Driverless Flying Taxi Launches In Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has launched its first drone taxi, an initiative led by entrepreneur Karim Abu Naba with the goal of modernizing the tourism sector and easing traffic congestion. Inspired by international models in South Korea, the United States, and especially China—where he found the most advanced technology—Abu Naba brought the concept to the country. Although only one unit is currently available, the plan is to expand to 12 drones that will connect key destinations such as Samaná, Punta Cana, Santiago, Puerto Plata, and the National District, eventually reaching all 32 provinces.

The unmanned aerial vehicle operates like a commercial flight but with distinct features. It carries two passengers, while the pilot and copilot remain on the ground, operating the drone remotely through satellite-connected systems. The aircraft, powered entirely by electricity, is equipped with 16 propellers and has a flight capacity of 30 minutes, covering distances up to 30 kilometers. Two Dominican pilots trained in China are currently certified to operate the system.

To access the service, users will be able to book flights through a dedicated app called “Fluir.” Prices are expected to start at around US$100, with Abu Naba emphasizing affordability to make the new mode of transport accessible. The initiative not only promises to revolutionize domestic travel but also positions the Dominican Republic as a regional pioneer in drone-based passenger mobility.

https://dominicantoday.com/

Turkish Airlines To Launch Flights To Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, And Santiago

Turkish Airlines is set to expand its presence in the Americas through the planned acquisition of Air Europa, expected to be completed within 12 months. Currently, Turkish Airlines serves 26 destinations across the Atlantic from Istanbul, while Air Europa flies from Madrid to 22 airports, mainly in Latin America.

Pexels image by Necati Ömer Karpuzoğlu

Nine of Air Europa’s destinations overlap with Turkish Airlines, including New York, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Bogotá, Panama, Cancún, Miami, Havana, and Caracas. The remaining 13 destinations—such as Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Medellín, Lima, and Montevideo—present opportunities for Turkish Airlines to strengthen its footprint in the region.

To facilitate the deal, Turkish reportedly proposed adding up to 12 Airbus A330neo aircraft to support Air Europa’s operations at Madrid-Barajas Airport, with six planes supplied by Turkish Airlines and six by Air Europa, according to El Economista.

https://dominicantoday.com/

Dominican Republic To Add Nearly 15,000 New Hotel Rooms

The Dominican Republic’s hotel industry is experiencing significant growth, with approximately 14,900 new hotel rooms expected to be added over the next three years. This expansion represents an 18% increase in current capacity and involves investments exceeding US$3 billion.

Leaders of the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores) attribute this surge to the country’s legal stability and strong investor confidence. The average cost per hotel room is estimated at US$200,000. They also emphasized the superior infrastructure and tourism offerings in areas like Casa de Campo, Cap Cana, and Samaná, including high-end second homes owned by wealthy individuals.

The luxury segment continues to expand, with 1,000 upscale rooms set to open in Miches in 2025. Asonahores also highlighted growing diversification in tourism through sports and health-related travel, with top-tier hotel brands increasingly investing in the country.

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New Samana Bayport Cruise Ship Terminal Dominican Republic

With the presence of President Luis Abinader , the construction of the cruise port and tourist terminal began , with an investment of US$22 million, from the Temarsan Consortium, with Dominican capital.

The terminal is expected to begin operating in 18 months, and plans to receive more than 500 thousand passengers annually. Now about 50 thousand arrive.

Federico Schad reported that during construction 150 direct jobs and 500 indirect jobs will be generated. The operation will create 100 direct and thousands of indirect jobs throughout the province, due to the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of visitors throughout its territory and in the area around Samaná Bay .

He indicated that the average expense per passenger in Caribbean ports is US$98, and Samana Bayport will have the capacity to receive 10,000 passengers daily, so the daily economic impact of operating will be approximately one million dollars.

“These income would go directly to you, the guides, the owners of maritime transport, the taxi drivers, motorcycle conchos, tour operators, restaurants, artisans, gift shops and other businesses. In this way this project will improve the quality of life of many people,” he assured.

He stated that he sees “as a triumph for all of Samaná”, the Samana Bayport, a cruise port and maritime terminal that will transform the experience of visitors, because in addition its strategic position in the bay will offer the port and tourist facilities necessary to satisfy the needs operational, which now do not exist.

Samana Bayport Cruise Ship passenger Terminal Dominican Republic

He explained that the port will be able to handle 3 simultaneous cruises; one with a capacity of up to 5,000 passengers docked at the dock with state-of-the-art technology named “Seawalk”, and 2 cruise ships at the anchorage of the bay.

