Monday, January 31, 2005

FEED-ING FRENZY!

STOP PRESS:

This 'blog' now has a live 'feed'. You can add us to your 'news reader' here (see top of Previous Posts Menu on the right!) or from our main site 'home page' at: http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/

Or if you-hoo are a Yahoo junkie...then add us to YOUR 'My Yahoo'...if you know what we mean? (again, see the right-hand navigation bar, and just 'click' the Yahoo logo).

Keep in touch with developments on the site and news from the DR as we get it - add us to your favorite 'feeds' TODAY! ;-D

Al

Planning a Caribbean Wedding? The Dominican Republic is the Ideal Venue

Hey...it's been some time! Sorry it was a busy weekend! And one of the 'little jobs' that we were doing was preparing our new free info page about:

Planning a Caribbean Wedding

Our NEW page includes a few thoughts and tips that you should consider to help make your 'Happy Day' trouble free!

Where better to go than the Caribbean's 'best kept secret' - the dazzling Dominican Republic...for your own very special Caribbean wedding?

Take a look at our page and if you have a question about anything we don't yet cover, send us a note via our 'contact page'! We'll be happy to try and help.

Kind wishes and congratulations if you are planning your BIG DAY just now!

Al

Friday, January 28, 2005

A NEW HIGH for Visiting the Dominican Republic

Related Info for: visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/

Wow! A big thank you to our visitors who have taken www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com into the TOP ONE THIRD OF A PERCENT most popular website (out of 57million active sites)!

And a big thank you to Ken Evoy and his team who made it possible! You can find out more here if you would like you build your own high ranking website:THE SECRET

Thursday, January 27, 2005

TIMES you visited the DR

In case you missed the publication of an article by Tom Chesshyre in the UK 'TIMES' towards the end of last year, here's a taster:

"...Santo Domingo is the perfect end to the trip. Sitting at a café in the cathedral square, drinking Presidentes on our final night, we realise we’ve had a great time. The car has been essential — effectively transforming the Dom Rep from a giant all-inclusive into a proper country, with interesting things to do and places to see.

We’ve body-surfed, climbed a mountain, explored tiny one-square towns, visited one of the most intriguing cities in the Americas, and stayed at one of the classiest hotels in the Caribbean. No buffet dinners, or stomach bugs, here."

Source: The Times Date: November 06 2004 Author: Tom Chesshyre

Want to know more...about the article? About the DR? take a look at our FREE INFO site and drop us a line via the Contact Page:
http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/

And don't forget to check out the first of our NEW Santo Domingo pages:
http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/santo-domingo.html

Visiting the Dominican Republic...why not do it THIS year?

A
http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/contact_us.html

Monday, January 24, 2005

Come to the CARNAVAL

Yes, it's that time again...c-c-c-crazy Carnaval time will be sweeping the Dominican Republic throughout February!

If you are on vacation in the Dominican Republic in February 2005 make sure to plan for a visit to the Fiesta of celebrations that Carnaval time brings to many towns.

Naturally, Santo Domingo (the capital) and Santiago (the second largest city) will be lively places to visit...But perhaps the best place to visit for Carnaval is La Vega, famous for putting on a spectacular show, it is the place to go to soak-up all the special atmosphere that Carnaval time has to offer in the DR!

Each Sunday throughout February, La Vega will see colorful Demons (Diablos cojuelos) dancing in the streets with many floats, lively music and other exotically costumed locals joining in the procession as thousands of visitors look on!

Carnaval activities take place in many towns and, in addition to the big cities already mentioned, particlarly notable are Cotui, Bonao, Monte Cristi each of which have their costume 'themes' which give them their own individual caharacter!

So...lucky you if you have booked a vacation to the Dominican Republic over the next few weeks...chances are you will have an even more memorable time!

For more ideas about things to see, do and experience, don't forget to check out our free information website at:


Hasta 'Mañana' amigos,

A

Sunday, January 23, 2005

Visiting the DR website - UPDATE!

