How to get here...
There are many airports throughout the country. Fly into and within the Dominican Republic using:

Joaquin Balaguer (Santo Domingo)
Las International Airport (Santo Domingo)
La Romana International Airport
Punta Cana International Airport
Arroyo Barril International Airport (Samana)
El Catey International Airport (Samana, opened Nov 2006)
Gregorio Luperon International Airport (Puerto Plata)
Santiago International Airport
Maria Montez International Airport (Baharona)

Please note: Prior to entering Immigration, visitors are required to purchase a Tourist Card for $10 USD per person (cash only). The Immigration officer will keep half of the card on arrival. The other half should be kept with your travel documents and presented upon departure.

Rental cars are available to those over 25 years of age with a valid driver's license.

The official currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso, however the US dollar is accepted at most establishments and often is preferred.

New - Wyndham Cap Cana
PARSIPPANY, NJ, June 5, 2008 - Wyndham Hotels and Resorts has announced a 497-unit luxury Wyndham resort is in development now, scheduled to open late in 2008. The property is an oceanfront community, ten minutes from Punta Cana International Airport, on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic.

The new Green Village at Cap Cana, A Wyndham Grand Bay Resort, will feature luxury one-bedroom bungalows, two-bedroom villas and four- to six-bedroom residences constructed by Cap Cana S.A. and managed by Wyndham Hotel Management Inc..

Amenities include an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature golf course; 5,000 square feet of meeting space with access to an adjacent convention center; 3,550-square-foot Wyndham Blue Harmony ™ spa; fitness center; three-meal casual American restaurant; Spanish Mediterranean-themed restaurant; the Wyndham brand’s new combination café, barista and food mart named “Eat. Refresh. Live.”; three bars and lounges; two swimming pools; infinity-edge pools at individual villas; and a host of recreational activities including tennis and scuba-diving.

Secrets
Secrets Resorts & Spas, the luxury resort chain offering Unlimited-Luxury® to adults. Secrets brand portfolio will add more than 3,000 rooms to the Caribbean and Mexico including two new properties in Dominican Republic by 2009.

Secrets La Romana Resort & Spa, Opening fall 2009; will unveil a new level of vacation opulence to the Dominican Republic. Lavish sparkling pools, unequaled land, world-class spa and fitness center, multiple seaside lounges and gourmet restaurants, all with highly attentive and cheerful personnel to pamper and serve you.

Secrets Punta Cana Resort & Spa, opening fall 2009; will add yet another layer of luxury and romance to the Dominican Republic. Find luxury in every detail at this all-suite resort, from exquisite suites with stunning ocean views, private balconies and opulent amenities to pure white sands, crystal-clear waters and pristine glistening pools, including an expansive infinity pool offering complete relaxation as you absorb the endless azure ocean.

www.secretsresorts.com

Ritz-Carlton Cap Cana
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. will expand its significant collection of exclusive Caribbean resorts and residential projects at Cap Cana in Dominican Republic, with a 220-room resort featuring a range of luxury amenities including a lavish 16,000 square-foot spa, private beach club, five restaurants and lounges, including Cap Cana’s three Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses. The Ritz-Carlton, Cap Cana and 194 privately-owned, beachfront Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Cap Cana are scheduled to open in early 2010 and are part of a two-phase $1 billion luxury project in this oceanfront Dominican Republic enclave. It will be the 10th Caribbean destination resort for the award-winning luxury hotel company.

The mixed-use project is ideally situated on more than five miles of coastline, directly on the best two-mile stretch of Juanillo Beach, considered one of the Dominican Republic’s most scenic beaches. Island materials and an abundance of natural light will enhance guest rooms, all of which are projected to have spacious balconies and ocean views. The resort will include 8,000 square feet of meeting space (including a 5,800 square-foot ballroom), offering individuals and groups a range of choices for every occasion, from corporate meetings to destination weddings and social events.

Located on the Eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, and just five minutes away from the Punta Cana International Airport, Cap Cana is called “The World’s Next Great Destination.” It is the most important tourism and real estate property in the Caribbean, with a master plan investment projected at US $1.5 billion, which will be developed in a span of 12-15 years and comprises an area of 35 million square meters (8,680 acres) of a total of over 120 million square meters (30,000 acres) with over three miles of white powder sand beaches. Cap Cana is a project recognized for its ambitious dimensions as a fully integrated luxury community.

