Travelers Advantage....

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC & COSTA RICA
TWO ‘HOT’ DESTINATIONS

Quite simply, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica are two of the hottest travel destinations on the planet--and we’re not just talking temperature. Thanks to an array of attention-grabbing allures, both countries are welcoming visitors in record numbers.

The Dominican Republic Draws Rave Reviews

First “discovered” by Christopher Columbus in 1492 during his first visit to the New World, the Dominican Republic has definitely been discovered when it comes to top tourist destinations. Today, the country is again making history as a hot spot for modern resorts, sunny beaches, and a host of activities.

The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, while Spanish remains the country’s language (English is spoken at tourist spots). About nine million people now call the country their home and welcome tourists because they’re such a large part (about 25%) of the economy.

Santo Domingo is the capital and is a haven of history, but it’s the Dominican Republic’s beaches and interior attractions that have made the country so popular. A wide range of resorts and facilities (including world-class golf) means many choices for potential visitors. The infrastructure is better than ever--there are nearly 60,000 hotel rooms and close to 675 hotels (neighboring Puerto Rico has about 12,700 hotel rooms and 150 hotels).

Tourists are flocking to the Dominican Republic’s varied resorts in popular areas like Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Samana, Cap Cana, and other hot spots. But those in the know are also coming for unique offerings like cigars and baseball.

The country boast more than 600,000 acres of tobacco plants and high-quality cigar-making is a huge draw. Popular brands like Arturo Fuente, Leon Jimenez, and Romeo y Julieta lure visitors into shops like Santo Domingo’s Cigar King. Factory tours in Santiago are also quite popular (including Leon Jimenez).

Baseball is also big business in the Dominican Republic. The season is played from October through December, with finals held in January. Therefore, winter vacations to the baseball towns of Santo Domingo, Santiago, and La Romana/San Pedro de Marcoris have become very popular for “guys getaways” (including great golf courses near many of the stadiums).

As the tourism infrastructure continues to grow and word spreads, the Dominican Republic is sure to continue its growth in popularity. That’s why so many tourists are saying “si” to discovering this hot country.

Costa Rica is a Natural

About the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica claims an unbelievable variety of landscapes, including Atlantic and Pacific beaches, soaring mountains, active volcanoes, and tropical rain forests. Within this environment, the numerous and varied species of wildlife are incredible, including exotic birds in their natural habitat (like rainbow-colored macaws), many types of monkeys, huge sloths, sea turtles, and many others.

More than 25 percent of this Central American country is protected by some means of land conservation, including more than 10 percent being part of the National Park System. There are between 500,000 and one million total species of flora and fauna in Costa Rica, including 50,000 different types of insects and more than 2,000 different orchids.

As can be expected with this wealth of natural assets, ecotourism is alive and well in Costa Rica. The possibilities include hiking, biking, birdwatching, whitewater rafting, scuba diving, surfing (all levels), and more. Sandwiched between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica is one of the most peaceful places on earth. In fact, they don’t even have an army anymore. Maybe that’s why Costa Ricans are among the friendliest people in the world.

Many explorations of Costa Rica start out in the capital city of San Jose or the port town of Puntarenas. Either city provides an interesting introduction to Costa Rica and her people. Although it’s a typically busy major city, it’s enjoyable to roam the streets of San Jose, visiting some excellent museums and possibly catching a performance in the Teatro Nacional, the country’s center of culture. Puntarenas is a coastal port town about 75 miles west of San Jose on the Pan American Highway. It’s inhabited by about 100,000 friendly Costa Ricans (as well as many U.S. expatriates).

Outside San Jose or Puntarenas, you can go in any direction and quickly be surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in the world. Whether you want sandy beaches or mountains that stretch to the horizon, you can get there quickly from San Jose. Highlights of a Costa Rica trip might include: the Carara Biological Reserve; Poas Volcano for peering into an active volcano and stunning natural beauty; Guanacaste National Park for hiking; Manuel Antonio for beaches and jungles; and whitewater rafting on the Reventazon or Pacuare. But that’s just the beginning of a long list of what makes Costa Rica hot!

Whether one chooses Costa Rica or the Dominican Republic (or both), these two “hot” destinations are sure to please. The outlook is certainly sunny for both destinations and travelers who head there.