The Best Dominican Republic All-Inclusive Resorts

By: - January 5th, 2016

When it comes to all-inclusive resorts, we’ve always said that the Dominican Republic is the regional king — and that’s borne out in the numbers. And while many of the country’s top all-inclusives are focused in Punta Cana, there are so many great resorts all over the Dominican Republic, from Cap Cana and Uvero Alto to the Samana peninsula.

What they all have in common is quality combined with the essence of the all-inclusive experience: comfort. Here are the best all-inclusive resorts across the Dominican Republic, updated with new information from our team of on-the-ground reviewers and ranking experts.

best all inclusive dominican

Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana The Dominican Republic’s best all-inclusive resort is a boutique experience. Zoëtry is a wellness brand, and that permeates the thatched-roof-highlighted property, with a lovely combination of traditional luxury and hip, eco-style vibes. And with just 96 rooms, it offers the kind of intimacy most all-inclusives can only dream of. Simply but, this is the best Dominican Republic all-inclusive resort.

sanctuary

Sanctuary Cap Cana This fascinating design is home to an ultra-luxury resort that is uniquely adults only. One of the best features of the property is its size, as a small resort set in the heart of the tony Cap Cana enclave. And the swim-up rooms are spectacular.

paradisus

Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real This property is a standout for what it does well — which is just about everything. The Reserve, a special hotel-within-a-hotel, offers everything from exclusive restaurants to special activities for kids. And that’s what makes this unique — unlike many “special sections,” this is family-friendly, not adults only.

hard

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Punta Cana This is easily the resort that offers the most pure fun of any in the Dominican Republic. It’s got it all — gaming, golf, a world-class nightclub, 13 pools and even the option of having a Fender guitar delivered to your room.

dreams

Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana Set on the marvelous beach of Bavaro, this 500-room hotel is perched on a less-frequented stretch, meaning the feeling of a far more private paradise than many large resorts in Punta Cana. For an even better experience, try the Preferred Club.

ventana

Gran Ventana Beach Resort This hotel in the beach area of Playa Dorada on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, this VH Hotels and Resorts property is relaxing, tranquil and, more importantly, thoughtful. It’s the latter that extends across the 506-room Puerto Plata resort, most notably in the recently-debuted Vintage Bar (above).

level

The Level at Melia Caribe Tropical Another great example of a hotel-within-a-hotel, this is all about exclusivity: it begins with a VIP check in and includes its own GABI Club, priority reservations and even a private beach area. That and an even better example of Punta Cana service. And more importantly, there are both adults-only and family wings of The Level.

ibero

Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus Set in the southeastern corner of the Dominican Republic in Bayahibe, this 504-room property is a great way to see another corner of the country, available for both adults and families at an always budget-friendly rate.

cayo levantado

Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Bahia Principe has a whole range of hotels — ticking a lot of boxes on the hotel spectrum. But this property has something no other Dominican Republic all-inclusive can boast — its own island off the coast of Samana. This adults-only, 268-room property is set on its own private cay, meaning it takes the tropical beauty of the Dominican Republic to another level entirely.

excellence

Excellence Punta Cana This is the Dominican Republic’s best all-inclusive resort for food. A gourmet-focused property, with nine restaurants offering a veritable culinary tour of global cuisine. And the best part? You never have to make a reservation at any of them.

All-Inclusive

Arnold Palmer’s New Caribbean Project

Grand Cayman’s development boom continues, this time with help from golfing legend Arnold Palmer. The Cayman Islands’ Cabinet has approved terms for a development and concession agreement between the British Overseas Territory’s government and Ironwood Cayman on the Ironwood Village project. The project will include a PGA championship golf course and resort designed by golfing […]

All-Inclusive

How One of the Caribbean's Best Chefs Is Reimagining Mexican Cuisine

There’s a new restaurant on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, with a twist: it’s the brainchild of a French chef, Yann Cozic. It’s called Flor de Canela, and it’s the newest eatery at the Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, home to one of Caribbean Journal’s 50 Best Caribbean Restaurants, the Cozic-led El Faro Grill. Flor de […]

All-Inclusive

Caribbean Tourism’s Newest Campaign

The Caribbean Tourism Organization has launched its new campaign for 2016, and it’s got a specific focus: romance. The Barbados-based CTO is calling 2016 the “year of romance in the Caribbean,” celebrating “everything romantic about the region.” The campaign will highlight the region as the “leading choice for a romance vacation for consumers and travel […]

A New Port of Entry in the Bahamas

 There’s a new official port of entry in the Bahamas: the marina at Palm Cay in New Providence. That means you can sail in to the marina and clear customs and immigration right at the marina. The marina, which first opened in 2013, is the largest marina serving mid-size boats and sportfish on the island. […]

United Airlines Launches New Caribbean Routes

 As carriers like JetBlue and American Airlines compete to expand in the Caribbean, another carrier is stepping up its game. United Airlines has completed the launch of several new routes to the Caribbean. Late last month, the carrier launched its first flight from Newark to St Kitts, a direct flight operating weekly on Saturdays. “The […]

How to Make a Classic Barbados Rum Punch

 There’s a new official port of entry in the Bahamas: the marina at Palm Cay in New Providence. That means you can sail in to the marina and clear customs and immigration right at the marina. The marina, which first opened in 2013, is the largest marina serving mid-size boats and sportfish on the island. […]

Alitalia Launches New Charter Flights to Antigua

 Italian air carrier Alitalia is coming to Antigua. The company has officially launched Alitalia flights from Milan to Antigua. The flights will be operated as charter flights, serving the destination once per week on Sundays through late April 2016. The new service is one of five new flight launches in Antigua to have debuted in […]