How to Plan a Dominican Republic Holiday Adventure

A good vacation needs good planning. To get the most out of your Dominican Republic Holiday trip and avoid problems, make sure that you have prepared for the trip at least a month before your scheduled vacation. Planning includes getting a visa or tourist card, lodging, your trip's itinerary, buying tickets and of course packing clothes.

Visa or No Visa
One of the most important things that you have to check is whether or not you need to get a visa to enter Dominican Republic. There are countries that are tied with Dominican Republic so that people coming from these countries don't need to get a visa. A tourist card is required for people in some countries to enter Dominican Republic.

If you're a citizen of any of these countries, you don't need to apply for a visa or tourist card to enter Dominican Republic.

• Argentina
• Ecuador
• Japan
• South Korea
• Uruguay
• Peru
• Israel
• Chile

Here is a list of some countries whose citizens are allowed to enter Dominican Republic for tourism purposes with a tourist card only:

• Germany
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Croatia
• Greece
• El Salvador
• United States
• Spain
• France
• UK
• Italy
• Mexico
• Russia
• Thailand
• Taiwan
• Venezuela
• Norway
• United Arab Emirates

Listed below are some countries that are required to apply for a visa before entering Dominican Republic.

• Saudi Arabia
• Cambodia
• People's Republic of China
• North Korea
• Cuba
• Philippines
• Haiti
• India
• Vietnam
• Oman

Requirements and Rules

• Decree 691-07 states that citizens of the following countries: United States, European Union, Canada and Britain can enter Dominican Republic by presenting a tourism card.

• All visitors should have a valid passport.

•People who want to enter the country for business purposes must apply for a business visa, even if you are coming from a country which allows you to enter Dominican Republic with just a tourism card. Keep in mind that this card is for tourism purposes only.

• The approval of visa application is done by the Foreign Ministry which follows the established rules and regulations of the Consular Migration Department

• To extend your stay in the country, you can apply for an extension at the Offices of the Directorate of Migration.

Once you're done fixing your visa, the next thing to do is to search for affordable travel packages to Dominican Republic. There are numerous packages that you can find online. The easiest way to get the best package is to decide on the places that you want to go. Check out the main tourist destinations of the country and choose the places that you want to visit. With these places in mind, you can easily narrow down travel agencies that offer packages to the places you've chosen.

It's always easier to travel light than go on a trip with a bulky baggage. Dominican Republic is a tropical country. It's advisable to bring light clothing and a poncho. If you're going for an eco-trip, don't forget to bring mosquito repellant and a pair of dependable sneakers.

Go to the Caribbean and have a taste of its very rich culture. Have a fun-filled Dominican Republic Holidays!

Holidays In The Dominican Republic In Reverence To The Lady Of Altagracia

The people of the Dominican Republic are known to be devout Catholics, with almost 89% of its population submitting to Roman Catholicism. They honor several patron saints, and one of them is the Our Lady of Altagracia. In fact, most Dominican Republic holidays are in respect to religion.

Dia de la Altagracia, or Altagracia Day, is a feast day and annual holiday in the Dominican Republic that is being celebrated every January 21st. It was originally held every August 15th, but was later changed to January 21st to commemorate the country’s victory over the French in 1690.

Being regarded as the first country in the New World to be evangelized by the Catholic Church, the Dominicans see the image of the Lady of Altagracia as their spiritual mother, and as the one who watches over their land. They pay homage to the Lady by celebrating its feast day with a lot of vigils, church going, singing, dancing and candle lighting in many of the towns across the country.

THE PORTRAIT

The painting depicts the Nativity scene, where it shows the Virgin Mary looking over the baby Jesus sleeping in the manger. Her radiant eyes embody the warmth and affection that a mother gives a newborn child.

She is clothed with a starred blue robe, with a white scapular tied in front that seals the garment. The Dominicans distinguish the colors that are in the Blessed Virgin’s garment as the same ones in their national flag, thus, associating their national identity with the Blessed Virgin.

HISTORY

Trusted sources say that the portrait of our Lady of Altagracia was painted towards the end of the 15th or the start of the 16th century. A school in Spain was said to have kept the image, but in 1502, the brothers Alfonso and Antonio Trejo brought it into Santo Domingo. These brothers were said to be among the first European colonizers of the island.

The brothers then moved to the city of Higuey, and they decided to hand over the image of the Lady to the parish church. Not long after, people from the island began revering the portrait of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Altagracia. The first shrine was completed in 1572 and was consecrated to the Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia in 1971.

