Monthly Archives: August 2022

The first of these set pieces takes place on an island where a tribe of cannibals have taken the crew of the Black Pearl captive, forcing them to escape in a cage built from the bones of the locals' previous victims. It's a turn of events blending macabre subject matter with broad slapstick, a core aspect of Verbinski's work going back to his directing debut on 1997's "Mouse Hunt" (a film that, frankly, does a better job embodying Verbinski's artistic impulses than his first real breakout hit, "The Ring").

"You draw this stuff on a napkin at lunch and then you do storyboards or thumbnails and you try to explain it to the producers and the crew and they look at you like you're insane," as the director told IGN in 2006. Further complicating matters, the sequence begins with the crew of the Black Pearl dangling in one of these bone cages over a high gorge (a place where one wrong move could send them plummeting to their death).

Verbinski broke down the intricacies of planning out this set piece for IGN:

"In the bone cage, they had a scene where they were in these cages and they were on land and they escaped from the bone cages. Working with my good friend Jim Burkett, who's sort of my storyboard artist and compatriot and ally in this madness, we would spend a lot of time just thinking [things like], 'Why do they have to leave the cage? Why don't they escape and have to carry the cages with them. They can't get out.' And that's when we came up with the hanging and then swinging, and they don't get out, and they have to pick them up and run with them and they roll them."

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Two Set Pieces Caused Major Trouble For The Pirates Of The Caribbean Trilogy - /Film

The initial conclusion of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy, the third film released in 2007 takes us to the end of the world, and then right over it. As our heroes attempt to rescue Jack from Davy Jones' Locker, a war breaks out between the pirates and East India Trading Company, with Davy Jones himself trapped as Lord Beckett's own personal lapdog. "At World's End" is the culmination of the last two films, with satisfying character arcs, amazing battle sequences, and an immaculate score by Hans Zimmer that'll make you feel things you didn't think you would feel watching a Disney movie about pirates. Of all the "Pirates" movies, this one is the most intense.

Although the series continues on after this, "At World's End" marks the end of the initial "Pirates" story, with many of the main cast members moving on after they stop the world from, well, ending. Even Jack Sparrow learns a thing or two from his experiences here, giving up his own dreams and supposed destiny for the sake of something he could never have: true love. This swashbuckling epic goes above and beyond, and due to its massive success there was no doubt that Disney would continue the franchise beyond Gore Verbinski's initial vision for the series. Though Verbinski would also exit, the "Pirates" world would continue, and chart new waters beyond what the original films ever promised.

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This Is The Correct Order In Which To Watch The Pirates Of The Caribbean Movies - Looper

Eclac release

In a new edition of its flagship annual report Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, the United Nations organization underlines the challenges of reactivating investment and growth in a context of growing external and domestic restrictions.

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) released today its annual report Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2022: trends and challenges of investing for a sustainable and inclusive recovery, in which it projects 2.7% average economic growth for the current year in a context of acute macroeconomic restrictions that are hurting the regions economies.

According to the report presented at a press conference held at the United Nations organizations central headquarters in Santiago, Chile, a sequence of crises has led to the scenario of low growth and accelerating inflation seen in the global economy, and this coupled with lower growth in trade, the dollars appreciation and tougher global financial conditions will negatively affect the regions countries.

In a context of multiple goals and growing restrictions, there must be a coordination of macroeconomic policies that would support the acceleration of growth, investment, and poverty and inequality reduction, while also addressing inflationary dynamics, Mario Cimoli, Acting Executive Secretary of ECLAC, stated during the launch of the Economic Survey 2022.

The document emphasizes that Latin American and Caribbean countries are facing a complex economic outlook in 2022 and in the coming years. Lower economic growth is compounded by strong inflationary pressures, little dynamism in job creation, declining investment and growing social demands. This situation has translated into major challenges for macroeconomic policy, which must strike a balance between policies that would drive the economic reactivation and policies aimed at controlling inflation and ensuring the sustainability of public finances.

In addition to the regions complex domestic scenario, there is an international scenario in which the war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine has caused growing geopolitical tensions, less vigorous global economic growth, reduced availability of food, and higher energy prices that have increased the inflationary pressures already in play due to the supply shocks prompted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the report indicates.