Hi

If you are keeping in touch with this weblog...or have just 'stumbled upon it' by chance...we'd just like to mention the latest developments at our site, www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com.

Our latest pages should help you when planning how to 'get around' the DR on your visit.

Best options for getting around in the Dominican Republic

...and if we still haven't included just what you want to know...well there is more to come...BUT meantime drop us a line via our contact page on the site and we'll try and get back to you with any 'latest' info we have.

'Hasta mas tarde'

R

P.S. COMING TO THE BLOG SOON: Details of the fanatastic 'Carnaval' and Fiestas in the DR in Feb 2005!

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Chris! Is that REALLY YOU?

Baroque angels hover over the marble casket wherein the remains of Christopher Columbus lie.

A constant guard of honour stands beside the mausoleum through the day and night.

The venerated remnants of probably the world's most famous 'explorer', and 'discoverer of the New World', have lain for many years within El Faro, the Columbus Lighthouse, on the East side of the mouth of the Rio Ozama across from Santo Domingos Zona Colonial...

...Or so it is believed!

Indeed the veracity of this claim has often been discussed, argued about and even refuted by some sources.

Soon there will be no further questions about it!

The Dominican Government has just given the go-ahead to a team of Spanish scientists to assess the remains using DNA analysis methods to confirm once and for all that the casket does indeed contain the mortal remains of the discoverer of La Isla Hispaniola and first 'ruler' of Santo Domingo, the New World's first city...or not!!! As the case may be!

Watch this space for breaking news! Columbus discovered the country that was to become the Dominican Republic...but will the Dominican Republic discover Columbus?

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

We'd like your INPUT!

Just a thought.

We've spread the word to many of the people who send us their questions and queries about the DR prior to their visits, but we'd like to make a wider invitation...

We are really eager to include any up-to-date views, experiences, recommendations and admonitions...in fact anything YOU think it would be helpful for others who are just about to visit the Dominican Republic - for a holiday, on business or to seek property - to know.

Perhaps you stayed somewhere great? Found some great value accommodation? Experienced a scam? Discovered a wonderful beach? Found a top watering-hole? Encountered a rip-off? Found the best place for music and dancing?...

Whatever it is we'd love to hear from you, via this blog, or the contact form on the site:


Our aim is as ever to tell visitors to www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com about the excellent, the good, the bad and the ugly things about the DR... we welcome YOUR input ...so drop us a line, as soon as you get back from your vacation... don't put it off till 'mañana'!

A

(n.b. We reserve the right to edit submissions as necessary, but will endeavor to leave them as complete as possible - don't forget to include your e-mail address - which will be kept confidential and only used to check accuracy if necessary.)

Monday, January 17, 2005

MORE THAN 'JUST A HOLIDAY HAVEN'!

It's true.

The Dominican Republic is so much more than just a vacation paradise!

- With over 300 perfect white beaches
- With a glorious green, tropical forested interior
- Hosting the Caribbean's highest mountain (Pico Duarte 3175m)
- Home to the 'New World's' oldest City - Santo Domingo

...The second largest Caribbean country has great credentials to become the the leader for tourism that it should be...

However, not everyone realizes that the Dominican Republic is ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST place to set up business in. The DR is a TAX FREE ZONE! It can therefore provide a potentially fantastic base for entrepreneurs looking to develop their business ventures under less 'fiscally punitive' conditions...

Take a look here today to find out more:

http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/starting-a-business.html

The Dominican Republic... geographic diversity and beauty; warm and friendly people; best value for property and land in the Caribbean; and a 'TAX FREE' business zone! I can hear them 'shackling up' the 'band-wagon' already! So hurry, find out more about doing business in the DR now - before the REAL rush begins!

(From our 'business correspondent' ;-D)

A

Saturday, January 15, 2005

Do you know?...

