, which boasts numerous artist studios, rum and cigar factories, and the famed Malecon, a three-mile-long open air beach-side boardwalk with numerous restaurants and shops.

Fathom travelers can also stroll through the historic city and visit the San Felipe Fortress, Cathedral San Felipe, V(B)rugal rum factory, Plaza Independencia and other museum attractions.

La Isabela, Columbus History and Folklore – The historic town of La Isabela, one of the first European towns in the Americas, gives travelers the opportunity go back in time and walk through nearby ancient ruins to learn about the history of the island and its first inhabitants.

Beginner Scuba Diving – The country’s marine life and warm waters make it a prime location for those curious to explore the island’s underwater world. Whether swimming alongside sea turtles and schools of colorful fish or exploring world-class reefs, a beginner scuba diving course will introduce travelers to the basic safety guidelines required to do a dive with an instructor.

Two-Reef Snorkel by Catamaran – A day onboard a catamaran is the perfect way to discover the beauty of Sosua Bay. Calm waters, diverse species of fish and intricate reef formations make this a great place to put on the flippers and go for dip.

Countryside Zipline Adventure – Crisscross from platform to platform soaring through the treetops to gain a new perspective on the Dominican Republic and its breathtaking views from the island canopy.

Fathom’s MV Adonia will dock at the recently opened Amber Cove located in the Puerto Plata region where travelers will have access to select Amber Cove shore excursions. The port will offer numerous sea and landside experiences, including several beach getaways, kayak, paddle board and snorkeling tours, ATV-like terracross buggy expeditions, Puerto Plata tours, helicopter rides, fishing trips, horseback riding, deep sea fishing tours and catamaran sailings.

Prices for the seven-day trips to the Dominican Republic start at $974 per person, excluding taxes, fees and port expenses and including all meals on the ship, onboard social impact immersion experiences, three onshore social impact activities and related supplies. Prices will vary by season. To secure a spot on future sailings, a fully refundable $300 per person deposit is required for all cabin categories and occupancy levels. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.

Prices for seven-day itineraries to Cuba start at $1,800 per person, excluding Cuban visas, taxes, fees and port expenses and including all meals on the ship, onboard social impact immersion experiences and on-the-ground cultural immersion activities. Prices will vary by season. To secure a spot on future sailings, a fully refundable $600 per person deposit is required for all cabin categories and occupancy levels. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.

Visit www.Fathom.org

Source 

 

A new cruise destination takes shape in Dominican Republic

CRUISE LOG

Gene Sloan, USA TODAY8:09 a.m. EDT September 5, 2015

Scheduled to open on Oct. 6, 2015, Amber Cove is a new cruise port on the north coast of the Dominican Republic that will serve as a gateway to the region. LenKaufman.com

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(Photo: LenKaufman.com)

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — Cruise fans are just weeks away from having somewhere new to go in the Caribbean.

Amber Cove, a new port development along the north coast of the Dominican Republic, is well on track to open as scheduled next month for the first of what is expected to be more than 100 cruise calls a year.

Under development by cruise giant Carnival Corp. at a cost of $85 million, the 25-acre complex near the town of Puerto Plata is being billed as one of the biggest Caribbean port projects of the past decade and will feature a large area of bars, restaurants and shops — all of which appeared near completion this week during a sneak peek for cruise writers.

Amber Cove also will have a sprawling pool area with a swim-up bar, water slides, zip lines and private cabanas that also are quickly coming together.

USA TODAY

First look: Inside Amber Cove, the Caribbean’s newest cruise port

Still, the complex’s main role will be as a gateway to the region’s many historic sites, beaches and adventure activities. Nearly half of the site’s acreage is devoted to a massive transportation hub where cruisers will find taxis and buses to take them to area attractions. More than 40 organized shore excursions will be available from the port, and Carnival executives say they expect an unusually high percentage of cruisers to sign up for the outings.

“Amber Cove, the port, is not the destination,” David Candib, the Carnival Corp. manager for the project, stressed during the tour. “The region of Puerto Plata really is what the cruise port is about.”

A highlight of a visit to Puerto Plata is a stop at the Fortaleza San Felipe, a historic Spanish fortress built in the 1500s that protected the city’s seaport. (Photo: LenKaufman.com)

Long a tourist destination with resorts and timeshare developments, the area around Puerto Plata offers a wide array of attractions including beaches, golf courses, and wild areas that can be explored by horseback and ATV. It’s also home to one of the first Spanish forts in the Americas; one of the best-known rum distilleries in the Dominican Republic; a marine adventure park where visitors can swim with dolphins and sharks; and a museum dedicated to amber, which is mined in the region (hence the name Amber Cove).

The government of the Dominican Republic has been working with Carnival Corp. to prepare for an expected cruise boom to the region over the coming year. In a private tour of improvements under way around Puerto Plata’s historic district, the country’s vice minister of tourism, Julio Almonte, showed USA TODAY upgrades in the works to a waterfront area that connects the historic Fortaleza San Felipe to the town’s central square. The government also is widening the road from Amber Cove to Puerto Plata to make transportation to the historic district more efficient.

