The Dominican Republic - Brimming with history & top notch all-inclusives

Home to 1,000 miles of magnificent beaches, championship golf courses, great spas and some top-notch resorts, the Dominican Republic is a long-standing Caribbean favourite. Fundamentally this is beach lover's paradise but I visited in February to explore the capital Santo Domingo (having heard great things about it) and to also check out two differing all-inclusives – ‘The Hard Rock Punta Cana’ (an all-inclusive powerhouse) and ‘Impressive Punta Cana’, a 5 star All Inclusive located on El Cortecito Beach.

The city of Santo Domingo is one of the Caribbean's most culturally rich and vibrant historical destinations. The walled, cobblestoned Colonial Zone is the historic centre, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is the place to stay. This is where the history of the new world begins. After Christopher Columbus’s arrival on the island in 1492, Santo Domingo became the site of the first cathedral, hospital, customs house and university in the Americas. Reminiscent of Cartagena in Colombia it was difficult to imagine I was in the Caribbean and the colonial city gives you a real flavour of Dominican Republic life. On the Saturday night I visited I could hear the beat of Merengue music from every corner store, known as ‘Colmados’, these supermarkets turned bars are a central part of Dominican life, where people can buy everyday groceries and socialise with neighbours. They're more of a community hub than just a store. To explore the city I took a two hour bike tour with ‘Bic Tours’, an excellent way to not only learn more about the history of the city but also get some great recommendations for restaurants and bars to visit.  

Kimpton Las Mercedes - Santo Domingo

My home for three nights was ‘Kimpton Las Mercedes’, found in the heart of Santo Domingo's Colonial zone and the new kid on the block, having only opened in June 2024.  The hotel is set within a 16th century structure that has been thoughtfully revitalised by award-winning architect Rafael Moneo to reflect the transformation of the historic neighbourhood into a thriving cultural hub. In reimagining the space, original materials have been preserved or repurposed where possible, while a modern addition has been respectfully constructed behind the original structure. The hotel features 130 guest rooms, including eight expansive rooftop suites, each with a private balcony to give guests a taste of the indoor-outdoor living the city is known for. Local artists and craftsmen have been tapped to infuse each room with colourful design elements that reflect the spirit of Santo Domingo. My room was large, light and contemporary and I even managed to put an end to my phobia of tech and embrace all the new lighting technology within the room, dimmer and mood switches, black out blinds etc…

No surprise that the rooftop infinity pool with plenty of sunbeds completely won me over. From this elevated vantage point, I was able to appreciate iconic landmarks like the Archdiocesan Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, the Church of Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes and the Monastery of San Francisco, enjoying a visual connection with the city's historic surroundings. The hotel has three unique restaurants, Zola, the signature restaurant with a retractable roof for al fresco dining, marries Northern Italian fare with local ingredients and features an expansive array of aperitivos, tableside cocktails and old-world wines. El Patio, the secluded courtyard garden bar and Coral for breakfast. Just off the lobby, guests can indulge their senses at the locally-sourced cigar and rum lounge, which showcases a 500-year-old well that was uncovered and restored during the building’s transformation.

This is the fifth Kimpton Hotel in the Caribbean and Latin America and as with all Kimptons, the hotel features beloved perks such as morning coffee and tea service, an evening social hour (and yes, I was there on the dot of 5.00 pm for the complimentary cocktails and as a solo traveller a fun way of meeting fellow guests), a “Forgot It? We’ve Got It!” programme, in-room yoga mats and pet-friendly policies. The hotel is located just 28-minutes from Las Américas International Airport and approximately 2-hours from Punta Cana International Airport. 

‘The Hard Rock Resort and Casino’ - Punta Cana

‘The Hard Rock Resort and Casino’ is perfect for families and those seeking glamour together with non-stop fun. This is the original hard rock all-inclusive hotel and at first, I found it a little overwhelming with a massive, atrium style lobby, the beach and sea far away in the distance, multiple restaurants and bars, swimming pools, water features, a casino and golf course together with 1,882 rooms and suites in beautifully landscaped gardens. However, it wasn't long before I was master of the map, had found my favourite pools and was able to find my way easily around.  I was happy to walk but staff also whizz guests around in golf carts, operating like a bus service with covered "bus shelters". 

