How to Find Cheap Hotels in Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has lifted itself from poverty and political unrest to become an incredible resort destination in the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic offers the best value all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. Visitors from Europe and the United States frequent the beaches and resorts. Santo Domingo is the Republic's largest city and bears historical significance. Visit the Dominican Republic, as Columbus did in 1492, and enjoy all the tropical pleasures the country has to offer.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Passport
• Computer with Internet connection

Know Your Destination

1. Visit one of the Dominican Republic's famous beaches. There is Playa Dorada near Puerto Plata, Boca Chica beach near Santo Domingo and Bavaro beach in Punta Cana--arguably the most famous of them all. Many miles of these beaches are lined with all-inclusive resorts, but the policy is that all beaches in the Dominican Republic are public.

2. Take a walk through Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo, where Christopher Columbus's brother, Bartholomew, founded the colony that became the first European city in the New World. Gothic and Renaissance architecture peppers old town Santo Domingo. The Colonial Zone is also one of the best places to find cheap accommodations.

Transportation in the Dominican Republic

3. Fly into either Santo Domingo or Punta Cana's international airport. If your accommodations do not provide a shuttle service from the airport, schedule a cab beforehand to avoid paying inflated charges for a tourist taxi.

4. Travel by bus, also referred to as a gua-gua. It's a very cheap mode of transportation, though not the fastest.

Accommodations in the Dominican Republic

5. To book accommodations, contact Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below). You can find out about all-inclusive resorts on one of the Dominican Republic's beaches. These accommodations are extremely tempting even if you're on a budget, since so much is included in the cost of a room.

6. Look for a guest house or hostel that is near the beach, but not quite on the beach. These accommodations tend to be cheap--often between $15 and $25.

7. Stay in a town not far from one of the major cities or resort centers, such as Sousa or Cabarete near Puerto Plata. Cabarete caters to surfers and contains the highest concentration of cheap accommodations.

Tips & Warnings

• Spend all your Dominican pesos before leaving, because changing pesos to dollars or euros is next to impossible.
• While in the Dominican Republic, avoid drinking or even brushing your teeth with any water that does not come from a bottle.
• Use mosquito repellent to reduce the risk of dengue fever.
• The island may experience hurricanes and other severe weather from June to October.

[tubeth2000]

on 7/4/2008 very nice, I'm a dominican hehe...