ECLAC forecasts that South America will grow 2.6% (in comparison with 6.9% in 2021); the group made up of Central America and Mexico will expand 2.5% (in comparison with 5.7% in 2021); and the Caribbean the only subregion that will grow more than in 2021 will experience a 4.7% expansion in 2022, without including Guyana (in comparison with 4.0% a year earlier).

The Economic Survey 2022 also shows that the Ukraine conflict intensified the upward trend for commodities prices that had already emerged starting in the second half of 2020, leading some of these prices to hit historic highs. For the region on average, the effect is mixed, and a 7% decline in the terms of trade for basic products is forecast.

Inflation, meanwhile, has continued to rise, reaching a regional average of 8.4% as of June 2022, which is equivalent to more than double the average value recorded in the 2005-2019 period. At a subregional level, as of June 2022, the economies of South America had the highest level of inflation on average (8.8%), followed by the economies in the group composed of Central America and Mexico (7.5%) and those in the English-speaking Caribbean (7.3%). This has prompted central banks to raise their monetary policy rates and reduce monetary aggregates.

In addition, the deceleration in economic activity is constraining the labor market recovery, especially for women. While the male unemployment rate went from 10.4% at the end of the second quarter of 2020 to 6.9% at the end of the first quarter of 2022, marking a 3.5 percentage point drop, the female unemployment rate fell by 2.1 percentage points in the same period, going from 12.1% to 10.0%. Furthermore, at the end of the first quarter of 2022, the rate of womens labor force participation (51.4%) showed a greater lag than the mens participation rate (74.2%). This lag in womens reincorporation into the labor market is conditioned by the sluggish recovery of economic sectors in which female employment is concentrated and by the increased need for care that emerged sharply once the pandemic began.

The second section of ECLACs report stresses that beyond the dynamics of the economic cycle, low growth in investment in the last three decades has become a structural limitation on development. This means that reactivating the investment dynamic is central to achieving sustainable and inclusive growth, since investment is the bridge between the short and medium term and is essential for confronting climate change.

Between 1951 and 1979, gross fixed capital formation (investment) grew 5.9% annually on average in real terms, while between 1990 and 2021 the annual rate of average investment growth was just 2.9%. That is why ECLAC is making an urgent call to increase investment in Latin America and the Caribbean, which was positioned at the lowest levels when compared with other regions in late 2021. To achieve this, greater coordination is needed between fiscal, monetary and exchange-rate policy, and authorities must take advantage of the full set of tools at their disposal to ensure that growth and investment is not subordinated to anti-inflationary policy. In addition, macroeconomic efforts must be complemented by industrial, trade and social policies and the care economy, the document indicates.

Finally, while the report emphasizes that an important part of the financing to increase investment should come from domestic resource mobilization, international cooperation must accompany this process. For that reason, official development assistance and financing from global financial institutions and development banks must be significantly increased.

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In 2022 Latin America and the Caribbean is E... - BNamericas English

Opinion

Assistant opinion editor

August 25, 2022 1:55 pm(Updated 3:53 pm)

After two years off, Notting Hill Carnival, the annual two-day celebration (or three, if you count Panorama, the UKs national steel pan competition, which takes place the day before) is back after a pandemic-induced break. Regular revellers like myself could not be happier. Nor could event promoters in the surrounding areas, keen to cash in on the celebratory spirit that often brings drunken punters from the streets of west London straight to their establishments. But as more of these Carnival-pegged club nights pop up, a strange trend has reared its head: questioning the relevance of carnivals cultural origins.

Though debates about what should or shouldnt be allowed to be played on the road, or in backstreet soundsystem stages, are nothing new, there seems to be some renewed confusion on social media about what the event should represent and whether its roots, the product of an amalgamation of traditional West Indian carnivals, multicultural fairs and resistance against violent racism, should take centre stage in celebrations nowadays.

Kelso Cochrane, the Antiguan carpenter murdered in Notting Hill by white racists in 1959, leading to the events that later turned into what Carnival is today, is buried mere minutes away from I live. I have visited his grave, a fading mosaic of the Antiguan flag at the top of it, several times. I will walk past the crumbling cemetery wall where his body rests on the way to carnival, the heaviness of the unsolved murder ever-present, and a few hundred yards away from where the celebration begins. Believe me, these origins are anything but dismissable.

