The Dominican Republic: A Local’s Region-by-Region Guide
My husband is Dominican and his family is here, so we come three or four times a year, this is a place I know like a second home. Here is what makes the Dominican Republic special to me: the level of service, even at budget properties, is world-class. In Puerto Rico you get that same warmth, but usually only at luxury prices. The food in both places is to die for. And the DR is the place for an all-inclusive experience at any budget, from affordable to ultra-lux, which Puerto Rico doesn’t really do. Best of all, a DR trip bends to how you like to travel: an all-inclusive where everything is handled, or a private villa with your own butler.
Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico?
Since I know both islands intimately, here is how I help clients choose. Go to the Dominican Republic for all-inclusive value and service that punches far above its price. Go to Puerto Rico for adventure, it is smaller, so you can hike a rainforest and be on the beach the same afternoon, while in the DR the same day would mean hours of driving. One more thing: Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, so U.S. travelers need no passport, ideal if you don’t have one. For the DR, you will need a valid passport (good at least six months past your travel dates).
Casa de Campo, my luxury pick
Casa de Campo is where I go for luxury. I personally love the villa-with-a-butler vibe, but the hotel is just as special, it gives you golf and a private, personal feeling, with low-rise buildings so you never feel lost among a hundred million other guests. Inside the resort it is beautifully safe, and you can head out to Altos de Chavón, the Mediterranean-style village above the Chavón River, for dinner and genuinely great nightlife (keep an eye out for celebrity sightings). For golf, including the legendary Teeth of the Dog, I partner with @golf.luxescape.
Punta Cana, the all-inclusive capital and beyond
Punta Cana is the all-inclusive heartland, with plenty to do on and off property. People love Coco Bongo and the club set inside a cave, you can swim with dolphins or zip-line, and I stop at the Blue Mall constantly. For real local dining, head to Punta Cana Village, and Bávaro for the beaches. But my favorite way to spend a day here is chartering a spa boat, massages and mani-pedis while you cruise.
Las Terrenas & Samaná, the low-key luxe alternative
If Americans go to Punta Cana, Europeans go to Las Terrenas, and that tells you the vibe: less touristy, more low-key, but you can absolutely get a luxury feel. Time it for whale season (January to March) and you can watch humpbacks in Samaná Bay.
Santo Domingo, history and, honestly, the food
Santo Domingo is the first city of the Americas, and its Colonial Zone is a UNESCO gem you can walk for hours. But let’s be honest about why I keep going back: the food. Dominican gastronomy is extraordinary, and Xixón is one of our favorites.
Jarabacoa, the DR you don’t expect
Most people don’t picture mountains when they think of the Dominican Republic, but Jarabacoa is pine forests, rivers, and cooler air, the adventure side of the island. It is also the gateway to Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Caribbean, if you want a real hike.
Palmar de Ocoa & Punta Arena, the local secret
And then there is Palmar de Ocoa, a small fishermen’s town almost no tourist knows, with amazing beaches and nothing to do but the good stuff: we become beach potatoes, take the boat out, and fish. It is slow and low-key in the best way. Nearby, Punta Arena is a new development worth watching.
The food
You cannot leave the DR without la bandera (rice, beans, and stewed meat), mangú or los tres golpes for breakfast, sancocho, and mofongo. Come hungry.
When to go
It is summer year-round, so almost any time works, just keep an eye on hurricane season, and know that summer runs hot.
What the brochures skip. The DR is bigger and more varied than it looks: getting from Punta Cana to Samáná or the mountains is a real drive, resorts inside the same brand range from wonderful to tired, and a private villa only works when the staffing, provisioning, and transfers are arranged ahead. Knowing the country region by region is the difference between a smooth trip and an expensive guess.
Why plan the Dominican Republic with me
We come three or four times a year, so I don’t guess, I know the DR region by region, and I plan it around exactly how you want to travel: an all-inclusive with everything handled, or a private villa with a butler. As your travel advisor I book it with VIP recognition, and for golf I partner with @golf.luxescape.
Deciding between islands? Read my Puerto Rico guide too.
Honeymooning? The Dominican Republic is one of my go-to picks for couples. See my honeymoon guide for how I plan a trip worth remembering.