Travel – Your Caribbean Getaway
Catalina Island, Dominican Republic (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If you envision yourself lying on the beach of a sunny Caribbean isle with a cool coconut drink in hand watching the waves rush in and recede to the ocean, you are not alone. Millions of people around the globe dream of a Caribbean vacation and most of them are able to make those dreams manifest at least once in their lifetime.
Caribbean vacations are becoming more accessible. Seasonal deals in combination with varied vacation packages are helping to make the dream more realistic for many. Deals are offered for pretty much every occasion, summer, Easter, winter, Christmas, thanksgiving, valentine’s day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Daye, Halloween and Spring break just to name a few. And of course there are off season deals that cater to travelers who wish to schedule their trips for the less busy periods.
One of the first things that you will encounter in your search for a Caribbean vacation is the all-inclusive package. This is a package that offers a wide variety of features for one rate. Booking entitles you to features such as meals, room, wireless internet, nanny services, daily and nightly entertainment, tours and pools or beach access. Some features though, will come with a cost. Those that typically fall under this category are spa services, room service and phone calls.
With an all inclusive vacation package, you do not have to worry about organizing your tours, finding the spots to view and making the trip. All of this is done for you. You get to experience the environment of the country in a controlled manner. If you are the opposite of the adventurous backpacker type then this is the ideal vacation for you.
But not all tourists would enjoy the all inclusive plan. Many of them want to take charge of their vacation. The adrenaline rush that comes from experiencing local life firsthand is, to them priceless. They want free uninhibited interaction with the locals. This is where rental or lease properties come into play. These properties also may work out less expensive than hotel accommodations for vacations that run more than a month or two. Many resorts have tapped into this market and are offering privately owned apartments to tourists for rental or lease. These apartments are fully owned and maintained by private individuals and the rental or lease agreement is brokered with the owner before occupancy.
If you choose to rent or lease accommodation for your vacation period here are some tips to consider. Find out what the rent or lease laws in the country dictate in order to ensure that your interests are protected. You don’t want to be scammed out of a big chunk, or all of your vacation money by what initially appears to be a good deal but really isn’t. Find out what is included in the payment or deposit. Look for items such as housekeeping, utilities and yard maintenance. It is easier to rent a property that comes with these expenses covered in the payment as it makes it easier for you to focus on making the best of the experience. Shop around and ensure that you get the best value for your money.
Relax in a lush tropical environment created by the apartment that you have rented. Then, if you feel like it, take a walk through the community and meet some of the locals. Be sure though to have a trustworthy local resident be your tour guide. A good idea would be to find a link through the renter. Dominican Republic apartments are obviously ideal for tourists who want to take full advantage of their vacationing potential.
Shannon is a travel agent who migrated to the Caribbean a few years ago to take up a position in a travel agency at http://www.gopuntacanarealestate.com/ . She now manages one of the largest such entities in the Caribbean region and is always vocal on how tourists can enhance their vacation experience.
Category: Travel
