71 Best Hotels in Dominican Republic

Although there are adults-only sections at this resort, including the upper-strata Blue Diamond Club, couples and adults without kids are better served elsewhere; the right demographic for this stunning hotel is young families and groups. Most rooms are lovely, with luxe bedding and contemporary furnishings, but not spacious, particularly given that most will hold two adults and kids. To truly enjoy your family time, splurge for a one-bedroom Presidential Suite with two bathrooms. Although the handsome, well-designed resort may appear new, it's a major renovation of a preexisting property, but everything has been done right. In the plaza, where a lot of the recreational activities are staged, there are more kids than in a school yard; even the nightlife is geared to children, like the circus performances. Splash, a splendid if not gigantic water park, is a short shuttle ride away. Overall, food is good, with Opa, the Mediterranean restaurant, and the signature steak house the best choices. The buffets are fine, too, but early time slots are swarming with little kids. Parents may want to repair to the Martini Bar, where good drinks and entertainment prevail.

This deluxe, best-value-for-dollar Malecón high-rise has rooms that feature Sheraton’s Sweet Sleeper beds, plush robes, desk phones, and free laptop-size safes. One can enjoy the Club Level for about $35 above the cost of a standard room, which includes breakfast in the sea-view lounge and two free beers or glasses of wine during happy hour. The “Social Hour” (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) features fine wines at a discount at the bar. The impressive rooftop pool has new Euro-furnishings and Bali sun beds. The hotel has a casino and bar not subject to the city’s normal curfew.

TRS Cap Cana Hotel, formerly known as ALSOL Tiara resort, debuted in mid-2014 and brings the classy sophistication of a boutique hotel yet is a smaller all-inclusive that continues to be remarkably affordable. The open reception area feels more like an upscale apartment building than a hotel lobby; free Wi-Fi in the lobby and adjacent Coffee Bar are welcome. Rooms are spacious junior or full suites, some with a swim-out option, overlooking either the ocean or the marina. One of the most desirable rooms is the corner master suite #4201, with a separate bedroom and wraparound terrace affording dreamy views of the marina and sunset. The dual pool complex overlooks a petite, sugar-sand (man-made) beach with the Balinese sun beds. Guests have the option of choosing cheaper reservations that only include breakfast and can switch to all-inclusive if they change their mind on-site. 

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. 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.

Older Americans looking for an affordable all-inclusive vacation may prefer this classier sister to the nearby Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach resort, which draws a younger and more family-oriented clientele. Guest rooms are in blocks, and you will want a sea view and to upgrade to a Premium room or couples retreat (for not much more). Make certain that you request accommodations that have been remodeled with flat-screen TVs installed, as many are dated and in need of renovation. Palace guests can access the VIP Beach Club and the upscale Atlantis restaurant, which has a supplement. The main buffet and lobby have been renovated and now have a contemporary look. La Placita, modeled after the central plazas in Italy, is where guests from both resorts socialize, stroll, drink, or party, but there are no resort shuttles. The long expanse of gorgeous beach boasts a Blue Flag designation for unpolluted waters; snorkeling is good right off the beach. Nonguests sample what it has to offer by buying a day pass (10 am–2 am).

The Punta Cana Group has eschewed the all-inclusive in favor of a beautiful Westin property on a glorious stretch of beach with ocean views from floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies in every guest room. The marble-floor guest rooms are large and have a nice, contemporary feel but are fairly boutique-hotel generic. From the time you are handed your welcome drink to your last bite of dessert you will be aware of just how good (and healthy) the contemporary cuisine is—produce comes from the group's organic plantation. The breakfast buffet is served indoors and is outstanding—a morning must. There's a gym as well as a kids' playground. Weekend packages can help keep prices down, as can Westin's meal deals.

This condotel on a large tract of virgin land offers beautifully designed, spacious apartments with dreamy bedding and private Jacuzzis on terraces that are basically outdoor rooms. If a kitchen can be sexy, the European designer kitchens here are just that, with top-of-the-line appliances. However, if you don't want to cook, the resort's glamorous beachfront restaurant, Porto, is right across the road. One of the pools is lake-size, with a waterfall midway that separates the children's shallows from the deeper adult waters. A fitness facility houses a gym; massages are given in beach cabanas. The initial welcome at the handsome reception building is genuine; citrus-scented towels refresh travel-weary visitors, and golf carts whisk them to their new homes. Weekends, when Dominican families arrive, can be busy, but midweek (especially in the off-season) is very quiet.

A painting of an amber-color bear—a tribute to golf great Jack Nicklaus—greets guests at this apartment-style property that's possibly the most affordable lodging in the exclusive Cap Cana enclave. That's a lot of its appeal for families and golfers. Accommodations range from studios—a bedroom with two beds and a kitchenette—to two bedroom units with a full living room and kitchen and a king-size bedroom. All have pool views and a terrace Jacuzzi.

At this serene oceanfront resort, rustic, natural beauty and high architectural style blend seamlessly. The newest and best accommodations include swim-out suites and ocean-view rooms, including a penthouse with a private elevator. The pool snakes through the grounds, but the virgin Atlantic beach provides dramatic vistas, too. (Sand is golden, not white, however, and currents and wave action can be an issue.) Resort concierges can organize helicopter tours/airport transfers, golf, and bike tours. There's gourmet à la carte dining with (mostly) organic food in four restaurants. After an ample lunch or a dip in the spa's hydrotherapy pool, hammocks beckon for a siesta. This is an adult-oriented resort.