Its also disappointing to see arguments that rather than playing soca a genre that is central to not just the parade route, but West Indian carnivals more generally other genres of black origin, such as drill, Amapiano, Afrobeats, or R&B should be played more liberally in fact, in some of those after-carnival events, many of these genres have been prioritised.

Ive seen suggestions that carnival is a Black British event, not a Caribbean British event, and should be broadened further to accommodate everyone. Except it already has. Aside from the general spirit of carnival, which encourages involvement from all, it has been considerably watered down for decades. Ahead of the last carnival before the pandemic, I wrote about how newer sound systems and sponsored stages risked erasing the cultural significance of the event, something I sincerely hope the organisers have taken into account and have worked to change.

Younger Black people who suggest its segregationist to highlight the distinctly Caribbean roots of this celebration are misinformed too. We have long had events and festivals catered towards us, each of us able to revel in the glorious blend of the genres weve all had a hand in creating. But turning Carnival into something unrecognisable, purely for the sake of pleasing those who prefer to remain ignorant about its socio-political history, is just as bad as rich, Nimby residents appealing to Conservative councillors to shut it down. Its as bad as the biased coverage Carnival has for so long been subjected to, fodder for arguments to shrink it, or further police it. Make no mistake, Notting Hill Carnivals existence isnt a given, welcomed by the authorities and those who wish to pay homage to West Indian cultures there is a constant battle to keep it going.

Personally, as someone of Antiguan descent, Carnival is one of few mainstream events in the UK where Ill hear soca, which isnt universally revered in the same way that say, Dancehall, Afrobeats or Amapiano have been in the past few decades (beyond playing the odd song, such as JW &Blazes 2010 song Palance, between fully-fledged sets of other genres.) Suggesting it is irrelevant or is worth being replaced isnt just personally upsetting, it would remove the very spirit at the heart of Carnival. There would be no JOuvert (the morning celebration in which revelers kick off carnival from 6am-9am), no masqueraders many of whom have practised routines to the very songs some are suggesting are replaceable for months. Simply put, without the music and, more generally, Caribbean cultures that make it what it is, there would be no carnival at all.

Beyond the surrounding streets of Notting Hill, I hope everyone who doesnt already understand why West Indian culture is and should always be central to this street festivity, takes note of how painful it is to see and hear the erasure of your culture in real time, with people chipping away at more aspects of its genesis when more of us should be chippin down the road to the music and cultural aspects that led to its birth.

Link:

Calls to make Notting Hill Carnival less Caribbean are as bad as attempts to shut it down - iNews

Life doesnt get much better than waking up in a luxury suite to sweeping Caribbean Sea views and the gentle sound of swishing palm leaves. And thats exactly what awaits guests of the new Sunset Reef St. Kitts, a secluded boutique villa-turned-cliffside hotel nestled at the lush base of a volcano on Palmetto Point on St. Kitts in the Caribbean. By Travel and Leisure

Seven luxurious suites, ranging in size from one to four bedrooms, offer direct sunset views at the cliffside property that just opened at the beginning of August. The spacious interiors feature kitchenettes, living and dining room areas, king-size beds, furnished patios, and bathrooms with mother-of-pearl-inlaid showers.

We recognise attention is being drawn away from supersized resorts and towards boutique stays with a focus on curated guest experiences, said David Fletcher, who owns the property with his wife, in a statement released to Travel + Leisure. Knowing there is never a line or a crowd and that every detail is taken care of is the type of holiday destination we were looking for but couldnt find, so we created it.

The couple explained that while making guests feel pampered with excellent service and memorable experiences was a priority, their goal was to accomplish it with a minimal environmental impact. Thats why they focused on installing cutting-edge technology such as hydrogen generators, solar panels, and wind turbines that make Sunset Reef St. Kitts a pioneer of sustainable luxury on the island.

Providing triple-filtered reverse osmosis water machines in each suite, for example, reduces the use of single-use plastic bottles. The propertys geothermal system creates and stores energy and later uses it to heat the infinity swimming pool and water to service the showers and laundry room. The Fletchers continual investment in clean energy will also make the property self-sustainable and prepared in case of a natural disaster such as a hurricane that can cut power and water supplies.

