Dominican Republic Holidays

Puerto Plata

This northern city is a firm holiday favourite – and for good reason. Beyond the sandy beaches, it lines up rainforest-covered mountains, lively towns and locals with a laidback approach that’s textbook Caribbean. The north coast is packed full of culture, with a pretty old quarter and seafront fortress. For beaches backed by rolling hillsides, there’s Playa Dorada or Costa Dorada. Or, a little further up the coast, you’ve got the palm-lined beaches of Bahia Maimon.

Puerto Cana

Punta Cana is on the eastern tip of the island, and skirt a 50-kilometre ribbon of white-sand beaches. Golfers can tee off at the Punta Cana Golf Club, where the greens and fairways come with sea views. Bavaro is the liveliest resort in this part of the Dominican Republic, while sleepy Uvero Alto sits at the opposite end of the spectrum and is ideal for family-friendly holidays. Wherever you end up, though, cooling off in the Caribbean Sea is a piece of cake.

La Romana and Samana

On the south coast, La Romana has long sweeps of sand, pastel-painted fishermen’s huts and a sprinkling of high-flying hotels in the resort of Bayahibe. Then, you’ve got the Samana Peninsula – it’s all peaceful beaches and jade-green countryside here, with go-slow towns like Cayo Levantado and Las Terrenas. Wherever you end up, our pick of All Inclusive stays let you explore these colourful hotspots in style.