Before the formation of what we now know as the Dominican Republic, it was formally joined together with Haiti and the island was called Hispaniola. However before it got independence, it was known as Santo Domingo, which was the first city founded in the Americas and is now the name for DR's capital.
The official language spoken in DR is Spanish. A large number of people that live near the tourist parts of the island know some English. The culture here is very family based and also very religious. 95% of the population are Catholic.
Punta Cana is one of the biggest tourist attractions on the island. The majority of people that come here are for weddings as well as honey moons due to its beautiful scenery and romantic resorts they offer here.
After its independence, the DR experienced a dictatorship for a couple of decades but then later turned into a republic that holds elections every four years. A crazy fact is that police officers and people in the military aren't allowed to vote.
Traveling to Dominican Republic
In order to get to the Dominican Republic you have to book a flight on American Airlines which would most likely set you back $1000, from wherever you are in the United States to your destination on the island which will most likely be Santo Domingo. The good thing is that you don't have to go through the trouble of getting a visa prior to your visit to DR if you plan to stay for under 30 days. There are no currency restrictions there however you would most likely need to exchange your American dollars for Dominican Pesos.
I would definitely stay in the "Dreams Palm Beach" resort in Punta Cana if I were to travel to Dominican Republic. This would probably cost around like $800 for three nights. This place is perfect when it comes to a vacation place to stay due to its various qualities that it has. Its approximately 20 minutes from the airport and literally right next to the crystal clear Caribbean Sea. Its beautiful sunsets are mesmerizing and the palm trees really make you feel like you are in paradise.There are many popular destinations to visit while in DR. "Kite Beach" is a very exciting and fun place to visit because you get to do things such as kitesurfing, windsurfing, or just paddle boating. Apart from the lovely beaches, the Dominican Republic is home to one of the oldest catholic catherdals in the Americas so if you want to get an "out of the ordinary" experience this would be a great place to go visit.
Apart from the many attractions and places to go, I think its great to go here to relax and enjoy the desirable weather. I would love to sit by the beach and watch the sun set or even go swimming to the clear waters of the Caribbean Sea.
