Few destinations do an over-the-top beach vacation like the Dominican Republic. As all-inclusive travel grows in popularity even with the youngest generation of travelers, this Caribbean nation is drawing record-breaking numbers of travelers year-round, many of whom head straight to the island’s oversized resorts.

Beachfront development has long since pushed past the sugar-fine sands of Punta Cana and into new regions, with big-name hotels and resorts sprouting up in spots that were once known mostly to locals. Notably, the country’s first luxury wellness resort, Cayo Levantado Resort, debuted two years ago on a private island in the less-visited region of Samaná.

Meanwhile, the once tiny beach town of Miches is buzzing; Viva Miches by Wyndham, A Trademark All-Inclusive debuted in January, while Zemi Miches Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton opening its doors less than a month ago.

Now On the North Shore

A mere blip on the map of the Dominican Republic, the area surrounding the small town of Rio San Juan is nearly untouched, even when compared to still growing destinations like Samaná or Miches. But zoom in on Google Maps and you’ll start to see the appeal of this less-visited region: brilliantly white stretches of sand stretch right up to the lush foliage of the tropical jungle. This couldn’t feel further from Punta Cana, but with beaches that are just as nice.

Amidst the larger-than-life developments of other coastlines, the properties here are tiny in comparison. Small, serene, and supremely exclusive, properties like the Aman-branded Amanera and ÀNI Dominican Republic, are quietly rewriting the narrative of the travel to the Dominican Republic as being limited to the oversized and overwhelming.

Even more special still is nearby Playa Grande Beach Club, a boutique property the likes of which there are few in the country, let alone the Caribbean. Home to just nine standalone bungalows spread across a spacious swath of beachfront property carved out of the jungle, its one-of-a-kind design and down-to-earth luxury make it a world all its own.

Inside Playa Grande Beach Club

Stepping off the golden sands of one of the country’s most beautiful beaches and onto the manicured grounds of Playa Grande Beach Club, it’s immediately clear that this is a destination all its own. Even from the beachfront, it’s visible: the property’s meticulously maintained grounds are packed with details to delight visitors. Fringed umbrellas shade beach chairs; vintage furniture fills spaces coated with colorful, handmade tiles; candy-colored drinking glasses for afternoon piña coladas by the pool look like they’re straight out of a doll house.

Playa Grande Beach Club’s praiseworthy design comes as no surprise to those who know its founding story. Among the property’s owners is Celerie Kemble, a renowned designer who had a hand in every detail of its creation and design.

Her distinctly island-inspired, Palm Beach-informed design touches every corner of the property. Each bungalow evokes its own unique spirit, with colorful pastel palettes paired with one-of-a-kind textiles and art collected from remote corners of the world, including from Kemble’s personal travels. The Dominican inspiration of the property is undeniable, calling on classic, colonial-era design in architectural details throughout.

To step inside your private bungalow, available in one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom layouts, feels like stepping inside a gingerbread house with a tropical twist. Mine mixed a rose and lime green color scheme, that started with the handpicked textiles on pillows and continue to the tiles spread across the bathroom floor. My bungalow had its own kitchen, with a vintage-inspired refrigerator stocked with goodies like Dominican beer, local mangoes and freshly-ground coffee should I want to wake for sunrise on the sand.

The bathroom was its own separate sanctuary, complete with a massive copper soaking tub as the centerpiece of its design. I marveled at its size: how could the floor hold its weight? Did the house have to be built around its oversized port? It was one of a number of supremely special touches that wove together the visceral visual journey at this one-of-a-kind property.

Home Away From Home

The intentionality of every design detail is Kemble’s love for the property made manifest, giving it lived-in, well-loved quality that makes it comfortable rather than imposing. Perhaps it’s the small size of the property, apt for less than thirty guests at a time, that enhances its homey feel. However, the family-and-friends-first founding of the property is even more likely the source of its welcoming vibe.

While Kemble was the creative mind behind the property’s design, she was just one of a close-knit group of owners who initially intentioned Playa Grande Beach Club to be a private destination reserved just for friends and family. Now, guests can book bungalows for their own home-away-from-home feel.

In addition to just nine bungalows, Playa Grande Beach Club has a main house with a restaurant and bar, a two-story library and lounge, a beachfront pool with a covered lounge area for lazing, and a small gym.

Rio San Juan and Beyond

For such a set-apart property far from the tourist crowds, there’s surprisingly plenty to do just outside the bounds of the resort. One morning I ventured out with a guide who led me up a mountainside that stands between the coastline and the expanses of the island, cracking open fresh coconuts, pointing out tropical fruit laden trees, and explaining the rich vegetation along our trek.

At the end of the path was an incredible viewpoint overlooking the island’s north coast, from which he pointed out the area’s best beaches and departures for the area’s other popular excursions: horseback riding, tours through the forest to swim in millennia-old sinkholes and boat rides through the mangroves.

“Why would anyone want to leave such a precious property?” I had thought, until I realized that I would need to plan a return trip to experience everything there is to do in this still largely untouched region of the country.

The Playa Grande Secret

There is plenty to do during a stay at Playa Grande Beach Club, but noticeable absent is the laundry list of amenities that often feel like a to-do list to modern travelers. Here, the luxury is in the space, the solitude, the stretch of sand that feels almost all your own. It is the serenity of dining in the grand, romantic main house, chatting with friends and family over farm-fresh food highlighting island-inspired flavors.

