Caribbean Escapes (That are Still Affordable)
By Suzan Haskins
The tops of the palms wave cheerily in the breeze like giant green feather dusters against a soft blue, cloudless sky. I’m bobbing contentedly in the warm turquoise waters looking back at the beach, its silky white sands speckled with tiny seashells.
By Suzan Haskins
The tops of the palms wave cheerily in the breeze like giant green feather dusters against a soft blue, cloudless sky. I’m bobbing contentedly in the warm turquoise waters looking back at the beach, its silky white sands speckled with tiny seashells.
Despite
it being mid-summer I’m the only one swimming in this small cove...the
only one enjoying this flawless slice of beach this morning.
I’m near the town of Bayahibe on the south-eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, at a stretch of beach known as Dominicus.
This
is in the province of La Romana—a popular tourism destination. I’ve
learned, though, that there are the tourist resort areas of La Romana
and then there are places like this—that buzz with activity on weekends
and holidays when the locals come to play, yet are nearly deserted
mid-week.
A
small fishing village of brightly-painted, Caribbean-style wooden
buildings, Bayahibe itself is laidback, with the rustic charm of nearby
Saona Island and the Dominican Republic’s best scuba-diving sites,
located just offshore.
Prices on the island, and even on this popular southern coast, are quite affordable.
On
this trip, I had a chance to look at the popular beachside community of
Juan Dolio, 45 minutes west of La Romana and about two hours from Santo
Domingo. This proximity makes it a well-established weekend getaway for
those looking to escape the big-city stress and spend some downtime on
the beach. It’s also a quick-and-easy hop from the States. Santo Domingo
is little more than a three-hour flight from New York and a two-hour
flight from Miami.
In
a three-tower project right on the beach, for example, a
1,345-square-foot, ground-floor two-bedroom/two-bathroom condo is
selling for $230,000. This condo has tile floors and granite
countertops, and a large terrace perfect for dining. There’s also a
superb view of the beach and ocean. The beach here is wide and sandy,
lined by swaying palms, and condo amenities include a swimming pool and
on-site restaurant.
A
free golf membership to a country club is part of the deal, and all the
amenities you need are close by, including restaurants and small
grocery stores, an international school, and a medical clinic with
English-speaking doctors.
A
bit farther east, in another high-rise project, a 1,560-square-foot,
two-bedroom/two-bathroom apartment on the fourth floor is selling for
$278,000. There are gorgeous ocean views from the master bedroom, and
the guestroom has an ocean-view balcony to capture a cooling sea breeze.
All
the properties I saw are in the newer part of Juan Dolio, traveling
east along the beach from the more established section of town. This
newer area is where a brand-new film studio is being built, along with
one of the biggest shopping malls in the Caribbean.
Later
that night, after viewing these properties, I sat on the balcony of my
hotel room, sipping Dominican rum and watching the soft Caribbean
moonlight play across water and the fine white sands. Another perfect
moment...
I tell you more
about this part of the island, and give full details on all the
properties mentioned, in the current issue of International Living
magazine.
Editor’s note: Things have changed in the U.S. in the last 30 or 40 years—for the better...and for the worse.
Many
of us remember when we could walk freely at night...recall doctors
making house calls...and can think back to when an average industrial
wage was enough to take care of the whole family.
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