The 2007 National Hotel & Restaurant Association Vacation Planner is all about helping tourists decide where exactly they want to vacation in the Dominican Republic. Read about the nuances of the many travel destinations in the Dominican Republic so that you may choose what works best this time around.

   This issue again covers what’s new such as the extension of Puerto Plata’s popular beach areas on the North Coast and those in Juan Dolio on the Southeast Coast, the renovated Sans Souci port in Santo Domingo right next to the Colonial City, the !Vive Bayahibe! cultural events near La Romana. It highlights the emergence of boutique hotels and major residential developments in tourism destinations nationwide, as more foreigners discover that they want more time to experience the joy of living so much a part of the DR.

   The most popular must-see attractions are mapped out through these pages that allow you to make a beforehand visit to our nation's capital in the South; Boca Chica/Juan Dolio and La Romana/Bayahibe in the Southeast; Punta Cana in the East; Samaná in the Northeast; Puerto Plata to Cabrera in the North; Jarabacoa and Constanza in the central mountain area; and Barahona and Pedernales in the Southwest. Major airlines continue to add scheduled and charter flights to the seven Dominican international airports, making it easier to come and visit, and to see more of the country. Consider arriving at one airport and departing from another, combining destinations within the country for a fuller experience.

   The Dominican Republic is truly a miniature continent. Nowhere else in the Caribbean can visitors experience climbing to the top of the highest peak, visiting the largest sand dunes, the longest stretches of uninterrupted beach, the cultural heritage of the first city in the New World, or the mix of peoples from all over the world that have come to call this land home. Foremost, we invite you to embrace the very spirit of the people, the indelible mark that keeps visitors returning.

   Internet links to updates in the Dominican Republic news and information portal, www.dr1.com, are provided so readers can go online to peruse the extensive knowledge bases, find information on current events and happenings of interest, as well as ask questions.