Short answer: Most of the Dominican Republic’s all-inclusive resorts are on the east coast around Punta Cana: along Bávaro Beach, at Cap Cana in the south, and on the wilder beaches of Uvero Alto and Macao to the north. Smaller clusters sit in La Romana and Bayahibe on the south coast, at Playa Dorada near Puerto Plata on the north coast, around Las Terrenas and Samaná in the northeast, and at Juan Dolio near Santo Domingo. Nearly every large resort in the country is all-inclusive, so the choice is wide, while meal plans and room-only rates are found mainly at smaller hotels and in towns. Bávaro suits families and first-timers, Cap Cana and Uvero Alto suit couples who want quieter beaches, La Romana suits golfers and divers, and Puerto Plata and Samaná suit travelers who want to mix a resort with exploring.
An all-inclusive is the classic way to visit the Dominican Republic, and the country has resorts for every kind of trip, from huge family complexes with water parks to small adults-only hotels facing the bay of Samaná. This guide explains what an all-inclusive rate usually covers, the taxes to watch for, the main resort areas, and which resorts suit which travelers, using facts from the resorts’ own websites. For the bigger picture of the country, start with our Dominican Republic travel guide.
How all-inclusive works in the Dominican Republic
An all-inclusive rate here normally covers your room, all meals and snacks, drinks and a program of activities and entertainment. The details vary a lot from resort to resort, so read each resort’s own list before you book. As a rule of thumb:
- Usually included: buffet and à la carte restaurants, snacks, house drinks and cocktails, non-motorized water sports such as kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear, pool and beach activities, kids’ clubs at family resorts, and nightly shows.
- Often extra: premium spirits and wines at some resorts, spa treatments, motorized water sports, scuba diving, golf green fees, casino play, and excursions such as Saona Island, Samaná whale watching or Los Haitises. Many resorts also sell a club or upgraded level, such as Barceló’s Premium Level or the Excellence Club, with better rooms, a private lounge and extra perks.
- À la carte dinners: many resorts ask you to reserve their à la carte restaurants and set an evening dress code; Bahia Principe’s adults-only resorts, for example, list reservations and a semi-formal dress code for their à la carte restaurants.
- Excellence Punta Cana (Uvero Alto): an adults-only (18 and over) all-inclusive with ten restaurants, including Italian, French, teppanyaki and steakhouse, four pools and lagoon-style gardens. Most restaurants need no reservation. It is about 45 minutes from Punta Cana airport, and its Excellence Club has upgraded suites and private areas. Suits couples who want a secluded beach and plenty of dining choice.
- Bahia Principe Escape Ambar (Bávaro Beach): an adults-only all-inclusive on the beach in Bávaro with five restaurants, five bars, a pool, a spa and a nightclub. Its à la carte restaurants need a reservation and have a semi-formal dress code. Suits couples who want a quieter resort in the middle of the busy Bávaro coast.
- Bahia Principe Escape Samana (Samaná): a small adults-only (18 and over) all-inclusive with four restaurants, three bars, a pool and a spa, overlooking the bay toward Cayo Levantado, with a quiet beach below. Suits couples who want nature, whale season and a slower pace.
- Barceló Bávaro Beach – Adults Only (Bávaro Beach): the adults-only half of the Barceló Bávaro Grand Resort, sharing the complex with the family-friendly Barceló Bávaro Palace described below. Suits couples who want access to a very large resort’s facilities without the kids’ areas.
- Barceló Bávaro Palace (Bávaro Beach): an all-inclusive with direct access to Bávaro Beach, 11 restaurants, four pools including a semi-Olympic pool, an adults-only pool and a children’s pool, a Family Club, a casino and The Lakes golf course next door. Water sports listed by the resort include diving, snorkeling, kayaking and windsurfing. The airport is about 11 miles (18 km) away. Suits families who want a huge choice in one place.
- Club Med Punta Cana (Punta Cana): an all-inclusive family resort about 10 minutes from the airport, with clubs from babies of 4 months up to teens of 17, a water park, circus and flying-trapeze activities, golf and a spa, plus Zen Oasis, an adults-only area with its own lagoon pool and bar. Suits families who want structured kids’ activities.
- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana (Punta Cana): a large all-inclusive with, according to the resort, 13 restaurants and 23 bars, pools and hot tubs, the Rockaway Bay Water Park, the Roxity Kids Club, golf and a big casino (you must be 18 or over to gamble). Room service and nightly entertainment are included. Suits families and groups who want a lively, entertainment-led resort.
- Bahia Principe Explore La Romana (Playa Nueva Romana, La Romana): a family resort on a palm-lined bay with six restaurants, five bars, a pool and a kids’ pool, a spa and golf nearby, about 40 km from La Romana airport. Suits families who want the calm south coast and easy trips to Saona and Catalina.
- Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo (Las Terrenas, Samaná): a family resort on one of the widest beaches in Las Terrenas, with seven restaurants, seven bars, three pools, a children’s water park and a spa, close to the village. Suits families who want a beach resort and a real town nearby.
- Viva Heavens by Wyndham, A Trademark All Inclusive (Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata): an all-inclusive on Playa Dorada about nine miles from Puerto Plata’s airport, with five restaurants, a kids’ club, a selection of water and land sports, and access to its sister resort, Viva Tangerine. Its pool was closed for renovation from August 31 to September 30, 2026, so check that work is finished if you travel soon. Suits families and couples who want a simpler resort base for exploring the north coast.
Taxes and service charges. Hotel and restaurant bills in the Dominican Republic carry the 18% ITBIS sales tax plus a 10% legal service charge, 28% on top of a pre-tax rate. Packages and rates sold abroad usually include them, but some booking sites show the rate before taxes, so compare the final total. The tourism ministry says an extra tip of about 10% is customary for good service. The US$20 departure tax is included in air tickets issued outside the country. Our guide How Much Does a Trip to the Dominican Republic Cost? explains each charge and what a week costs in total.
Getting there. Punta Cana International Airport serves the east coast: allow about 15 minutes to Cap Cana or Punta Cana, 25 to 35 minutes to Bávaro, and 45 minutes or more to Uvero Alto. La Romana has its own airport, Puerto Plata’s Gregorio Luperón airport serves Playa Dorada, Samaná is served by El Catey airport, and Santo Domingo’s Las Américas airport is close to Juan Dolio and Boca Chica.
Where to stay: the main resort areas
Bávaro and Punta Cana
The heart of the resort coast, with long, palm-lined beaches and the biggest concentration of all-inclusives in the country. Bávaro and Los Corales are the liveliest stretches, with beach bars, shops and boat trips, while Cabeza de Toro is calmer. It suits families, groups and first-time visitors who want plenty of choice and short transfers. See our Punta Cana travel guide.
Cap Cana
South of the airport, Cap Cana is a gated, upscale development with a marina, golf and the polished Juanillo beach, plus the Hoyo Azul sinkhole nearby. Transfers are the shortest on the coast. It suits couples and travelers who want a quieter, more exclusive feel.
Uvero Alto and Macao
North of Bávaro, these beaches are wilder, with bigger waves and fewer people; Macao is popular for surfing. Resorts here are more spread out, 45 minutes or more from the airport. It suits couples and families who mostly want to stay put at a large resort.
La Romana and Bayahibe
On the south coast, La Romana has the Casa de Campo golf resort and the stone village of Altos de Chavón, and nearby Bayahibe is the departure point for boat trips to Saona and Catalina islands in Cotubanamá National Park. The sea is calm and clear, with some of the best diving and snorkeling in the country. It suits golfers, divers and families who want calm water.
Puerto Plata and the north coast
Around Puerto Plata, the resort hotels of Playa Dorada and Costa Dorada are close to the city, with the sheltered bay of Sosúa, the kitesurfing beaches of Cabarete and the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua within reach. The north coast’s beaches are calmest in summer. It suits travelers who want a resort base plus easy day trips.
Samaná and Las Terrenas
The green Samaná peninsula has a handful of resorts near Samaná town and Las Terrenas, a relaxed beach town with cafés and small hotels. From mid-January to March, humpback whales come to the bay to breed and calve, and boats cross year-round to Los Haitises National Park. It suits nature lovers and travelers who want a quieter, less developed coast.
