Ben Pastore

Sometimes you just need to get away to the beach. A nice beach. Lots of them, in fact. Given the Dominican Republic's relative proximity to the US, combined with affordable accommodations and a wealth of the aforementioned beaches, our travel group chose the Samana' Peninsula as a base of operations for a relaxing beach vacation.

Our motives in traveling to Rio and the Costa Verde were to enjoy some beach vibes and colonial charm. Plus, the opportunity to see famous harbor of Rio de Janeiro and its world-famous beaches was a strong incentive as well.

A visit to India is a feather in any traveler's cap. Our group went in search of fascinating culture, food and architecture and we did not leave disappointed.