Bávaro & Punta Cana
A young and friendly Russian couple, Valentina and Andrey, run this tiny hostel (and share its common areas with guests) set on a quiet residential street…
Must-see hotels in Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo
Combining old-world architectural charm with contemporary boutique-style finishings, the Billini is aiming for a glossy design magazine photo finish. It…
Sosúa
The pleasant leafy pool and garden area is the centerpiece of this adorable, centrally located hotel only a block from Playa Alicia. A three-story modern…
Península de Pedernales
Set on a rocky (unpaved) rise a few hundred meters from the beach, this Italian-owned hotel offers spacious but sometimes stuffy rooms around a pretty…
Santo Domingo
Sporting a mix of original architectural elements and styish, modern features, this Zona Colonial hotel exudes romance, especially at night when the…
Las Terrenas
Grand romanesque columns mark the entrance to this large whitewashed property across the street from the beach (though not the choicest stretch) and the…
Santo Domingo
Among the nicest of the luxury hotels on the Malecón, Catalonia Santo Domingo is part of a huge complex including a casino and movie theater. The highest…
Santo Domingo
This charming oasis only a few blocks from the oldest cathedral in the Americas feels like a European pension. Surrounding a narrow central courtyard are…
Cabarete
Hidden down one of Cabarete’s few side streets, the rambling, whimsical Alegría has beach access, along with a spiral staircase leading to a wooden deck…
Las Terrenas
Set in leafy grounds a little ways down an unpaved side street a block from the beach, this hotel offers privacy on the cheap and is one of the best-value…
North Coast
After a half-decade hiatus, this adults-only resort has reopened with a new, modern look that channels – wait for it – heaven. The whole place is now…
Puerto Plata
This good option in Puerto Plata is housed within a restored 1920s mansion originally inhabited by a sugar-cane baron. The owners are meticulous about…
Santo Domingo
The Riazor boasts professional English-speaking front-desk staff and extremely well-kept rooms (for the price) with faux-wood floors and flat-screen TVs…
Sosúa
This well-managed, friendly hotel contains 24 rooms on two floors, connected by broad breezy corridors. Airy rooms have Spanish red-tile floors, clean…
Punta Cana & the Southeast
This five-room, French-run B&B sits in the quiet, vaguely Floridian-like residential Las Piedras neighborhood, 1.7km north of Parque Central. Rooms are…
Península de Pedernales
This rustic birdwatching camp sits within the Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco. When the camp is not otherwise in use, independent travelers are welcome…
Las Terrenas
Directly across the street from Punta Popy, arguably the best town beach, Afreeka is also arguably one of the best-value accommodations. It can feel…
Cabarete
Distinguished by boutique-style rooms and its location down a small lane at the relatively traffic-free eastern end of town, Velero is a good choice away…
Central Highlands
The Yaque II has large, comfortable, modern rooms and front-desk staff able to answer travel-related questions. The twin rooms are distinctive in having…
Cabarete
East of town, this quaint collection of condos is available to rent for the night and features two shared rooftop hot tubs.
Central Highlands
Tucked in the hills a few kilometers from San José de las Matas, this sprawling, riverfront aquatic compound is a huge draw for Dominican families on…
Central Highlands
A wonderful base for exploring the mountains, Baiguate is a rustic resort set in an enormous 72-sq-km compound. Ask for a room in the building beside the…
Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Resort
North Coast
At the heart of a sprawling resort village, this enormous complex offers some of the cheapest prices on the north coast. It's a bit shabby and totally…
Las Galeras
Buried in lush jungle 2.5km from the main intersection, this rustic guesthouse (cold-water showers) has four simple rooms in two-storied bungalows that…
Punta Cana & the Southeast
Horses and pigs roam this out-of-the-way property that's worth noting solely for its proximity to beautiful Playa Limón just down the road. The nine…
Cabarete
The rather anomalous facade of this large brick building, converted by its gregarious owner into a cavernous hostel, resembles a suburbanite's version of…
Punta Cana & the Southeast
Painted bright yellow with Spanish tile roofs, this small gated complex in a residential neighborhood is Bayahibe's best bang for the buck, despite some…
Las Terrenas
Incongrous aesthetic choices and less than stellar welcoming vibe aside, the grounds of this French-owned hotel are immaculately maintained and some of…
North Coast
One of the few adults-only resorts on the north coast, Blue Bay styles itself as a boutique option for singles and couples looking for a holiday evocative…
North Coast
Recently taken over by AM Resorts and turned from a Barceló into a Sunscape, this all-inclusive offers good value and has managed to remain vital at least…
North Coast
This may be the only self-proclaimed ecolodge to also contain a VIP area with Miami-style lounge beds. And while the austere concrete structure set back…
Cabarete
Budget-minded kitesurfers should consider this relatively new, seafront place. Clean and simply furnished rooms with new flat-screen TVs are in a building…
Punta Cana & the Southeast
Only a block west of the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, Don Carlos is a maze of rooms. It’s friendly and professional for the most part, but…
Santo Domingo
This aging, sky-high hotel is once again called Sheraton, though now under the Marriott umbrella. A decent option relatively close to the Zona Colonial,…
Santiago
At the back of a strip mall a short drive from town, this is an excellent-value option. While standard rooms, especially the small basement rooms, lack…
Península de Pedernales
A good-value option, especially if you opt for a room without AC. Some rooms are better than the aged common interiors suggest, with renovated bathroom,…
Península de Samaná
This massive complex, 6km west of Samaná, has generic but comfortable suites with full working kitchens and sea-facing balconies. The large multistory…
Central Highlands
The 'Mahogany Hotel’ lives up to its name, with furnishings in its lobby and on-site restaurant constructed of the hardwood. The restaurant is open all…
