Puerto Rico or Dominican Republic?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Puerto Rico
US convenience wrapped in Caribbean warmth; conversations start easily and end slowly.
What we have written up
- Adjuntas town
- Arecibo Lighthouse lighthouse
- Barranquitas and the Cordillera Towns old town
- BasÃlica de la Monserrate basilica
- Bomba and Plena tradition
- Boquerón village
All 115 places in Puerto Rico →
Worth knowing before you go
- The currency is the US dollar and an 11.5% sales tax lands at the register
- Cards work everywhere in San Juan, but roadside kiosks and small towns want cash
- Sunday afternoons are for family beach outings - popular beaches fill by mid-morning
Dominican Republic
Merengue pace with Caribbean warmth; the all-inclusive coast and the real island differ happily.
What we have written up
- 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua waterfall
- Alcázar de Colón palace
- Altos de Chavón old town
- Amber and Larimar tradition
- Armando Bermúdez National Park national park
- Bahia de las Aguilas beach
All 113 places in Dominican Republic →
Worth knowing before you go
- Tipping: 10% service is on bills; a little extra is customary
- Dollars are widely accepted; pesos get better street prices
- Uber works in Santo Domingo and Santiago
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.