15 Best Hotels in North Coast, Dominican Republic

The stunning, contemporary entrance flanked by slender white pillars leads to the attractive lobby at this adults-only resort, which offers both incredible value and many complaints. For decades an all-inclusive, the resort now offers that as an option that is worth accepting. Standard and standard-plus rooms are basic and small (rooms near the stage can be noisy until 11 pm); if possible, upgrade to the spacious, quiet villas with Jacuzzis and more contemporary bedding. Some rooms have been redecorated in recent years. What remains inviting is the international buffet, from raw oysters to a real turkey dinner, depending on the nightly theme. The ambience is more relaxing at the à la carte restaurants, where reservations are needed and the food is not necessarily as good. House wine is swill, beer is better. There aren't many organized activities anymore besides the pool games. Canadians and Brits seem to be the most pleased.

This condominium complex shares the grounds of the Hotel Blue Jack Tar, providing an upscale option to the generally moderately priced Playa Dorada. The rather plain facade does not prepare you for the stunning interior decor behind closed doors, most especially the swoon-worthy penthouse. All of the condos, from two-bedrooms up, have spacious layouts and high-end, contemporary furnishings, even on their terraces. The quality of construction is top-notch. Renters can enjoy this good life for a night, a week, or longer for a value price, all the while enjoying the facilities of the adjoining hotel.

Designed by architect Sara Garcia, sophisticated Casa Colonial, a boutique property exuding refinement and relaxation on the quiet end of the long beach, is a surprise among the all-inclusives of Playa Dorada. The suites are sumptuous—with Frette linens and an inviting open bath-to-bedroom floor plan—but those that do not overlook the beach are not as stellar as the public areas. The rooftop sundeck is close to heaven—an infinity pool and four warm Jacuzzis overlooking the ocean as well as an eatery here and on the ground floor facing the ocean; spa devotees will savor the Baqua Spa. The hotel's popularity as a wedding venue and for family and group sell-outs is escalating. If you like exclusive, small hotels, this is the best choice on the North Coast, and if you book directly they'll include free breakfast for your trip.

This small, hacienda-style adobe hotel also has a decent restaurant and is a standout in this quiet neighborhood. Wrought-iron gates open to a courtyard that's candlelit by night, and most of the rooms face the pool in the rear garden. The simple rooms include studios with kitchenettes, and are furnished with comfortable mattresses, minibars, cable TV, and a safe; some have hand-painted tropical murals. The proud owners are an accommodating Dutch couple. Most rooms have been completely renovated; poolside rooms are the quietest and have patios. This inn may be cheap, but it is a good value.

This small, family-run hotel offers a lush island getaway from atop a mountain overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The rooms are pretty and sparsely decorated with pops of color that seem pulled from the landscape. Much of the decor, made of bamboo and rattan, are locally handmade. The outdoor pool is breezy and cool and offers more stunning views below of the ocean and surrounding green areas. All rooms come with air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. The best views are in building 20 on the second floor, where balconies overlook the ocean. Guests will enjoy the tennis court and access to the on-site restaurant, which also has views. It's widely considered the best in the area and indeed plates are brilliantly executed, but don't expect anything local, and expect to pay for the quality. This property is best for couples and families; singles without cars may find the experience too lonely. If you want to explore surrounding areas, you'll need to rent a car. Cabo Frances in El Breton is 5 minutes away, and larger, more well-known Playa Grande is 25 minutes away.

This longtime all-inclusive has had a rebirth, maintaining its moderate price point but now offering more luxury upgrade options. The primarily English-speaking guests are in awe of the sophisticated lobby, a contemporary study in Caribbean colors and textures. They like the easy access to the beach, which is on a point with unobstructed views to the west. Families make up a good share of the market, and this resort is solid as far as the tour operators are concerned. Many couples will prefer the larger rooms overlooking the quiet pool, though they lack the ocean views. All rooms have now been renovated and have upscale touches like flat-screen TVs and improved bedding. Both à la carte restaurants and the buffet offer good choices. No resort in the D.R. has such an exceptional club-level lounge. With an upscale, residential ambience, it artistically blends rustic Dominican touches with collagelike photography of Europe; all the extras are worth the upgrade.

You will find a healthy dose of unexpected pleasure at this stellar, boutique hotel made up primarily of one- to three-bedroom condominiums and a few regular hotel rooms tucked in a serene oasis away from the noisy main town. Coral-stone paths wind around two exquisite tropical gardens of cacti and orchids, each with a pool and Jacuzzi. The open reception area is flanked by a quiet seating area that whispers tranquility. There are five different choices for lodgings, all have different designs and ages (all contemporary in style), ranging from full apartments with kitchens to regular hotel rooms with only a mini-fridge. Views are truly stunning, particularly from the penthouses. Owner Gerard Hebert is a charming French Canadian, an early surfer who arrived in 1984 and has a following. The exceptionally helpful receptionists speak Spanish, English, French, and German.

This resort will dazzle you with its sprawling lobby, its curvaceous pool with a central Jacuzzi encircled by Roman pillars. Guest rooms have a light, breezy, tropical look; the ocean-view junior suites have desks and flat-screen TVs. Food, including at the Brazilian and Mexican restaurants, is good, and so is the buffet. Top-shelf liquor is available only at the lobby bar. At night you can watch the entertainment from the garden seating surrounding the wrought-iron gazebo. The dive center is one of the best in the area. Close to Puerto Plata, you can have more contact with real Dominican life here than if you stay in Playa Dorada complex itself. Guests from the U.K. and Canada rave about the resort more than statesiders.

