They Paved Paradise, and Put Up a Parking Lot... But they didn't do that in the Dominican Republic from where I have just returned. In a forgotten corner of the island, on the Samana peninsula, is a terrific little hotel and restaurant named El Marinique. It's been in the town of Las Galeras for twenty years and has smashing views of one of the nicest, uncrowded beaches in the world. It's not expensive there either -- two can have a nice dinner for about US$12, and the rum, which is certainly some of the best I have ever sampled, goes for a few dollars a bottle.
You can stay at El Marinique for a week for not much money; keep in mind it's not one of those ridiculous all-inclusive resorts (why go to another country just to stay inside a resort? You might as well go to Miami). It's a beautiful place to stay for quiet, enjoyable sojourns into the tiny, quirky town of Las Galeras. The people are friendly, but you'll need to know some Spanish. Few speak English there.
If you love the place so much that you just have to stay, the owners of El Marinique are selling the property (which functions as a small hotel with no red ink!) for an asking price of 700 grand. I think that's what a single house costs in Vancouver these days.
I'm not entirely sure why I'm giving up this info other than not having the $700K to do the deal. If you pick up the property, you'll be heading for a slower, gentler lifestyle, and I expect a few nights free next time I'm down there for pointing you at it. ;)
EDIT: The asking price is actually US$900,000, still a bargain for what it is and where it is. Mea culpa!
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