The Dominican Republic is a perfect place to vacation if you want to go to a resort, relax, and not have to worry about anything.  It is one of the lesser expensive Caribbean islands, so even if you didn't think you could afford a Caribbean vacation, you should check this one out.

Most people come to the Dominican Republic to stay at an all-inclusive resort.  An all-inclusive resort usually means that you pay one price, and absolutely everything is included.  This means your hotel room, all the food you can eat, all you can drink (including alcohol), and most activities are all included.  This is mainly because most of the island is not built up, so you come to a resort, and stay at that resort for the entire trip. 

Most resorts are along the beach, and are absolutely beautiful.  They usually have lots of activities going on that you can join in, and a beautiful pool or beach nearby if you just want to relax.  The food is usually good, and very plentiful.  Most of the resorts have multiple bars as well, so you can get a drink (regular or alcoholic) whenever you are thirsty. 

Three of the biggest areas that people go to visit are Punta Cana on the very east end of the island, Puerto Plata, which is on the north west part of the island, and Santo Domingo, on the south side of the island.

Punta Cana:  There are some very big all-inclusive resorts here, including a few from Paradisus, Melia, Secrets Excellence, Riu Palace, Occidental, and many more.  They are all great relaxing places to spend your beach vacation, and the resorts will go out of their way to make sure it is one that you will fully enjoy.

If you feel the need to travel to see a bit more of the island, there are a few things you can do nearby.  One is to visit Isla Saona, which you will take a speedboat or Catamaran to get to.  Once you arrive, you will be able to swim in some natural pools, and see some gorgeous tropical fish.

You can also visit the Punta Cana Ecological Park, where you will be able to see a lot of flora and fauna.  Some things you will be able to see are a petting farm, cultural exhibits, an iguana habitat, experimental gardens, and more.   

 If you are interested in golfing, there are also a few golf courses, most near major resorts where you can enjoy a day of golf.

Puerto Plata:  There are many all-inclusive resorts here as well, by Riu, Breezes, Viva Wyndham, Occidental, and many more.  If you are interested in getting to see more of Puerto Plata, there are a few other things nearby that you can visit.

At Ocean World, you can swim with dolphins, and stingrays.  You can have an encounter with a dolphin, or a sea lion.  You can also go snorkeling in the coral reef to see many beautiful tropical fish.  There is also a tropical bird aviary, as well as a rainforest exhibit.  This park has a lot for everyone who is interested in learning more about different marine life, and want to have the chance to interact with some of them.

For some beautiful views, you can go to the top of Mount Isabel de Torres.  There are cable cars that you can take to the top, where you will be rewarded with a really nice view of the bay.

If you are interested in Amber, Puerto Plata has the largest collection of Amber in the world, at the Amber Museum. 

Santo Domingo:  Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic.  There are many all-inclusive resorts here as well, but as this is a fairly decent sized city, you will see more regular hotels here than other areas of the island, and there are more restaurants nearby where you can eat.   Some of the all-inclusive resorts here include Coral Costa Caribe, two by Barcelo, Occidental, and many more.

There are many things to do and see in Santo Domingo.  You can see the Alcazar de Colon, which was built by Christopher Columbus's son.  This restored building was one of the first structures built in the area, and is one of the oldest remaining European city in the Americas. 

The Colonial Zone (Zona Colonial) is a great area to go walking around.  It contains many museums, and you will learn a lot and see a lot of history walking around this area.  Another great place to visit if you love history is the Santa Maria La Menor Cathedral, which was the first cathedral built in the Americas.  This is where Christopher Columbus was buried until it was discovered in 1877.

If you enjoy shopping, you will want to take a walk along El Conde Street, which has a lot of different shops on it.  It is Santo Domingo's most popular shopping strip.

As you can see, your island vacation can be as relaxing and romantic, or busy and exciting as you would like it to be in the Dominican Republic.  The best part is, it can all be done at a low price so you don't have to sacrifice to have an amazing vacation.