«The Norwegian Seawalk technology is a floating dock with the capacity to operate with cruise ships of up to 5 thousand passengers, which can be retracted, or stored, when not in use, which minimizes its environmental and visual impact, compared to traditional breakwaters. This innovative technology is already used in several ports in Europe, and will be used for the first time in the Dominican Republic at the Samana bayport,” he added.

He also said that “the terminal will have several docks, an information center for tourists, facilities and services specific to these operations, a recreation area, green areas, a transportation center (for dispatching excursions, taxis, land transportation and parking), offices.” government and first aid center.

Samana Bayport Cruise Ship passenger Terminal Dominican Republic

Schad expressed that the province of Samaná has unique natural riches, its bay is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, and it is located in a strategic place on cruise routes, because more than a million cruise ships pass off its coast annually. cruise passengers.

With these resources, he indicated, and with the cruise port, a journey begins to become one of the main cruise destinations in the Caribbean; and pointed out that the province has received important investments in road infrastructure, airport, hotels, marina, real estate projects, but now it will have a cruise port and tourist terminal that will significantly increase the capacity and number of ships it receives and improve the quality of the services offered to visitors.

Samana Bayport Cruise Ship passenger Terminal Dominican Republic.

The businessman explained that in the last 17 years Samaná received 700 ships and 1.5 million passengers, without adequate port facilities to maintain a high level of visitor satisfaction, and limited the type of cruises that we can receive in the bay. Now, in addition to its attractions in Samana, it will have appropriate facilities to receive more cruise passengers.

Federico Schad thanked President Luis Abinader for the presence and support offered to the project; Jean Luis Rodríguez , executive director of Apordom ; Alejandro Campos president of the Apordom Council; Nelson Núñez , mayor of Santa Bárbara; the board of directors of the Samaná Tourism Cluster and the community.

Also to the cruise line executives present; Roy Milan Schultheis of Norwegian ; Wendy McDonald, Melissa Morales and Jaime Castillo of Royal Caribbean .

Avelo Airlines Takes Flight In Punta Cana With Nonstop Service To Hartford And Raleigh-Durham

Avelo Airlines has launched its first scheduled international route between Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) and Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL). On February 22, the airline also launched its second nonstop route to North Carolina’s Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). Avelo is the only airline offering nonstop service from PUJ to these two destinations.

Avelo will operate the Hartford route twice weekly on Fridays and Mondays and the Raleigh-Durham route twice weekly on Saturdays and Wednesdays, both utilizing Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. Affordable, one-way fares start at $156*. Travelers can make reservations at AveloAir.com.

Avelo commemorated its inaugural flight in Punta Cana this morning with a water-cannon salute upon arrival and festive Dominican dancers and musicians. Customers came off the plane waving their D.R. flags excited to start their vacations and visit their loved ones. An event was hosted by PUJ Airport and Avelo Airlines accompanied by local and state political, community and business officials.

Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said, “Punta Cana – Viaja con Avelo! Our inaugural international service in Punta Cana is a significant milestone for Avelo. As the only airline offering nonstop service to the D.R. from Connecticut and North Carolina’s Research Triangle, we look forward to making Punta Cana’s famous beaches, as well as its vibrant energy and laid-back charm, easier than ever for Avelo travelers to enjoy. We also look forward to making it easier for our D.R. Customers to connect with family and friends in Connecticut and the Raleigh-Durham area.”

PUJ Airport Director of Airside Operations Giovanni Rainieri said, “This route expansion marks a significant milestone for both Avelo Airlines and Punta Cana Airport (PUJ), underscoring their shared commitment to providing passengers with convenient travel options. It also reinforces the airport’s position as a key hub in the Caribbean region. We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of this new air route together.”

Since taking flight on April 28, 2021, Avelo has flown more than 6.3 million Customers on nearly 50,000 flights. Today Avelo serves 53 cities spanning 23 states and Puerto Rico, as well as three international destinations: Jamaica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Avelo has unlocked a new era of convenience, choice, and competition by flying unserved routes to primarily underserved communities across the country. Most Avelo routes have at least one small, easy to use airport. This makes traveling with Avelo a smoother, easier and more enjoyable experience than contending with the crowds, congestion and long walks at larger airports.

Avelo is distinguished by its industry-leading reliability. In 2024, Avelo ranked #1 in on-time performance and achieved the lowest flight cancellation rate in the U.S. airline industry. These results are provided by Anuvu, a leading aviation data services company also utilized by The Wall Street Journal for the publication’s annual airline ranking. Anuvu’s complete industry results and rankings are available at AveloAir.com. Avelo also delivers world-class customer satisfaction, exemplified by our Net Promoter Scores (NPS), which consistently rank among the best airlines and most admired brands in the world.

