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Welcome to the forum!

This is a big country with lots to offer! Some like the hustle and bustle of Santo Domingo, some like the coolness and quiet of Jarabacoa, some like the beaches on the north coast - Cabarete, Sosua, Las Terrenas.

What's your motivation for considering DR as a retirement home? What things are important to you in a location, a community, a home?

If you provide some of this detail, the folks here can provide some options on where to make that first trip! Because this is a big country, you won't be able to see it all, at least not in a substantive way, on one trip. You need to prioritize and plan to see one or two locations per trip - unless you're taking long trips!

As for specific recommendations for taxi drivers, AirBnBs, etc., once you've narrowed your options, folks can chime in!

We're in Las Terrenas. After visiting resorts in Punta Cana and La Romana for years, we started thinking about retirement here. We did a ton of research online and created a shortlist of places to consider. We knew we wanted to be on the coast, so that narrowed our list somewhat. Las Terrenas was the place, on paper and online, that seemed to be the best fit for us, so we started here. We spent two weeks here on our first trip, including a week of that in an AirBnB so that we could experience shopping here. We absolutely fell in love with LT, so we never visited the rest of our list. In fact, we love it so much that we turned out 10-year plan into a 3-year plan!

Watch "Cabrera (República Dominicana) 4K" on YouTube

As stated above this country is big and diverse. Narrow down the search based on your needs and wants as well as you budget then start visiting. That is the fun part!  Visit and see what you like, what you dont like.

AND  read read read. There  is a lot of info  here on the various threads! Ask questions  as much as you like as well!

As I have posted in another forum:
Look into Costambar. Many types of lodging: small to grand homes, rental apartments and condos. Good restaurants. Well stocked colmado, plus a pharmacy, money exchange, and auto-teller machine. It is a gated community with 24 hr protection, both with guards at the gate and by patrol. International collection of residents, both full time and 'snowbirds'. Beach is over a half-mile long. Less than 5 minutes away from Puerto Plata, yet extremely quiet. Quiz nights, theater group, movie nights, bocce on the beach, etc. for communal activities. Costambar is unique on the north coast, if not in all of the RD.

Hi you soind just like me. Retired, loo looking for quiet and little Spanish. I recently picked up a condo in Juan Dolio. It's on South coast 45 or so minutes from Santo Domingo. There is lots of construction  going on especially in New Juan Dolio. You can pick an already built studio for around 65k or say 2 beds 2 baths beachfront for around 200k. I chose the later. What attracted me to this local is that it is quiet on weekday but weekends are a very different story. So you get the quiet time that you are looking for and the option to participate in bustling weekend activities if you choose. I went into an existing condo complex called Los Olas. Costs del Mar and Marbella are two others two consider. The town is a second home area for well heeled Dominicans from Santo Domingo because it is so close. The area is relatively safe too. The Dominican president has a sea front retreat. Lots of police presence. Amenities are good but I find prices a little high basically on par with US for good restaurants. Rum is of course cheap. I can pass along some local drivers who were reliable and recommended to me. Also a top knotch real estate outfit if you would like. Just send me a private note. I forgot to mention airport is 20 minutes from town. Pretty convenient location. I too speak just a few words of Spanish and really need to learn lots more. Best of luck in
pursuing  your interest in a my m of be to DR!  So far I have very few regrets apart from my own lack of Spanish.

Which area do you all recommend for my first trip to the DR.? 
I am thinking of the Santo Domingo area first around February for the festival season.
Any others with input?

it all depends on your interests.
beach, mountains, city etc.
cabrera is a very calm and nice
beaches. spent time there with in laws

dgb1 wrote:

Which area do you all recommend for my first trip to the DR.? 
I am thinking of the Santo Domingo area first around February for the festival season.
Any others with input?

Is this first visit just to experience DR, or are you hoping to scout out potential retirement locations? If you are wanting to explore places to live, then unless you want to live in Santo Domingo, I wouldn't recommend staying there!

Again, if you let folks know what is drawing you to DR, and what you are looking for in a retirement home, you can get some great recommendations. If not, you'll just get a bunch of folks telling you that their decision was the best and you should do the same! One thing I've learned from being part of this forum is that one size does not fit all! There is something here for just about everyone though!

I was thinking of Santo Domingo for my first visit so I can enjoy Carnaval in February. Might be fun.
As to living there, I do not think so.
I am wanting a fairly quiet place, lots of water activities and close to some decent nightlife and resturants. I am not a fan of having close neighbors, a bit of privacy is needed. These requirements I will consider as I go to the DR. for my 2nd and third trips. As my personal life is convoluted it will take me about two years to finalize issues and move.
So I have time to shop.

Where we are with COVID next spring could impact how much Carnival celebration there is! I hear La Vega is the place to be for the best celebrations.

Planner might have insight on how much the partying was reined in there in Santo Domingo this past year because of the pandemic.

Santo Domingo really isn't the place for Carnaval.  It's ok but La Vega is the place for that.

Santo Domingo is a weekend trip to see the Colonial zone, shopping and restaurants.

My advice; find a good Bed & Breakfast for the first month and look for a rental apartment to look further from there. In this way you are/remain flexible and you are not tied to anything.
If you want to buy real estate ..... make sure you have a very good lawyer, learn about laws and regulations, make sure your Spanish is in good order and don't decide immediately (regardless of what they advise you)
Good luck with your search and enjoy!

I agree with all except the bed and breakfast,  good idea but they almost don't exist here.... LOL  Air bnb  is the best option in most areas.

  Take your time. Do NOT let anyone pressure you!   Absolutely make sure  you read all contracts  translated by someone NOT connected to the sale if buying!

I think the more and more I read about the need for spanish assistane to my new friends will be my calling once we arrive in DR.
god willinG
I love helping others specially in language needs.

The north shore was the first tourist destination in the country, so Puerto Plata has a lot of english speakers,Sosua is getting away from being a sex destination, Caberete was a surfer town that's expanding,Cabrera is growing also with luxury homes and golf.I would think you would feel comfortable starting at these places and Costamber.Las Terenas is beautiful,low key.I personally like a small town with options so I would pick Bayahibe on the south eastern part of the island between La Romana and Punta Cana, small quiet streets, walkable,cafes, American, French, Italian, beautiful beach,parks on and off shore.,and being retired good doctors and hospitals.You have a lot of options in that area.happy hunting.

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