Guests can also enjoy a delicious sustainable meal prepared with local seafood and produce at the hotels restaurant overlooking the sea. A snaking path through perfectly manicured gardens leads to a beautiful beach and a private beach bar.

A gym with Peloton bikes, a yoga deck, a cold-plunge pool, and in-room spa services round out on-site wellness offerings. A concierge can assist guests with planning and booking custom tours and activities on the island, known for its volcano beaches, vibrant marine life (snorkelling here is a must), and lush mountainscapes.

Nightly rates at Sunset Reef St. Kitts start at USD 459 (INR 36,655), and you can book your stay here.

Book here with booking.com

Book on agoda.com

This story first appeared on http://www.travelandleisure.com

(Main and Feature Image Credit: Courtesy of St. Kitts Tourism Authority)

Related: This New All-Inclusive Resort Is One Of The Most Luxurious In Fiji And Has A Submarine For Guests

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This New Cliffside Hotel In The Caribbean Has Just 7 Suites, An Infinity Pool, And A Private Beach Bar - Travel + Leisure India

The Caribbean rarely makes international headlines outside of a royal visit or when a secretive tax haven is disrupted and the financial documents of the famous are leaked. Yet tax havens are not a construct of the Caribbean but of Europe. The amount of money laundered through these countries pales in comparison to the money laundering cities of the EU. In fact, whistleblowers and investigative journalists, via the Panama, Paradise and Pandora papers, have unveiled the true origins of the illicit proceeds of crimes and where laundered or dirty money is really parked.

Financial secrecy comes at a premium via shell companies, trusts and other offshore vehicles, artificial mazes designed to both avoid and evade taxation, or launder proceeds from drug and human trafficking, arms dealing, bribery or fraud. Opaque money eventually equates to opaque power; if dirty money is left to flow unhindered into the financial system, the cancer of corruption spreads, global development is retarded and inequity and inequality escalate. Financial secrecy enabled by bankers, lawyers, accountants and estate agents has propelled dark money into a national security issue.

In the global fight against corruption, Caribbean nations like Trinidad and Tobago are blacklisted in a move that is gravely discriminatory. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global standard-setting body for anti-money laundering (AML), for combatting the financing of terrorism (CFT), and against the proliferation of the trade in weapons of mass destruction.

The FATF, with 39 jurisdictions , holds a comprehensive list of high-risk states with AML/CFT deficiencies.

However, the EU has decided this is not good enough for them, and has turned against some of the economically weakest countries in the world to exercise their superiority. The European Commission, through a contrived process, constructed two blacklists: one for countries they believe were not compliant with international tax standards, and the other for third countries with weak anti-money-laundering and terrorist-financing regimes.

After the Paradise papers, the EUs code of conduct group blacklisted 17 countries. Pierre Moscovici, economic affairs commissioner, said: The adoption of the first ever EU blacklist of tax havens marks a key victory for transparency and fairness We must intensify the pressure on listed countries to change their ways. Blacklisted jurisdictions must face consequences in the form of dissuasive sanctions No one must get a free pass.

The 17 countries in the EU tax blacklist included: American Samoa, Barbados, Grenada, Guam, South Korea, Macau, the Marshall Islands, Namibia, Palau, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago and the UAE. Not one European country was listed; they all got a free pass.

In February 2019, The EU published an updated version of their AML/CFT list, which included Guam,Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, North Korea, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Yemen.

Only 12 of these countries were listed by the FATF. Vra Jourov, European justice commissioner, declared dirty money from other countries must not find its way into our financial system Dirty money is the lifeblood of organised crime and terrorism.

What Jourov didnt say was that other nations dirty money must not be allowed to mix with European dirty money. Because again not a single European country was listed. The US Treasury Department questioned the substance of the EUs list and its flawed methodology and stated US financial institutions would not take the list into account in their AML/CFT policies.

This year, the EU identified jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT regimes that pose significant threats to the financial system, high-risk third countries such as Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Haiti, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, the Philippines, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

So where are the UK, Switzerland, China, Hong Kong, India, Russia and Ukraine? Where is Venezuela, a narco-state? Where is the Netherlands, a country where a parliamentary investigation found that billions of dollars are laundered and tax evasion cost billions in lost revenue? Why is not a single EU member country or their most influential trading partners listed?

