Vacation Rentals in the Dominican Republic

From Punta Cana to Las Terranas, the Dominican Republic is home to some of the Caribbean’s liveliest and most beautiful resorts. In all of these places, travelers can pick roomy vacation rentals within a short drive, cycle or walk from the ocean. Choose amenities like sun terraces, infinity pools and Jacuzzis, and be as close to or far away from the nightlife areas as you need to be.

The buzzing capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo is a fantastic place to choose a vacation home. In the center of this elegant colonial-era city, you’ll find an endless array of attractive apartments with features like en suite kitchens, plenty of sleeping space, satellite TV, high-speed internet and security protection.

Located just a few hundred miles from the Florida Keys, the Dominican Republic is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean. With strong links to the USA via Dominican communities in cities like New York and LA, the country offers a huge array of activities and sights.

Reaching a rental home in the Dominican Republic is incredibly easy. If you intend to base yourself in Santo Domingo, the capital’s Las Americas International Airport handles flights from New York, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Atlanta, and you can also fly into Punta Cana Airport with Delta and American Airlines.

Getting around is easy too. A recently upgraded highway network connects the capital to Punta Cana, while daily buses services link major cities like Santo Domingo, Higuey and Santiago. With plenty of rental companies present at the country’s international airports, having your own wheels is a great option during a Dominican vacation as well.

Beach resorts like Punta Cana, Bavaro, Samana, Playa Rincon, Playa Dorada and Playa Boca Chica offer a diverse collection of places to sunbathe, dive, snorkel and windsurf. There aren’t many better beach destinations.

Cities like Santiago and Santo Domingo possess some extraordinary colonial era architecture. With wars, slavery, piracy and the independence struggle – the country offers plenty of compelling stories for people who love the past.

Dominican cuisine is up there with Cuban and Mexican food, and there are some sublime dishes that every traveler should try, including Mangu (a kind of savory plantain hash) and La Bandera (typical beans and meat stew).

Regularly ranked as the Caribbean’s finest beach, Playa Rincon is fringed with palms and has soft, white, sun-baked sand. It’s pretty much everything you’d hope a Caribbean beach could be.

The coast of the nation’s Semana Peninsular is one of the world’s greatest whale-watching destinations. Take a cruise in March to see a massive humpback population getting together en masse.

Dominicans love to dance, so it’s unsurprising that the country hosts some of the most exciting dance music events in the Caribbean. Head to Punta Cana in December for events like Holidaze, that bring world famous DJs and musicians to the resort.

Protected by UNESCO, the Zona Colonial is a beautiful place. When you wander its narrow streets, it really does feel like you are stepping through a timewarp, as you see sublime churches and impressive mansions that were home to the Dominican colonial elite.

Another UNESCO protected area, Eastern National Park is a nature lover’s paradise. See over 100 different animal species, dive to the massive coral reef network, see manatees and sea turtles as you snorkel and witness pre-colonial art in the park’s cave systems.

The weather in the Dominican Republic is semi-tropical. This means that it pays to plan your trip if you want to avoid the rainy season or times when the humidity can become a little too much. For great beach weather and sightseeing conditions, the best time to go is probably between March and May. High season is just before that, so if you delay a little you can enjoy great weather and dodge the worst of the crowds.

Although millions of Dominicans live in the USA, don’t expect everyone to speak perfect English as well. Sure, café staff and bar tenders will be fluent, but shop owners and people in general may take some time to understand your questions. A little Spanish can also go a long way, so don’t be afraid to use it.

Similarly, don’t count on being able to use US dollars everywhere you go. You’ll probably be able to pay with US cash in hotels and major stores, but some places will only take pesos. Don’t get caught out. Have some local currency close to hand, for emergencies.