Let the Mardi Gras celebrations begin!
Every winter season thousands of visitors flock to the Dominican Republic (DR) to participate in the unique Dominican carnival experience. Each February and early March, more than 100,000 people gather from around the world to experience Dominican popular culture through carnival's vibrant costumes, intricate masks and parades at festivals held throughout the country.
Celebrations and costumes vary according to different DR regions; however, most feature mass groups of colorfully costumed participants parading down streets, embellished floats, dance groups, chants and crowd-interaction. One of the most well-known costumes in the parade is "El diablo cojuelo," a devil. Celebrators may drape their vibrant costumes with mirrors, rattles, ribbons and bells. The masks are created by "careteros" out of paper mache, feathers, painted gourds, plantain leaves, jute and recycled materials, and are then decorated with satin and taffeta, or small mirrors, bells, ribbons, whistles and tiny dolls.
Carnival is a joyous pre-Lenten custom celebrated in Feb., peaking around Feb. 27, Dominican Independence Day, with some final parades taking place in early March. The cultural celebration draws influences from Europe and Africa, and dates back to 1520 during the colonial period when the festivals were used as an escape from pressures of religious tradition. For more information, please visit the DR Ministry of Tourism's official website and event calendar at www.GoDominicanRepublic.com/pages/calendar. A Frommer's link is a bit more comprehensive: www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=events.location&loc_id=131033
The Dominican Republic has much to boast about: It's first tourist was Christopher Columbus in 1492 and today receives more than one million U.S. visitors each year. Named No. 1 Golf Destination in Caribbean & Latin America by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, the DR boasts more than two dozen designer golf courses, upscale resorts, pristine nature, and sophisticated cities and quaint villages. The DR features the best beaches, fascinating history and culture, and is a chosen escape for celebrities, couples and families alike. See more at www.GoDominicanRepublic.com.
Travelers can reach Santo Domingo with one daily nonstop flight on Delta Air Lines. One-way rates requiring a 10-day advance purchase start from $165; from $235 each way with just a three-day advance purchase.
AirTran serves Punta Cana with a daily nonstop flight at one-way rates from $139 (14-day advance purchase). Seven day advance purchase rates start from $189.
Check out the resort values at this Bookit.com link: http://bookit.com/caribbean/dominican-republic
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Celebrate Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Orlando through April 23 with parades and concerts displaying this year's theme of "Let the Music Move You."
The concert line-up includes music legends and pop icons including:
- The B-52s – Saturday, Feb. 19
- KC & The Sunshine Band – Sunday, Feb. 20
- Pitbull – Saturday, Feb. 26
- Lynyrd Skynyrd – Saturday, March 5
- Foreigner – Saturday, March 12
- Neon Trees – Friday, March 18
- The Roots – Saturday, March 19
- OneRepublic – Friday, March 25
- Blake Shelton – Saturday, March 26
- Sean Kingston – Friday, April 1
- Ne-Yo – Saturday, April 2
- Lifehouse – Saturday, April 9
- The Beach Boys – Saturday, April 16
- Thirty Seconds to Mars – Saturday, April 23
For details, view http://www.universalorlando.com/Events/Mardi_Gras/overview.aspx.
A fine source for booking Orlando-area hotels is at Bookit.com. Nightly rates start from just $49, double occupancy.
If you're looking to save maximum bucks, opt for Bookit.com's Upscale Mystery Resorts. You won't be given the name of the property until after prepayment, but the savings are substantial.
Start exploring the many Orlando values at this link: http://bookit.com/us/florida/orlando
Clara Bosonetto is a retired travel consultant.
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