The Tax Justice Network in a 2020 report revealed that tax abuse by multinationals and individuals was costing countries $427 billion a year in lost revenues. The five jurisdictions most responsible, it said, were the British overseas territory Cayman Islands, the UK, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the US.

The war in Ukraine has highlighted the immensity of dirty money parked in EU cities. The UK has slowly fast-tracked legislation to target money laundering by foreign oligarchs following Russias invasion. However, both these countries elite have been guilty of corruption and contributed to draining developmental resources. Why are they not on the lists?

Professional services firms have for years created a haven in the UK for dirty money. London has evolved into financial ground zero for kleptocrats, providing opportunities for foreign elites to convert their vast amount of corrupt earnings and ill-gotten wealth into mansions, stocks, shares, yachts and sports teams.

Denmark, Germany and Switzerland have been complicit, as shown in the recent banking scandals demonstrating how dirty money from kleptocracies travels through the arteries of western financial systems, becoming their lifeblood.

Loopholes continually exploited by professional enablers undermine anti-corruption enforcement and erode both the legal systems capacity to assess corruption risks and the integrity of institutions.

What will Europes banking tsars do to stem the in-flow of illicit earnings? In the context of how corruption affects global development, banking secrecy is nothing short of reprehensible a fig leaf covering the disgraceful role bankers play facilitating tax evaders and enabling corruption to flourish while starving developing countries of essential tax revenue. Parliamentarians and legislators are equally responsible with their feet dragging to protect private interests in clear cut cases of corruption.

The blacklists of the EU, which has been called by economist Marla Dukharan the self-appointed god of compliance, are nothing short of economic bullying and hypocrisy. The FATF and the OECD, the international tax authority, have already subjected these vulnerable countries to several processes. The FATF ensure all states are subject to a rigorous peer-review methodology that examines the legal framework to counter illicit finance as well as how effectively they are implemented. The European Commissions oddly Europe-blind process for developing its lists contrasts starkly with FATFs thoroughness.

All countries on the European blacklists are small and relatively underdeveloped; most are territories or ex-European colonies with small GDPs.

The amount of money laundered through these countries is tiny in comparison to that of the money laundering cities of Europe. For example, blacklisted Trinidad and Tobago has protracted and rigorous procedures just to open a bank account. Even buying a sim card needs photo identification and proof of address. So the ease with which money can be integrated into these countries and moved across financial institutions is far less than in Europes financial centres such as London. But it is easier to penalise these small developing states as they are economically weak, with no material impact on Europe.

The EU does not depend on these countries for oil and gas, food or technology. But blacklisting them damages their economies as international corporations move their trade elsewhere. Add in shrinking and ageing populations, Covid, the perennial damage through hurricanes and climate change The result is deepening debt, currency devaluations and negative growth.

The result of the EUs blacklists is the global tax system prioritises the desires of their wealthiest corporations and individuals.

Kenneth Mohammed is a freelance writer, Caribbean analyst and senior adviser

This article was amended on 24 August 2022 to restore the attribution of a quote to Marla Dukharan which was removed during the editing process.

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Europe put tax havens in the Caribbean and now punishes them for it - The Guardian

(Precision Vaccinations)

Denmark-basedBavarian Nordic A/Sannounced today an agreement with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to facilitate access to theJYNNEOS(MVA-BN) monkeypox/smallpox vaccine for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Jynneos vaccines will be made available to those countries in September 2022 that participate in PAHO's Revolving Fund for Access to Vaccines.

Bavarian Nordic has delivered the vaccine to several undisclosed countries globally as part of their national biological preparedness.

Paul Chaplin, President, and CEO of Bavarian Nordic, stated in a press release on August 24, 2022,"... we are pleased to work with PAHO to ensure access to vaccines for its member states in the Americas."

"With the agreement, we have helped secure access to our vaccine in more than 70 countries globally, representing the vast majority of affected regions outside endemic areas."

"While the global supply is currently limited, we are working diligently to increase our manufacturing capacity and have taken steps to partner with other companies to produce more vaccines to help combat the outbreak rapidly."

The PAHOis the specialized health agency for the Americas, workingwith its 35 member countries throughout the region to improve and protect people's health.