For additional information please contact:
newsroom@ritzcarlton.com

Water World in the Dominican Republic
Ocean World Marina, the Dominican Republic's first, full-service marina boasts a 73-slip facility featuring boathouse and dry storage, clubhouse, casino, pool, lounge and dining. Depth at the entrance is 16 feet, with an average of 12 feet throughout the marina. Ocean World Marina, located in Cofresi just 3 miles west of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, is a state-of-the art marina facility strategically positioned between the heavily traveled Florida/Bahamas region and the Puerto Rico/Eastern Caribbean region. www.oceanworldmarina.com

In addition to Ocean World, two new marina projects are about to open;
First, Cap Cana in Punta Cana with a capacity of 500 slips for yachts up to 150 feet in length. Also the Roco Ki Aquatic Sports Center for charter boats and sailing lessons as well as a full-service marina.

Whale Watching
Dominican Repubic is within the direct path of migrating humpback whales. Take a tour and even swim near the whales. Best time to catch the show is from December to April.

One of the best viewing sites in the world is called the Silver Bank - located 100 km north of the Dominican Republic. This is one of many sites favored for mating and calving by the humpbacks. Some estimates say that the Silver Bank may host the largest population of humpbacks in the North Atlantic Ocean and possibly the world. Estimates place from three to five thousand humpbacks in the Silver Bank during any one season. Week long expeditions are offered here.

Did you say, Mamajuana?
The distinctly Dominican Republic liquid remedy for the flu and other ailments mamajuana is also used as an aphrodisiac. A home-made, exotic concoction that varies in flavor, mamajuana is also served as a side shot with a cold beer, or as an after dinner beverage. Dominican families create the drink from natural herbs, spices, tree leaves and stems mixed with honey, molasses, lemon, rum and other alcohol.

Carnival!
Carnival - a nation-wide celebration, lasts throughout February - celebrated on weekends and climaxing at the end of February. In some locations Carnival is runs through the beginning of March. For a one-of-a-kind souvenir of your visit to the Dominican Republic, take home a papier-mache mask. Shopping for them is even fun!

Farallón Trump at Cap Cana
The new $2 billion Trump development at Cap Cana, Dominican Republic breaks all records selling 64 out of 68 plots in just hours in 2007. Prices started at $3 million US.

Of all the investors, approximately 35% are from the Dominican Republic, 30% from the United States and Puerto Rico and 30% from Venezuela, Spain and several Latin American countries.

Farallón Trump at Cap Cana includes approximately 30,000 acres, 5,000 residential units, four luxury hotels, three Jack Nicklaus golf courses and a 1,000 slip marina which can accommodate vessels up to 150 feet.

Dominican Rum: The Nectar of Quisqueya
By: Jean Milan

A pale and distinguished-looking older gentleman with dark hair, a mustache and a stylish linen guayabera places three rums from the Brugal distillery before us: Carta Dorada, Añejo and Extra Viejo. After decanting the three rums, he then suggests that we let them breathe for 15 minutes so that the bouquets will fully blossom. At first glance, Fernando J. Ortega Brugal, vice president of production at the Brugal distillery in Puerto Plata, looks to all the world to be a Spaniard; however, once you get him talking about one of his favorite subjects, he radiates that warm and affable Dominican hospitality that people of this island are known for. When I ask him if a non-expert would be able to taste the difference between the Carta Dorada and the Extra Viejo, he emphatically says, "Oh yes, with very little experience! The bouquet of each varies greatly due to the amount of tannins."

As he gets our sampling underway, Ortega Brugal explains that as in a fine wine tasting, there are three aspects involved: the visual, the olfactory and the gustatory. To the eye, rum must appear clear, not cloudy; to the nose, rum's aroma must be pleasing and hinting of wood; and to the palate, rum must have mouth-feel and body. In other words, it should taste of wood, but it may also contain a variety of other flavors, including coffee, tobacco, cocoa, vanilla, toffee and raisin notes. He also cautions that good rum should never, ever taste of almonds.

We swirl each of the liquids in its glass, noting its own individual shade of amber. We take in each one's aroma, the unmistakable rum fragrance bringing back memories of Christmastime, eggnog and rum cake. Then, the moment we've been waiting for: it's time to taste. Though previously only imbibing rum by way of Cuba libres and mojitos, even this novice could tell which one of the three full-flavored libations was the Extra Viejo. Although all three were pleasant, the Brugal Extra Viejo's subtlety and complexity were apparent. And unlike a classic wine tasting, this rum was fully savored and swallowed, not spit out.