Avelo offers an abundance of advanced seating options. One third of its aircraft seats (Avelo Premium and Premium Economy) offer extra leg room — ranging from 32 inches to more than 36 inches of pitch. These seats offer a more comfortable experience for Customers who value more space. Customers can also purchase window and aisle seats in advance of their flight. In addition to advance seat assignments, Avelo offers several unbundled travel-enhancing options that give Customers the flexibility to pay only for what they value, including priority boarding, checked bags, carry-on overhead bags, and bringing a pet in the cabin.

Additionally, families can travel with ease knowing every child 14 and under will be automatically seated with an accompanying adult at no additional cost.

Avelo Airlines’ Purpose is to Inspire Travel by saving travelers time and money. The airline offers travelers time and money-saving convenience, everyday low fares, and a refreshingly smooth, caring and reliable travel experience. Operating a fleet of 20 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 53 popular destinations across the United States, Jamaica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, including its six bases at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Southern Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region’s Wilmington Airport (ILG), Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), the Bay Area’s Sonoma County Airport (STS) and Central Florida’s Lakeland International Airport (LAL). Avelo will open its seventh and eighth bases at Charlotte’s Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA) and Coastal North Carolina’s Wilmington International Airport (ILM) in spring 2025. For more information visit AveloAir.com

Frontier Airlines Is Adding Another New Nonstop Flight to the Dominican Republic’s Most Popular Destination: Punta Cana

The beaches, the all-inclusives, the nightclubs, the beach bars. Punta Cana is the spot when it comes to Dominican Republic travel, and now it’s getting another nonstop route from one of the fastest-growing airlines in the Caribbean.

Low-cost carrier Frontier is set to add another new route to Punta Cana this spring, with a new nonstop flight between Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport and Punta Cana’s air hub.

The new flight, which kicks off May 17, will be running once each week on Saturdays.

Punta Cana doesn’t lack for routes from the United States, but Cincinnati is part of a growing trend: more and more airlines are adding Caribbean routes from Midwestern cities that have not traditionally been major source markets for travel to the region. But with demand to the Caribbean surging, carriers are adding new routes left and right, from cities like Detroit, Minneapolis and, yes, now, Cincinnati.

You can book fares on Frontier on the new route for $99 roundtrip, according to the company’s website.

https://www.caribjournal.com/author/alexander-britell/

St. Regis’ Next Caribbean Resort Is Opening In The Dominican Republic

It's one of the most beautiful pieces of real estate in the Dominican Republic: the Punta Espada golf course.

If you know golf, you know Punta Espada — it’s one of the top courses in the Caribbean, a Jack Nicklaus designed stunner famous for its oceanside holes. But in a few months, this course will be famous for something else: a St. Regis resort.

The highly-anticipated St. Regis Cap Cana is opening in the Dominican Republic in the spring, and now it has an opening date: April 26, right on the edge of Punta Espada.

The Marriott-portfolio resort is now taking bookings for stays beginning April 26, 2025, according to St. Regis’ website.

The resort is going to have 200 rooms, including some swim-up rooms, along with 9 dining concepts anchored by a flagship eatery called Nina and a beach bar called Marla. There’s also a club-style bar called The Amber Room, and copious meeting space in the resort’s ballroom.

The property will include a spa, of course.

What about prices? Given the timing of the opening on the heels of the high season, you can find room rates as low as $587 per night.

It also adds a major new addition to the luxury segment in Cap Cana, which is home to two luxury resorts: the all-inclusive Sanctuary Cap Cana (also part of Marriott) and the Eden Roc Cap Cana, where we’ve stayed and absolutely loved (particularly its rooms and suites with private plunge pools).

St. Regis has a growing Caribbean footprint, including the St. Regis Kanai in the Mexican Caribbean and the soon-to-open St. Regis in Aruba.

So how do you get to Cap Cana? It’s part of greater Punta Cana, which means you fly directly to Punta Cana International Airport and take a short drive to the St. Regis. For more on cheap flight options check out Google Flights.

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American Airlines’ Newest Route Is A Nonstop Flight That Takes You Directly To This Dominican Republic Resort

It has always been one of the biggest stories about the Dominican Republic’s Casa de Campo. It’s more than a resort. It’s a golf destination. It’s a villa destination. It’s a world-class wellness getaway, a culinary Mecca, a superyacht marina, an arts hub.

Playa Minitas at Casa de Campo.

But what you may not realize is that it’s also an airport. That’s because the La Romana International Airport is on the grounds of the 7,000-acre resort. And now La Romana has a major new flight.