MVA-BN or Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic, marketed as IMVANEXin Europe, JYNNEOSin the U.S., and IMVAMUNEin Canada, is a non-replicating smallpox vaccine developed in collaboration with the U.S. government.

In addition to smallpox, the U.S. FDA, Health Canada, the U.K., and the European Commission have also approved the vaccine against monkeypox.

Additional monkeypox and smallpox vaccine deployment news is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.com/Monkeypox.

Today'sBavarian Nordic announcement was manually curated and translated for mobile readership.

Excerpt from:

Monkeypox Vaccines Coming to the Caribbean and Latin America - Precision Vaccinations

The Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU), has once again written to Cleveland Seaforth, the court-appointed administrator for the cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT (1974) limited, seeking a meeting on the future direction of the airline.

In the latest correspondence, ABWU General Secretary, David Massiah says it is important that there be a dialogue between the parties should be treated with greater importance. The union has given Seaforth until Thursday to respond positively to the letter

The ABWU has already said among the issues to be discussed will be the decision by the shareholder governments to liquidate the company that owes millions of dollars (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) to former employees who were dismissed last year.

But in a letter to Massiah, dated August 11, Seaforth said discussions held by Heads of Government are separate and apart from the Court- Appointed Administration Process, hence the Administrator may not be fully aware of all the matters discussed at such meetings.

In addition, Seaforth said that the matter of the liquidation of LIAT (1974) Limited is one that must be addressed by the Courts of Antigua and Barbuda and not a Liquidator, subsequently appointed.

However in the unions latest correspondence, Massiah informs the court-appointed liquidator that meaningful dialogue with your good self and whoever you choose to be with is still pertinent.

Massiah noted that while Seaforth claims he is not privy to information already in the public domain, LIAT (1974) Limited is still under a court-appointed administrator and that lack of information should not be an excuse to evade consultations with the union.

The ABWU maintains that regular consultations and dialogue with employees and their representatives is essential in light of all the outstanding issues that are relevant to the airlines future.

Furthermoreit is imperative that the unions are kept fully abreast with updates as far as the operations are concerned.

Earlier this month, regional leaders met to discuss the situation regarding air transportation in the Caribbean amidst concerns that both regional and international travellers are finding it very expensive and difficult to commute.

It was agreed that we would retain a consultant to provide advice to the heads of the region as to how we can address the critical need to have, particularly air transportation resumed at a level that existed prior to COVID-19, said the newly elected Grenada Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell.

LIAT is owned by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said previously that a decision had been taken that would allow Barbados and SVG to turn over their shares in LIAT to St. Johns for one EC dollar (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents).

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Browne appealed to Caribbean trade unions to re-think their positions regarding the latest offer made to laid-off workers of the airline.

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Union writes to liquidator seeking another meeting on LIAT | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean

This article is reprinted by permission from The Escape Home, a newsletter for second homeowners and those who want to be. Subscribe here. 2022. All rights reserved.

We recently wrote about why Mexico City should be on your travel bucket list. This week, The Escape Homes Nicole Perrino writes about another capital city that is often overlooked in favor of all-inclusive resorts (which, yes, are beautiful, but tend to be culturally bland?).

The Dominican Republic has no shortage of beautiful beaches, all-inclusive resorts and fun excursions, but if youre thinking of planning a trip beyond just the beach resorts, consider a stay in Ciudad Colonial, aka Zona Colonial. (Also, its just a four-hour, less-than-$400 flight from New York City.)

Located in the capital Santo Domingo, Zona Colonial (Colonial Zone) is the first European district in the New World and home to historic buildings, museums, beautiful restaurants, and an abundance of nightlife options. Consider renting an Airbnb or staying at a boutique hotel in the area and experiencing both touristy and local activities during your stay.

The great thing about staying in an Airbnb in the Zona Colonial is that you can experience living in a beautiful historic home and can also cook some of your own meals. After checking in, hit up Supermercados Nacional in El Conde and stock the fridge with necessities. Then, get familiar with your nearest Colmado (corner store) because thats where youll be stopping in for beer, liquor, snacks and water. In the Dominican Republic, youll often see a five-gallon water jug in the kitchen with a pump, along with a pitcher to keep some cold in the fridge. Once the water runs out, you can bring the jug to your local Colmado and have a new one delivered.

