“In fourteen hundred and ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue”, runs the traditional poem. It was in December of that year that Christopher Columbus set foot on the island now known as Hispaniola, today shared by two nations, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is the Caribbean’s most visited country and developments such as Casa de Campo have helped it achieve that goal.

Situated in Romana, the area was once home to the world’s largest sugar mill. However, its development as a top-class resort started in 1971 with the opening of the first of its three golf courses designed by the legendary Pete Dye. Today the Teeth of the Dog is considered to be the best course in the Caribbean and is very popular with golfers of all levels.

You won’t get bored here. As well as the three golf courses there are three polo pitches, horse riding services for guests as well as. clay pigeon shooting, thirteen tennis courts and a range of water sports both on the sea and on the river. Oh, then there’s a cigar factory! Of course there are the usual facilities such as a fitness centre, spa, pools and numerous bars. There is even an airfield for those wanting to arrive in style in their own plane or helicopter.

Altos de Chavon is situated at the far end of the resort from the reception area. A mock sixteenth century Spanish village, it was built as a film set but never used as such. It’s home to a number of restaurants, artisan workshops, a museum and night club.

Nearby there’s a five thousand seat Roman-style Amphitheatre. Opened in 1972, the first performer was Frank Sinatra, clearly a tough act to follow, but many have done so, including Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Placido Domingo and more.

The beach at Minitas includes a beach club with two pools, one for families and the other for adults only. A food cart is available for snacks and there is also a restaurant serving lunch and dinner. A short distance away, the Marina is crammed with multi-million pound yachts that would not look out of place in Monaco.

Casa de Campo covers a vast seven thousand acres and contains nearly two thousand villas. They are popular with guests looking for a home away from home and range from three to eleven bedrooms. Breakfast is prepared by Casa de Campo’s staff who are also available to provide catering for lunches, dinners, BBQs and more.

For those seeking more modest accommodation, there are 247 hotel rooms in a tropical garden setting where guests can opt for an all-inclusive package which covers food at a number of restaurants around the resort, drinks, unlimited horse riding, tennis, non-motorised water sports, a round of 25 shots skeet/trap shooting and two tickets for the nightclub.Guests also have the use of their own golf buggy so they can access the facilities of this large resort.

There’s no place anywhere like the Dominican Republic and Casa de Campo. Whether you are looking for an all-inclusive hotel or a large private villa with its own pool and staff to cater for your every need, Casa de Campo has it all.