I'm not sure. Truthfully, I don't feel like I was able to experience the real Dominican Republic during my visit. To me, staying at a resort does not mean you visited a country. Behind resort gates lies a completely different world than what's beyond them. I don't feel like I have a real understanding of D.R. in order to recommend or not recommend it to anyone. 

​

If you're looking for a resort getaway, yes, go to D.R. It's just another resort hotspot, but the beaches are nice and you receive everything you expect from an all-inclusive stay.

​

If you're looking to experience culture, in D.R., I'm not the right person to ask. I imagine there is much to uncover here, but I did not get this out of my experience, so you're better off asking an actual Dominican, or someone who has visited the country extensively.

​

I will say one thing, though. From my short time there, I can say that in terms of having good food and a good time, the Freeport and Bronx Dominican experience in NYC seems to be just the same. If you think Dyckman is a blast, there's no doubt in my mind you'd love D.R.