Dominican Republic

Though it has the highest mountain in the Caribbean—10,164-foot Pico Duarte— the DR's main draw is the beach. In the southeast, the most popular areas are Punta Cana and La Romana, where the beaches are wide and white, the water is clear, and the real estate is dominated by all-inclusive resorts that mostly attract Americans. Farther southwest, the capital, Santo Domingo, has its own (crowded) beaches plus historical buildings. In the northwest, Puerto Plata attracts a lower-key and largely European crowd. North-central Cabarete, with its steady winds, draws huge crowds of kiteboarders and windsurfers. To the east of Puerto Plata is the Samaná peninsula, with pristine beaches, offshore islets, and small settlements—it's still largely under the radar, but a new airport was recently completed, and flights are beginning to land there from Europe and the U.S.

WHEN TO GO

Most of the year it's hard to go wrong in the Dominican Republic. The weather changes only slightly from season to season, and average year-round temperatures hover between 78 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit. (It can be a little chillier in the mountainous inland areas of the Cordillera Central.) July, August, and September are brutally hot and humid, as well as hurricane-prone.

HOW TO GET THERE

The DR is just a quick hop away from the U.S., and thanks to daily flights on JetBlue and other carriers, it's quickly becoming a major weekend destination for norteños looking to escape the winter chill. The country has seven international airports (unusual for such a tiny country), but it's really only Las Américas International (serving Santo Domingo), Punta Cana International, Gregorio Luperón International (serving Puerto Plata), and Santiago International that get direct flights from the U.S. American Airlines, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, United Air, and US Airways all fly into these hubs.

Charter flights are the easiest (and most expensive) way to get from one part of the DR to another. (Driving outside the major tourist areas can be dicey—see "Getting Around," below.) Air Century, operating out of Santo Domingo (809-826-4222; www.aircentury.com), and Take Off Destination Service, operating out of Punta Cana (809-552-1333; http://takeoffweb.com) offer flights between all DR's major tourist destinations.

GETTING AROUND

Americans over age 25 can easily rent a car in the DR as long as they have a valid driver's license. Major car rental companies have airport, hotel, and city locations. Be advised, though: Apart from the country's two major highways (between Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo, and from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana), road conditions can be bad. If you plan to travel to any areas not accessible from these roads, you'll need to rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Private taxis and transfer services are available 24 hours a day in Santo Domingo, Santiago, and Puerto Plata. Amstar Destination Management Company (www.amstardmc.com ) offers reliable, safe transportation, airport transfers, and tours. Dominican taxis charge flat rates dependent on the distance of travel. Taxi companies will tell you what the rate should be (for travel within a city, it's usually about $1.50), but always confirm the rate with the driver before you leave so you're not charged an inflated price once you get there.

TOURIST INFO

The DR Tourism Board doesn't have official offices in any of the country's towns, but they do have booths at most of the airports. For more information, call 888-374-6361, or go to www.godominicanrepublic.com.