I just returned from a two week vacation in Dominica and all I can say is that I cannot wait to go back in October for Creole Festival. Domininca is the ideal location if you are seeking a location that is not commercialized and rich in caribbean culuture. Yes there are cruise ships which arrive several times a week packed with tourist but Domininca has remained unspoiled. I planned this trip one week prior to departing as a getaway for some rest and relaxation and I did just that. Leaving CT at 20 degrees and arriving in D.A by 1:30 at 85 degrees was the kick off to this relaxing getaway. My vacation started in Roseau where I did some shopping for some essentials and then moved onto Portsmouth for most of my trip. My time in Portsmouth was spent laying on the beach sleeping, reading and enjoying the view. I also hiked to the top of cabrits which is always worth the climb once you get to the top of the hill.
I came across a great restuarant in Salisbury(on the main highway) that serves excellent dinners for a great price as well as drinks. In addition the back of the restuarant offers a lounge with large seat cushions and an excellent view overlooking the caribbean sea for relaxing after dinner.
The second half of my trip was spent in Roseau and exploring Roseau, Roseau valley area and the southern part of Dominica. Fort Young Hotel offers a lively Friday night happy hour and you can't beat the price at $25E.C for dinner, drinks and dancing. If you are craving some good coffee or iced latte be sure to check out Rituals on the bayfront. Rituals also offers wireless internet service. One of my favorite places that I visited was Tia's sulphur Springs which is right next door to Screw's Spa in Wotten Waven on the way to Trafalgar falls.. Tia's offers lots of privacy and the hot spring is exactly what one would need after a long day of walking.
The two weeks that I spent in Domininca was exactly what I needed and I have already planned my second trip in October.

We took a family vacation to the island of Dominica in March 2008 with our two children ages 10 and 13, and a grandparent, and had a marvelous time. Dominica is a very mountainous island with a rain forest climate and a very rich history (I recommend reading “The Dominica Story” by Lennox Honeychurch before you visit). It is the only Caribbean island that still has a Carib Indian population (the Kalinago). After the collapse of the banana industry devastated the island’s economy in the late 1990’s there has been much interest in growing tourism. Hopefully this will be done smartly. We stayed at the relatively new Jungle Bay Resort and Spa, which follows a very interesting model for both eco-tourism and how it meshes with the local economy.

There are no McDonald’s here, nor are there any chain hotels, and in my mind this is a plus. The trip was relatively easy – a direct flight from Hartford to San Juan, and then a flight to Melville Hall airport on the north side of the island. We chose to rent a car. We are glad we did, but read my driving tips below before you decide what is best for you.

This is not the place to go for your typical beach vacation. But if you love the outdoors, and have a sense of adventure, this is the perfect destination. We did a canyoning adventure, rappelling down waterfalls with Extreme Dominica, went scuba diving with Nature Island Divers and took a guided hike to Middleham Falls with Paul Crask (see my separate reviews). You can read my reviews on these specific trips for more details, as well as my review of Jungle Bay Resort and Spa.

A few notes about driving: Driving is on the left, the roads can be exceptionally steep with endless hairpin turns, and they can be very narrow in many places. The road from the airport to the roundabout (rotary) is probably the worst section. It is paved, but the pavement is not wide enough for two cars and is fairly raised so it is tricky to pull over without hitting an axle. The conditions of the roads are not nearly as bad as in some places like Costa Rica, but there can be many potholes (although the road crews are out every day making repairs). Once you reach the roundabout, the road widens enough to handle 2-way traffic, both west to Roseau and east. Driving at a moderate speed, it took us about 1 ¾ hours to get from the airport to Jungle Bay. I’m guessing it is similar to Roseau. It took an hour to get from Jungle Bay to Roseau following the south coastal route (faster than going north to the roundabout).

We found the people of Dominica to be exceptionally friendly, especially in all the villages along the southeast coast and across to the west. We stopped numerous times to confirm we were on the right road, and always felt comfortable asking for directions. Locals tend to drive very fast, and would beep to pass, but never in an overly aggressive way.

this is truly for nature lovers

do not go to this island if you are expecting a cabana boy to bring white sangrias to your beach chair or if you are seeking a beachside massage

the sand is black and the beaches for the most part are rocky but if you've seen one beach you've seen them all

with that said...you need to see dominica in all its splendor!

trafalgar falls is the most beautiful space, at the bottom of the falls is where the hot water is. the sulfur is not strong and its actually therapeutic for your skin. we found a little grotto like corner and it felt as if we were in natures own hot tub!

then we visited the rain forest and being in the midst of all the natural greenery made us so happy to be part of this earth!

the beaches are worth a trip but they are different from your typical white sand beach so be prepared. if you have water shoes it is suggested that you pack them because sometimes the rocks can be a bit much . o and the black sand. as amazing as it may sound, the black sand is hot!!
and when the sun is full on, its uncomfortable.

ever see footage of kids running full speed into the water with reckless abandon?
you may think its because of there love of the ocean but trust me its because that sand is setting fire underneath their feet and the only way to stop it is to get into the water as quickly as possible!

so for this, water shoes are very helpful
and repellent as well.

when you visit make sure you check of this list

drink a rum punch
drink kubuli often ((is the countrys own beer))
visit trafalgar falls and enjoy the little piece of heaven i found
buy a coconut and enjoy the coconut water
enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!

The island of Dominica is completely unlike any other island in the Caribbean. It is called the "Nature Island" and it truly deserves the name. The island has everything anyone could want: mountains, beaches, waterfalls, lush vegetation, fantastic volcanic geology, and great people.
There is so much to see and do on the island, that the hardest part of the trip is deciding what to do in a limited amount of time. For that reason, I highly recommend taking advantage of the great guide services on Dominica. I met several of the guides during my stay and highly recommend Cobra Tours. Cobra and his crew are extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to making sure everyone in the group has a great time. One day Cobra rowed our group up the Indian River and gave us a complete tour of the local flora and fauna - Latin names and all. Another day Cobra took us up into the Carib territory and gave us a tour that really made the landscape come alive for all our senses. He would stop the van and gather lemongrass growing along the road side, climb a tree to pick a cocoa pod - then cut it open to let us suck the sweet/sour juice that surrounds the beans. From the smell of cinnamon carved from the bark of a tree to the taste of fresh mango plucked from a branch - the experience is truly awakening.
My favorite experience on the island was hiking down to a waterfall that cascades onto a black sand beach. The hike down was a little scary (for those of us who don't like heights) but the beach was absolutely pristine and completely empty. The waterfall was just the right size to stand under and it literally falls right on the beach. It was amazing to stand under the waterfall, to feel the cool water on your head and shoulders while the warm ocean water rushes in over your feet.
Dominica is incredibly forward thinking and the people really care about conserving their natural resources and taking care of their beautiful island. The people are incredibly friendly and love sharing their paradise with visitors.
If you are looking for a warm weather vacation and don't want to fight crowds - check out Dominica. You won't be disappointed.