Shop for local handicrafts and artwork, or precious stones such as amber or larimar found only in the Dominican Republic. Merengue was invented here, so dance the night away if you like – you may even spot a few A-list celebrities in this hot destination for the jet set. With all of these vacation options, it’s the allure of the Dominican people, with their warm hearts, friendly smiles, and pride in their country that will keep you coming back again and again.

In observance of Holy Week in the Dominican Republic, from Thursday April 1st until Monday April 5th 2010, all Punta Cana beaches are open but no water activities beyond swimming are permitted. Some land excursions may also not be available during this period or with limited schedules, information on this cannot be provided until nearer the time.

Travel Facts about Punta Cana:

• The coastal zone is blessed with a warm subtropical climate. The year-round daytime average temperature is 82 degrees F.
• Up to October 2009, Punta Cana has 12 professional golf courses that have already been built, from designers such as Jack Nicklaus, P.B. Dye, Tom Fazio, Nick Faldo and Nick Price…all within one hour drive from each other.
• Punta Cana-Bavaro has 22 diving sites, with year-long rent services plus catamaran party boats, fishing yachts, snorkeling trips, speed boats

Travel Facts about Jamaica:

• With its own international airport, Montego Bay is ideal for those who are limited to a short stay. Discover a variety of amazing beaches, a bustling town and many sites including the Rosehall Great House.
• Jamaica’s average annual temperature is 80°F / 27°C. The average yearly temperature range is between 78°F and 85°F.
• Extreme temperatures range from a low of 65°F to a high of 95°F.
• Ocho Rios is particularly known for its spectacular waterfalls, sprawling beaches, tropical gardens and fern gullies. For a memorable adventure, climb the 700-foot cascading waterfalls of Dunns River Falls.
• The “Capital of Casual”, Negril is at the western tip of the island and is known for its amazing sunsets and gorgeous Seven Mile Beach.

Travel Facts about Aruba:

• Arubans are among the most educated people in the world, speaking English, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento fluently. Many also speak French and German.
• Language can be seen as an important part of island culture in Aruba. The cultural mixture has given rise to a linguistic mixture known as Papiamento, the predominant language on Aruba
• Arubans are ardent music lovers and musicians and cherish their traditional music, such as the fiery tumba, the elegant danza and the fast-paced Antillean waltz.
• International cuisine runs the gamut from French to Fusion, Italian to Indian, from Japanese to Javanese. Local cuisine carries its own distinction with the sharp taste of the local “yerbe hole” basil bringing out the best of the “catch of the day.”
• The average annual temperature is 83° F (27° C), and rainfall amounts to just 17 inches a year, most of which occurs during the months of October and November.

Come enjoy the charm of windmills, lighthouses and twisting divi divi trees …or luxuriate in the world’s most opulent spas. Come play in the glittering casinos and luxury resorts …or wander the unsurpassed pristine beaches.

Travel Facts about La Romana:

• Summer temperatures range from 89-95°F, winter from 75-90°F. The main rainy season is between June and October, when it is hottest.
• Play at one of four ranked championship 18-hole golf courses, some of the best in the Caribbean. Visit the spectacular artist enclave of Altos de Chavon, a replica of a 16th century Mediterranean village where you’ll wander down cobblestone paths revealing unique shopping, galleries featuring traditional Dominican crafts and jewelry, excellent restaurants, and exciting nightlife. Experience a performing arts event under the stars at the 5,000 seat outdoor amphitheater.

In observance of Holy Week in the Dominican Republic, from the Thursday before Easter through the Monday after Easter, all beaches are open but no water activities beyond swimming are permitted.

Travel Facts about Curacao:

• Explore the island by day, discover a secluded white-sand cove speckled with the island’s famed Divi Divi trees, or ride horseback through a national park.
• By evening be ready to dance the night away, listen to hot jazz and enjoy some of the Caribbean’s best cuisine under the stars.
• Curaçao’s long standing ties to Holland are reflected in rows of crayola-colored townhouses with red tiled roofs and rococo-style facades lining the streets of historic Willemstad, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, placing it in the company of the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal.
• With miles of reefs, some only 10 feet from the surface, and 65 world-class dive sites featuring a rainbow of unusual sea life and underwater visibility up to 150 feet, Curaçao is one of the Caribbean’s top dive destinations.

Rich in history and filled with natural wonders, enchanting Puerto Rico has it all: worldclass resorts, championship golf, 300 miles of shoreline, fabulous shops, fine dining, and a nightlife that sizzles with nightclubs and casinos. Puerto Rico offers many adventures including Riu Camuy Cave System Park, where visitors can descend into a million year old cave. Tour Old San Juan, the oldest city in the U.S., the historic town of Ponce and the 400-year-old forts at San Felipe del Morro and San Cristobal. Don’t miss El Yunque Rainforest, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Park Service and home to numerous unique plants and animals like tree frogs that serenade in the evenings.

Travel Facts about Puerto Plata:

• From January through March, Samana Bay is one of the best places in the world for whale watching. It offers something for everyone – the outer bay is where you might find aggressive males competing for the females, and the sheltered inner bay is one of the most important humpback nurseries in the world. Humpback whales have been wintering near Samana for centuries. Cave drawings made by the aboriginal inhabitants of Los Haitises, long before Columbus arrived, depict the spouting whales. Columbus saw them too, as the log of his travels along the north coast in 1493 makes clear.
• If windsurfing along the coast of a lush island sounds appealing to you, then take note. About 30 minutes from Puerto Plata is the quaint resort community of Cabarete. A host to world championship windsurfing events, the smooth waters of this bay with consistent winds makes it a magnet for water-sports enthusiasts.
• Ocean World in Puerto Plata is the world’s first fully interactive ocean park. It’s not about strolling past gigantic aquariums teeming with tropical fish and sharks. It’s about actually getting inside the aquarium and swimming with them. This is the first park of its kind, where you’re interactive with all the animals: sea lions, dolphins, sharks, stingrays, tropical fish and tropical birds.

In observance of Holy Week in the Dominican Republic, from Thursday April 1st until Monday April 5th 2010, all beaches are open but no water activities beyond swimming are permitted. Some land excursions may also not be available during this period or with limited schedules, information on this cannot be provided until nearer the time.

The most cosmopolitan of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas still retains the distinctive atmosphere of a secluded Caribbean paradise. Go shopping and sailing, snorkeling, and sightseeing, or diving and dining. Enjoy the island’s world-renowned golf course, picture-perfect beaches, and spectacular nightlife. Take the Skyride 700 feet above the city or climb the famous 99 Steps of Charlotte Amalie for an incomparable view of the Caribbean. Whether indulging in some of the world’s prettiest most breathtaking beaches, re-discovering history at museums, forts or historic houses, admiring stunning panoramic views via a hike, bike or sky tram, playing a round of golf, making a splash in the invigorating turquoise blue waters, or visiting dutyfree shops, St. Thomas has much to enjoy!

Stroll along the charming Malecon in Samaná town, a seaside promenade, and visit the marina filled with sailboats and fishing boats. Las Terrenas offers miles of protected inshore waters and beautiful, undeveloped white-sand-beaches, lined with tall palm trees and pastel-colored fishing boats. Here, the focus is on the fun and funky, with an international crowd drawn to the hotels, cafes, and bars that have laid claim to the one-time fishing village’s primo locale and carefree spirit.

Wherever you go in Samana, you’ll enjoy the beat and rhythms of merengue, bachata, and salsa music.