“The biggest benefit of staying at Playa Grande Beach Club is that you feel like you are in a family,” says Alexandra Jeronimo, General Manager of Playa Grande Beach Club.

“The hotel is a timeless place from yesteryear where generational stories are made,” she says, referencing both the intimate feel of the property and high return rate of guests. At this boutique property, bungalows sometimes book up to a year in advance by guests who don’t want to skip a season at Playa Grande.

It’s a destination to be shared with friends and family, but carefully. “A lot of visitors tend to say things like ‘I don’t know if I should tell anyone about this place, so I’ve decided to tell no one so I can keep it for myself,'” says Jeronimo. After all, what started as a hideaway for a group of close friends and family never lost its essence. Now, it that same sublime peace and welcoming spirit that makes Playa Grande Beach Club such a singular slice of paradise.

Mauch Chunk Trust Company’s bank in downtown Jim Thorpe will close at the end of the year to make space for tourists.

The branch is located inside the borough’s historic train station, which houses the Jim Thorpe Visitors Center.

Out-of-towners who come for a train ride, take a jaunt on the adjacent trail or to visit the shops in town stop at the station to use the restroom and seek tourism information from the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau.

Closing the branch will make more space for the estimated 400,000 guests who stop by in a year, according to a press release.

The decision to close the branch was made in partnership with the Carbon County Commissioners to better accommodate the crowds.

Haley O’Brien

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WVIA News

In the announcement, Patrick H. Reilly, President and CEO of Mauch Chunk Trust said, “As tourism in Jim Thorpe has grown over the years, we’ve seen many of our railroad station customers increasingly using our North Street and other offices because they are easier to access and have better parking.”

Reilly also said more customers have been using their mobile app for banking.

The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway has trains departing the station several times daily during the busy seasons.

The county currently pays for portable restrooms to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people that visit each year.

“No concrete plans have been made yet,” Commissioner Wayne Nothstein said Friday, but added that renovating the station to add more restrooms has been part of the conversation.

Mauch Chunk Trust has seven locations in Carbon County and Tamaqua. The bank’s main office on North Street is on Jim Thorpe’s East Side.

The train station branch downtown will close on Dec. 1, 2025. An ATM will remain outside the building.

Haley O’Brien

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WVIA News

The European Commission has introduced a new set of regulations that make it easier for frequent Turkish travelers to obtain Schengen visas.

The changes apply to multi-entry short-stay visas, offering greater flexibility and longer durations for applicants with a consistent and compliant travel history.

With Turkish citizens having faced difficulties in securing Schengen visas in recent years, this development is seen as a major relief for those who frequently travel to Europe. The streamlined process is aimed at rewarding those who demonstrate responsible travel behavior and regular use of previous Schengen visas.

What the New Visa Rules Offer

The policy simplifies the visa acquisition process for Turkish nationals who have previously held and properly used Schengen visas. Travelers with a proven track record of regular travel and compliance will now be eligible for longer and multiple-entry visas, reducing both the paperwork and stress associated with repeat applications.

The graduated structure of the visa durations encourages continued lawful travel. Depending on their travel history and timing of application, Turkish citizens may now receive visas ranging from six months to five years in duration.

Visa Validity Timeline Based on Travel History

• 6-month visa: For those who apply within one year of their last valid visa’s expiration.
• 1-year multiple-entry visa: For applicants whose previous 6-month visa expired within the past two years.
• 3-year multiple-entry visa: For those whose 1-year visa expired within the past two years.
• 5-year multiple-entry visa: For travelers whose 3-year visa expired within the past two years.

The policy ensures that visa validity will never exceed passport expiration dates. Specifically, the visa’s end date must be at least three months before the passport’s expiry, ensuring alignment with EU border security regulations.

Countries Where the New Policy Applies

The revised visa rules will be recognized across all 25 Schengen member states, making travel significantly more convenient for eligible Turkish citizens. The countries are:

Who Is Excluded?

The new visa facilitation rules have clear boundaries. Turkish nationals applying for visas for professional reasons, such as truck drivers and other occupational categories, will not be eligible for the updated system. Similarly, third-country nationals residing in Türkiye who are not Turkish citizens will continue to be subject to the standard Schengen visa application procedures.

This limitation is designed to prioritize personal and tourism-related travel for Turkish citizens with proven histories of compliance and repeated visits to Schengen areas.

Official Statement from the Trade Ministry

Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat commented on the new measures by stating: “For those who have received a visa for the first time, in their second applications, it will be possible to obtain long-term and multiple-entry visas, starting from up to 6 months and extending to 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and eventually 5 years.”

His statement reinforces the European Commission’s objective to reward trusted travelers by minimizing administrative burdens and maximizing convenience for repeat applicants.

What This Means for Turkish Travelers

The move reflects a broader shift in the EU’s approach to visa policy, balancing border control with traveler convenience. By easing access for compliant travelers, the Schengen zone could see increased tourism and business exchanges from Türkiye, a country with deepening ties to Europe.

Frequent Turkish travelers—especially those working in academia, business, and tourism—are likely to benefit the most. This policy could also reduce waiting times at consulates and streamline embassy workloads by lowering the frequency of repeated short-term applications.

While the new rules may not change the experience for all applicants, they mark a significant improvement for thousands of Turkish citizens who travel frequently and seek easier mobility across European borders.