La Altagracia Province

Look, I'll be straight with you about La Altagracia Province. This is the Dominican Republic's crown jewel for beach lovers, and it's not trying to be anything else. The eastern coast serves up 90 miles of white sand beaches, world-class resorts, and enough rum cocktails to make you forget about your inbox for a week.

But here's what the brochures won't tell you. La Altagracia isn't just about all-inclusive resorts and poolside service (though it does those exceptionally well). You've got fishing villages like Macao where locals still pull nets at sunrise, the upscale sophistication of Cap Cana with its celebrity chef restaurants, and Bavaro Beach where the sand is so fine it squeaks under your feet.

The province runs from Punta Cana in the south up to Miches in the north, each area with its own personality. Punta Cana brings the party and the luxury. Bavaro offers the perfect family beach day. And if you venture to places like Juanillo Beach, you'll find stretches of coast that still feel undiscovered.

Sure, it's touristy. The airport sees more visitors than any other Caribbean destination. But there's a reason millions of people keep coming back to these shores.