The Dominican Republic is not quite a tropical paradise - but wed say that in a lot of ways it comes pretty close. Predictions are that the DR (as it is often referred to) will go from strength to strength over the next few years as visitors find out just what a wonderful wealth of exciting activities and landscapes it has to offer. Often called the Caribbeans best kept secret, this soubriquet will become less appropriate as visitors increasingly recognize that nowhere else amongst neighbouring holiday island hot-spots can beat the DR for value!

The Dominican Republic is not quite a tropical paradise - but wed say that in a lot of ways it comes pretty close. Predictions are that the DR (as it is often referred to) will go from strength to strength over the next few years as visitors find out just what a wonderful wealth of exciting activities and landscapes it has to offer. Often called the Caribbeans best kept secret, this soubriquet will become less appropriate as visitors increasingly recognize that nowhere else amongst neighbouring holiday island hot-spots can beat the DR for value!

From - whale watching to bird watching; exhilarating sea fishing (for big game like marlin) to gentler pastimes such as world-class snorkelling; terrific terrain for hiking and cycling; adrenalin pumping sea-sports like windsurfing and kiteboarding to just as much excitement inland, from whitewater rafting, canyoning, caving, jungle trekking, mountain climbing…and so on!!!! The DR offers all this and so much more.

But lets not forget what many people visit the DR for - the sun, sea and sand! With well over 300 soft, white, typically tropical beaches (many virtually deserted much of the time) the DR is probably the best place in the Caribbean for these too. Amongst them you will also find Cayo Levantado, the original setting for the taste of paradise beach, familiar to many as the home of a certain well known coconut filled chocolate bar!

Along with wonderful tropical forests, waterfalls, mountains (Pico Duarte is the highest in the Caribbean, and thats the pinnacle of the largest of five mountain ranges in the DR) and even desert areas, the DR has something for every taste. It also has superb Parques Nacionales and many unspoilt, and untouched areas. In fact the DR is a pretty big place so is by no means as over developed and as touristy as the majority of its Caribbean competitors (except maybe in one or two ‘well known resort areas).

The Island of Quisqueya (on which both the Dominican Republic and Haiti now reside) was home to the remarkable Tainos before it was discovered in 1492, by Christopher Columbus, and renamed Hispaniola. It is therefore not short of historically and culturally fascinating attractions. For example, the capital, Santo Domingo, is the oldest City in the New-World, and a visit to the ‘old town’- the Zona Colonial - is a must on that day away from soaking up the sun that almost inevitably shines no matter what time of year you take your vacation.

Whilst in the capital, there is also few better places for the sports enthusiast to take in a superb game of baseball, or ‘beisbol’ as the Dominican call their national game. A game about which they are fanatical almost to a man (and woman). In fact several of the major Dominican cities host fine quality teams that frequently feature those local star players who have also made it big in the American Major League game.

It is certain that the more that those visiting the Dominican Republic can be encouraged to escape from their ‘all-inclusive’ compounds and take the independent traveler route in order to discover the real DR, the more that both the tourists and their wonderfully welcoming and friendly Dominicans hosts will be happy! Like Columbus himself, they might find it the most beautiful land they have ever seen…and decide to stay!

Ruth and Esther Ramos, www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com Copyright 2005, All rights reserved.

Article must be published as is (unedited) and with the author’s bio paragraph (resource box) and copyright information included.

Source: www.rafting.exsportz.com

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By John Donohoe

Work in progress on the site of the Royal Palm development in the Dominican Republic district of Samana.

With all the talk of gloom and doom in Ireland at the moment, as well as another miserable summer, many people would simply love to be away from it all and enjoying somewhere like the Caribbean.

Egan Properties is an Irish company which is now offering a chance to live there all the year-round, in the Dominican Republic, where they are marketing two major developments.

Head of Egan Developments’ Dominican Republic offices is Gillian Fitzgerald from Kilmessan. Egan Properties was formed with the purpose of promoting and selling real estate in the Dominican Republic. The team is formed of Irish negotiators based in the Dominican Republic, and Dominican and Irish negotiators based in Ireland.

Annie Egan, managing partner of the company is a Dominican citizen, married to an Irishman, and has extensive experience in the Dominican Real Estate area. Her role in the company is to assist potential investors in getting the best possible results out of their investment in the Dominican Republic, and she works mainly on return on investment products, commercial, site development and off-plan purchases.

Gillian Fitzgerald has a Bachelors in Auctioneering, Valuations and Estate Agency from the Dublin Institute of Technology, and also has relevant property experience working for companies such as Sherry Fitzgerald, Trim, and Gunne Residential in Drogheda. Her job is to ensure existing clients properties are being duly managed and also works in ensuring clients have the best possible options when purchasing.

The two developments currently available are Royal Palm, a project involving a Meath investor, and Charlotte’s Cove, backed by TV3 presenter Alan Cantwell and his company, Cantwell Construction, both in Samana, the so-called ‘Monte Carlo of the Caribbean’.

Samana is mainly formed of ex-pats, French, Italian and Americans, who have made this community their home. With an array of fantastic international cuisine to rival the world’s greatest, there is a great multicultural mix and an even more fantastic atmosphere. The investment climate in the Samana region is rising by the minute as can be seen in all the big developments being carried out in almost every corner of the area.

Just 10 minutes from the town of Samana, lies Royal Palm, which is being developed by Irish builders in conjunction with Egan Properties. The first phase of the project comprises of nine top-of-the-range luxury villas, all with spectacular views, and a private beach for the owners. There are nine lots of different sizes available to investors with two villa models to choose from, the Jacaranda style and the Alamanda model, all constructed in such a way as to maximise the indoor/outdoor Caribbean lifestyle.

All houses have been constructed to maximise views and natural daylight. Accommodation comprises three double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a large spacious guest bathroom, American-style kitchen, spacious living room, utility room, private pool with adjacent Jacuzzi and large Corilina tiled terrace. There is a spacious private garden, and beach front with fantastic views over the bay of Samana, as well as 24-hour security.

All properties are built to Florida building codes in relation to hurricanes.

The Charlotte’s Cove Tourist and Residential Project is the result of the vision of Alan Cantwell, the TV3 news presenter who visited the Samana Peninsula and fell in love with the surroundings and the beauty of the land. From this, Charlotte’s Cove was conceived, located in the beautiful Las Galeras in the Samana Peninsula, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.

This development will feature 69 properties with spectacular views of the ocean. Strategically placed just centre of an ocean front bay, the apartments will feature two- and three-bedroom apartments, with living room, dining room, kitchen, terrace overlooking the ocean and an array of amenities such as swimming pools and Jacuzzis.

The properties will be managed by a well-established property management company who not only will look after the properties but will also operate the development as a small boutique hotel for those wishing to participate in the rental pool and maximise their returns, with an average occupation of 86 per cent per year and rising. Only seven units are available to the first founder members of Charlotte’s Cove.

Source: www.meathchronicle.ie

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