From Expedia: Dominican Republic: Save up to 48% on packages! Expires 1/31/10
From DR1:
The new "elite" rooms feature a modern look, while maintaining the use of rich mahogany woods and Coralina stone. The rooms are equipped with 42 Led flat screen TVs and Blu-ray players and cable. Other features are alarm clock radios with dual dock for iPods and iPhones and high-speed, wireless Internet.
The new main area with its grand open spaces makes the absolute most of the surrounding natural Caribbean beauty in a minimalist design.
The main pool area has been completely renovated to include trellised platforms for early morning and late afternoon yoga classes, and shaded seating areas in natural woods and white canopies and cushions.
"Casa de Campo set the benchmark for luxury travel in the Caribbean" said general manager Alberto Grau, "and we are very excited to continue this fine reputation into the future."
British Airways prepares for the launch of its new twice-weekly service from Gatwick to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic from October 26, 2009 reinforcing its position as the airline with more flights to the Caribbean than any other UK carrier.
In addition to the flights to Punta Cana, the airline is also increasing flights to other winter sun hot-spots in the region such as St Lucia (from three to five flights a week), Barbados (from nine to ten) and Port of Spain, Trinidad (from three to five). Overall, BA will now fly 45 times a week to the Caribbean.
Richard Tams, head of sales at British Airways, said; "These new routes and increased frequencies underline our commitment to the Caribbean. It's a popular destination with our customers and it's due to demand that we're increasing the number of flights to the region. We now operate to 13 destinations in the Caribbean - more than any other UK airline."
Holidays in the Dominican Republic mean relaxing on sun-kissed beaches and snorkelling above colourful reefs, strolling along the 16th-century cobblestone streets of the capital in Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone or taking a hiking holiday in the Dominican Republic's forested inland.
British Airways has a wide range of hotels in the Dominican Republic, like the 5* Dreams Palm Beach which is situated in an idyllic location, on a gorgeous beach with luxury accommodation and a fantastic kids Explorer's Club. Alternatively, those looking for pure relaxation, can try the 5* Zoetry Agua Punta Cana, offering complimentary private chauffeured return airport transfers rounding up a holiday in style.
The Dominican Republic Jazz Festival is a festival full of rhythm, flavor, and color that each year is wrapped in the fragrant air of the North Coast of the Dominican Republic. It is a unique experience to have the opportunity to enjoy our festival, where the music vibrates on the lively beach of Cabarete. Every year we invite International and Local Musicians to share the stage and to bring many different genres of Jazz to please its diverse and eager music lovers; local residents and tourists alike.
Playa Cabarete, November 6, 7, & 8, 2009 Click here for the festival website!
From DR1:
DR1 is reporting:
The 18-hole Iberostate Bavaro Golf Club at the Iberostate Bavaro Villas & Condos Golf Resort is scheduled for a 1 November opening. This is part of the Iberostar properties located in Arena Gorda (Punta Cana). Iberostate is Spanish hotel chain Iberostar's international real estate division that specializes in residential developments (golf villas and condos) within resort complexes.
The Iberostate golf course is packaged to tourists staying at the Bavaro, Punta Cana, Dominicana and Grand of the Iberostar chain. The course has a driving range. It was designed by PB Dye. Course director is Fernando Cuesta. The course promises a perfect climate, finest and most carefully maintained installations, great care in the vertical movement of the course and interesting work wit h stone and rocky materials, to create the setting for enjoying a golf match and improving handicaps. The course promoters encourage their players to "allow yourself to fall under the spell of this new seaside golf course".
Also scheduled for opening this year in the area, are the 18-hole Los Corales private membership course at Los Corales in Punta Cana Resort & Club in October. Next the first 9 holes will be playable in late November at Cana Bay part of the Moon Palace resort complex, also in Arena Gorda, Punta Cana. Cana Bay was designed by Jack Nicklaus Design company.
From DR1:
An article in USAToday points out several new routes to the Caribbean, including the DR, St. Lucia, and Barbados:
Our friends at DR1 have some airlines news for the Dominican Republic:
Spirit begins flight to Santiago
Manuel Jaquez, Spirit Airlines Latin American director, is betting on becoming the preferred choice for connecting with Central America, Colombia, Peru and South America for those living in Santiago and the central Cibao area of the DR. Spirit recently began flights on the Santiago-Fort Lauderdale route, departing the Cibao International Airport in Santiago (STI) three times a week with very competitive fares. Alfredo Gonzalez, vice president, tourism and international business of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Fort Lauderdale traveled to Santiago to promote Fort Lauderdale to the Cibao travelers.
From DR1:
Performances take place at the Cristobal de Llerena auditorium, with a giant screen outside in the Cafe Teatro for those who prefer an informal setting to talk with friends. And there will be a special concert with Bryan Lynch from the US at the Plaza Bartolome de las Casas on Saturday, 4 July.
This year's schedule is: 18 June: Roberto Carcasse and his trio (Cuba); 25 June: Rafael Mirabal and Sistema Temperado (DR); 2 July: Patricia Pereyra (DR); 4 July: Bryan Lynch (USA); 9 July: Ossia Saxophons (France); 16 July: Natalia Calderon Quartet (Spain); 23 July: Guillo Carias and his group (DR); 30 July: Paula Shokron and trio (Argentina). Tickets are for sale for RD$350 for hall performance, and RD$200 for the Cafe Teatro.
Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort Upgrades to Greener Grandeur with New Junior Suites at Barceló Bávaro Palace Deluxe
Fairfax, VA/Punta Cana, D.R. - In December 2008, the Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort completed a multi-million dollar renovation project that included the addition of 488 junior suites with amenities for greater luxury and "greener" sustainability. Together, the junior suites make up Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort's new Barceló Bávaro Palace Deluxe, offering the best value in all-inclusive luxury travel in the Caribbean. New eco-friendly features also help ease travelers' minds as all junior suites include low consumption lights and LEDs, energy-conserving lighting and water control and flow-limiting faucets in both the sinks and showers.
Continue reading "New Junior Suites at Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe" »
News from our friends at DR1:
- Cancun and Santo Domingo routes planned for 2009 -
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU) today announces plans to further expand its South Florida focus city at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport with two new international routes. The airline, best known for its award-winning in-flight experience and its commitment to customer service, intends to commence daily nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and to Cancun, Mexico, in May 2009, subject to receipt of government operating authority.
Continue reading "JetBlue to Add Two New International Routes from Fort Lauderdale" »
Continue reading "Dominican Republic Named "Golf Destination of the Year"" »
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC JAZZ FESTIVAL 9TH EDITION EVENTS CALENDAR.
Playa Cabarete November 7-9
Dominican Republic
Friday November 7, Playa Cabarete., 8:30 PM
Ambar Jazz Group (Dom. Rep.)
Dave Valentin & PR All Star Latin Jazz (USA, Dom. Rep.)
Eric Figueroa, Endel Dueno, Javier Oquendo, Ramon vazquez y Eddy "Guagua" Rivera
Special guest Luis "Perico" Ortiz
Free
Saturday November 8th
Playa Cabarete 10:00am - 12pm
Jazz workshop for the youth
Playa Cabarete 12:30 pm
Youth Concert
Playa Cabarete, 8:30 PM
Sandy Gabriel & Electric Jazz (Dom. Rep.)
Giovanni Hidalgo & Descarga Boricua Quintet (PR), Eric Figueroa, Tito de Gracia, Piro Rodriguez y Eddy "Guagua" Rivera
Descarga de Congueros: Giovanni Hidalgo, Tito de Gracia, Javier Oquendo y Guarionex Aquino
Special Guest Puppy Santiago
Free
Sunday November 9, Playa Cabarete, 8:30 PM
Fidel Morales Trio (Cuba)
Fidel Morales, Yan Carlos Artime y Ramon Vazquez
Prodigio en Jazz (Dom. Rep)
Free
Other activities:
Photography contest (Topic) : Music
DR1 has got the scoop on the 2009 Cap Cana PGA event:
At a press conference held to announce the tournament, PGA Champions Tour president Mike Stevens said that the tournament had been an unprecedented success in all senses of the word -- given the DR's hospitality and the extent that the players enjoyed the complete experience. Our players and our work team are looking forward to returning to Cap Cana in 2009," he said. Players will compete for a US$315,000 prize for the winner, and a US$2.1 million purse. The Cap Cana Championship will be transmitted by The Golf Channel for North America, Europe and the Caribbean and ESPN Latin America for Latin America. Golf Digest magazine has ranked the Punta Espada course among the 100 best courses outside of the US. Forbes also lists it among the 10 best golf courses in the Caribbean, and Robb Report's "Best of the Best" featured it as one of the most extraordinary golf courses around the world. The course opened in November 2006 and is operated by Troon Golf. The Champions Tour is open to golfers over the age of 50. In 2009, it will be in its 30th year.
DR1 has the early scoop on Dominican Fashion Week:
DR1 is reporting on the first Oktober Fest in Puerto Plata:
Oktober Fest began when Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Theressa Von Sacasen-Hildburghausen of Bavaria married on 17 October 1810. Since then it has continued strong in Munich and in cities all around the world.
September 16, 2008 - Miami, FL - Chris Evert, the world-renowned tennis icon and new wife of golf legend, Greg Norman, recently headed to Miami's sandy shores for a private reception at the Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key. The highly-anticipated event played host to Miami's elite and top media figures. The couple, who recently made a media splash with their whirlwind romance, became an item when Chris Evert began working with The Great White forming Tennis Villages in his resort residential developments throughout the world. Chris Evert chose Miami as the city in which to formally announce her new Tennis Center, which will be alongside her husband's first PGA quality course in the Dominican Republic.
Golfweek is reporting on the resort and golf course building scene in the DR:
As he and his entourage survey the scene, a large passenger plane crosses above them on its descent into nearby Punta Cana International Airport. It's the world's only privately owned international airport - built and operated by the same Dominican consortium that developed Punta Cana Resort and Corales GC.
I have been lucky enough to golf in the DR and I would go back in a heartbeat. Some of these new courses look and sound amazing, and of course you have one of the original great courses of the Caribbean at Casa de Campo, the Teeth of The Dog. Old and new, the Dominican Republic is a great golf destination.

