Dominican Republic Holidays

A captivating island nation brimming with Latin flair, where brochure-cover beaches share top billing with journeys through nature and history.

Dominican Republic holidays are sun-soaked, sand-underfoot, not-a-care-in-the-world affairs. They’re about lazy days gazing out from your palm-shaded lounger at the iridescent turquoise of the sea, lulled into perfect restfulness by the gentle whoosh of the waves or the distant lilt of merengue music. They’re about dreamy strolls along icing-sugar beaches, floating spellbound over vibrant coral reefs and messing about in boats with your favourite people, punctuated by laidback meals you wish would never end.

We can find you the perfect spot along this Caribbean country’s mesmerising coastline, whether you need a serene retreat for two, something livelier for a family or the golf-centred break of your dreams. There’s Punta Cana, a 30-mile stretch of Blue Flag beaches, former fishing villages and immaculately landscaped all-inclusive havens. The luxury quotient steps up a notch at Cap Cana, a glossy made-from-scratch resort area that bobs with yachts, polo players and music stars. Or there’s La Romana, a sugar town turned holiday hotspot, where you can mix offshore exploits with urban discoveries. Finally, there’s not-to-be-missed Santo Domingo, the vibrant capital whose atmospheric 500-year centre is a maze of coffee-scented stone-paved lanes lined with heritage architecture.

Talk to our Personal Travel Experts about creating your perfect Dominican Republic getaway, from the best beachside hotel for you to the adventures you’ll never forget.

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Dominican Republic Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Dominican Republic

Hilton La Romana, An All-Inclusive Adults-only Resort

An elegant, all-in Caribbean wonderland with stylish interiors, spectacular views and an stunning...

Hilton La Romana, An All-Inclusive Family Resort

A vibrant beachfront paradise packed with thrills and spills

Eden Roc Cap Cana

An oceanfront oasis with stylish villas, exquisite cuisine, a private beach and premier golf expe...

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana

A vibrant, all-inclusive retreat with ocean views and thrills at every turn

Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana

This adults-only oasis is perfectly positioned in the gated community of Cap Cana

Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa

Nestled in Cap Cana’s exclusive gated community, this luxe resort has exceptional inclusions

Casa De Campo Resort & Villas

An exclusive A-list approved retreat overflowing with world-class facilities

Sunscape Dominicus La Romana

A great value, all-inclusive experience with 24/7 dining, endless entertainment and a picturesque...

Dreams Flora Resort & Spa

A palm-studded paradise packed with family fun, non-stop entertainment and gourmet dining

Dreams Macao Beach Punta Cana Resort & Spa

A postcard-perfect Caribbean oasis with an ocean outlook and plenty to see, do and explore.

Secrets Tides Punta Cana

A romantic, adults-only retreat on the sparkling shores of Uvero Alto.

Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana

An oceanfront paradise packed with unique experiences and with a refreshing focus on wellness.

Holidays in Dominican Republic

hotel
  • Dominican Republic
  • 5 Star

An elegant, all-in Caribbean wonderland with stylish interiors, spectacular views and an stunning beach.

From £1,557 p/p
hotel
  • Dominican Republic
  • 5 Star

A vibrant beachfront paradise packed with thrills and spills

From £1,560 p/p
hotel
  • Dominican Republic
  • 5 Star

An oceanfront oasis with stylish villas, exquisite cuisine, a private beach and premier golf experiences

From £2,715 p/p
hotel
  • Dominican Republic
  • 5 Star

A vibrant, all-inclusive retreat with ocean views and thrills at every turn

From £2,115 p/p
hotel
  • Dominican Republic
  • 5 Star

This adults-only oasis is perfectly positioned in the gated community of Cap Cana

From £2,076 p/p
hotel
  • Dominican Republic
  • 5 Star

Nestled in Cap Cana’s exclusive gated community, this luxe resort has exceptional inclusions

From £1,861 p/p
hotel
  • Dominican Republic
  • 5 Star

An exclusive A-list approved retreat overflowing with world-class facilities

From £1,939 p/p
hotel
  • Dominican Republic

A great value, all-inclusive experience with 24/7 dining, endless entertainment and a picturesque plot on Dominicus Beach

From £1,303 p/p
hotel
  • Dominican Republic
  • 5 Star

A palm-studded paradise packed with family fun, non-stop entertainment and gourmet dining

From £1,456 p/p
hotel
  • Dominican Republic
  • 5 Star

A postcard-perfect Caribbean oasis with an ocean outlook and plenty to see, do and explore.

From £1,615 p/p

Saona Island Tour

The stunning Isla Saona is set just off the Dom Rep’s south-east coast and is a 42-square-mile haven of white sands, shallow waters and a forest-cloaked interior. Set off from Bayahibe onboard a speedboat or catamaran and follow the glorious coast of Cotubanamá National Park to Saona. On the way, you’ll visit a natural pool where you can take your first dip of the day, before continuing on to one of the island’s best beaches and a lively beach club where you’ll spend the rest of your time, taking part in a dance class, snorkelling just offshore, playing a game of beach volleyball or just doing nothing at all. There’ll be an open bar and a generous Dominican Republic buffet at lunch time. This is pure island bliss.