Rooms are spacious, indulgent and decadent with plenty of rock star touches like private balconies, a Hydra Spa tub, plush bathrobes and slippers. There are a lot of choices, albeit very enjoyable ones, to make when you’re staying at the ‘Hard Rock’ and first and foremost for an avid swimmer like myself, was which pool to choose. Thankfully my two favourites were minutes from my room, Eden, adults only and in the early mornings I had the pool to myself and Sax, a gorgeous, curved infinity pool. Tempting as it is to spend all day by a pool, there's no shortage of activities to keep you amused. There's the on-site 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature design golf course, an escape room, an expansive spa with 52 treatment rooms and the most comprehensive hydrotherapy centre in the Caribbean whilst the hotel's nine different restaurants, offer culinary adventures ranging from chic Asian-fusion to comforting home-cooked breakfasts.

Impressive - Punta Cana

‘Impressive Punta Cana’ is a waterfront resort located only 25-minutes from Punta Cana International Airport, on the idyllic El Cortecito Beach in the heart of Bavaro. With a stunning white sand beach and the requisite swaying palm trees, this is the perfect destination for families and couples searching for a place in which to relax and enjoy the sun, beach and endless fun. ‘Impressive Punta Cana’ has 654 fully equipped rooms of 33sqm, designed to create a comfortable and functional space for up to four guests. Each room has a private terrace or balcony, cable television, air conditioning, a king size bed or two queen sized beds, a direct phone line, coffee & tea making facilities, toiletries, independent temperature control, iron & ironing board, a radio alarm clock, scale, hair dryer, in-room safe, in -room mini bar (restocked upon request), luggage rack and more. There are eight restaurants (a buffet, five à la carte restaurants, a snack bar, a wine cellar and a coffee shop). ‘Open Sea’ has an international buffet with ‘Yakimeshi’ (Asian), ‘Villa Magna’ (Italian), ‘On the Grill’ (Steakhouse) and ‘Alebrije’ (Mexican).  I had lunch at ‘Villa Magna’ - I find it sad that the majority of all-inclusive resort restaurants have no outside eating (although I appreciate that the majority find eating in the heat uncomfortable). However, at ‘Villa Magna’ you dine al-fresco on the first floor with plenty of shade and an uninterrupted view of the turquoise ocean. The ‘Game & Fun Kid’s Club’ and ‘Play Room’ feature supervised activities for children (4-12) and teens (13-16) with various programmes centred on science, nature and exploring, as well as arts & crafts, day camps, hikes and competitions. A lot of the fun of staying at an all-inclusive are the activities and entertainment of offer. At Impressive Punta Cana daily activities include ping-pong, beach and pool volleyball, mini-golf, board games, windsurfing, snorkelling, kayaking and even yoga on a floating fitness mat. The mats all tied together with the yoga teacher on a mat in the middle. It looked pretty precarious but a new one for the gram! In the evening guests make their way to the theatre for performances featuring artists, music, contests and circus acts and then there's the option to dance until dawn at lively ‘Opalo Disco’.

With an all-inclusive package there's a danger of being tied to the resort but do try and do at least a couple of tours. A visit to Saona Island is the most popular excursion taken by holidaymakers visiting the Punta Cana area. Part of the Cotubanama National Park, Saona Island's unspoiled beaches, lush palms and blue water immediately say ‘Bounty’ (Mars Inc.) advert and it's no surprise that it's where the ‘Bounty’ adverts were filmed. The island has also been used for filming several movies, including Pirates of the Caribbean: ‘The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)’ and The Blue Lagoon (1980). It's a two-hour boat trip from the fishing village of Bayahíbe including a stop for snorkelling in the waist deep blue lagoon, and then time to relax on the island itself. Alternatively, leave the beach crowds behind on a full-day cultural excursion to the Bayaguana Countryside to visit a sugarcane plantation, explore the historic streets of Bayaguana and take a cool dip in the clear waters of the Salto Alto Waterfalls. This tour includes easy transportation in a safari style truck with open air seating and a Dominican buffet lunch.

If you're looking for a slice of Las Vegas in the Caribbean and the ultimate Rockstar getaway, then ‘The Hard Rock’ ticks every box - there's nowhere remotely comparable. It's got the wow factor in spades. However, for a smaller more easily manageable all-inclusive I can highly recommend ‘Impressive Punta Cana’. Most visitors to The Dominican Republic will fly in and out of Punta Cana but I'd strongly advise tagging on at least a couple of nights in the capital. It's a two-hour transfer from Punta Cana but a world away from the beach and the views from the swimming pool terrace and the location of gorgeous boutique hotel ‘Kimpton Las Mercedes’ are hard to beat.

(This blog has been written by Petra Shepherd, Travel Matters’ Communication Officer. She visited Dominican Republic in February 2025. Photo Credits by Petra Shepherd)