Samana Holidays

Hispaniola, the island which the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti, was originally controlled by the Tainio Indians before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, and Spanish occupation began a year later. In fact, the Dominican Republic didn't actually gain independence until 1884 after having been sold to the United States for one million pesos. Samana City itself is a different story, as it was settled by a group of freed American slaves in 1842, their influence, particularly the language, still prominent today.

The influence of the 'Americanos' stretches further than the language however. If your holiday in Samana falls between August and October, then you will see the Dominicans come alive as this is their period of harvest festival, dating back to the West African traditions on the slave settlers. Bright colours, loud music and a lot of dancing means this is one of the most entertaining ways to see the locals at their authentic best.

For a more relaxed Samana holiday experience, look for the previously recommended locally owned bars and clubs, where jazz and 'merengue' are particularly popular, or the restaurants where the locally caught seafood always tops the menu.

Samana is one of the quieter resorts in the Dominican Republic, so may not be the place for those of you looking for a non stop party atmosphere. Nightclubs are scarce, but often the hotels and resorts themselves provide the best entertainment for their guests. For a more authentic experience on holiday to Samana, the quieter, locally owned bars and restaurants are a great way to see the Dominican's relaxing as well as trying some local cuisine.