Dominican Republic Hotels
Our Members Say
-
marielexoteria
- Reviews: 850
Helpfulness
AI or non AI, that is the question: General recommendations
In DR you'll find 2 basic kinds of hotels: AI (all-inclusive) and non AI. The advantage of the AI hotels is that you pay one price that includes the room, the 3 meals, snacks, all the local alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, entertainment and taxes. The price will obviously vary depending on the room you choose (with or without ocean/garden/pool view, standard or suite, etc.), how long in advance you book and if the chosen dates are low or high season or red days. The bad thing about AI is that you're pretty much stuck in there and you don't get a feel of the real culture - I mean, you've paid for all 3 meals so it wouldn't be too much of a good deal to go out and around on your own or even paying an excursion (not that there's anything wrong with it). By all means, if you find an excursion that you like and if the price is right go for it!
The non AI hotels give you the freedom to come and go as you please, as you only pay for the room and their prices include taxes and sometimes breakfast.
Having said that, choosing a hotel will depend on what you want to do, where you're visiting and how much Spanish you know. That is, if you just want to relax at the beach then by all means go for an AI. Some provinces have non AI hotels that don't cater tourists basically because tourists don't go there in such numbers that they feel the need to look for bilingual staff and this is where Spanish comes in handy. However, don't let the lack of knowledge of Spanish discourage you from exploring the hidden gems of my country, just bring a Spanish phrase book; pointing and body language always help ;) and Dominicans are always willing to help you out.
As in all other parts of the world, prices can go from cheap to most expensive, being (IMO) Casa de Campo hotel in La Romana and the Punta Cana/Bávaro area the most expensive areas. Juan Dolio and Puerto Plata/Sosúa/Cabarete hotels have average prices.
-
ArenJo
- Reviews: 169
User Rating
Hotel Sofitel Nicolas de Ovando: Hotel Sofitel Nicolas de Ovando in Santo Domingo
I loved this place! It was very historic and right in the heart of old Santo Domingo. The staff were very friendly and this place was very upscale. A very romantic place to stay. The breakfast was free and very nice.
-
ArenJo
- Reviews: 169
User Rating
Sun Village: Sun Village in Puerto Plata
I would not recommend this place. Although it is right on the beach, with 7 swimming pools and around 5 restaurants, you had to walk forever to get where you wanted to be on the resort. A lot of times I would go out to eat, only to find out that the restaurant I wanted to eat at was closed, then I'd have to walk up and down stairs for another 15 minutes. Also, many of the staff were not friendly or accomodating. It was also out in the middle of nowhere, so to get to Puerto Plata, you would have to hire a taxi.
-
wenders2504
- Reviews: 1
User Rating
Barcelo Villas Bavaro Beach Resort: Very Friendly
Very good accomodation
Unique Quality: Great Pools....Beach beautiful...
very Friendly
-
molough
- Reviews: 13
User Rating
Helpfulness
Majestic Colonial Punta Cana: Great Punta Cana resort
It was pretty great. At first they tried to give us a lower grade room than what we paid for. We had to settle for staying in a smaller room our first night but the following six nights we got a gorgeous king size room with a patio that had a jacuzzi. It was flippin' awesome!
Sometimes the food at resorts is subpar, but it was pretty great at Majestic Colonial. They have five restaurants: Japanese, Mexican, French, seafood and steakhouse. The French and steakhouse restaurants were surprisingly delicious.
Their pool is incredible. It kind of wraps from the front of the resort to the beach entrance.
I highly suggest going with an all-inclusive package if you're going to this resort!
We booked this resort through CheapCaribbean.com. I was a little weary about booking through this site, but it turned out great! I was very satisfied.
- Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
- Related to: Spa and Resort, Family Travel, School Holidays
- Written September 19, 2007
The pool wrapped from front of resort to beach
4 more images-
karendababe
- Reviews: 2
User Rating
HOLIDAY VILLAGE GOLDEN BEACH: DOMINICAN PARADISE
THE HOTEL IS LOVELY ROOMS ARE CLEANED DAILY BY VERY HELPFUL FRIENDLY STAFF. THE ROOMS ARE SPACIOUS WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND FRIDGES ARE FILLED UP WITH DRINKS DAILY. THERE IS ENTERTAINMENT ALL DAY AND ONCE A WEEK MARKET STALLS COME TO THE RESORT SELLING LOCAL GOODS. ALSO SELECTION OF RESTRAUNTS SERVING VARIOUS CUISINE, PLENTY OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR CHILDREN AND ALSO HAS A HUGE WAVE POOL. A GOLF COURSE ON THE COMPLEX TOO AND IT IS BEACHFRONT TO WHICH I FOUND NO PROBLEM GETTING A SUNBED.. THERE IS ALSO AN AMERICAN CASINO ON THE COMPLEX. OVERALL I FOUND THE HOTEL, STAFF, FOOD EXCELLENT AND WOULD RECOMMEND IT...
Unique Quality: THE ROOM I BOOKED WAS A ROYAL MASTER SUITE WHICH OVERLOOKED THE GOLF COURSE AND THE SEA PERFECT LOCATION AND VERY PEACEFUL. THERE IS A VARIETY OF SMALL SHOPS IN THE COMPLEX SELLING MOST OF WHAT YOU NEED. ALSO THE ROYAL AREA HAS ITS OWN ADULT ONLY POOL WITH SWIM UP BAR AND JACUZZI.. THIS IS IDEAL IF YOUR LOOKING FOR PEACE AND QUIET...
- Opinion of Price: about average
- Address: HOLIDAY VILLAGE GOLDEN BEACH PLAYA DORADA
- Related to: Beaches, Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Family Travel
- Written August 15, 2007
BEDROOM
4 more images-
wandabendik
- Reviews: 172
User Rating
Helpfulness
Gran Vantana Beach Resort.: Gran Vantana Beach Resort.
