Jamie Lafferty
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££ | SPA | SWIMMING POOL | Ideal for well-being
Meliá has been in business for almost 70 years, and while much of its global portfolio is based in cities, it has opted for a true hotel here. All-inclusive, adults-only, it’s focused on wellness, with an expansive spa nestled among several pools and towering trees, and committed wellness systems for anyone looking to get serious about getting back in shape. form. You can also get free motorcycles to get around the hotel, but if you’re just making plans to have fun at the beach, it may seem like too much work.
£ | SPA | SWIMMING POOL | Great for history
If you’ve come to the Dominican Republic for both the history and the sun, then this 16th-century construction in downtown Santo Domingo will suit you. Located right next to the Ozama River, it has been lovingly renovated to allow you to feel the hotel’s afterlife while enjoying a comfortable stay. Once the home of the city’s founder, it now offers everything you’d expect from a trendy hotel, adding a fitness center, spa, and business center, as well as an outdoor area. Swimming pool located in an old courtyard.
££ | SPA | SWIMMING POOL | Ideal for a vintage Caribbean getaway
As relaxing as it is discreet, The Finest delves into what most people believe before vacationing in the Caribbean: palm trees, hammocks, and the relaxing sounds of the sea. While the main structure is impeccably empty and perfectly ventilated. The beach cabins have thatched roofs covered with palm leaves. An ingenious loyalty program attracts many other people to replace their reservations to return to the suites, the outdoor spa and ten restaurants spread around the property, all of which are part of the all-inclusive packages.
£££ | SPA | SWIMMING POOL | Great for entertainment
Hotel giant Meliá has had a presence in the Dominican Republic for more than 30 years, but this new progression is its most ambitious task in the region. Good news for suitcase fans: They call it “resort” property, a reinvention of two of its resorts and a theme park to make them massive and new. Guests staying at the hotel get free entry to Katmandu Park, a small but impressive entertainment center that includes a 4DX cinema, rides, and mini-golf.
£££ | SPA | POOL | Best for facilities
Focused on adults-only entertainment, Sanctuary Cap Cana is an all-inclusive hotel with a golf course and spa. Of course, there is also access to the popular beach, with villas located on the edge of the coast. If you don’t feel like swimming in the sea, there are five pools (one of them saltwater) and a wide variety of activities around the hotel, from guided meditation to nightclubs. And to enjoy it before arriving at the club, you can choose from five restaurants and six bars.
££ | SPA | SWIMMING POOL | Ideal for honeymooners
If you’re looking for an affordable getaway, then Bannister, on the southern coast of the Samaná Peninsula, could be the ideal location. Located on the ridiculously picturesque Samaná Bay, this hotel is about a ten-minute drive from the city of the same name. If that sounds a little isolated, the luxurious resort has plenty to keep you busy, with 3 restaurants, a marina and a spa. Unsurprisingly, its isolation makes it an asset to the newlyweds.
£ | SPA | SWIMMING POOL | Ideal for an eco-friendly stay.
Just steps away from Playa El Valle, the spooky b featured in M Night Shyamalan’s 2021 film Old, El Valle Lodge is much more than a movie prop. Each of their cabins has been built with responsibly sourced herbal fabrics from all over the island. Menus are also hyper-local, with catch purchased in the morning from local fishermen. If we add to this a river that runs through the assets and a biological garden, we get a genuine feeling of low-impact jungle tourism here.
£££ | SPA | SWIMMING POOL | Ideal for families
If you’re travelling with kids, big all-inclusive resorts — even those with casinos — offer a certain level of reassurance that you’ll have a helping hand during your holiday. With a kids’ club, teens’ club and babysitting services, there are plenty of options to ensure that you get a break, and any little ones aren’t bored. Elsewhere, as well as the chance to try your luck on the tables, there are salons and beach massages, golf clubs and a diving centre.
£££ | SPA | SWIMMING POOL | Ideal for luxury in one location
Punta Cana might be the most touristy part of the Dominican Republic, but Eden Roc has created a resource so that true luxury hotels can also exist there. While there are four-poster beds and gourmet restaurants, there are also elaborate kids’ clubs with scavenger hunts and arts and crafts classes. The whole family is likely to spend time on their own beach at some point, which is possibly man-made but still photogenic.
££ | SPA | SWIMMING POOL | Ideal for adults
If you’re looking for an adults-only vacation, head just outside Las Terrenas and Viva Wyndham, where you’ll find long palm trees at this spacious all-inclusive hotel on the island’s north coast. There are plenty of rooms to make a stopover and you don’t look young. Meanwhile, the rooms have been designed with simplicity and the expansive gardens and golden sandy beach make this a quintessential Caribbean vacation experience.
££ | SPA | POOL | Best for exploring nature
If you haven’t come to spend time at the beach, know that Rancho Macaws is luckily located in the green center of the Dominican Republic. Leaning over its surroundings, the hotel gives its visitors the opportunity to go fishing in the nearby lakes and rivers. , then expertly prepare your catch at one of their two restaurants. The rooms are a combination of modern design and log cabin styles and, as you’d expect from a place with Rancho in its name, horses can be had to trot on. the local countryside.
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Additional reporting via Sarah Ivens