Do you know who has just bought their own piece of 'the best kept secret' in the Caribbean...the Dominican Republic?

Here's a clue: They're no strangers to 'astute' property deals!

Got it?

Yes that's right, ex-President of the US, Bill Clinton and his wife Hilary have just bought a luxury home away from home in the DR.

Along with other famous names like Julio Iglesias and J-Lo, they too have realized that the DR offers some 'presidentially' sweet deals! :-)

Don't put it off 'till tomorrow...take a look at what the DR has to offer today by visiting our free information resource:

http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/


Kind wishes

R

Friday, January 14, 2005

Tourists in the DR: Reasons to be cheerful

The Dominican Republic Government has created a new 'tourist police' force.

The 'Policia Turistica' have special duties to protect the rights and interests of tourists, it is the job of these special police officers to be on the look out for anything that might adversely affect visitors to our lovely homeland.

The Tourist Police are expected not only to have good local knowledge but also to become a key reference point for prices and costs of goods and services offered to tourists. This knowledge will enable them to ensure that any 'over charging' scams are swiftly 'nipped in the bud'.

'Policia Turistica' officers will be seen in many key Dominican Republic resorts including: Puerto Plata, Luperón, Sosua, Cabarete, Río San Juan, Las Terrenas, Samaná, Jarabacoa, Barahona, Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, La Romana, Bávaro y Aeropuerto Internacional de las Américas.

We say, well done to the new Government for creating this 'special task force' that should give travelers to the Dominican Republic even more confidence that they will have a great stay.


Ruth

Thursday, January 13, 2005

Life's a Beach!


Where on Earth is this beautiful beach? Posted by Hello

So just where on Earth is this beautiful beach?

Well, as it is here on this 'blog' it is obviously in the Dominican Republic. In fact it is just one of the places featured in our recently updated 'best beaches' pages at:

http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/best-beaches.html

If you have a favorite Dominican Republic beach that we haven't yet included, then drop us a line and let us know about it. Send us a photo if you like and we'll feature it either here...or on our main web pages.

We can tell you that coming soon to our 'free information' website will be details about Playas 'Diamante' and 'El Rincon'...both 'typically tropical' brilliant DR beaches that any of you beach lovers won't want to miss while you are visiting the Dominican Republic.

"Hasta mas tarde"

Ruth

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

You Could be Having a Whale of a Time!

Are you visiting the Dominican Republic any time between the 15th January and 15th March?

If so, do you realize that this is the 'Whale Watching Season'?

Yes. Thousands of Humpack whales migrate from cooler waters to bask for a couple of months in the tropical warmth of the Southern Atlantic...and where do they favor? Why, a most popular spot for whale pods (that's the term for a group of whales, just in case you wondered) to spyhop, lobtail and breach is the beautiful Bahia de Samana, the sheltered Bay East of Samana Peninsula in the Dominican Republic.

Find out more about Humpbacks, and the other main visitor you will most likely see, the 'Spotter' - or Spotted Dolphin - the acrobatic 'clown of the sea' at our 'free information page':

http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/picture-whales.html

Whenever you come to the Dominican Republic you are bound to have a 'whale of a time'...but never more so than visiting during 'Whale Watching Season'! For more details and contacts, call by the website soon and check out our 'Whale' and 'Dolphin' pages, or drop us a line via:

http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/contact_us.html

Kind wishes as ever

R, E & A

Minor furore over ‘beachwear’ photos “Nothing but a storm in a D-cup” says spokesman

A recently published photo page at www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com does include some shots of one of the web sites management team in beachwear. But a spokesman today denied rumours that this had caused a ‘minor furore’ to break out at the publishers headquarters.

A spokesman for the ‘model’ featured in the shots said:

“These photographs have been seen by several generations of the young lady’s family and never before caused any substantial outcry. It is all just a storm in a D-cup.”