• Duration: full day
• Daily Monday to Saturday\ • Operates year-round\ • Group experience

Good to know
This excursion is not suitable for guest with mobility issues. Whichever way you travel to the island, the opposite transportation will be used on the return leg.

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Adventure Scape Park

Experience the thrills, spills and adventures at Scape Park, a theme park with a beautifully natural setting near Punta Cana. Spend the day following culture and eco trails, zip lining (across the water and/or over dry land), exploring caves and swimming in cenotes. There’s also a high-ropes course, off-road buggy course and rope slides that end with a splash into the water. This is the perfect day out for the whole family as well as couples who are young at heart.

• Duration: full day
• Departs Tuesday and Sunday\ • Operates year-round\ • Group experience

Good to know\ This excursion is not suitable for guest with mobility issues.

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Catalina Island Tour

Bijou Isla Catalina is a tropical, uninhabited island a short hop off the coast of La Romana. The snorkelling here is some of the best in the country and the beaches are the stuff of island dreams. The first stop of the day is The Wall snorkelling spot, a fabulous place to spot fish, rays, corals and sea sponges; all equipment will be provided, even buoyancy aids for less confident swimmers. From here, you’ll continue on to the island and step foot onto the picture perfect beach for some down time and a traditional Dominican barbeque lunch.

• Duration: full day
• Departs Thursday and Sunday\ • Operates year-round\ • Group experience

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Santo Domingo

A full day’s cultural exploration awaits on this visit to the island’s heritage-rich capital and the oldest city in the Caribbean. It’s about a two-hour drive to the city from Punta Cana so there’ll be plenty of time to hear about its history from your knowledgeable guide and take in the views of daily life as you travel. Your time in Santo Domingo can be tailored to your interests – your guide will give you ideas of where’s best to visit and what there is to see. A few highlights include the Alcazar de Colon, a 16th-Century fortress that was once the Americas home of Christopher Columbus, the Museum of Royal Houses and the Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor. To fuel your sight-seeing, lunch at a local restaurant is included. • Duration: full day • Departs Tuesday to Saturday • Operates year-round • Private experience

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Get to know the Dominican Republic and those all-important practicalities when planning your perfect Caribbean holiday.

Capital
TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT -4 hours (BST -5 hours)

CURRENCY

Dominican peso

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

8 hours 50 minutes to 9¼ hours

RELIGION

Roman Catholic

LANGUAGE

Spanish

Where is the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic covers the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, the second largest in the West Indies. It’s geologically and geographically diverse, from the soaring heights of Pico Duarte, the region’s tallest mountain, to a thousand-mile coastline washed by the Atlantic in the north and the calmer Caribbean in the south.

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Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo is the oldest European city in the Americas, founded by the Spanish more than 500 years ago. Wander the cobbled lanes of the beautifully preserved Zona Colonial, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to shady squares and courtyards lined with independent boutiques, galleries and cafés. Delve into this coastal capital’s rich history in the art-filled Gothic cathedral, admire the sea and river views from the battlements of the equally old Ozama fortress and visit characterful museums in elegant mansions that bring the past vividly to life.

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Punta Cana
Nicknamed the ‘Costa del Coco’ or Coconut Coast for its 30 miles of palm-fringed beaches, Punta Cana lies at the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea. From Uvero Alto in the north to Cap Cana in the south, luxurious all-inclusive resorts cater to travellers of all ages, from child-friendly venues with non-stop entertainment to romantic hideaways just for couples. Find your bliss on Blue Flag sands, play world-class golf courses or discover unspoiled nature reserves inland and offshore.

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Cap Cana\ Marking the southernmost point of Punta Cana, between Cabo Engano and Cabo San Rafael, the swish, modern, purpose-built resort area of Cap Cana is a magnet for the well-heeled, famous and discerning. Its facilities include a sleek marina, an equestrian centre that plays host to polo matches, and a Jack Nikolaus-designed golf course widely regarded as the best in the Caribbean, while its hotels are decidedly upmarket with serene spas, gourmet dining and private beaches to match.

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La Romana
A former sugar town, established at the end of the 20th century, La Romana is now better known for its idyllic Caribbean coastline. Home to some of the island’s most photogenic stretches of white sand, it’s where you’ll find a string of beach resorts that range from purpose-built all-inclusives that are a world in themselves, including Casa de Campo, to former fishing villages such as Bayahíbe that retain a distinctive local character. Venture out by boat to snorkel around Catalina Island, where coral reefs and pirate shipwrecks teem with colourful marine life, or head into town to learn about the art of cigar making.

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Dominican Republic Weather

Dec - May

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