Our Favourite Hotels in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is one of our favourite dreamy destinations when it comes to Caribbean getaways. It’s home to some of the most popular and luxury resort complexes in the Caribbean, so the only hard part is choosing which heavenly hotel to go for!

We’ve rounded up a few of our favourites, so check out these top places to stay for a perfect escape in paradise…

RIU Republica

This one’s for the party starters! If you want a hotel that offers the best of both worlds – relaxing days and lively nights – then there’s absolutely no better hotel to choose than the RIU Republica in beautiful Bavaro.

This adults only number sits on its own stretch of blissful beach, and although the sea is seriously enticing, you’ve got the choice of a whopping eight pools to take a dip in, too!

You’ll never go hungry or thirsty here either, with two impressive buffet restaurants, not to mention multiple specialty restaurants, numerous bars including one on the beach, and a jerk chicken hut that serves up the tastiest chicken in the Caribbean!

The entertainment is what makes this hotel really stand out, though. On top of all your usual entertainment – live shows, dance acts, and unique performances – the hotel hosts 2 themed parties on an evening per week, where the resident DJ will have you up and dancing in no time. 

The hotel’s even given a makeover on these nights, so you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into a seriously cool club!

On top of that you’re also invited to the two daytime pool parties each week held at the joint RIU  party complex. There’s a free shuttle bus to take you there and back, and your All Inclusive drinks are included here, too! 

Royalton Splash Punta Cana Hotel, Bavaro

With a 4.5/5 Tripadvisor rating, the popularity of this hotel speaks for itself. Plus, a stay at this hotel really gives you two hotels in one – as you get access to the sister hotel Royalton Punta Cana, which is less than a 10-minute stroll away! 

The Royalton Splash Punta Cana certainly lives up to its name, with two impressive pools (both with their own bar, for those pool-side cocktails) not-to-mention a slide-packed waterpark that even has its own wave pool!

The waterpark at this hotel is in fact one of the biggest in the Caribbean, with seven high-speed slides to get you whizzing through the water like never before!

The sports and activities available at this hotel are a big-stand out, too. From an enormous range of fitness classes to Olympics-style competitions on the beach, there’s something for everyone to get involved in here. 

Things like kayaking are even included, too! And for a little extra, kids will love entering the Temple of Secrets escape room, as well as virtual reality gaming experiences that’ll take them to a whole new world. No bored kids here!

There’s a weekly white party too, which is your chance to dress up in something wonderfully white and enjoy plenty of drinks and dancing at one of the hotel’s six bars, with another five for you to test out at the Royalton Punta Cana. 

The food offering is just as impressive – there’s a buffet restaurant, an amazing Mexican place and an incredibly popular under-the-sea-themed eatery. Or head next door to the sister hotel to the pub serving casual light bites and an Italian for lunch. Yum! 

Dreams Macao Beach Punta Cana 

This 5-star resort really rolls out the red carpet. A relatively new hotel opened in 2020, you can expect a new, fresh feel wherever you are within the resort.

If your idea of a holiday has to involve an infinity pool, then this is the place to pick! Look out to sea from the serene pool, surrounded by swaying palms – it really is paradise! 

If you’re looking for a hotel that has modern touches as opposed to the usual traditional Caribbean feel, then you won’t be disappointed here. 

The hotel’s design is swish and suave in every way possible, from the stylish rooms to cool hang-out areas, including a sunken seating area within the pool itself. It’s like something off of Love Island!

There’s slides to go on if you’re up for a bit of fun, or if you prefer to chill then make your way around the lazy river in a rubber ring. Heaven! 

Food and drink here is top notch – there’s nine places to eat in total, with a buffet place being one of the biggest, alongside a cute cafe and beachfront grill.

On top of that you’ve got six gourmet eateries, including an adults-only French bistro, a Mexican, and an Asian eatery.  There are just as many bars too, with a beach bar, lobby lounge, adults-only sports bar and theatre bar serving up your favourite drinks!

You can eat at the gourmet restaurants as many times as you like and enjoy top-shelf spirits without any extra cost, all as part of your Unlimited Luxury package. What more could you want? 

Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville Hotel

For a peaceful spot that serves up a blissful beach and more traditional Caribbean vibes, then the say hello to the Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville Hotel.

This hotel has a laid back, more traditional feel to it, with Caribbean charm that oozes from the inside out. 

Located on Montero Beach between Santo Domingo and La Romana, the hotel has all the classic Caribbean scenes as its backdrop, with towering palm trees separating the pool from the calm waters of the Caribbean sea.

This place is part of the bigger Bahia Principe Grand La Romana, so you have free reign of their facilities, too! 

We’re not sure you’ll want to leave this place though – the hotel’s spa is set in beautiful Caribbean gardens, and you’ve got an assortment of food options at your disposal, too. Brazilian dishes, anyone?

The hotel’s even got its own resident band that loves to serenade guests with spectacular salsa, merengue and bachata tunes. So make sure to pack your dancing shoes! If that gets you going, you can pop over to the Bahia Principe Grand La Romana to sample their late-night club, too.

Live Aqua Beach Resort Punta Cana 

If it’s the ultimate in luxury you’re looking for, look no further than the Live Aqua Beach Resort in Punta Cana.

This heavenly hotel was only opened in 2021, so it’s got a new, vibrant feel to it. From cascading water gardens in the lobby to a top-tier spa, this hotel resonates pure opulence in every way. 

You’ll need two hands to count all the pools here – there’s some seriously serene places to chill out! The pool bar here is one of the most impressive we’ve seen, with premium spirits and colourful cocktails on tap, all day long.

There’s even a pool with sunbeds submerged into the water – perfect for laying back with a good book, the cool water taking the edge off of the scorching sun. 

If you’re more of a beach lover then those scenes are just as good too, with a private stretch of the Atlantic coast just waiting to be enjoyed. 

Enjoy your favourite cocktail at the beach bar or lay back on a plush double sun bed right on the beach itself.

There’s a whopping eight restaurants in this hotel’s roster, so you can tick off everything from Japanese sushi for dinner to tasty Spanish tapas.

And if you’re heading here for a special occasion like a honeymoon, the swim up suites here are simply to die for. You’ll never want to come home!

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