The Dominican Republic often is viewed as a budget destination, which is fair since it’s a place where you can get a hotel/airfare package that includes a stay at a beachfront all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana more affordably than practically anywhere else in the Caribbean. But there’s another, more luxurious side to the Dominican Republic, which is home to some of the more opulent resorts not only in the region, but the world.
Here are some of the top resorts in the Dominican Republic where you can stay in luxurious accommodations with attentive service and top-notch amenities — plus gloriously beautiful surroundings. And they’re all EP properties — not all-inclusive.
This Relais & Châteaux hotel in the exclusive Cap Cana enclave has just 62 rooms and villas but a wide variety of amenities, including the world’s first Natura Bissé Spa, Mediterranean inspired dining, and experiences like ecotourism safaris, helicopter tours, and jungle horseback rides. It’s not just the leading luxury resort in the Dominican Republic — it’s one of the best resorts in all of the Caribbean.
Part of the exclusive Aman chain of hotels, Amanera occupies a magnificent cliff top on a less-traveled section of the Dominican Republic’s north coast, with casitas offering unobstructed ocean views, Taino-inspired spa services, relaxation on peaceful Playa Grande, fine dining on Dominican-influenced dishes on the cliff and on the beach, and experiences that include local cultural connections and jungle expeditions.
With 13 rooms and villas designed by Oscar de la Renta, the Tortuga Bay Hotel is a AAA Five Diamond boutique property in Punta Cana with a semi-private beach and access to a variety of amenities within the Puntacana Resort & Club, including three world-class golf courses, a 1,500-acre nature reserve, six of the top restaurants in Punta Cana, and VIP service at the airport for arriving and departing guests.
World famous for it’s trio of Pete Dye designed golf courses — Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore, and The Links — the 7,000-acre Casa de Campo resort has attracted celebrities the likes of Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez with its three white-sand beaches, diverse activities at its equestrian center, shooting center, soccer school, and Altos de Chavon shopping village. Accommodations include rooms, casitas, suites and villas at the beach and overlooking the golf course, each equipped with its own golf cart for guests’ use during their stay. Dining options are diverse and plentiful, and the resort has multiple nightlife options, as well.
A luxury boutique hotel in the Las Terranas region of the Dominican Republic, the plantation style Peninsula House offers a striking alternative to the typical beach resort experience, with accommodations in a grand hilltop home with a billiard room, formal dining room, library, and elegant bar. Rooms have four-posted beds, private terraces with ocean views, and antique furnishings, and the hotel’s private beach club features indoor-outdoor fine dining on Playa Coson.