Santo Domingo Highlights

We have told you about our days at the beach, shopping, and eating in a cave but why no see the pictures that bring it all together. Santo Domingo is where Christopher Columbus landed when he discovered what has been labeled the “New World” For a true American history lesson a visit to the DR is not to be missed.

A Day at the Beach

We were staying the colonial zone in Santo Domingo, which is full of history, restuarants and nightlife. Unfortunately it is not near a beach. As urban city dwellers looking for a getaway we wanted to have at least one day of relaxing in the sun during our weekend away. However, we were not interested in spending our entire vacation locked on an all-inclusive resort without seeing more of the city. Dilemma! Luckily, a resort in Boca Chica, the beach side bay area of Santo Domingo, offers a daypass option for travelers that want a day to experience the resort amenities. For $50 US on weekdays and $70 US on weekends you can have a day at the resort andthe beach. This all-inclusive option provides unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, access to the buffet and restaurants located near the beach including pizza, hamburgers, fish, and salads, and beach chairs and cabanas right along the water line. You also can take advantage of resort amenities such as the spa, aerobics classes, and pool.

 The day was perfect! We found a relaxing seat under the breezy cabanas and caught up on girl gossip and stories. We sipped on pina coladas, caipirinhas, rum punch, bahama mama’s and water throughout the day between laughing, swimming and sunning. We enjoyed the lunch buffet especially the grilled fish, rice and salad. We sat laughing too long and missed dessert but it was okay because we truly were full at that point. Food is available all day but the buffet has select hours. When it is closed you can get slices of pizza and items from the grill.

You may be saying that you would rather save your money and instead visit the public beaches in Boca Chica. There you can also have a beach chair and receive everything from a pedicure to made to order drinks. We didn’t feel like dealing with vendors selling us things every minute or having to have cash on us for drinks and food, so the resort option worked better for us but you can still get to the beach without going through the resort.

A roundtrip cab ride from the colonial zone can be anywhere from $50-80 per person. If you would like the cab driver to wait for you expect to pay a little more. A suggestion when traveling in Santo Domingo is to befriend a cab driver and get his number. Many places you will need transportation and if you use the same person they will often provide you with a discount and wait or return for you to bring you back to your hotel. We found this to be true when not only going to the beach, but going out for dinner, dancing or even to the airport. This was a safe way to travel as single women late at night because we knew the driver and he would wait for us at our destination until we were ready to leave. This cut down on dealing with shady characters or trying to negotiate in Spanish.

When traveling to Santo Domingo and staying in the Colonial Zone, I recommend that you take one day to relax at the beach. It helps you become rejuvenated for life back home and is a way to have a great memory of your getaway.

Oasis Hamaca Resort
www.oasishamaca.com

The Perfect Weekend Getaway

 

The island of the Dominican Republic offers everything from a history lesson to a day at the beach. The capital city of Santo Domingo and its surrounding areas are the perfect Caribbean city retreat for those looking for a relaxing weekend with friends. Dance the Merengue in a hotel club, relax and sip Pina Coladas at the nearby Boca Chica beaches or  Shop in one of the largest shopping centers in the Caribbean. It is all available and less than 4 hours away from most major airports along the East Coast.

 We have provided several stories and pictures of things to do and see during a visit to Santo Domingo. Click on any of the story links to learn more.

Destination Highlights

A Day at the Beach - Though these travelers stayed in the colonial zone they still were able to spend the day at the Resort  in Boca Chica. Hear about this day of sun, drinks and fun at this all-inclusive island resort.

Under it all - Ever eaten in a cave? El Meson de la Cava in Santo Domingo provides fine dining in a unique atmosphere. Serving international cuisine it was perfect for a special occasion dinner.

Shop Til You Drop - Acropolis Mall offers the perfect shopping experience in Santo Domingo for true shoppers!

Party Time! - Our partners at TheBlackTraveler.com have provided a great story for those looking for insight into a little Santo Domingo nightlife.

The Beginning of the Americas - When Columbus landed he actually arrived in what is now the Dominican Republic. Learn more about the many firsts for Europeans in this hemisphere.

The Pictures Tell It Better - See pics from this Caribbean destination in our video highlight!

All this will hopefully inspire you to add Santo Domingo to your list of destinations to Escape Together soon!