Dominican Republic

The vibrant lifestyle of this sun-drenched, Latin-Caribbean country, where Spanish is the national language and where the people are hospitable and good-natured, makes the Dominican Republic a different cultural experience. If you pick up the rhythm of life here, as free-wheeling as the island's trademark merengue, this can be a beguiling tourist destination. And it's still one of the least expensive of the Caribbean islands.

Dominicans will extend a gracious welcome, saying, "This is your home!" and indeed are happy to share what they have, which is a physically beautiful island bathed by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Among its most precious assets are 1,500 km (1,000 mi) of gorgeous beaches studded with coconut palms and sands ranging from pearl white to golden brown to volcanic black.

The Caribbean sun kisses this exotic land (warm temperatures average 27°C year-round), which occupies two-thirds, or 76,192 square mi (48,442 square km), of the island of Hispañola, sharing the remainder with the Republic of Haiti. Cuba is due west, and to the east is Puerto Rico. It's a fertile country blessed with resources, particularly cocoa, coffee, rum, tobacco, and sugarcane. A land of contrasts, the island has alpine landscapes, large rivers with white-water rapids, rain forests full of wild orchids, and fences of multicolor bougainvillea. Indigenous species from crocodiles to the green cockatoo, symbol of the island, live in these habitats.

The contrasts don't stop with nature. You can see signs of wealth, for the upper strata of society lives well indeed. In the capital, the movers and shakers ride in chauffeur-driven silver Mercedes. On the country roads you'll be amazed that four people with sacks of groceries and a stalk of bananas can fit on a smoky old motoconcho (motor bike/taxi).

This is a land of mestizos, who are a centuries-old mix of native Indians, Spanish colonists, and African slaves, plus every other nationality that has settled here, from Italian to Arabic. Accommodations now offer a remarkable range -- surfers' camps, exclusive boutique hotels, and amazing megaresorts that have brought the all-inclusive hotel to the next level of luxury.

The standard of life has really come up along with the growth of North American tourism. With the strength of foreign currencies, it's easy to make you money go a long way in the Dominican. Prices are very competitive, you can pick up some real bargains if you are lucky.

Islanders have an affinity with the western world: the people, language (more and more speak English), electronic products, fashions, and lifestyle.

The entire Caribbean region is intensely popular with tourists, second homers and retirees. As the space on which developers can build tourism facilities and residential property is physically restricted on an island and in a small country, so the potential for a growth in the supply of property is severely restricted - especially in the most desirable areas of the most popular countries like Barbados or the Dominican Republic.

At the same time the appeal of the majority of Caribbean islands and countries is growing annually with more affordable airfares opening up destinations to more people and more people benefiting from an increase in personal prosperity and purchasing power in many countries worldwide - so the demand for accommodation, second homes and retirement homes in the Caribbean region is intensifying.

Demand is already outstripping supply in many Caribbean countries and this situation will only naturally intensify which creates unstoppable property price inflation!