The Dominican Republic is the value champion of Caribbean all-inclusives: Punta Cana alone has more big, well-priced resorts than almost anywhere, strung along miles of palm-lined beach a short hop from the U.S. East Coast. Here's what to know before you book.
- Language
- Spanish
- English at resorts
- Currency
- Dominican peso
- USD widely accepted
- Power
- 110V, Type A/B plugs
- same as the US
- Driving
- On the right
- Main airport
- Punta Cana
- PUJ
Where Dominican Republic splits
The resort areas are not interchangeable. What each one is actually for.
Punta Cana
Value, families, groups, first-time all-inclusive trips
Start with Sanctuary Cap Cana, five-star, adults-only.
When to go to Dominican Republic
Climate normals for Punta Cana, and our verdict on each month.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | 84 degrees Fahrenheit | 84 degrees Fahrenheit | 85 degrees Fahrenheit | 86 degrees Fahrenheit | 87 degrees Fahrenheit | 88 degrees Fahrenheit | 89 degrees Fahrenheit | 89 degrees Fahrenheit | 88 degrees Fahrenheit | 87 degrees Fahrenheit | 86 degrees Fahrenheit | 84 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Rainfall | 2″ | 1.7″ | 1.7″ | 2.5″ | 4.5″ | 3″ | 2.5″ | 3.5″ | 3.5″ | 4.5″ | 3.5″ | 2.5″ |
| Verdict | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Off-peak | Shoulder | Good | Shoulder | Shoulder | Off-peak | Shoulder | Prime |
Sweet spot. December–April; rainy season runs May and August–October, mostly brief tropical downpours.
Storm risk. In the hurricane belt, June–November with an August–October peak; the east coast (Punta Cana) takes most tropical traffic, though direct hits remain uncommon.
Sargassum. East-facing Punta Cana beaches see seasonal sargassum, typically heaviest April–August; north-coast Puerto Plata and the sheltered southwest are usually lighter.
Figures are long-term climate normals for Punta Cana, good for planning. They are not a forecast.
Do you need a passport, visa, or E-Ticket?
U.S. and Canadian tourists generally do not need a visa. Passport-validity rules include temporary exceptions, so check the official requirements for your nationality and travel dates before booking and again before departure.
Commercial-flight passengers must complete the free e-ticket for entry and exit before airline check-in. Fill it out once your flights are known and save the arrival and departure QR codes.
Use the official form linked below; the e-ticket itself is free.
Official Dominican Republic entry requirements
Complete the free Dominican Republic e-ticket
Entry guidance checked .
Is Punta Cana safe? And is it safe to leave the resort?
The resort areas (Punta Cana, Cap Cana, La Romana, Samaná) are the safest parts of the country and are patrolled by a dedicated tourist police force (POLITUR); violent crime against tourists in these zones is rare. The country carries an active U.S. travel advisory worth a quick read (the current level is shown at the top of this guide).
Leaving the resort on an organized excursion is fine and recommended. Use resort transfers or licensed operators, don't flash valuables, go easy on the very free-flowing drinks, and ignore the 'pirate lawyers' who linger near tourist areas. Check travel.state.gov before you travel.
Currency, U.S. dollars, and tipping
The Dominican peso (RD$) is the official currency, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted in resort areas. Restaurants and resorts often add a 10% service charge plus tax, and it's customary to add another 10% or so for good service on top. Carry small bills; pesos are handiest for tipping staff directly.
When to visit
Peak season is December through April: dry, sunny, and priciest. Late spring and early summer offer good weather at lower rates. Hurricane season runs June through November. If whale-watching appeals, Samaná's humpbacks arrive from mid-January to mid-March.
Getting there & around
Most travelers fly into Punta Cana (PUJ), the gateway to the Punta Cana, Bávaro, and Cap Cana resort strip. La Romana (LRM) serves Casa de Campo and the southeast, while Santo Domingo (SDQ) and Puerto Plata (POP) cover the capital and north coast. The DR drives on the right; resort transfers and organized tours are the easy, low-stress way to get around.
What to do beyond the resort
Day-trip to Saona Island for postcard sandbars, swim the turquoise Hoyo Azul cenote at Cap Cana, wander the Mediterranean-style artists' village of Altos de Chavón, or zip-line through the hills. History buffs should see Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone, the oldest European city in the Americas, and winter visitors can whale-watch in Samaná.
Good to know
Power & plugs: 110V, the same flat plugs as the U.S. Language: Spanish, with English common at resorts. Water: stick to bottled off-resort. Sunscreen: pack reef-safe for the cenotes and reefs. Dress: beach-casual by day, smart-casual for specialty restaurants at night.