Rooms on the top floor of Block 5 and 6 have views and are worth the upgrade.

If a reasonably priced contemporary and spacious apartment with remarkable ocean vistas is your tropical dream, this small condo resort delivers. A pool looks out onto the powdery beach, where kites dance across the baby-blue sky. Interior decor is a study in black and white with lots of leather, and a well-equipped Euro-style kitchen feels new. Just three steps up from the pool, Aqua and Yalla restaurants offers three meals daily as well as room service; it is the place to hang for sunset cocktails. Other valued amenities include the full-service Andari Spa, where caring therapists will pamper you for a moderate price, and the new beauty salon.There's a two-night minimum, but the longer you stay the less you pay; 18% tax is charged on top of rates.

Number 212, a deluxe one-bedroom, is adjacent to the bar, reception, and spa; two-bedroom penthouses offer phenomenal views.

If your idea of perfection is thatch-roof cabanas and a quiet, private beach, then this may be your oceanfront nirvana. The 13 artfully constructed bungalows here are made from indigenous materials such as bamboo and island stone and were designed to meld into the environment without disturbing its natural beauty. They have a lot of rustic charm but offer few creature comforts (no air-conditioning, TV, or phones); the newest and largest sleeps four. All bathrooms have rain showers with round sea-stone floors that feel wonderful underfoot. Lole, the dueña, her daughters, and the rest of her caring, bilingual staff, promote camaraderie. Healthful breakfasts and lunches are served in one of the two waterfront restaurants; dinner in the other is prepared by an international chef, and seafood is handled particularly well there. The artistically designed Attabeyra Spa has services such as chocolate wraps and massages on the beach. The splendid yoga pavilion is an oceanfront palacio with classes in the morning and afternoon; retreats and innovative weddings with the Natura touch are held here, too. The pool gazebo, with its colorful Indian sarongs, is the setting for romantic dinners.

Italian fashion designer Piergorgio has passed away, but his Victorian-style hotel/restaurant continues to operate, though its glory is now faded. The white hotel with its wraparound verandah and gingerbread fretwork is an atmospheric landmark whose rooms need to be updated, though some of the newer, waterfront rooms (in the 500s), which have knockout ocean vistas, are still acceptable. The convenient location with its monumental view is the draw—at sunset the gazebo has breathtaking bay views, as does the outdoor Italian restaurant. Piergorgio’s fine reputation as a wedding venue continues, and honeymooners love its romantic feel.

This enclave of private homes, each with large front- and backyards and private pool, is an elite bastion set within a vast country club–like setting near Cabarete. This tropical resort community has some exquisite homes with many walking paths; certain homes are available as rentals with either weekly or nightly rates. The equestrian center, with dozens of horses grazing on wide expanses, is a stellar feature. There are five groomed clay tennis courts as well (ball boys are included with a paid lesson). Though all homes include a Dominican housekeeper who cooks breakfast (you supply the groceries) and a gardener, you can also request a chef. Sea Horse Ranch will stock your villa for you for a modest charge, and the complex can also provide a nanny. The Beach Club, the enclave's restaurant overlooking a dramatic cove, delivers to the villas from its international menu.

The hand-hewn, thatch-roofed wood structures on this mountaintop a short 20 minutes by road from Puerto Plata look over a vast quilt of sugarcane fields to the ocean beyond, offering an authentic Dominican experience in rustic comfort. Here it's all about nature and eco-responsible tourism. Puerto Plata's Canadian consul, Tim Hall, is your helpful, charismatic host. Two spacious cottages have private baths; three smaller palapas share bathroom facilities set apart in the gardens; a cute geodesic dome (called The Igloo) provides backpacker dorm rates. Guests gather over family-style suppers in a spacious social area and enjoy guided and unguided hiking, birding, waterfall treks, and visits to a coffee plantation and nearby amber mines.

You'll appreciate the location of this well-managed hotel and residential enclave with its own beachfront and gardens, just a few minutes' walk east of the noise of town yet also just minutes from the happening bars and restaurants. It's a favorite among well-heeled Dominicans, hip Americans, families, and international guests. Spacious suites with full kitchens are the best deals; the basic unit has two full bedrooms, but room dividers can turn one larger unit into two smaller ones. You might ask for the art deco Building 111. The views from the penthouses are knockout and an excellent value if three couples share. The oceanfront restaurant offers a delicious and varied spread for breakfast; daily specials and fresh seafood are on offer for lunch and dinner; service there is efficient and caring.

Smack amid the action, steps down from the main drag, this simple hotel captures the original spirit of Cabarete, catering to the independent traveler who wants nicer digs than a surf camp. Rooms have a crisp, contemporary style and flat-screen TVs; those above the ground level that front the beach are quieter. Each year seems to bring some kind of small improvement or addition, and the reasonable prices have been maintained even as the hotel has gotten better. Breakfast is no longer included in the base price. The beachside restaurant is adjacent to the kite-surfing center, and at night the cuisine is international. The Kitesurf & Windsurf Center offers a wide range of sports activities and the latest equipment.