Dominican Republic resorts? I’ve slept in 21 and I’ll help you choose

Family resorts with a water park

The guide sorts 11 resorts by your kids’ age, from babies to teenagers. The RIU Palace Bávaro solves a 4-year-old and a 12-year-old at once.

Meliá Caribe Beach is the one for babies and small children, and the Sunscape Dominicus in La Romana is the cheapest on the list, with no queues.

• Best for:
• Babies and toddlers
• Ages 3 to 12
• Teenagers

Adults-only resorts

Breathless is the best all-inclusive for 35+: a balance between partying and resting, 40 minutes from the airport.

If eating well comes first, Meliá Punta Cana Beach has the best breakfast I’ve had in the Caribbean.

• Best for:
• Couples
• Friends
• Foodies

Every resort, ranked

All 21 resorts I’ve slept in, from 9.4 to 6.7, with what I actually paid per night. I paid for 20 of them myself, and the one hosted stay is marked as such.

• Best for:
• Comparing
• Budget

Bávaro, Uvero Alto, Cap Cana or La Romana

Bávaro is where most resorts are, Uvero Alto is the north of Punta Cana and Cap Cana is the most exclusive. For a couple on a budget, La Romana and Dominicus have good beaches, a quiet atmosphere and lower prices than Bávaro and Cap Cana.

• Best for:
• First trip
• Couples
• Families

Which eSIM works there

I tested 6 eSIMs in Santo Domingo, La Romana and Punta Cana. Saily if you want the fastest, Roam2Go if you’d rather spend less.