If a hotel is more your speed, there is no shortage of beautiful boutique hotels in the area. One worth checking out is the Billini Hotel. Located in a 16th-century building, this avant-garde designed hotel boasts a beautiful rooftop pool with views overlooking a stunning church of the same century. Theres also a cute cafe downstairs where you can sit each morning for your daily cappuccino.

The best part of staying in the Colonial Zone is the walking distance to endless restaurant and bar options. There is also certainly no shortage of teteo the term locals use for partying and just generally having a good time. There are plenty of clubs and places to dance as well. Some places worth checking off the list:

Maraca. This art deco style Carribean restaurant is worthy of a date night while in Santo Domingo. Every corner of this restaurant is photo-worthy including the bathrooms.

La Alpargateria. If youre looking for a hidden gem, look no further. This shoe store also boasts a hidden backyard oasis with a tapas bar.

La Casa del Ron Tasting Terrace. This rooftop cocktails and tapas bar overlooks the first church of the Americas, so its a great way to sample Dominican rum with a historic view.

Buche Pericho. You can choose to sit outside and enjoy the view of El Conde, or head to the back greenhouse oasis at this contemporary gastronomic restaurant offering Dominican cuisine. Complete with a waterfall and an original oven from when it was a foundry, be sure to look down as there are parts you can look through the glass and see the original flooring.

If you decide to rent a car during your stay, depending on the distance youre willing to travel, there are a number of beach options on the southern part of the island. The public beaches in the Dominican Republic work a bit differently than when staying at a resort. Rather than lounge chairs, most will have a table with chairs to rent and you can usually order food and drinks. Be sure to order a fried snapper with tostones at least once during your visit.

Tip: We typically head to another Airbnb in Bavaro, Punta Cana, so that we can enjoy a beach stay for a day or two since its a 2.5 hour drive.

Boca Chica. This is the closest beach to the capital, around 40 minutes away, Boca Chica is known for its beautiful blue shallow water and is a popular respite for locals. If you want to avoid the crowded public beach, opt for one of the restaurants where you can jump into the water right after your meal, like El Pelicano Beach Club.

Playa Caribe. If youre a good swimmer, this half-moon shaped beach is known for its rough waves but picturesque views. Bring pesos or pack a lunch as there is only one spot to order fresh fish and cold beer. Its just around 15 minutes away from Boca Chica, so you can do both on the same day if you want.

Playa Dominicus. This happens to be my favorite beach of all of the public beaches on the south side of the island. Its a very small strip of public beach with tables or lounge chairs for rent, and a few restaurants and souvenir shops. The water is the most beautiful blue, and there is far less seaweed than in Punta Cana during the summer months. At a little less than two hours away, the public beach area is nestled between several resorts with private beach access if you want to make a night of it.

Playa Najayo. Located in San Cristobal, this beach is an hour in the opposite direction and will give you the opportunity to see more of the campo (countryside). Here you will find locals lounging in the shade of the various beachside restaurants, enjoying fried fish with ice-cold Presidentes. There are also tubes for rent if you want to float the afternoon away.

And of course, the great thing about being in the Colonial Zone is the number of museums and other attractions within walking distance. Simply stroll around and you will easily locate more of the historic forts and landmarks, but some other ideas include:

Kahkow Experience. Learn all about Dominican cacao trees in this 2-hour experience. There are also chocolate-making classes and a Kahkow with drinks, desserts and snacks.

Scooter rentals. All around the Colonial Zone youll find scooter rental places where you can rent for around $6 for an hour. This is a fun way to explore the area and see potential places to visit during your stay.

Art galleries. Spend an afternoon strolling the Zona Colonial and stopping into various art galleries along the way.

Agua Splash Caribe and Acuario Nacional. Just a short taxi ride away are both of the capitals outdoor water park and aquarium. If youre traveling with kids, make a day of visiting both.

These are just a few ideas to get you started on planning your trip to the Zona Colonial in the Dominican Republic. Travel tip: Using Google maps is a great way to create a bucket list of places youd like to visit based on photos and reviews by other visitors.

This article is reprinted by permission from The Escape Home, a newsletter for second homeowners and those who want to be. Subscribe here. 2022. All rights reserved.

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This is the affordable Caribbean paradise you need to visit - MarketWatch