Best hotels in the Dominican Republic: where to stay, from Cap Cana to Barahona

Suites with private pools

Eden Roc is a small hotel in Cap Cana where most suites and villas have their own pool. There is a private beach club, and the marina, with its restaurants and boat trips, is close by.

It suits travellers who want privacy and service rather than buffets and entertainment teams. Unlike most resorts nearby, you pay for meals as you go. The style is elegant and restrained, and with so few guests it never feels crowded.

Adults only, all inclusive

Sanctuary occupies a headland of cliffs and small coves in Cap Cana and welcomes adults only. The buildings are in a white colonial style, and food and drink are included in the rate.

It is our romantic pick, for couples who want everything in one place without children around. Many rooms look out to sea, and the best sit right at the tip of the headland. It is a popular wedding venue, so expect ceremonies at weekends.

Space for the whole family on Juanillo

Hyatt Ziva sits on Juanillo beach, with big pools, a kids' club and a long list of restaurants within the all-inclusive. Its adults-only sister, Hyatt Zilara, is right next door.

This is our family pick: calmer water than on the Atlantic side, plenty of space and enough to keep all ages busy. It is a large resort with lots of guests, so book the à la carte restaurants early in the day.

Closest to the airport

The Westin is part of Puntacana Resort & Club, a large estate with golf courses, a marina and several beaches, only minutes from the airport. The hotel is built low along the shore, with a pool facing the sea and its own beach area.

It is our pick for a first visit, because the transfer is short and you can choose where to eat. Room-only rates are the default, which gives you more freedom but more bills. The golf courses and marina on the estate give you plenty to do between beach days.

Adults only in Uvero Alto

Excellence El Carmen lies on a long beach in Uvero Alto, north of the busiest stretches. It is adults only and all-inclusive, and many suites have a terrace hot tub or swim-up access to the pool.

It suits couples who want calm and good service at a fixed price. It is more than an hour from the airport and there is little to do outside the hotel, so you need to be happy to stay put. The Atlantic can be rough here, and the waves make swimming harder than in Cap Cana.

A town of its own

Casa de Campo is one of the largest resorts in the Caribbean, with several golf courses, a marina, an equestrian centre and its own beach at Minitas. The Teeth of the Dog course runs along the shoreline and is rated among the best in the region. Guests get around by golf cart.

It is our golf pick, and it also works for families and groups who want plenty to do. The estate is so big it can feel spread out, and you will need a cart or a lift to move between facilities. Altos de Chavón, a stone replica of a Mediterranean village above the river, is inside the grounds and best at sunset.

A beach backed by hills

Zemi Miches sits on the beach at Miches and is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. Everything is included, and the resort is built from natural materials in low buildings among the palms.

It suits travellers who want all-inclusive with more nature and fewer neighbours. The drive from Punta Cana airport takes around two hours, and there is little going on outside the hotel in the evening. In return you get one of the loveliest beaches in the country.

Sleeping in the 16th century

The hotel is on Calle Las Damas in the Colonial Zone and spans several stone houses from the 1500s. Courtyards, arches and thick walls have been preserved, and the pool looks out over the Ozama river.

This is our culture pick, for two or three nights before or after the beach. The cathedral, the fortress and the best restaurants are a few minutes' walk away. The city is hot, busy and noisy, so this is no beach break, but it shows a completely different side of the country.

A boutique hotel at Playa Dorada

Casa Colonial is a small white colonial-style hotel on the beach at Playa Dorada, with a spa and a rooftop pool. It is not all-inclusive, and the restaurant cooks more modern food than the buffets nearby.

It suits couples and adults who want something smaller and more personal than the big resorts. Puerto Plata has its own airport, but fewer connections from Europe, so expect a longer journey. The cable car up Isabel de Torres makes a good half-day outing.

Cabins on the hillside

Casa Bonita sits on the hillside above the coast near Baoruco beach, with rooms and cabins among the trees and a pool looking out to sea. There is a spa, and the lodge organises trips to rivers, waterfalls and Lake Enriquillo.

It is the most unusual hotel on our list, for travellers who want to see a side of the country few visitors reach. It is a long way from the main airports and works best as part of a road trip. The beach below is pebbles, not white sand.