14 Best Hotels in Dominican Republic

This boutique property southwest of Santo Domingo, formerly a family estate, has style normally associated with urban hotels and views that take in mountains and the sea. Accommodations are in 5 deluxe rooms. Villa Bonita, suitable for a small group of up to six, has its own solarium terrace and infinity pool, while the exceptional riverfront suites have a private outdoor jacuzzi and private terraces that overlook Rio Sito. Most repeat guests know to take the hotel's meal plan, its restaurant being one of the only options in the area—and certainly the best—for haute Dominican cuisine. The Tanama Spa is tranquil, including a Taíno steam bath, and offers riverside massages. As there are few activities in this rural area, other than ecotours, owner Polibio Schiffino installed a zipline (open to all); trekking, hiking, mountain biking, and fishing excursions can also be arranged.

This unique hotel concept comprises six former colonial residences that date back to the 16th century (hence the name) that have been restored and modernized by celebrity designer Patricia Reid; each house has its own allure. Casa de los Mapas has a pool set in a garden with ancient fruit trees; Casa del Arbol boasts the most exquisite library and salon (book room H-4); Casa Macorís has glorious interiors and a dipping pool in the courtyard; and Casa del Pozo has a pool made from an ancient well found on the property. You can book one room or whole houses. Each casa has a butler, and guests are given their WhatsApp to call them if they need so much as a fork. Your mayordomo also prepares a delicious breakfast and will pour you a nightcap.

Simply put, this property belonging to Marriott’s luxury brand is a charmer and may be the best hotel in the capital, with stunning lobby decor, a great restaurant, and a wonderful pool area. Service throughout is admirable, as if the staff were handpicked. And, of course, the hotel sits atop the upscale Blue Mall, a destination itself. The main drawback is that some guest rooms—standard and above—are as narrow as the bathrooms are petite, though the mattresses and bedding as just as comfortable as anything you'll find in a luxury hotel back home; ask for one of the oversize rooms on the 16th floor. But where else can you can watch the TV news in the mirror as you shave? The hotel has become a destination for locals, who come to party and conduct business. Vertygo101 Lounge remains very popular, and the hotel is a common venue for local weddings. Even if you aren't staying here, a day-pass will allow you to enjoy the lavish buffet (on Sunday) and spend the day at the infinity pool.

This sprawling resort, always thought of as a moderately priced playground for families, golfers, and convention attendees, has improved its offering while keeping prices affordably low. Regular junior suites have tile floors and are fairly basic, though there's a separate tub and shower (though a single sink in the bathroom). The real stunner is the "Privileged" club level, with astounding, contemporary furnishings that one would expect in a much more luxurious resort; the rooms are definitely worth an upgrade. An impressive, refurbished lobby and lobby bar have contemporary Caribbean decor; a shopping area has a great coffee shop; and there's a kids' club and Teens Club that offers video and table games and computers and Wi-Fi. The Catalonia is known for its wide range of day and nighttime activities.

If your room has issues, ask to change; don't wait.

This longtime all-inclusive has clean, spacious rooms, with easy access to the beach. 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 upscale touches like flat-screen TVs and improved bedding. All four restaurants are good choices. With an upscale, residential ambience, it artistically blends rustic Dominican touches with collagelike photography of Europe; all the extras are worth the upgrade.

By night this megaresort decorated with Arabian-style domes looks like a fairy-tale palace, and its generally older clientele is a departure from the other Riu resorts. It is favored by German, English, and Canadians. The long-and-wide junior suites are simple but attractive; with dark wood against sunny yellow walls, it's shades of Old Havana. Each has a jetted bath and a terrace (but not necessarily a sea view), flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and full liquor bottles in dispensers. The buffet options are wide-ranging but still best when you arrive early. There are several à la carte restaurants but no real standout, and food in general is not a high point. Four pools, a lively swim-up bar, and semi-submerged lounge chairs add panache. There's also a pool for children. The long stretch of beach and the pool complex are breathtaking.

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 United Kingdom 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.

This sprawling, mid-range all-inclusive is popular with multigenerational groups who want and need kids’ activities and adult pleasures. The lobby dazzles, and the roomy quarters include jetted tubs, bathrobes and slippers, a furnished terrace, and satellite TV. Family rooms are nice as well. The adults-only Colonial Club has its own pools with swim-up bars, a separate beach area with loungers, as well as butler service. You'll find premium liquors at the Club and in the lower-lobby bars. Caribbean Street, the commercial center shared with the adjoining Majestic Elegance, is where you can go to shop. By day, activities abound. For the kids, there's the updated 9-to-7 club, with plenty to keep them occupied, including Nintendo. Golfers get special rates at the nearby Punta Blanca course and one free round per five-night stay—two for Colonial Club guests. Food is better than it once was, but there are still occasional issues.

The younger of Punta Cana's two Majestic resorts, which is an all-suites property, is the more sophisticated sister—and a busy one. The adults-only "Elegance Club," which is recommended if you want to avoid the throngs, comes with butler service, private pools, three VIP lounges, two adults-only areas of the beach, and a separate à la carte restaurant for breakfast and lunch. All guests get one round of complimentary golf—two for Club guests. The buffet lacks ambience, but its variety is extensive; the Asian restaurant features a full sushi bar, but your most memorable night could be spent at the Limited Gourmand, which has a piano player. There's a splendid spa, with Turkish baths, hydrotherapy, and a nice fitness center. Live music in the courtyard is appreciated. Most guest comments are happy (Club dwellers for sure), and the resort is considered a good value.

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.

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.

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. 

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.