A popular tale among the Dominicans exemplifies their faith on the Lady. According to the story, there was once a merchant whose daughter has wanted to have the portrait of the Our Lady of Altagracia.. Eager to give it to his daughter, the merchant searched for the portrait throughout the island of Santo Domingo, but to his dismay, he did not find it.

He continued his search, this time moving to the town of Higuey. He was still not successful. Not willing to go home to his daughter without the portrait in his hands, he spent the night in his friend’s house. As he recounts his unsuccessful journey, an old man suddenly gave him a painting and said, “This is what you are looking for.” The portrait was indeed the image of the Our Lady of Altagracia. At the crack of dawn, the old man disappeared.

The Dominicans revere the Blessed Lady as the protector of their land. Their victory against the French in 1690 was celebrated in honor of her, thus making that day in January 21st as her official feast day. If you are a devout Catholic, spending the holidays in the Dominican Republic in homage to the Blessed Lady is a spiritual experience that should never be passed up.

Holidays In The Dominican Republic – From January To June

Holidays in the Dominican Republic are as varied and as colorful as the country's history. Most revolve around religion and are celebrated with live music, festivities, and joyous parades.

January
The Dominicans kick off their year on the first day of January, like most countries around the world. They are no exception to the festivities associated with the celebrations of the coming of the New Year. What is distinct among Dominicans though is their belief that the coming of the New Year should be celebrated with new things while discarding the old.

Houses are cleaned and dusted in the days preceding the New Year. Windows and doors are also open wide, as if to invite good things to enter the homes. New brooms are also bought to replace the old ones. These are placed outside the house for the rest of the midnight and are brought inside only the next morning. In many areas in the country, the Cocolo Festival is held by street dancers and performers.

On the 6th of January, the feast of the Three Kings is celebrated. This is followed by Dominican Republic's most important religious holiday – the feast of Our Lady of Altagracia on the 21st of January. The month is ended with celebrations that honor the birthday of the man considered the architect of the country - Juan Pablo Duarte y Díez on the Duarte Day.

February
The highlight of the Dominican Republic holidays falls on the second month of the year. It is called the 'Carnival', a celebration whose history dates as far back as 1867.

Carnival is celebrated throughout the month – on all Sundays – and climaxes on the 27th of February, with the Dominican Republic Independence Day. Every town in the country add their own twist to the holiday and everyone – local and tourists alike – are invited, in fact expected, to join the grand parades, street dances, and activities in most towns.

March to April
After the festivities of the preceding month, the Dominicans prepare for the holiest week of all. During this month, 'Semana Santa' or Holy Week is celebrated starting on the Easter Sunday and ending with the Black Saturday. Christian celebrations, however, coincide with the voodoo celebrations typical of the areas where Haitian migrants live and near the country's borders.

May
The fifth month of the year begins with a holiday – the Labor Day. The Dominicans living in the San Felipe de Puerto Plata then celebrate the feast of San Felipe on the 3rd day of the month. The month is then ended with the feast in honor of San Fernando, the local Parton Saint of Monte Cristi.

June
June is marked by various celebrations in honor of the Parton Saints of different towns in the Dominican Republic. People living in San Pedro de Macoris celebrate the San Pedro Apostle de festival. On June 10, the Feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated in most towns. On the 13th of June, a religious festival held in honor of San Juan Batista is celebrated alongside the Fiesta Patronal of Sosua and Bonao – the feast of San Antonio.

On the first week of the month, Puerto Plata Cultural Festival is celebrated and on any date of the month, the three-day long Latin music festival kicks off in the Santo Domingo Olympic Stadium.

The Dominican Republic holidays continue throughout the year with celebrations from July to the last day of December.

Experience Culture and Diversity in Dominican Republic Today

Thinking of a good travel get-away? Have a Dominican Republic holiday and experience culture and life in the Caribbean.

Dominican Republic prides itself with its rich culture and tourist destinations. If you're planning to visit this great traveler's haven, make your trip more meaningful by knowing the country's background and profile. Here are some good-to-knows about Dominican Republic that will help you appreciate your travel to this country.

An Overview
Dominican Republic is in the island of Hispaniola, located in the Greater Antilles region in the Caribbean. It is a country influenced by Spanish, French, Haitian, and African cultures. Its population is very diverse, majority of which are Europeans and Africans. You would also see a number of Haitians, Asians and Americans. The official language of the country is Spanish and Castilian. English, Chinese, Italian and French are also used in different transactions especially in their popular tourist destinations. The government is a Representative Democracy and the currency they use is Dominican Peso. Majority of the population is Roman Catholic. Other religions in the country are Protestant, Seventh Day Adventist, Baptist and Mormon.

