Dominican Republic
Sharing the island of Hispaniola with neighbouring Haiti, the Dominican Republic is one of the jewels in the Caribbean’s crown. The tourists may flock to the island for its sandy white beaches and crystal blue waters but there is so much on offer for your next holiday. There are rainforests, mountain ranges and beautiful colonial towns to explore. One thing is certain – you are almost guaranteed some sun all year round so make sure to bring the sun cream.
The capital of Dominican Republic is Santo Domingo but the hub of tourist activity is based around the resort of Punta Cana. During our trip we stayed at the beautiful TUI Sensatori Punta Cana based up the coast in nearby Ulvero Alto. TUI Sensatori Punta Cana is a large modern hotel located on the beachfront with two large infinity pools overlooking the beach and nine restaurants on site.
Things to See and Do in the Dominican Republic
Stay in a luxury beachfront hotel like the TUI Sensatori Punta Cana
Swim in the Caribbean and have a go at some watersports
Relax in a sun lounger by the beach with a cocktail and a good book
Try some freshly caught local seafood
Sunrise in the Dominican Republic
TUI Sensatori Punta Cana
What to Expect in the Dominican Republic
Currency – Dominican peso (although we took US Dollars as these were widely accepted and more easily available in the UK).
Best time to visit – while the temperature in the Dominican Republic remains pretty constant throughout the year, the best time to visit is between December and March when the weather is most settled. The hurricane season in Dominican Republic is between June and November although that said, we went in July and the weather was incredible.
Accommodation – We stayed at the luxurious 5* TUI Sensatori Punta Cana and would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about a trip to the Dominican Republic. There are a number of luxury hotels to choose from across the island including adults-only options.
Food – The TUI Sensatori Punta Cana operates on a ‘Gourmet All-Inclusive’ basis which basically means that you never stop eating and drinking throughout your entire stay in the Dominican Republic. The Gourmet All-Inclusive offer includes all nine restaurants on site as well as room service and drinks from any of the hotels five bars and the complimentary mini bar in your room. As you would expect, staying in a resort by the beach there’s loads of fresh seafood on offer too. Definitely one for the foodies out there although the vegetarian and vegan options were limited!
How much will it cost me – a week’s stay at the TUI Sensatori Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic on an all-inclusive basis starts at £1,150 per person (staying in December 2020 – price accurate as of April 2020). We spent roughly $20-$30 per day in tips for the waiting staff and cleaners.
Clock Out Check In’s Top Tips
1
Leave tips for the waiting and cleaning staff
If you want staff to go the extra mile for you - don't forget to tip. it is helpful if you have smaller denomination notes to hand for this so don't let your currency exchange give you larger notes like $50 or $100. Reception at most hotels will have a supply of smaller notes to exchange if you are stuck.
2
Upgrade your flight
We flew in the Premium cabin on our flight to the Dominican Republic with TUI. While it is not the first class experience you see on the television, it was still fantastic and is much more reasonable than flying first class on other long haul flights.
3
Explore your resort
The hotel resorts in the Dominican Republic are absolutely massive and offer so much more than you think. For example, at the TUI Sensatori Punta Cana there is a whole sports centre for the hotel across the road from reception offering tennis lessons and daily exercise classes. Make sure you explore the resort on your first day to get the most out of it. It is also helpful to find out if there are any areas you need to avoid when picking your sun loungers - we've all sat next to that one large rowdy group!
4
Check out the excursions
As tempting as it is to spend a week by the pool, venture out of the resot and try one of the local excursions offered by your tour operator. You will get to see so much more of this beautiful island.
If there is a heaven for me I ‘m sure it has a beach attached to it
Jimmy Buffett
Ready to start planning?
We loved our holiday in the Dominican Republic and we are certain that you will love it too. It is a little slice of heaven in the Caribbean. So if you’re feeling inspired, check out the rest of our Dominican Republic content for more ideas and our full review of the TUI Sensatori Punta Cana. You will not regret it.
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A Foodies Guide to All-Inclusive
As foodies, we loved the gourmet all-inclusive experience. But what should you look out for when booking your next all-inclusive holiday?
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Are Package Holidays Worth It?
We think that package holidays unfairly have a bad reputation amongst younger travellers. We ask are package holidays worth it?
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Check in to…TUI Sensatori Punta Cana
During our recent trip to the Dominican Republic we stayed at the TUI Sensatori Punta Cana. Here’s what we thought of the resort.
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September 7, 2018