On Dec. 5, American Airlines kicks off new, daily nonstop flight between Miami and La Romana, meaning you can hop on an AA jet and fly directly to Casa de Campo. In other words, land, go through customs and immigration, find your golf cart and head to the hotel.

That’s exactly the plan, Casa de Campo’s Jason Kycek told Caribbean Journal. “Guests and home owners alike can now fly directly into our airport and arrive within minutes of landing.”

It’s the latest evolution of “a long standing relationship that spans decades” between the resort and AA, Kycek said.

The new route is yet another major lift for a resort that has been one of the most popular places to stay in the Caribbean, particularly in the post-pandemic period, as travelers have been drawn to its unrivaled list of amenities and its luxurious, spaced-out, hotel-and-villa-focused accommodations.

And we’ve seen why on the numerous times we’ve stayed at the property: it’s a place that’s able to satisfy an endless list of traveler demands. For families, you can find a luxury, staffed villa with all the space and comfort you need.

One of the many oceanside holes at Pete Dye’s legendary Teeth of the Dog course.

Maybe you’re a couple looking for the perfect blend of wellness (yes, there’s a new state-of-the-art, 20,000-square-foot destination spa) and golf (Pete Dye-designed courses, anyone?). Or maybe you’re looking for a group trip that mixes a little bit of everything.

There’s even a new resort-within-a-resort called Premier Club, which takes the “Casa” experience and raises it to another level, with sparkling rooms and suites and a location that’s just steps away from the spa and the main hotel. We called it the new must-visit resort in the Caribbean after our recent stay at the resort, and we meant it.

In recent years, it’s a Caribbean hotel that just keeps getting better, from the new hotel to a growing collection of cool events (including the recently-concluded Food & Wine Festival) and the current celebration of the property’s 50th birthday.

The Chavon river, which runs alongside the Dye Fore golf course.

It’s a place where every emphasis is made on making things accessible to the guest, whether it’s a recreated Italian village, an authentic Mexican taqueria or, in this week’s case — what is now one of the easiest flights in the Caribbean: just book your ticket, check your bag and fly right to Casa de Campo.

So what about cost?

For flights next week, you can book a roundtrip in the Main cabin to La Romana for as low as $269, and $1,363 in business class.

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Kimpton’s New Dominican Republic Hotel Has a Rooftop Pool and 500 Years of History

It’s still one of the best-kept secrets in the Caribbean, despite sitting in the heart of a well-known capital: the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was founded in 1498 and today is a pastiche of centuries-old buildings, art galleries, cafes, bars and exciting eateries and beautiful plazas.

While the old city has always had a clutch of boutique hotels, it’s never had a major-branded property, unless you count the old Accor-branded Nicolas de Ovando, which is now a Hodelpa.

That changed this summer, with the debut of Kimpton’s new Las Mercedes hotel, an exciting debut in the Colonial Zone with everything from a rooftop lounge to a multi-level courtyard garden.

Interestingly, the hotel, which held its grand opening this week, is actually operated by another big brand, Iberostar, thanks to the company’s alliance with Kimpton’s parent company, IHG.

Either way, it’s instantly the area’s must-visit place to stay, with an enchanting blend of modern comfort and colorful historic charm.

So what else do you need to know?

There’s a signature eatery, Zola, which focuses on Italian-inspired food; a courtyard tapas-style spot called El Patio in the heart of the aforementioned garden; and a breakfast buffet spot called Coral. That’s along with a pool bar on the rooftop, with everything overseen by executive chef Cosimo Urso. The Colonial Zone has some very good nightlife; on Saturdays, Zola gets into the act with a live DJ set during the late evening.

There is a rooftop pool and bar.

There are 130 rooms. While they’re not big, they’re true to the Kimpton aesthetic: cool, minimalist and comfortable.

So is this all enough to draw travelers to Santo Domingo? The trend is certainly heading that way. The Dominican government has made growing tourism to the capital a big priority, and that has led to a wave of new flights to the city in recent years. Region-wide, more travelers are starting to consider getaways in Caribbean capitals like Kingston and Nassau, and the Colonial Zone certainly deserves to be mentioned in the same breath.

A street in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo.

Kimpton’s Caribbean portfolio now stands at four, with its flagship Grand Cayman property, the Kimpton Grand Roatan (which opened last year) and the Kimpton Aluna Tulum, which welcomed its first guests in 2021. Next year, the brand is opening its first-ever all-inclusive, with a 2025 debut in the Rivera Maya.

So what about prices?

