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The Dominican Republic encompasses a lot of what makes the Caribbean such a preferred vacation vacation spot.
Pristine white sands lapped by turquoise waters, spectacular resort motels and exquisite pure landscapes are present in abundance right here, together with a delightfully laid-back way of life.
But this nation is exclusive in so some ways too, with a slew of charming fishing cities and fairly mountain villages complemented by a fascinating capital metropolis and a fusion of cultures.
Santo Domingo stays the nation’s most vital metropolis – a historic place stuffed with remnants of colonialism alongside modern-day Dominican tradition – however tourism implies that locations like Punta Cana and La Romana are extra vibrant than ever.
The resorts on these magnificent stretches of shoreline provide a spread of holidays, from an all-inclusive household journey to a romantic couple’s vacation or a party-filled break with mates. Below, we’ve chosen some of the best flight and resort packages for a sun-drenched seven days.
La Romana at the finish of excessive season
La Romana has a inhabitants of round 130,000 folks
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If the crowds of Punta Cana don’t attraction, go to the much less touristy area of La Romana. A British Airways Holiday helps you to base your self in the Casa de Campo Resort, one of the most luxurious in the nation. It’s unfold out over 7,000 acres on the coast, providing subtle, trendy rooms with giant terraces, a non-public part of seaside with a seaside membership, and three huge pool areas for friends to spend the day in.
The resort is residence to a few championship golf programs, an 18,000-square-foot spa and 12 tennis courts, and it affords additional actions comparable to water sports activities, fishing and horse using. The bars present night leisure, and there are excursions to take you so far as Santo Domingo.
La Romana is discovered on the southern coast, round an hour from Punta Cana. It supplies a extra laid-back setting with much less crowds, however continues to be often known as a luxurious vacation spot, with beach-fronted resorts and golf programs galore. One of the primary sights is the Altos de Chavon, a re-creation of a Sixteenth-century Mediterranean village.
Prices from £2,619pp together with seven nights’ lodging all-inclusive, return flights from London Gatwick and one piece of checked baggage per passenger. Departing 15 April 2024.
Read extra on Central America and Caribbean journey:
Punta Cana at Christmas
Dominicans even have a Christmas celebration on the night of 24 December
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Christmas in the Dominican Republic means days spent basking in the solar on white sands, with a novel fusion of Latin and Caribbean celebrations, tradition and delicacies. Daytime temperatures will hover between the mid- to excessive 20s, and Punta Cana shall be awash with late-night events and hotel-hosted Christmas celebrations.
British Airways Holidays affords an all-inclusive keep at the adults-only Melia Punta Cana Beach Resort for every week from 19 December. Guests can spend the days main as much as Christmas on palm-fringed seashores, at the close by Cocotal Golf Club or making an attempt out sports activities and wellness actions, whereas all meals are taken care of in the resort’s three eating places (which provide continental and American breakfasts, Vietnamese delicacies and a world buffet).
The resort is centred round a big outside pool, the place a handful of huts are dotted amongst the sea of palm timber that results in the seaside. Rooms are spacious and trendy, with easy but trendy ornament and beneficiant outside terrace areas.
Prices from £2,183pp together with seven nights’ lodging all-inclusive, return flights from London Gatwick and one piece of checked baggage per passenger. Departing 19 December 2024.
Bayahibe in May
Bayahibe was based as a small fishing village in 1874
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Tourists can escape the chaos of Punta Cana whereas nonetheless having fun with energetic evenings and entertaining days in the resorts of Bayahibe. The Thomas Cook bundle to the Catalonia Royal places friends proper on the beachfront – simply 400m from Dominicus Beach – in a tropical paradise resort with serene outside swimming swimming pools.
Rooms include giant terraces, and every pool space has lots of seating and cabanas. Five eating places serve delicacies starting from Italian and Asian fusion to Peruvian dishes, whereas friends can even get pleasure from entry to 2 close by golf programs and make the most of actions together with diving programs and night leisure.
Bayahibe sits round 10 miles east of La Romana. Many resorts carry the title of La Romana of their titles, however the space round the seashores of Bayahibe and Dominicus is residence to most of the motels. These two stretches of sand are the focal factors of the space, with standard actions together with excursions to Isla Saona and diving round the shipwrecks off the coast.
Prices from £1,424pp together with seven nights’ lodging all-inclusive and return flights from London Gatwick. Departing 9 May 2024.
Punta Cana in off-season
Low season in the Dominican Republic runs from June till November
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Though Punta Cana could also be famend for its energetic excessive season, beat the crowds – and avoid wasting money – by visiting in June. At this time of yr you could expertise some rainfall, however this normally solely is available in brief bursts and you’ll anticipate lots of sunshine and clear skies.
Tui‘s all-inclusive package to the Grand Bavaro Princess resort, located less than 30 minutes north of the city with a privileged location right next to Cortecito Beach (a popular water sports destination) is great value. The resort consists of a series of white-washed buildings that house a casino, a full-service spa (with massages, hydrotherapies and facials), four bars and 10 restaurants. You’ll probably spend your time on the close by seaside (there are shuttles for seashores additional afield) or by any of the three swimming swimming pools, whilst you can attempt a special restaurant each evening with a alternative of worldwide buffets, Italian, Indian and Japanese delicacies (amongst others).
Rooms at the Grand Bavaro are up to date if slightly easy, with a spacious terrace space and king-sized beds. The resort additionally supplies lots of actions, from volleyball and tennis to bop lessons and kayaking.
Prices from £1,355pp together with seven nights’ lodging all-inclusive, return flights from London Gatwick, one piece of checked baggage per passenger and airport transfers. Departing 2 June 2024.
A go to to the capital
Santo Domingo was one of the first cities in the New World
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Many suppliers solely serve the nation’s seaside resorts, however Expedia affords dozens of choices for visiting Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic’s energetic capital. Stay at the Casas del XVI for a vacation suited to such a historic metropolis. A set of Sixteenth-century homes types a resort advanced, the place the villas have retained many interval options – suppose unique brickwork and vaulted ceilings – however have been up to date to supply trendy luxurious, with swimming pools, refurbished courtyards and classy interiors.
When you do go away the resort you’re proper in the center of the ‘Zona Colonial’, residence to the best of Santo Domingo’s medieval landmarks, buzzing squares like Plaza Espana, and the vibrant Malecon promenade space.
Prices from £1,479 together with seven nights’ lodging, return flights from London Heathrow or Gatwick, and airport transfers. Departing 14 April 2024.
Last-minute winter solar in Punta Cana
March is the finish of peak season in Punta Cana
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The Thomas Cook bundle at the AC Hotel by Marriott supplies friends with a week-long keep in a single of few motels that provides ‘room only’ choices, that means friends are free to discover the delights of Punta Cana reasonably than spending most of their time and having all their meals in the resort (although there may be an off-the-cuff restaurant open till late in the night).
Rooms are slick and classy – as are interiors all through the resort – and an out of doors pool and terrace space surrounded by landscaped gardens is AC’s centrepiece. There are a number of native actions on provide, from rounds of golf and spa visits to snorkelling cruises and island day journeys. A go to to Punta Cana in March will assist you to keep away from the worst of the crowds whereas nonetheless having the ability to get pleasure from incredible climate and beautiful pure websites like the Blue Hole.
Prices from £1,286pp together with seven nights’ lodging and return flights from London Gatwick. Departing 6 March 2024.
Read our evaluations of the best winter solar motels
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