My Favorite Caribbean Hideaway
Date: 11/17/2003Dear International Living Reader,
On the north coast of the Dominican Republic--at the Atlantic side of the Samana Peninsula--sits the quaint little beach resort of Las Terrenas. Up until 1988, this was nothing more than a typical Dominican fishing village. Then the first European moved in... followed by another...and another. With its beautiful beaches, mouth-watering bakeries, and top-class restaurants, it's no surprise that, today, Las Terrenas is a favorite hideaway among the French, Germans, English, and Italians. And yet, the typical Dominican town feel remains strong.
You'll have no trouble finding your way to Las Terrenas. By bus, it's about four hours from Santa Domingo--capital of the D.R.--and two-and-a-half hours from Santiago--the country's second largest city. The town has a small airport--consisting of just a single runway--servicing two daily flights from Santo Domingo. The round-trip fare costs about $100. By comparison, the bus trip is worth far more than its $6 charge. As you bump along the two-lane partially paved highway, there are some spectacular views of the Atlantic, the Bay of Samana, and the surrounding mountains.
Las Terrenas caters for all budgets. You can pay anywhere from $100 (and up) for a five-star hotel, to $12 for a basic room (which may include a private bath). My wife and I stayed at Las Palmas; a cabana-style resort with its own swimming pool. For just $60 a night, our cabana--with a well-equipped modern kitchen, two bedrooms, a living/dining room, and a breezy terrace with outdoor furniture and a gas barbecue--could sleep up to 10 people. Some 60 meters from the resort is a soft white-sand beach with year-round tropically warm water. Here, the adventurous enjoy activities such as diving, wind surfing, and kite boarding, while others simply relax in the gentle swells of the sea. For further information and booking inquiries, visit the Las Palmas website (see below).
Should you tire of the national cuisine, you'll be spoiled for choice with the local Italian, French, German, and Thai restaurants. Prices are very reasonable: For a generous fish meal with a drink on the side I paid $6.
The Dominican Republic is going through a period in which its currency, the peso, has rapidly devalued. With prices in pesos skyrocketing, real estate is a steal for anybody with hard currency. Here, you'll find cottages, less than a mile from the beach, ranging from $20,000 to $25,000, and beachfront houses for less than $50,000. Whether you're on the lookout for an annual vacation destination or a full-time retirement location, I can't think of a better (or more affordable) place to call home.
Les Belzer
For International Living
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