Advantages: Eating yourself to bursting point in the fully inclusive hotels
Disadvantages: Not much to do and rip off prices

...My husband and I were really looking forward to wandering round local markets and picking up unusual souvenirs in the Dominican Republic but, unfortunately, holidays in the Dominican Republic are not for people who want to travel around and experience the country for themselves. We were in an all inclusive, which was just as well, because there was nowhere to go outside the hotel complex. The complex itself was lovely and there were only 2 hours in the day when you couldn't get food (2pm-4pm) which was brilliant. The trips on offer were pretty expensive which meant we couldn't really afford to do many and, if you wanted to hire a taxi you had to find a couple of other folk to go with you as the taxis were really people carriers and it was approximately £50 to hire them for a couple of hours to go to the nearby city of Santo... Read review

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Advantages: Cheaper than other Caribbean destinations, Goregeous beaches, crystal clear water.
Disadvantages: Long flight, 'Hasslers', ear-infections from the pool

...September 1997 – My first long haul holiday! My first real holiday abroad really. I’d been to France, Germany and Holland with school a few times, and I’d been grape picking in France after my A-Levels, but that was hard work not a holiday! So I was looking forward to the tropical temperatures and warm seas that, school-day friends, who were fortunate enough to be taken abroad for their holidays, always used to talk about. I went with my boyfriend, who is now my husband. A proper couples type holiday that I’d always wanted to do. We chose the Dominican Republic mainly due to the price. We wanted to go somewhere in the Caribbean but couldn’t really afford a holiday at all, so we booked a year in advance and tried to save up. We discovered that Caribbean holidays are pretty expensive but compared... Read review

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...Last January I packed up and headed off to Santo Domingo, DR. My internet investigations had me expecting the worst but boy were we surprised. The airport, as predicted was a ZOO, no problem, was fairly organized. Bus trip to hotel was FAST, very different driving styles there. We stayed at the Coral HAmaca beach resort. BEAUTIFUL. It is a 5 star resort with GREAT food, entertainment, and drinks. The whole trip, ALL INCLUSIVE only cost $1300 CDN each (884 US) and was the time of our lives. I highly recommend this resort. Others on our flight back that stayed at other hotels didn't have the same enthusiasm, I guess 5 star is the way to go. Not a deluxe Ritz hotel, but for an island resort it is 100% of our expectations. Go there anytime you want to relax in the beautiful Caribean sun.... Read review

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Advantages: Lovely hot weather and friendly people
Disadvantages: the poverty is crippling and rough seas on Atlantic side

...I have just returned from Punta Cana in Dom Rep. We stayed at the Occidental Grand Flamenco Hotel in Bavaro. Whilst staying here the weather on the last two days of the holiday took on a nasty turn ….. we had rain constantly one day, resulting in massive puddles 6-7 inches deep at the Hotel. Also on the way home (awaiting in Departure Lounge at La Romana) the weather just bucketed down in sheets, it was awesome to see nature in full force. I was so sorry to hear however that it has flooded some areas of Dom Rep and their neighbours in Haiti, god bless them. The Dominican Republic then, is an experience to say the least. The people you will meet at the Hotel are warm and friendly, also out and about on the trips. However, the country is very poverty-stricken (it is a third world country) and I have to say I was very upset... Read review

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...I was in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in February and was amazed by the diving there. Along the South side of D.R. there is a reef that extends the entire the length of the island and further into the ocean. The Snorkelling is even good because the reef is only 50 feet away from shore. The caribean fish are absolutely amazing with such a sensation of peace and surrealism. When your down there, nothing crosses your mind except the beauty of your surroundings, the fish swimming through your fingers, the massiveness of the reef, and the calmness of it all. If you are in Santo Domingo, spend the money to learn to dive and get out there and experience the thrill of your lifetime.... Read review

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Advantages: Price, weather, beaches, accommodation
Disadvantages: 9 hour flight

