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As the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo is one of the very best cities it has to offer. For interesting sites, visit some of the firsts built in the Western Hemisphere, such as the first citadel, first cathedral and the first hospital. It's also home to Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, the oldest university in the New World whose construction began in 1538. In general, if you're interested in history, stroll through the Colonial Zone. Christopher Columbus' presence is still felt in the city even though his remains were moved to Spain over a decade ago. His son Diego was the first governor of the city and his palace is a fantastic place to explore Colonial art and artifacts. The Columbus Lighthouse stands at 688ft tall and marks the 500th anniversary of Columbus' voyage to the New World.

Enjoy an evening in Santo Domingo as you get filled with delicious food and dance the night away along Malecón's hotspots. Some hotels also have casinos… but don't expect Vegas here. They're more intimate than extravagant. And what evening could be considered complete without at least smelling the fantastic aroma of a Monte Cristo cigar. On a side note, the grandfather of Alexandre Dumas, the author of The Count of Monte Cristo, immigrated to this beautiful city. It rumored that Alexandre's father gave his son many tales. Who knows which ones seeped into his son's stories…