Getting to Dominican Republic
Indicative round-trip fares into Punta Cana (PUJ) from the major US gateways, cheapest first. Tap through for live prices and dates.
| From | Airport | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Newark | EWR | $357Cheapest |
| Miami | MIA | $367 |
| New York | JFK | $450 |
| Atlanta | ATL | $452 |
| Boston | BOS | $477 |
| Chicago | ORD | $481 |
| Dallas | DFW | $482 |
| Los Angeles | LAX | $595 |
Where the Dominican Republic resorts are
39 resorts mapped stars are five-star properties
The best all-inclusive resorts in Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic properties we would actually book. For the full numbered ranking, see the best all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic.
Our pickOur pick
Where to stay in Dominican Republic
The resort areas we cover, and which properties sit in each.
La Romana
1El Seibo Province
1Resort chains in Dominican Republic
The brands operating here. The ones we rank in full link through to the chain, what its plan really covers, and every resort of theirs we track.
Where these companies came from
Almost nobody in this category publishes it. Read oldest first and the list is a short history of how Dominican Republic came to look the way it does.
Dominican Republic, head to head
Price, flights, sand, food and safety, compared honestly.
Dominican Republic vs Jamaica
price, beaches, flights, safety, food, and vibe compared honestly with real resort data.
CompareDominican Republic vs Mexico
price, beaches, sargassum, excursions, and food compared with real data.
CompareDominican Republic vs JamaicaMexicoMaldivesGreeceSpainTurks & CaicosArubaBarbadosSt. LuciaItalyPortugalTurkeyAntiguaCuraçaoBrazilCosta RicaPhilippinesFrench PolynesiaMoroccoEgyptSouth AfricaMauritiusKenyaTanzaniaMozambiqueThailandIndonesiaMalaysiaCancúnRiviera MayaLos CabosPuerto VallartaMontego BayNegrilOcho RiosGuanacasteCreteBahiaBora BoraMalé AtollsRodney BayBarbados South CoastBarbados West CoastViti LevuVanua LevuCanary IslandsBalearic IslandsCosta del SolSharm el-SheikhHurghada & the Red Sea CoastBelekRhodesLara & AntalyaMaldives Outer AtollsCorfuHalkidikiKosSoufrière & South St. LuciaGrenadaFijiCroatiaU.S. Virgin IslandsSri LankaSeychellesBahamasChileArgentinaUnited States
Best-of lists for Dominican Republic
Reading on Dominican Republic
- Guide5 Best All-Inclusive Resorts With Lazy Rivers in Mexico, Punta Cana and JamaicaIt's not just the kids that want a lazy river!Aug 30, 2026 · 10 min read
- FeatureThe resort that built a city, and an airportIn 1969 the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic had no road, no hotel and no airport, and the place was called Drunkard's Point. Fifty years later it is the busiest airport in the country and one of the largest concentrations of all-inclusive rooms on earth. Almost none of that happened in the usual order.Aug 12, 2026 · 9 min read
- GuideResort credits are coupons: here's how they actually workThat '$1,500 in resort credit' in the booking banner isn't cash, and treating it like cash is exactly what it's designed for. The mechanics, the math, and when a credit deal is genuinely good.Jul 10, 2026 · 3 min read
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a passport for the Dominican Republic?
Yes. Check the official passport-validity and visa requirements for your nationality and travel dates, including any temporary exceptions. Commercial-flight passengers also need the free e-ticket.
What is the Dominican Republic E-Ticket?
Commercial-flight passengers must complete the free e-ticket for entry and exit before airline check-in. Fill it out once your flights are known and save the arrival and departure QR codes.
Is Punta Cana safe?
Yes: the resort zones are patrolled by tourist police and violent crime against tourists there is rare. The country carries an active U.S. travel advisory worth reading. Use organized excursions and normal precautions, and check the current advisory at travel.state.gov for the latest.
Can I use U.S. dollars in the DR?
Yes, widely in resort areas. Keep small bills for tips; pesos are handiest for tipping staff directly.
Do you tip at all-inclusive resorts in the DR?
It's customary. Bills often include a 10% service charge plus tax, and adding another 10% or so for good service is the norm, with a few dollars for bartenders and housekeeping appreciated.
Which airport should I fly into?
Punta Cana (PUJ) for the main resort strip; La Romana (LRM) for Casa de Campo and the southeast; Santo Domingo (SDQ) or Puerto Plata (POP) for the capital and north coast.