Living in the DR:

No Snow, No Taxes, No Problem:  Living A Better Life In The Dominican Republic 

(map courtesy of Turquoise Net)

More interesting information on the Dominican Republic

The North Coast of the Dominican Republic is called the Amber Coast, because of its rich deposits of semi-precious amber. This is where Columbus landed on his first voyage of discovery. It is comprised of an assortment of beach towns, resorts and communities, nestled between the Atlantic and a chain of majestic coastal mountains. Mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, water park, white-water rafting, casinos, jeep and catamaran tours, diving and snorkeling excursions, fine restaurants, shopping, golf - the North Coast has it all. 

Puerto Plata is the largest town and just outside of it is located Playa Dorada, a large resort area containing over a dozen hotels. Just west of Puerto Plata are the seaside communities of Costambar and Cofresi. 

Thirteen miles east of Puerto Plata is Sosua, which was originally settled by Jewish refugees in the early 1940's. Here you will find many hotels - from basic rooms to luxurious accommodations, as well as many restaurants, bars and discos. A 15 minute drive from Sosua is Cabarete, a windsurfer's paradise, with its many beach-front hotels and other amenities. An hour east of Cabarete is the Rio San Juan/Playa Grande area and on the northeastern tip is Las Terrenas and Samana. 

THE EAST COAST is dotted with groves of palm trees, Punta Cana - Bavaro has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. 

There are over two dozen beautiful hotels in this area, spread over more than 23 miles of white sand beaches and has several golf courses. You can fly directly into Punta Cana, with it's thatched-roof airport, like something out of Gilligan's Island. Most hotels are within 30 minutes of the airport. 

There is no town at Punta Cana - it is just a resort area. The nearest town is Higuey, about an hour away by bus. Other than water-related activities, of which there are many, there's not a lot to do in the immediate area. Nightly entertainment is put on by the hotels, and some hotels have casinos and discos. An area attraction is Manati Park, 

with exhibitions of animals, birds, and fish, resident performing dolphins, sea lions, and parrots. Swimming with the dolphins is available

THE SOUTH COAST, or Caribbean Coast, has miles of beautiful coastline and beaches, and is also where Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is located. Santo Domingo is known as the "birthplace of the Americas", for it was the first European city of the Western Hemisphere. 

Today, with a population of over 2 million, it is the largest and most populated city in the Dominican Republic. Its colonial heritage is preserved in the Colonial Zone where you can see the first cathedral, first monastery, first university, and first court of law, all dating back to the 16th century.

East of Santo Domingo you will come to the coastal villages of Boca Chica and Juan Dolio, where you will find many beautiful resorts. Boca Chica boasts the largest reef-protected ocean lagoon in the Caribbean. A little further east is Juan Dolio, more tranquil and less hectic than Boca Chica. These beach towns are only 10 minutes away from San Pedro de Macoris, the nation’s third largest city, renowned for endowing the Major Leagues with many illustrious baseball stars. 

Bayahibe is a newly-developed area further to the east, not far from La Romana, and located approximately 90 minutes from Santo Domingo, that offers picturesque stretches of white-sand beach and lagoons protected by coral reefs. From here you can take a boat to Catalina Island and Saona Island, with their beautiful beaches. Catalina Island is one of the nation’s top dive spots.

- Article courtesy of  www.debbiesdominicantravel.com