Travel Agent - June 23, 2008 - (Page 104) DOMINICAN REPUBLIC the republic of COLORS ore than 500 years after Christopher Columbus chose it for his home in the New World, the Dominican Republic lures visitors with the Caribbean’s longest beach, highest mountains, biggest Colonial Zone, and some of the most challenging golf, windsurfing and adventure opportunities. It also has excellent resort values and the greatest number of hotel rooms in the Caribbean. Large, all-inclusive resorts dominate the market, available at some of the best bargain prices in the Caribbean. There are also boutique hotels and extravagant villas for upscale travelers, and small hotels targeted to specific niches. M GREAT GOLF AND BEAUTIFUL BEACHES The Dominican Republic is the region’s most prolific golf destination, with more than 30 courses and another dozen under development. The two newest courses are La Estancia Golf Resort with P.B. Dye-designed links, and Corales Golf Course designed by Tom Fazio at Punta Cana Resort & Club. The must-play course is still Teeth of the Dog designed by Pete Dye at Casa de Campo Resort & Country Club. Veteran beach-goers will be amazed at the 37-mile-long white-sand beach studded by coconut palms running northwest from Punta Cana along the Costa del Coco. Puerto Plata on the north coast has a newly restored beach and new waterfront pier, while beach resorts are featured west to Cofresi and east to Sosua. La Romana on the south coast also offers sparkling beaches, as well as the best offshore snorkeling and diving. Remote Samana Peninsula has some pristine beaches, especially on the isle of DOMINICAN REPUBLIC GEOGRAPHY: The Dominican Republic comprises the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola and is the second largest country in the Caribbean with an area of 26,000 square miles. It is approximately 2 hours from Miami and 3.5 hours from New York. Bordered on the north by the Atlantic Ocean and on the South by the Caribbean Sea and on the West by Haiti, to the east by Canal de la Mona (Monkey Channel). LANGUAGE: Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken. POPULATION: 9.5 million. CLIMATE: The average temperature is 77ºF, with August being the warmest month and January the coolest. Summer temperatures range from 89ºF to 95ºF and in the winter, from 75ºF to 90ºF. TIME: EST +1. GMT -4. 104 www.caribbeantravel .c om http://www.caribbeantravel.com
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