Dominican Republic holidays are Caribbean through and through – white-sand beaches, warm seas and resorts where All Inclusive is a speciality. Most holidays to the Dominican Republic focus on Punta Cana, but there's so much more to explore beyond its coast in 2026/2027.
Head north to Puerto Plata for cable-car views from Mount Isabel de Torres, or choose La Romana for Caribbean beaches with Altos de Chavón close by. Winter is a big draw, with warm weather when the UK is firmly in coat season, though the Dominican Republic is a year-round destination. Dom Rep holidays typically include direct flights from the UK, a choice of family, adults-only and All Inclusive resorts across the main resort areas, as well as ATOL protection when you book a flight-inclusive package with us.
Why go to the Dominican Republic?
A direct flight from London takes roughly nine hours, so there’s no need to factor in an overnight stop or layover. The climate stays warm year-round, with the driest weather from December to April – handy when you’d rather be packing swimwear than scraping ice off the car.
Away from the sun lounger, Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone has Calle Las Damas, the first paved street in the Americas – reason enough for a day trip beyond the resort. It's a good pick for families too, with hands-on exhibits at Museo Infantil Trampolín and marine life at the Dominican Republic National Aquarium both a short trip from the old town.
Food deserves a mention as well. Try mangú, made with mashed plantain, or order seafood near the coast. You could happily spend the whole week by the Caribbean. But we’d save at least one day for seeing what’s outside the resort.
Where to stay in the Dominican Republic
Where you stay changes the feel of a Dominican Republic holiday. Punta Cana has the largest concentration of resorts and direct access to the east coast’s long beaches, while Puerto Plata puts the north coast at your feet. La Romana sits closer to islands and dive sites in the Caribbean Sea. Bávaro, within the wider Punta Cana resort area, is the name to look for if having restaurants, shops and nightlife outside your hotel matters.
Punta Cana
The coastline is the headline. Beaches including Playa Blanca and Juanillo have pale sand and clear water, which is why you’ll find boat trips heading offshore for snorkelling, sailing and deep-sea fishing. Golf is another reason people come to Punta Cana, with courses running close to the coast.
Inland, the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve has a dozen freshwater lagoons set in protected forest – a straightforward half-day out if you want shade and swimming that isn't the sea. For evenings, Coco Bongo's Vegas-style show and disco is one of the best-known nights out in the Dominican Republic, and a reason some visitors base themselves in Punta Cana over the quieter resort areas.
Punta Cana International Airport keeps arrival days relatively simple, with many resorts clustered within the wider Punta Cana area. That matters after a long-haul flight, especially with kids in tow. Families are well catered for too, with kids' clubs and shallow-water stretches at many of the larger beachfront hotels, while couples looking for quieter corners can find adults only properties within easy reach of the same beaches.
Our Punta Cana hotels cover the Dominican Republic’s biggest resort hub, with lots of package-holiday facilities close at hand.
Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata puts you on the Dominican Republic's Atlantic north coast, with a different landscape and a bit more local life mixed into the resort experience. The city itself has colourful Victorian-era buildings and the 16th-century Fortaleza San Felipe, while the beachfront Malecón runs for several kilometres along the coast.
For beach time, Playa Dorada is the established resort enclave east of the city, with hotels, restaurants and a golf course grouped close together — it's also home to Ocean World Adventure Park, with dolphin and sea lion shows alongside a marina and casino. Head further along the coast and Cabarete is your go-to for windsurfing and kitesurfing – trade a pool day for a board if the weather is playing ball.
Flights arrive at Gregorio Luperón International Airport, close to the main north-coast resort areas. For beach time with the city and north coast on your doorstep, head to our Puerto Plata hotels.
La Romana
Choose La Romana if you prefer the Caribbean Sea over the Atlantic coast. This stretch of the south-east coast is a useful base for some of the Dominican Republic's standout days on the water, including trips to Saona Island in Cotubanamá National Park, where boats pull up beside palm-backed beaches and shallow turquoise sea. Further round the coast, Los Haitises National Park is worth the detour for mangrove channels, secluded beaches and caves carved with Taíno petroglyphs, best explored by boat or kayak.
Divers and snorkellers have options off the coast too, while nearby Bayahibe is a former fishing village that has become a departure point for island excursions. That makes La Romana a smart base if you expect to spend at least one or two days away from the pool.
La Romana International Airport serves the area, though some package flights use Punta Cana International Airport instead. Planning to spend more time on boat trips and Caribbean beaches? Start with our La Romana hotels for stays on this side of the Dominican Republic.
Bávaro
Bávaro sits within the wider Punta Cana area, but it’s useful to treat it separately when you’re choosing where to book. Playa Bávaro runs along a long stretch of pale coast backed by resorts, with watersports and boat trips setting off from the beach.
The difference becomes clearer once you leave the hotel. Bávaro has restaurants, bars and shops outside the resort complexes, so you don’t have to spend every meal or evening inside your All Inclusive. Cortecito, on the beachfront, adds small shops and places to eat within walking distance in parts of the area.
Punta Cana International Airport serves Bávaro, with journey times varying by hotel and traffic. If you like the scale and facilities of Punta Cana but want more happening outside the resort gates, we’d put Bávaro top of the east-coast shortlist.
All Inclusive holidays to the Dominican Republic
All Inclusive makes a lot of sense in the Dominican Republic – it’s a long-haul trip, the weather keeps you poolside and many resorts are designed for spending whole days there. Most meals, drinks and entertainment are included in one package, taking some of the day-to-day budgeting out of your holiday.
You’ll see lots of All Inclusive hotels in Punta Cana, including big beachfront resorts with several pools, restaurants, kids’ clubs and evening entertainment. Travelling with little ones? Look for waterparks, children’s pools and organised activities. Adults only hotels tend to put more emphasis on à la carte dining, spas and quieter pool areas.
Think about how you’ll spend your week before choosing your board basis. All Inclusive pays off if most days will involve the pool or beach and you like having meals and drinks sorted at the hotel. Planning several days out? You may not use as much of what you’ve paid for.
Our All Inclusive Dominican Republic holidays are a useful next stop if you like knowing what’s covered before you fly. Then it’s down to the fun bit – choosing where you want to stay.
When is the best time to visit the Dominican Republic?
Temperatures in the Dominican Republic typically sit in the high 20s to low 30s°C, so choosing when to go is more about rainfall and humidity than finding the heat.
For beach days and winter sun, we’d pick January to March. May to November is wetter and more humid, but sunshine doesn’t disappear. Rain often arrives in short, heavy bursts rather than taking over the whole day. June to November is also Atlantic hurricane season, with September and October seeing the greatest storm risk.
Spring or autumn can still work if you’re happy to take a chance on more showers. Summer stays hot, so pack for heat and humidity rather than expecting the seasons to behave anything like they do at home.
One thing changes very little: the sea stays warm throughout the year, so swimming isn’t something you need to plan your dates around.
Discover Dom Rep & Beyond | Top Travel Guides
Ready to see more of the Northern Caribbean? Explore these handy guides from our travel experts: Punta Cana | Bavaro | Cuba | Jamaica
Our Dom Rep holidays guide was last revised and updated in September 2026.