Almonte said locals are excited about the arrival of ships full of thousands of vacationers. “We’ve waited almost 30 years for a project like this,” Almonte said. “The future of Puerto Plata is … with Amber Cove.”

Developed by cruise giant Carnival Corp., Amber Cove will have a large retail, food and beverage area, shown here as it neared completion on Aug. 31, 2015. (Photo: LenKaufman.com)

The north coast of the Dominican Republic hasn’t seen cruise ships since the 1980s, when the typical passenger vessel was much smaller than today. The main port for the region, in Puerto Plata, isn’t big enough to accommodate today’s larger vessels.

Located on a mountain-ringed bay about six miles from Puerto Plata, Amber Cove features a 1,280-foot pier with a channel dredged to 36 feet that is capable of handling two of the largest ships in the Carnival Corp. fleet at once. Candib told USA TODAY it even could handle vessels as large as those in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class — the world’s biggest cruise ships.

Amber Cove is expected to draw 350,000 cruisers in its first year in operation from such Carnival Corp. brands as Carnival, Holland America, Princess and Costa. It’ll also be the destination for bi-weekly “social impact” cruises to the Dominican Republic from Miami planned by Carnival Corp.’s new fathom brand. The trips start in April.

The first ship to arrive at Amber Cove, on Oct. 6, will be the 2,754-passenger Carnival Victory.

Located just 679 miles southeast of Miami, Amber Cove will fit into a wide range of Caribbean itineraries, including shorter-than-seven-night sailings from Florida, Candib said. It’s just 100 miles from Carnival Corp.’s port on Grand Turk and 276 miles fromSan Juan, Puerto Rico.

Among already-announced itineraries that include the port are seven-night Carnival sailings from Miami to the Eastern Caribbean that also include stops in San Juan, St. Thomas and either Grand Turk or Half Moon Cay, a private island in the Bahamas.

Carnival also is selling an eight-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary from Miami that features calls at Amber Cove as well as St. Maarten, Antigua and St. Thomas. Another eight-night Carnival itinerary from Miami to the Southern Caribbean adds Amber Cove to stops in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Curacao; and Aruba.

For a peak inside the new Amber Cove development, scroll through our first-look tour at the top of this story.

Source

Documental del Turismo en República Dominicana (y un poco de Historia)

Historia de la República Dominicana

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Las-T.com

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Published on Feb 8, 2013

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Reportaje de la Televisión Española TVE contando la fabulosa historia de la República Dominicana. Video muy interesante para descubrir como fue encontrado el nuevo mundo.

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Mas video : http://www.las-t.com

Medical Tourism Association certifies first hospital in Dominican Republic

Original, timely global, travel, tourism, business news and research:

Medical Tourism Association certifies first hospital in Dominican Republic

08/24/15 4:18 pm

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – Looking to show the world that the Dominican Republic is more than a beach paradise in the Caribbean, Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud has achieved International Patient Services Certification (IPSC) – the first healthcare provider in the nation to do so – the Medical Tourism Association announced today.

“Medical tourism is not a simple task and not always about providing an affordable treatment,” said Dr. Alejandro Cambiaso, chief of International and Preventive Services at Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud. “Many factors can influence the patient experience, but our main focus must always concern quality, safety and outcomes.”

Dr. Cambiaso, who, along with Dr. Lidia Acosta, coordinated IPSC with the Medical Tourism Association, said following training and education, Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud was evaluated and audited in the areas of corporate transparency, operational infrastructure, quality and safety of health services, risk management and international patient services including post-surgical education and communication, cultural sensitivity, and accommodation and coordination of continuity of care.

Dr. Julio Amado Castaños Guzmán, President of the Board of the Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud, said the MTA review, as well as the rigorous education and training effort put forth by hospital staff, not only acknowledges a commitment to the highest of standards, but provides all stakeholders with roadmap to forge the Dominican Republic as a destination of choice for health and wellness travel.

Renée-Marie Stephano, President of the Medical Tourism Association®, said IPSC represents another vote of confidence for Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud from the international healthcare community.
“When patients contemplate treatment abroad, hospital accreditation is of primary concern and, often times, a starting point for choosing a destination,” said Stephano. “Confidence in services based on validated continuous education, quality and proven outcomes will attract more international patients to Hospital General, serve as a model for local healthcare providers to follow and strengthen economic initiatives designed to promote medical tourism to the Dominican Republic.”

Stephano said the training and certification programs offered through the Medical Tourism Association in collaboration with Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) and the nonprofit Dominican Health Tourism Association will be complemented by release of the “Dominican Republic Health & Tourism Destination Guide,” a reference publication featuring the top hospitals, hotels, airports recovery and wellness centers, financial institutions and investment opportunities on an island that boasts the largest economy in both the Caribbean and Central America.

The top players in the Dominican Republic health and travel industry — the Dominican Health Tourism Association, CEDIMAT, Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud, Grupo Rescue, Hospital Metropolitano de Santiago, and the Centers for Global Health and International Medicine – will share their experience in the MTA training and certification program and related strategies to attract international patients as platinum sponsors at the 8th World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress, Sept. 27-30, 2015, in Orlando, Fla.

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