Romantic Dominican Republic Getaways
Romantic Getaways in Dominican Republic
Two people can have a very different Dominican Republic than the all-inclusive crowd, and most of the difference comes down to picking a private option over a shared one.
A private island charter instead of the group boat The standard Saona Island excursion runs $65 to $110 per person on a boat that can carry dozens of other travelers. A private catamaran charter to Saona or Catalina Island runs $700 to $2,000 or more for the whole group, which for a couple means the boat, the crew and the sandbar stop are effectively private for the day. A private catamaran charter search on Viator is a reasonable place to compare operators.
Santo Domingo’s colonial core The Zona Colonial’s cobblestone streets, the Catedral Primada de América and the Alcázar de Colón make for an evening walk that ends at one of the district’s rooftop restaurants rather than a resort buffet, per the official tourism site . A handful of small boutique hotels operate inside the colonial walls, which puts a stay within walking distance of everything worth seeing after dark. A Zona Colonial boutique hotel search on Booking.com turns up several.
Dinner at Altos de Chavón This replica hillside village above the Chavón River charges $50 for adult admission, but that fee is commonly waived with a dinner reservation at one of the restaurants inside the village, which makes a sunset meal here a genuine two-for-one against the cover charge; the Casa de Campo visitor site lists current policy.
Quiet beaches away from the resort strip Las Terrenas, Playa Bonita and Playa Rincón on the Samaná peninsula are noticeably less developed than the Punta Cana corridor, with fewer beach clubs and more open sand. None of them requires a tour booking; they are simply a longer drive from the main airports, which is exactly what keeps them quiet.
What to know before you go The currency is the Dominican peso, though hotels and restaurants in tourist areas price and settle routinely in US dollars. The US State Department places the country at Level 2, its ordinary increased-caution tier shared with France and the UK, over general crime rather than anything specific to the resort corridors. Tap water is not drinkable anywhere in the country, so bottled water is worth keeping in the room. Sunscreen and evening insect repellent cover most of what a couple needs to pack for the coast or the colonial core alike. The sightseeing page covers the Zona Colonial’s landmarks in more detail if you want to plan the walk before you go.