Las Galeras
An Italian stylist is the big personality behind these rustic-chic A-frames, some broken into rooms, others open plan and all with creatively fashioned…
Must-see hotels in Dominican Republic
NaturaPark Beach Ecoresort & Spa
Bávaro & Punta Cana
NaturaPark has a narrow beach outside the village of Cabeza de Toro, halfway between Bávaro and Punta Cana. From the Lincoln Logs–style recycled coconut…
Las Terrenas
A paragon of understated luxury, these five Mexican-style villas come with fully equipped kitchens, gorgeously painted living rooms, and terraces where a…
Las Galeras
This beautiful house, 1km from both the main intersection and Playita beach, features Mexican-influenced interiors styled by the American owner. Four…
North Coast
You probably won't stay at this resort, but just knowing about it (and maybe calling ahead to try to eat or golf there) is worth it. This is the latest…
Central Highlands
About 14km north of Jarabacoa, this divine eight-room guesthouse is tucked away in a private gated community designed, rather oddly, to mimic the Swiss…
Central Highlands
Set several kilometers north of town right by the roaring Río Jimenoa, this is the Cordillera Central’s most upscale hotel. It’s neither on the beach nor…
Central Highlands
This community-tourism project consists of six wood and concrete cabins, each with bunks and a porch, set amid lush jungle above the roaring Río Yaque del…
Las Galeras
This boutique B&B attached to the stunning restaurant of the same name offers three modern rooms in the home of the Laotian-French owner-designer, Vanina,…
Ecoturismo Comunitario Cachóte
Península de Pedernales
Bed down in a Caribbean cloud forest at the rustic cabins that make up Ecoturismo Comunitario Cachóte, each housing one large queen-size bed and a triple…
Santo Domingo
Housed within the upper floors of downtown's chic Blue Mall, the JW Marriott Santo Domingo is stylish and modern, with a snazzy cocktail bar, a relaxing…
Las Galeras
Living up to its 'All White' name, this whitewashed, well-established inn sits atop a small hillock a short walk from the end of the main drag. Rooms are…
Península de Pedernales
A little oasis, Hostal Doña Chava offers clean, simple rooms with tidy bathrooms and cable TV. There’s a verdant courtyard that doubles as a lush hangout…
Las Terrenas
Serene and private, with a handful of large thatch-roofed villas surrounding an outdoor pool, this immaculately manicured property makes for a wonderful…
Península de Samaná
Perched on a cliff above the city with spectacular views of the bay (and maybe even of humpbacks during whale season), this 295-room resort is Samaná town…
North Coast
Surrounded by lush jungle and set on a river near the village of Muñoz, 3km inland from Playa Dorada, thoroughly rustic Suncamp looks like a typical…
Cabarete
Trapeze, kickboxing, physical therapy camp, a half pipe for skateboarders – certainly not your standard hotel offerings. Then again, this ecologically…
Las Galeras
Pierre and Monick, the charming French-Canadian owners of this B&B, are consummate hosts and have been renting two rooms on either side of their cozy home…
Santo Domingo
On paper, the Casa del Sol seems like a no-brainer, with borderline budget rates and well located at the very southeastern corner of the Zona Colonial on…
Punta Cana & the Southeast
Opened in 2015 and designed to appeal to millennials interested in unironically enjoying all that all-inclusives can offer, including a craft-beer bar, a…
Punta Cana & the Southeast
Ignore the name. This all-inclusive is very much in Bayahibe; in fact, it's the only resort occupying a good chunk of the town beach and so the only…
Dominican Republic
Built at dictator Trujillo’s request in 1947, the Maguana has an imposing facade and interior courtyard that suggest a grandeur that has now faded, but…
Santo Domingo
Still known to locals as Barceló Lina, this outpost of the Spanish chain is within walking distance of the Plaza de la Cultura and is steps away from the…
Cabarete
Designed with the discerning surfer in mind, Swell is far from a crash pad. The spare clean lines, plush bedding, modern photographs and funky furniture…
Cabarete
If a beachfront location isn’t a priority, then this small, vaguely suburban property down a dirt road 200m or so from Playa Encuentro is a nice place to…
Santo Domingo
Cross colonial with a touch of medieval and you have the Palacio, a maze-like hotel occupying a 17th-century mansion only a block north of El Conde…
Central Highlands
The most respectable choice in the city, Hotel Rey is close to the highway and half a dozen blocks from the cathedral. It caters to business travelers, so…
North Coast
Fairly remote, though only a short walk from the base of El Morro, this collection of high-end boutique bungalows is worth the journey. Contemporary…
Las Galeras
Some 3km from the town intersection on the trail/rough road to Playas Madama and Frontón, Belgian expat Karin runs a one-woman show offering five rustic…
North Coast
Costambar doesn't have many tourists, but all of them should stay at L'Oase. Tastefully adorned in Dominican art, the charming villas contain 12 bedrooms…
Las Terrenas
This rambling and charming hotel is straight out of a fairy tale – all twisting staircases, covered walkways and odd-shaped rooms. The furnishings are…
Península de Pedernales
This 15-room hotel wins a star for its hands-on, friendly owner and equally simpatico staff, who make sure the place runs smoothly. Rooms are simple, and…
Bávaro & Punta Cana
This small Italian-owned development has none of the grandiose ambitions of the nearby all-inclusives to be all things to all people. For those seeking…
Las Terrenas
One of the last hotels along this stretch of Playa Las Ballenas, Playa Colibrí is a good option for those seeking peace and quiet. All 45 apartments are…
Las Terrenas
Set in a lush and leafy garden on Playa Bonita's beach road, this long-running travelers' favorite is the least luxurious of the Playa Bonita hotels. The…
Punta Cana & the Southeast
This friendly hotel is your best bet for comfort and mainstream traveler atmosphere – a textbook testament to the definition of refuge, with chirping…
Las Terrenas
It might be found via a trashy alleyway across a dirty creek and 950m from the sea, but this is Las Terrenas' only budget crash pad with a hostel-like…
Santo Domingo
One of the better and most affordable choices for a stay in a colonial-era building, just a block north of Calle El Conde. Each of the uniquely designed…
Punta Cana & the Southeast
A good-value choice for those seeking hotel-style comfort, amenities and service alongside peace and quiet (you can hear birds chirping here). Because it…
Santiago
The obvious choice for business travelers, the Gran Almirante also entices tourists looking for extra comfort: rooms are plush and comfortable, and there…