If you’re planning a stay at the Kimpton Las Mercedes you can get a room for as low as $154 per night right now. That gives you a king room with a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, and a sleek-looking bathroom.

For more details, please visit: https://www.ihg.com/kimptonhotels/hotels/us/en/las-mercedes-santo-domingo/sdqlm/hoteldetail
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Riu Just Relaunched This Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort With Nearly 1,000 Rooms

The new resort has almost 1,000 rooms.

It wasn’t your typical renovation in the Caribbean. All-inclusive brand Riu actually demolished one of its Bavaro Beach-area resorts to pave way for a massive expansion of the one next door.

The result? The new-look, significantly larger all-inclusive Riu Palace Bavaro, which just reopened in the Dominican Republic’s tourism hub of Punta Cana.

The transformed resort on Arena Gorda beach in Punta Cana now has nearly 1,000 rooms, with a shift in focus toward families: that means 255 rooms that are tailor-made for families and larger groups — from extra beds to flexible configurations.

And families are clearly the focus here: with a diverse, layered kids’ club (with different concepts for different age groups); along with a mini splash park, a “pirate ship” and a game park, among other inclusions.

Inside a swim-up room.

On the culinary side, the resort has everything fro a new French bakery to a taco shack.

You also get access to the major water park at the neighboring Riu Republic resort.

Riu also added another nod to an increasingly popular choice for all-inclusive travelers: its Elite Club, which Ofers elevated check-in, extra amenities, exclusive pool access and upgraded drinks dispensers (a Riu signature), along with access to two swim-up bars.

In all, the revamped Punta Cana resort has 108 Elite Club rooms, and they’re worth the splurge. The company says 60 Elite Club rooms have their own private pools, along with amenities like guaranteed late checkout and priority reservations at eateries at the resort.

Riu has been renovating its resorts all across the broader Caribbean-Mexico region in the last several years; the Bavaro overhaul comes after Riu redid its Riu Palace Macao resort in Punta Cana last year, one that similarly included a new Elite Club.

Are you planning a Punta Cana vacation at this newly-upgraded Riu? What about the cost?

The starting rate is for a superior junior suite, which is priced at $1,142.40 for five nights in October.

For a swim-up room in the Elite Club level, it’s about $1,500.80 for five nights in the same time frame.

For more, visit Riu at: https://www.riu.com/en/hotel/dominican-republic/punta-cana/hotel-riu-palace-bavaro/

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Marriott International To Bring W Hotels Brand To The Dominican Republic With All-Inclusive Resort

Marriott International, Inc., HAS announced the signing of a management agreement with Grupo Puntacana and MAC Hotels to begin construction on the W All-Inclusive Punta Cana in Uvero Alto, an adults-only, all-inclusive luxury property in the Dominican Republic. This hotel is expected to be the first W Hotels property in the market and one of the first W All-Inclusive resorts globally.

W All-Inclusive Punta Cana Uvero Alto is anticipated to feature 349 guest rooms with balconies and plunge pools, as well as several suites. With immersive and dynamic adult-focused programming, plans for the resort include a spa with 11 treatment rooms, a retail area, three pools with pool bars and eleven food and beverage destinations.

“Punta Cana is the perfect destination for both the W Hotels brand and an all-inclusive luxury resort,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Officer, Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International. “We look forward to bringing the vision for this fun adult playground to life with Grupo Puntacana and MAC Hotels.”

Today’s agreement is a result of the diversification and growth strategy of Grupo Punta Cana. The pioneering work of the company has contributed to the development of more than 40,000 hotel rooms in the area. The region generates the equivalent of 6.8% of the Dominican Republic’s GDP in the tourism sector and has become the province with the highest per capita income in the country.

“The signing of W Punta Cana Uvero Alto demonstrates our strong commitment to tourism development in Uvero Alto. This project is set to elevate the hotel supply in the region and generate about 600 new jobs,” stated Frank Elías Rainieri, President and CEO, Grupo Puntacana.

For MAC Hotels, the original developer of this project, the investment represents its third project in the country. MAC has evolved its hospitality strategy in which the company has traditionally been both an owner and the operator for all of its projects until now.

“The signing with Grupo Puntacana and Marriott International allows us to move up to the next stage in our company’s growth and development, and we thank both Marriott and Grupo Puntacana for the confidence they have shown us. We are excited to provide an unparalleled experience for guests coming to the beaches of Punta Cana,” stated Begoña Amengual, CEO, MAC Hotels.

The project is expected to break ground in the coming months with an anticipated opening date in 2025.

For more information on W Hotels, visit www.WHotels.com/TheAngle