Juan Dolio and Boca Chica
East of Santo Domingo, these beaches are protected by a reef and close to Las Américas airport and the capital’s Colonial Zone. It suits short stays and travelers who want to combine a beach with the city.
All-inclusive resorts by type
The resorts below are grouped by who they suit. Every detail comes from the resort’s own website; facilities and plans change, so check them again when you book. TravelerCenter is not paid by any resort for these listings; we chose them by area and type.
Adults-only
Family-friendly
Good value and the north coast
Want to compare these with regular hotels? Use our hotel search to compare hotel prices for your dates.
When to go
December to April is the driest and most comfortable season on the east and south coasts, where Punta Cana and La Romana are, with highs of about 28–31 °C (83–88 °F). It is also high season, with the highest prices at Christmas, New Year, Carnival weekends and Easter. May, June and November are good-value alternatives. June to November is hurricane season, wettest from August to October, so book flexible rates if you travel then. Whale season in Samaná runs from mid-January to March.
Sargassum seaweed is most likely on east-facing beaches from about April to September, and 2026 has been one of the heaviest years on record, though amounts were falling by late September. Resorts usually rake it away, and the south coast and Samaná can be good alternatives. See our best time to visit the Dominican Republic guide for month-by-month weather, and check the Destination weather tool for your dates.
All-inclusive or not?
In Punta Cana, an all-inclusive is usually the practical choice. Resorts are spread along the coast, often far from towns, and most visitors spend their days on the resort’s beach. You know your costs in advance, drinks and snacks are always at hand, and families do not have to plan every meal. Since most hotel bills carry 28% in tax and service, a package that already includes everything also avoids surprises.
Outside Punta Cana the picture changes. In Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, Las Terrenas, Cabarete or Bayahibe, you can walk to restaurants and local spots, and a small hotel with breakfast is often better value. If you plan many excursions, such as Saona, Los Haitises, the whales or the 27 Waterfalls, you will miss resort meals you have paid for. A good middle ground is a few nights at an all-inclusive and a few in a town.
To plan the days outside the resort, see our top places to visit in the Dominican Republic and the Dominican Republic itinerary for 7, 10 and 14 days, and compare hotel prices for your dates.
Plan your trip: our free trip planner can build a day-by-day plan around your resort, mixing beach days with Saona Island, Santo Domingo or Samaná. Use the Money exchange tool for pesos and the tip calculator for meals and tours outside the resort.
Frequently asked questions
Are there adults-only all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic?
Yes, many. Examples include Excellence Punta Cana in Uvero Alto, Bahia Principe Escape Ambar and Barceló Bávaro Beach on Bávaro Beach, and Bahia Principe Escape Samana on the Samaná peninsula. Some family resorts also have adults-only areas, such as Club Med Punta Cana’s Zen Oasis.
Is all-inclusive worth it in the Dominican Republic?
Usually yes in Punta Cana, where resorts are far from towns and most visitors stay on site. In towns such as Santo Domingo, Las Terrenas or Cabarete, a regular hotel and eating out is often better value.
Do all-inclusives in the Dominican Republic include tips and taxes?
The 18% ITBIS tax and the 10% legal service charge are usually included in packages sold abroad, but some sites show rates before tax, so check the final total. The tourism ministry says an extra tip of about 10% is customary for good service, on top of the service charge.
Which area is best for families?
Bávaro and Punta Cana have the most family resorts, with kids’ clubs and water parks at Barceló Bávaro Palace, Club Med Punta Cana and Hard Rock. La Romana and Bayahibe have calmer water, and Las Terrenas in Samaná suits families who want a beach town nearby.
Punta Cana or Puerto Plata?
Punta Cana has more resorts, longer beaches and the most flights, and it is driest from December to April. Puerto Plata has fewer, simpler resorts close to a real city, with more to do nearby, from Sosúa and Cabarete to the 27 Waterfalls, and its beaches are calmest in summer.
When is the cheapest time for an all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic?
May, June and November are good-value months with decent weather. September and October are usually the cheapest but are the wettest part of hurricane season. Christmas, New Year and Easter are the most expensive weeks.