Given its history and the interesting and diverse nature of its land, reading about the Dominican Republic as you make plans to visit there is essential. You’ll feel like an insider before you even leave home.

Try “The Rough Guide to the Dominican Republic 3”, a fulsome book that gives a background of the area, examination of the various ways to get around and what to see, and information on the best hotels for the best price. If seeing sites off the beaten path, and seeing more than the usual tourist trappings is on your “important” list, then this book will be useful to you.

The Frommer’s “Portable” guides are always useful and the Dominican Republic version is no exception. This small book is easy to carry along and focuses just on the Dominican Republic and not just the Caribbean as a whole.

Finally, for an overview of the area and its history, pick up “The Dominican Republic: A National History” by Frank Moya Pons. Examining the historical, social and economic climate in the DR today and in the past, this book is sure to give you some ideas about what you must see, what you can miss and help you understand a little about the people and issues in the DR.