The Gran Vantana Beach Resort, was great the only thing that let it down was the evening entertainment.
Unique Quality: The pool was always clean, you could use the gym from early morning, before breakfast.
The food was brilliant, lots of choice, someting for everyone.
-
jpara
- Reviews: 1
User Rating
Bavaro Villa http://www.bavarovilla.com: Punta Cana beach front condos
This is PURE PARADISE. A small and very clean beach front complex with everything you need within walking distance. The prices were less than comparable surrounding units and the owners were very accommodating. I highly recommend this location for both short and long term stays.
J. Para
Unique Quality: Great restaurant on the beach directly in front of unit.
Four 5 star hotel/casino complexes within 1/2 mile walk on the beach.
- Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
- Address: Bavaro Beach, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Phone: 809-773-7704
- Website: www.BavaroVilla.com
- Written July 4, 2007
View from complex to beach
-
Jim_Eliason
- Reviews: 3758
User Rating
Helpfulness
Hacienda Lifestyles Tropical Beach Resort: All Inclusive Resort
This hotel is part of a huge complex on Cofresi Beach, a few Kms west of Puerto Plata. The complex includes hotel, bungalows and Condo timeshare rentals. The resort had good food, great facilities and a nice beach at a reasonable price. Only caution is to be careful about the extras, everything from changing money, booking tours or buying basic supplies is horrendously expensive at the hotel. Plus they seem to use a floating exchange rate to their advantage. The real rate was 34 pesos to a dollar, but it became 29 when they owed me change. 30.5 to change money(plus a 3% commission), however when I owed them money the exchange rate went up to 35.
Also, be aware that they are a timeshare association and they will hit you up multiple times to attend their timeshare pitch.
However if you ignore the pleas to go to the timeshare meeting, use an ATM for money and buy tours and supplies from the little business district on Cofresi beach. It is a great value for money.
- Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
- Address: Cofresi Beach
- Phone: +1 (809) 970-7777
- Website: http://www.hacienda-resorts.com/
- Related to: Spa and Resort, Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Beaches
- Written January 31, 2007
Hacienda Lifestyles Tropical Beach Resort
4 more images-
ravips29
- Reviews: 8
User Rating
Cabo Fino: Live like a Rock Star
This is a private villa for rent, about $17K+/week (food extra but ver cheap) and that includes staff, i.e. chef, maids, grounds keeper, driver. This bungalow style house has multiple smaller bungalows situated around the main house. It's situated on a cliff on the North Shore of the Dominican Republic in a town called, Cabrera, 1.5 hrs away from Puerto Plata. With 7 bungalows plus the main house, Cabo Fino can hold comfortably, 16 people. The staff is wonderfully helpful and discrete, somehow knowing when we needed something and when to leave us alone. The grounds have a grass tennis court, pool table, multiple indoor and outdoor bars, cascading waterfalls that fall to the private beach down below, a kidney shaped swimming pool, indoor/outdoor dining area, and a large jacuzzi with an attached cave overlooking the ocean view. Ideal for large family gatherings, business team building trip, or maybe a Bachelor party. ;-) Sorry I couldn't put up more pics but you know...
Unique Quality: Large beautifully manicured gardens, grass tennis court, full staff, secluded area with private beach, indoor & outdoor spa/jacuzzi, outdoor kidney shaped pool, a few miles to the sea-side golf course, one of the most amazing sunrises ANYWHERE, extreme luxury!
- Opinion of Price: N/A
- Address: Cabrera, Dominican Republic
- Phone: 809-710-3635
- Website: http://www.villacabofino.com/index.html
- Related to: Diving and Snorkeling, Beaches, Luxury Travel
- Written January 15, 2007
The Grounds
1 more imagesSort by: Most recent | Most helpful
Popular Hotels in Dominican Republic
Hotel Class
Paseo Vicini, Guayacanes, San Pedro de Marcoris, Juan Dolio, Caribbean
Gran Bahia Principe Punta Cana
Hotel Class
Areana Gorda-Macao, Seccion Baigua, Higuey-Provincia La Altagracia, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Explore the World
- Somkiet Buri Resort
- LivINN Suites
- Hotel Bema
- Villa Vergina
- Blue Sky Hotel
- King Christian Hotel
- Campanile Leicester
- Ramada Ltd Maggie Valley
- Riad Mabrouka Marrakech
- The Raymond Hotel
- Waters Edge Hotel
- Retreat At Lake Blackshear
- Hotel-Pension Annerlhof
- Country Hearth Inn-Washington Court House (1810 Victorian St.)
Hotel Helper
Dominican Republic
Great Hotels for Less
- BlueBay Villas Doradas
- Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus
- Iberostar Dominicana Hotel
- Catalonia Gran Dominicus
- Hodelpa - Centro Plaza Hotel
Cheapest in Dominican Republic
Questions and Answers
Q: Ideas for interesting trips from Punta Cana "Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice of trip ideas from Punta Cana. I have had a tough time finding appropriate information..."
A: "I don't know what time of year you are talking about - I have been to the DR two or three times in January, but not to Punta Cana. I've been twice by cruise ship to..."
Latest Dominican Republic hotel reviews
- Playa Esmeralda Beach Resort
- 43 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 12, 2012 - Aloha Sol Hotel
- 14 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 6, 2012 - Flamenco Beach Resort
- 14 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jul 19, 2010 - LTI Sol de Plata
- 1 Review & Opinion
- Hotel Colonial in Santiago
- 1 Review & Opinion
- Barcelo Bahoruco Beach Resort
- 1 Review & Opinion