While your version of the tour will most likely not include the rum tasting or Ortega Brugal's agreeable company, you will nonetheless be able to learn some interesting facts about the Brugal Company, the distillery and its products. Afterwards, you'll be offered a sample drink, and then you can pick up some souvenir bottles at the gift shop (you're allowed to bring back up to four bottles without paying additional fees). None of these will run you more than US$7, a very reasonable price considering it's less than half what you'd be charged Stateside.

About Brugal
Although the Dominican Republic has many fine rums, including other powerhouse brands from the south side of the island such as Barceló and Bermúdez, the most popular by far is Brugal, which boasts a domestic market share of more than 80 percent. Brugal produces an astounding 75,000 liters of rum every 24 hours for both domestic consumption and exportation. The Brugal Company was founded more than 100 years ago in the later half of the 19th century by Andrés Brugal Montaner, a Spaniard who learned the art of making rum while in Cuba before moving to the Dominican Republic. This company has a huge presence here, and upon our landing in Santo Domingo, some four days earlier, we were greeted by smiling Brugal representatives at the airport with trays full of paper cups containing ice-cold and inviting Brugal and soda. This nicety wasn't just here for the sake of the press, though: every adult getting off the planes was offered this cool, refreshing treat in a custom that's repeated day in and day out, save Sundays.

Later, as we made the overland trek to the northern side of the island to reach the scenic Puerto Plata location of the distillery, the green, mountainous landscape was breathtakingly beautiful. It's not hard to imagine how it must have enchanted Don Andrés, Brugal's founder, and how it also must have cast its spell on that most famous of explorers, Christopher Columbus. In fact, Columbus, the man who first brought sugarcane to the island and thus made rum production possible, requested that his remains be buried in the Dominican Republic.

Making Rum
By the time the guide was pointing out historic Fort San Felipe, we knew that we were almost at our destination. Within five minutes we were pulling up to the imposing modern structure of the Brugal distillery. Once there, we were first met by Jorge A. Torres, an export manager who's worked for the company for five years, and then by Ortega Brugal. After showing us a short film produced for all visitors to the distillery, they gave us the in-depth tour of the facility and the rum-making process.

Unlike most other spirits, rum is not grain-based. It's made from a by-product of sugar manufacturing that you and I know as molasses. Ortega Brugal explains that the molasses is diluted and fermented, a process that metabolizes the sugars to create the purest alcohol that can be obtained. "But it's not a completely neutral alcohol," he adds, "because a neutral alcohol will not age."

Next, the alcohol is further diluted in order to start the aging process, and the mixture is stored in charred, white oak barrels—not unlike the ones used to age bourbon in the United States. Time of aging will depend on the type of rum to be produced, but one year is the minimum, and Dominican law strictly enforces this. Finally, after the desired amount of aging, the contents of all the barrels in a lot are blended to ensure uniformity, and then they are allowed to rest for 15-18 days. At the end of that time, the process will have yielded one of the following; Blanco, a one-year-old white rum perfect for mixed drinks; Carta Dorada, a golden two-year-old rum that is great for cocktails, as well; Añejo, a sipping rum that is a blend of two- and five-year-old rums; Extra Viejo, a mixture of two- and eight-year-old rums that is meant to be savored slowly; and finally, Siglo de Oro, a special occasion rum that contains a blend of two- and 12-year-old rums.

The way to drink it...
I asked Ortega Brugal what rum cocktails are popular at present, to which he responds, "As with most things, people are leaning toward the natural. So, especially in Europe, there is more growth in rum drinks that include fresh fruit juices than there is in rum drinks mixed with soda."

Of course, Añejo, Extra Viejo and Siglo de Oro are all meant to be savored by themselves. However, this brings to mind what Torres had earlier said was his favorite drink, a concoction that remained nameless until he dubbed it a "Dominican Way," which consists of Extra Viejo with 7UP and a twist of lime.

I remind Ortega Brugal about this, and although he admits that mixing an aged rum with soda is tantamount to sacrilege, with a laid-back Caribbean attitude and a wink he adds, "Once they buy it, they can drink it however they'd like. But the classic combination is a glass of Extra Viejo in one hand and a fine Dominican puro in the other."

American to Santo Domingo
American Airlines adds service from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.Visit aa.com.