...I went to the North of the Dominican Republic to get married 4 months ago. It was the most beautiful place I have ever been to, and the best holiday we have had. We stayed at the Hotel Riu Merengue which in itself was paradise. The staff of the hotel were very friendly and obliging and the people of the Dominican were extremely friendly. The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country with a poor lifestyle. We went on a monster jeep safari trip which was excellent but we were amazed and saddened at the poverty but also glad to be able to see the country away from the tourism side, the real Dominican as it were. The weather was excellent, the beaches were gorgeous and the entertainment in our all inclusive hotel left other hotels we have visited, standing. I would recommend the Dominican Republic to anyone. You will be hard pressed... Read review

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Advantages: beautiful, relaxing, friendly people, nice weather.
Disadvantages: Not white sands and turquoise seas.

...Total Holiday Cost £500!!!! This was our first visit to the Caribbean island of Dominican Republic and at we loved it! We got a last minute deal through Airtours for only £325 all-inclusive! We took the 8-hour flight from Gatwick to Puerto Plata, which is in the North East of the island. The price included coach transfers and it was only about 15 minutes drive to the resort. The resort itself was massive consisting of many hotels, some beach side and golf courses. Our hotel was the 3* Hotetur Villas Doradas. Initially we were a bit down when we saw our rooms but mainly because we’ve stayed in much nicer 3* accommodation at other destinations. I think the lack of light was the problem. We had a few teething problems with our room because the room only catered for two whereas we were 3 of us. However the hotel staff... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful beaches and greenary
Disadvantages: Too many beggars

...When I saw the photos for the Dominican Republic, in the brochure, I thought ‘I want to go there!’ Where better than to spend two weeks in the glorious sunshine in the middle of December! So we (Michael and I) splashed out £700 for an all-inclusive deal of unlimited food and drink (both of which appeals to us) to the destination of Sousa. The flight was a very long 9 ½ hours and I would recommend getting first class if you can stretch your money that far. We were crammed in like sardines with elbows and sweaty arm pits everywhere. I definitely envied those sat at the front in their big armchairs. My first impressions of the Dominican Republic were of disappointment. As we travelled on the coach dropping off other holidaymakers, the place was baron and run down but it is a third world country. The Hotel Eventually... Read review

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Advantages: Weather, Food, entertainment
Disadvantages: Security

...My first experience of the Dominican Republic was when i was 15.It was the end of March and I went along with my parents, grandparents and younger brothers and expected it to be a typical family holiday with a bit of argueing combined with the constant echo of 'Im Bored' from my brothers mouth... I was soon proved wrong when i arrived and was greeted by the beautiful weather and smiles of all the staff on the resort. I went for 2 weeks all inclusive so i liked the fact that i was never hungry or thirsty for the entire time there. The was so much to do there, it offered everything from your usual watersports and diving etc to the amzing game of volleyball and archery and many other games and providing competitions too. This helped me to make friends quite easily and the resort was huge with about 6 or 7 pools so fortunately i wasn... Read review

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Advantages: nice relaxing holiday, friendly people, great weather.
Disadvantages: hassle by the beach vendors, some shop keepers and time share people

...We have just spent two fabulous weeks in Cabarete on the North coast of Dominican Republic, and I want to tell you all about it. We flew with Thomson and it cost us approx £600 each. Spending money, we probably spent around £400, not including our diving course. First off a bit of geography, DomRep occupies one half of the island of Hispaniola. One of the larger islands in the Caribean. The other half of it being Haiti. It is approximately 8 1/2 hrs away from the UK, but is well worth the time taken to get there. Remember hurricane Jeanne, of September 2004 hitting and devastating Haiti and Dom Rep, well we got there about 7 days after she did expecting to find devestation and in fact had wanted to cancel our holiday, but didn't as we would have lost all our money. So with trepidation, and fearing the worst we went. We need... Read review

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