He added that:

“The photographs in question are deemed to be in good taste, and appropriate for the purpose of displaying the best assets of the subject in question. However I feel it only right and proper for visitors to the web page, one of a number featured on
www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com web site about the best beaches in the DR, to make a judgement for themselves.”

The spokesman denied that the web site was ‘deliberately making these photos hard to find’ by making them a sub-page to the second page about ‘the best beaches in the DR’ just published on the site. He went on to explain that any visitors to the site who were unable to locate the ‘offending’ photographs’, or with other queries or comments, can easily send their communication to the web site owners via the ‘contact us’ page on the site for advice about where to find the photos, or any other topic in relation to the Dominican Republic..

He said:

“I can see no valid reason why the publication of these photographs should give rise to concern and it my opinion that they do not detract from the sites aim to be ‘the best and most informative site about the Dominican Republic’ on the web. Although we accept we still have much to do before we can truly lay claim to having achieved this objective.”

The young woman, 36, featured in the aforementioned photographs, was unavailable for comment as this feature went to press.

HOT NEWS: Dominican Sisters Give Away Best Beach Secrets

It's happened!

We thought long and hard about it but then we just did it...

We just added new pages to the 'Best Beaches' section of our Web Site at:

http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/dominican-republic-beaches.html

Why did we have to think long and hard?

Well, we had to think about whether or not to include the spot that, for us, is one of our all-time-favorites...our own 'secret' place. It's hard to face the fact that this might mean people actually start to go there...but we reckoned that only the 'select few' who catch this 'blog' and find our page will benefit from the suggestion, so it was worth the risk.

We'll be adding more about the beaches we Dominicans love over the next few days...the beaches that the tour operators tend not to mention...the beaches the locals choose to visit for their serenity, safeness and raw beauty!

...so if you like to be packed in with loads of others on a a thin spit of sand, beset by 'hawkers' and others 'peddling' their wares?...

..and if you like to be 10 metres away from the nearest food bar and 'mini parasol' decorated Ron y Cola, or Margarita?...

Then don't bother to check out our suggestions...they are only for those seeking a taste of the real Caribbean...a clean, safe, beautiful, undeveloped piece of heaven!

But don't spread it around too much, we don't want everyone knowing about it! ;-)

See you soon at :- http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/ we hope!

Ruth


Tuesday, January 11, 2005

A bird watching vacation or bird watching tour in the Dominican Republic

A bird watching vacation or bird watching tour in the Dominican Republic

Hey do you like watching birds?- There are hundreds of beautiful birds in the Dominican Republic...many are local, but many also visit the lovely warm Dominican Republic just for the winter, after flying in from from 'cooler climes'!

'Twitchers' - if you haven't visited already take a look at our bird watching pages when you get minute!

Non bird watchers...there's lots of other information about our wonderful homeland the Dominican Republic at: www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com

...Why not plan a visit to the Dominican Republic this year? ...our web site can help you make the most of your trip!


Ruth, Esther & Alan Posted by Hello

Visiting the Dominican Republic Jumps on the Blogging Band-Wagon

Hi there

We just jumped on the 'blogging' band-wagon!

We plan to post any useful news or information as we get it, here on this 'weblog', whilst we are still developing and adding to our content pages at - www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com.

We've had a load of e-mails from visitors and take the chance here to say thanks for your interest...and for your compliments!

We know we've got a lot to do before we can truly claim to be the most informative and easily navigable Dominican Republic information resource on the Web...but this remains our aim,

So don't hesitate to send us your queries or suggestions...we need them! Your comments and questions will help us to provide the information YOU need to really make your visit to the DR all it can be.

So whether you discovered this 'Blog before our main site - www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com- or have come here from the site - we hope you find what we provide on the site useful and look forward to using this method of keeping you up to date with 'breaking' news in the Dominican Republic, and developments on our site, regularly through the week from now on,

Kind regards,

The Visiting the Dominican Republic team