Currency:

Dominican peso (DOP)

When to go:

Avoid June through October, which is hurricane season

Known for:

Rum

Languages:

Spanish

The Dominican Republic is one of the largest, populous and visited destinations in the Caribbean. Sitting on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola that it shares with Haiti, the Dominican Republic enjoys the diverse topology that many Caribbean nations lack, with rich soil and craggy mountains. The warm temperatures vary only slightly year round, making it a particularly enjoyable winter getaway destination. However, the country also sits in prime hurricane territory, and scheduling honeymoons during its annual season of June through October is not recommended.

Travelers generally arrive into the country via a flight into Punta Cana airport, traveling onto the capital city of Santo Domingo via a $30 USD taxi ride. Further off destinations can be reached via connecting domestic flights, as the country is roughly two times the size of New Hampshire.

While in the Dominican Republic, make sure to visit some of the multiple national parks and indulge in the one or all of the Three B's – Brugal, Barcela and Bermudez, the locally distilled rums. Dominican Republic beers keep with the B theme – Brahma and Bohemia. Presidente is another popular beer.

Visitors who do not obtain a Dominican visa prior to entry must purchase a tourist card upon arrival to enter the country. Tourist cards cost ten U.S. dollars, which must be paid in U.S. currency. Tourist cards may be purchased at the Dominican Embassy in Washington or Dominican Consulates prior to arrival, as well as at Dominican airports at the time of entry. Tourist cards normally permit a legal stay of up to 60 days.

Learn more about the Dominican Republic at the official Dominican Republic Tourism website: www.godominicanrepublic.com.