This all true, Im sure thats why so many people chose to come here, retire etc.I lived in NJ. That is like being in a country of it's own....sometimes? A few things that the DR have over other tropical islands are, It is a manageable distance from North America, 3.5 hours from NYC. It is a large Island with a Capital City of close to 3 million people. The weather is very nice except occaissionally during hurricane season. The country is self sustaining. It is the bread basket of the Caribbean. Everything is grown here. Cost of living is reasonable and the infrustructure is good and getting better. the Government is stable. There is something for everyone here, from history to ecology to tourism. When you look at other places take into consideration all these factors the DR is head and shoulders above most.
LTSTeve
For tropical countries, I live in the Pacific Islands(Marshall Islands) for around 9 months and in the Turks and Caicos Islands for about 4 months(and the DR around 8 months). Both are much smaller islands with very little for hills. The highest point in the Marshalls is only about 6 ft above sea level and the average is around 2. It's an atoll. When big waves come, they have to evacuate to the other side of the island. When there is a tsunami, I worry about them. The Turks and Caicos is VERY hot. Frequent highs above 110? and very little foliage for shade. The plus side of the Turks is there is some great snorkling and SCUBA.
The biggest advantage of the DR as an island is that it's big enough that food and water supplies are self-sufficient. It's very lush compared to a smaller island less than 10 miles across. There is also more music, people have a real culture and it has many more services that you can't get when you are on an island with less than 20,000 people.
The big island of Puerto Rico isn't of much interest to me, but Vieques is a place I'm looking at as an alternative to the DR. I should have access to most items on the mainland and there is a large percentage of English speaking ex main-landers.
I've also visited Palau and Kosrae in the Pacific. Palau is a dump(and also, sand fleas and betel nut) and Kosrae is pretty, but there were barely any businesses to speak of and the only English speakers were missionaries. Hawaii isn't for me, at least Honolulu. The worst was Guam, which is like a giant strip mall with US franchises dominating the island.
As for mainland South America, I'd prob be interested in Chile, Colombia or Argentina. You never know when you're going to visit somewhere and fall in love with the place.
I see the DR as a small continent with incredible diversity...The biggest advantage of the DR as an island is that it's big enough that food and water supplies are self-sufficient. It's very lush compared to a smaller island less than 10 miles across. There is also more music, people have a real culture and it has many more services that you can't get when you are on an island with less than 20,000 people.
I see the DR as a small continent with incredible diversity...
Almost impossible to get island fever here.
I have lived in Panama and find very little differences between here and there. Prostitution is more "in your face" here,but under the surface it is there also.h
Its pretty blatant here in Punta Cana, some places here are worse than others, depending what bar/restaurant orI don't find it in my face at all on this coast, Northcoast yes, but this coast you would need to be looking for it. Girls here are not grabbing your arms and legs while you stroll along, as my experiences of the Northcoast have been.
I see the DR as a small continent with incredible diversity...
Almost impossible to get island fever here.
No desert like climate, deserts are dry, here is humid, but I get your point, it's warm and often damn hot with no breeze.
there is plenty of desert climate in the south west.. well, no desert but damn dry. And high cloud forest. I think that i read that there are 11 climate zones in this country.
I have searched australia, tahiti, grenada, puerto rico, mexico, costa rica, guatemala, haiti
i have lived here for nine years
Have not left the island for the last three
have no wish to