- Donald Moore
Expat life in the Dominican Republic isn't just lying under palms all day, as you might think. But InterNations made it worthwhile.
Living in Santo Domingo
Often given the grand nickname "The First City of America", the capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic was indeed the first Spanish colonial capital of the Americas. With many 'firsts' in the then-called 'New World' such as the first Cathedral, University and Fortress, amongst other things, all located here, expatriates living in Santo Domingo will be living in one of UNESCO's great World Heritage Sites, a city founded by the brother of Christopher Columbus. It is a large city of over three and a half million people, with a vast cultural and historic heritage to explore. As an expat in Santo Domingo, you can sit beneath the beautiful Parque Colon in the city's Colonial Zone, visit the Columbus Alcazar, an old colonial residence, and walk along the George Washington Avenue, a beautiful avenue on the water's edge. Life as an expatriate in Santo Domingo is made richer still by the luxurious tropical climate of the city, and although hurricanes are not uncommon, the city is well prepared and well used to weathering them.
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Moving to Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo is, as you might imagine, very easy to get to. Expatriates moving to Santo Domingo from most major travel hubs can fly into the city's Las Americas International Airport, which is a quarter of an hour from the city by car. The central Distrito Nacional is a great place for any expat moving to Santo Domingo to head for early on, as this is where many of the city's best attractions, shopping and historical sights are based. Both the local community and climate usually prove welcoming and InterNations members can also get plenty of useful information on expatriation, expat finance, cross-cultural communication and so on in our online Expat Magazine. The InterNations website is likewise a great place to read up on the ups and downs of life abroad, with articles written by some of our members from all over the world telling their tales of expatriation.
Working in Santo Domingo
Along with being a historic, touristic and cultural hub of great importance, the city also packs an economic punch. Many national and global companies are headquartered there and the city's infrastructure and construction sector are both growing strongly. There is also a huge amount of local retail activity and expats working in Santo Domingo with an interest in shopping will be glad to hear that the city is a major shopping hub. All this makes for a vibrant workplace, and hopefully life as an expatriate working in Santo Domingo will be as much about sun, fun and the city's beauty as about business. InterNations members can get in touch with fellow expats living in Santo Domingo through our forums, discussion groups or private messages and it should be easy to organize meet-ups or find global minds to network with. A vibrant international community really is the cream on the cake that is life as an expat in Santo Domingo.
- Donald Moore
Expat life in the Dominican Republic isn't just lying under palms all day, as you might think. But InterNations made it worthwhile.
- Jayanti Malhotra
A helpful expat pointed out the international school in Santo Domingo to me when my husband asked me and the kids to join him there.
