How to Travel Like a Local in the Dominican Republic

Learn a Bit of Spanish

If you’re visiting the DR North Coast, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that many locals speak English. This part of the Dominican Republic is popular with North American expats and tourists, so learning Spanish isn’t necessary. But, if you want the opportunity to make more connections and enjoy our local culture to the fullest, it doesn’t hurt to pick up a few phrases!

Greetings and introductions, basic questions like “where is the bathroom?” dining phrases like “menu,” or “the check,” and common Dominican slang are all useful words and phrases to learn in Spanish (you can find a full list in one of our past blogs).

Even if you only plan to visit the country for a few days, preparing some Spanish phrases ahead of time will make it easier to talk to more people or take day trips to areas of the DR where English isn’t as common.

Visit More Than Tourist Hot-Spots

The Dominican Republic boasts many must-see attractions, from beaches and national parks to historic sites like the Catedral Primada de Amarica in Santo Domingo. While these are definitely fun to check off your bucket list, you can’t always get a good glimpse at DR life purely from visiting the hot spots.

Discover hidden gems like Rio Yasica and spend the day tubing or enjoying water sports. Walk through the town centres of Cabarete, Puerta Plata, and Sosua to shop at local markets and Colmados, discover local artisans and small music venues, and find authentic café con leche—the sky’s the limit! If you want as authentic an experience as possible, try conversing with locals and seasoned expats to get good recommendations for things to see and do!

Trade in Your Resort for an Airbnb

Staying at a resort can be a fun, relaxing way to vacation. But if you really want to get to know the Dominican Republic while you’re here, an all-inclusive can hinder your efforts to maintain an authentic, local experience. Check out rental hosting platforms like Airbnb to find a house, villa, or condo in closer proximity to locals.

You can usually find one of our luxury villas or townhouses from Casa Linda available for rent, as many of our residents take advantage of our renter-friendly policy!

Rather than surrounding yourself with fellow tourists, staying in town or a local gated community will give you the chance to live alongside locals and longtime expats. Who knows, you may make new friends and lasting connections that will ensure you want to return!

Get a Taste for Traditional Dishes

One of the best parts of travel is getting to try local cuisine and potentially discover a new favourite food! Rather than sticking to resort fare or more familiar cuisine like Italian food, try some of the Dominican Republic’s traditional dishes!

For breakfast, try mangú (mashed plantains) with eggs, sausage, and other popular side dishes. For lunch or dinner, nothing beats our national dish—a plate of rice, meat, beans, salad, and avocado. Other must-trys like empanadas, roast pork, goat stew, and pica pollo (DR fried chicken) will have you seeking out recipes to try making at home!

Don’t Just Travel like a Local— Become a Local!

If you want to really immerse yourself in DR culture and community, consider purchasing a vacation home and becoming a part-time local! Our Cabarete villas from Casa Linda are affordable, luxurious, and fully customizable, and start as low as $199,700 USD.

With a Casa Linda villa, you’ll gain access to resort-style amenities, housekeeping and landscaping services, and a welcoming community of DR locals and expats. Before you know it, you’ll be trying to figure out how to move here permanently (we can help you with that, too—check out our Expat Support/Information page!).