History
To appreciate a country more, it's important that you know a few things about its history.

Christopher Columbus reached the area in 1942 and put up the first permanent European settlement in the region. Santo Domingo became the capital of Dominican Republic and the first capital of Spain in the new world.  After the Spanish rule, French and the Haitian took over the country.

The country gained independence from Haitian rule in 1844. During this period, Dominican Republic faced numerous political strife and tyranny. Spain took over again in 1861. In 1865, Spain left the country after 2 years of fighting against the United States of America.

Government
The founding fathers of Dominican Republic are Juan Pablo Duarte, Ramon Matias Mella and Francisco Del Rosario Sanchez.  The country follows a Representative Democracy type of government with 3 branches, which are the executive, legislative and judicial. The president and vice-president have a 4-year term. Their government's legislature is bicameral. The senate has 32 members and the Chamber of Deputies has 178 members.

Election is held every 2 years alternating between the presidential elections and the congressional and municipal elections. Today, the president of Dominican Republic is Leonel Fernandez.

Society, Climate and Culture

Dominican Republic is a tropical country. The average temperature is 25 ° C. The coldest months are January and February while the hottest month is August.

Dominican Republic can be viewed as a melting pot of many cultures because of the mix of population in the country. Visiting the country would let you experience a blend of Spanish, French and African cultures. Dominicans love fast and lively music, which is represented very well by their music known as Merengue. They also excel and are passionate about baseball.

Eco tourism is one of the reasons that people want to visit Dominican Republic. They pride themselves with their lovely beaches and mountain ranges. Some of the most popular places in the country are the towns of Jarabacoa and Constanza, Pico Duarte, Baha de las Aguilas and Puerto Plata.

Have a Dominican Republic holiday and see for yourself what this rich country has to offer.

Experience a Dominican Republic Holiday Today

What better time to travel to a new place than on a country's holiday? Dominican Republic is located in the Caribbean region.  Get to know the country's people and tradition. Live a life of festivities and fun in this culturally rich country.

Dominican Republic has a good mix of Spanish, French and African cultures. Here is a list of holidays and a first quarter year calendar of the events that you might want to look into when planning a trip to this country.

• The feast of the Epiphany this year is on January 6th. The Epiphany is one of the most important holidays in the Catholic calendar. It celebrates God coming to us in the form of his son, Jesus Christ. When you come to Dominican Republic during the feast of the Epiphany, you will experience and see how Dominicans are passionate about their beliefs and traditions.

• January 21st is the feast of Our Lady of Altagracia. This is a national holiday for Mary. If you want to go to the country on this time, don't forget to visit the largest Marian shrine in the country, located at Higuey.


• Duarte's day is held on January 26th this year. This is a very important holiday for the country. Juan Pablo Duarte is one of the founding fathers of Dominican Republic.

• February 27th is the country's Independence Day. This is a non-working national holiday. A visit to the country's capital, Santo Domingo is bound to give you a holiday full of festivities.

• Holy Week. One of the best ways to celebrate holy week is to visit Dominican Republic. Enrich your soul through its rich catholic traditions. Be a part of various events and celebrations that take place in all parts of the country.

• Restoration day, a non-working holiday, is on August 16th. On this day, the country remembers the Dominican restoration war that happened between 1863 and 1865.

• The feast of Virgen de las Mercedes is on September 24th.  According to the locals, Virgen de las Mercedes appeared to a group of Spanish soldiers when they were fighting against the Taino Indians. The Lady also had several apparitions on Santo Cerro. A church was built in the area in her honor.

• Other holidays of Dominican Republic are constitution day on November, Christmas Eve and Christmas day on December.

Aside from the country's holidays, you can also plan a trip to Dominican Republic and be part of some of this year's events.

The Laser Midwinter Regatta is held yearly and starts on January. This event marks the start of the laser regatta calendar. The National Symphony Orchestra Season runs through the whole month of January at Eduardo Brito National Theatre in Santo Domingo, the country's capital. The Humpback Whales Observation Season is a 3-month event that will be held from January 15 until March 15.

Dominican Republic has a very rich story and traditions. Plan your trip by choosing any of their holidays so you can experience   a trip full of festivities and fun.