The Dominican Republic is one of the best options for traveling with children of any age. Nature, creating this paradise tropical corner, as if specially tried for a comfortable stay for little travelers. Smooth warm climate without stuffiness, clean sandy beaches, the sea, warmed up to + 25-27 ° C all year round – ideal conditions for swimming and acquiring a bronze tan.

Which resort to choose

Solving the problem of choice, you need to think about how the transfer is not overly tiring, and the resort has the infrastructure necessary for a family holiday, is comfortable not only for adults, but also for children.

Punta Cana

It is located in the east of the country, washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Punta Cana is famous for a wide strip of white sandy beaches with a length of about 50 km, framed by groves of coconut palms. There is no pronounced rainy period here, mountain ranges reliably protect from strong winds and hurricanes.

Families with small children should choose a hotel in the Bavaro area, where there are clean beaches with a gentle entrance to the sea. The coral reef does not allow high waves to pass through. Fine coral sand does not heat up, kids can freely run barefoot. The transfer from the international airport is short, travelers after a tiring flight in 10 minutes find themselves in the realm of lush tropical nature.

The tourist center offers a wide range of upscale hotels for year-round family vacations. There is everything here that can bring joy to children and provide a good rest for parents, while the kids are under the supervision of caring nannies.

For lovers of scuba diving, there are excellent opportunities for snorkeling and diving. The rich world of the coral reef impresses with a variety of marine life. Nearby is Manati Park, an exotic animal sanctuary where you can visit a dolphinarium, a monkey nursery, an adventure and amusement park.

Recommended:

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Boca Chica

This is the most budget resort on the Caribbean coast – most hotels have 3 or 4. Despite this, there are ideal conditions for families with children. The resting place is located in a small bay surrounded by a coral reef that protects from high waves and cold currents.

The delightful beaches of Boca Chica are a clear calm sea with a depth not exceeding one and a half meters with crystal clear turquoise water. Fine “milky” sand does not burn, lush tropical vegetation pleases the eye.

Nothing prevents long bathing and sunbathing. There are few attractions and entertainment in Boca Chica. People go to a paradise to enjoy the amazing nature of the Caribbean islands. When planning a trip with young children, it is better to choose a hotel with a private beach. A lot of locals come here for the weekend, which does not always contribute to a relaxing holiday.

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La Romana

A picturesque place in the southeast of the country strikes with amazing landscapes. The azure waves of the Caribbean Sea slowly run onto the white sand, the palm trees on the beach create an openwork penumbra. The air is filled with the aroma of citrus fruits – there are groves with orange trees on the shore.

Here you can safely go on vacation with small children. The airport is located nearby, the transfer will not take much time. The cleanest beaches are located in a small bay, there are no waves, algae do not bother. A gentle descent into the sea with water warmed up to + 27 ° C creates ideal conditions for bathing babies. The rich underwater world of the coastal zone will be of interest to teenagers.

Resort prices are quite high. The concept of hotel complexes is to provide a full-fledged elite holiday on the territory of the hotel. Swimming pools with water slides, private water parks, chic terraces with exotic flowers and tropical vegetation, varied cuisine will bring a lot of joy to children and adults.

Fans of excursions can ride a rope over the jungle in the Bavaro Adventure Park amusement park, visit an authentic village that has preserved the life of Indian tribes since the time of Columbus, take a boat trip to the Catalina and Saona islands.

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Bayaibe

The resort is located on the Caribbean coast a little south of Punta Cana. Until recently, there was an ordinary fishing village here, and now tourists who appreciate the calm, relaxing atmosphere are happy to relax.

Bayanbe is a great option for traveling with children. In a cozy corner of the island there are excellent beaches with white sand and a whole forest of palm trees that save you from the midday heat. For families with kids, a smooth entry into the sea is convenient, the complete absence of waves and algae. The central beach has the Blue Flag – proof of the safety of the rest, the purity of the water and sand.

Diving enthusiasts have the opportunity to admire the inhabitants of the coral reef a few meters from the shore – colorful starfish and exotic fish. Within walking distance is the famous cave of Parco Del Este with rock paintings, catamarans depart from the piers of the resort to the beautiful islands of Saona and Catalina.

The resort can offer several decent hotels suitable for a comfortable family vacation. It offers multi-level pools, a children's menu, and professional animation.

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Juan Dolio

A charming place on the coast of the Caribbean Sea on the shores of a lagoon, surrounded by a coral reef, with magnificent beaches. The resort is perfect for families with small children. The transparent turquoise sea is shallow and calm, the white sand of coral origin does not burn the little ones' feet. The water temperature never drops below +25°C.

The rich underwater world of the Caribbean offers great opportunities for snorkeling and diving. A trip to Juan Dolio is a relatively inexpensive holiday option. The resort hotels are located close to the coastline, surrounded by picturesque green areas, and offer decent service. It provides all the amenities for a comfortable pastime of young guests.

Rest here is calm and measured, it gives you the opportunity to relax and unwind from the bustle of the big city. While walking along the shore of the picturesque lagoon, you can buy souvenirs and gifts in numerous shops. Visiting caves with rock paintings of Indian tribes, a flower farm with a botanical garden and a labyrinth of tropical plants will help diversify your beach holiday.

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Puerto Plata

The most popular resort on the northern coast of the country, there is a wide selection of hotels with different levels of service. Arriving here, it is pleasant to soak up the golden sand in the openwork shade of palm trees, swim in the crystal clear bright blue water.

The Atlantic Ocean is often restless, most of the beaches are suitable for families with teenagers. There are water sports equipment rentals along the coast. In the evenings, noisy youth parties take place in coastal restaurants.

Families with small children are better off planning a trip to the Playa Dorada tourist complex. Its famous “amber” beach is regularly awarded the Blue Flag, is distinguished by the clearest water and a gentle descent into the sea.

During the rest it will be interesting to visit:

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Cabaret

A small resort town in the northern part of the country is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Local hotels offer good service at affordable prices. Climatic conditions allow you to relax all year round, but the most comfortable weather is + 30-32 ° C without rain lasts from December to March.
Long golden sandy beaches strewn with coconut palms and crystal clear water with a gentle entrance to the depth make the resort attractive for families with children.

In the morning there are excellent conditions for sunbathing and swimming. After lunch, strong waves are not uncommon, which attract fans of extreme water activities to the beach. Experienced instructors will help families with older children master the technique of windsurfing, kiteboarding (riding on water with kites), kiting.

Nearby is the El Choco National Park, famous for its picturesque lagoons, caves with underground lakes. The hills of the Cordillera, covered with tropical vegetation and colonies of orchids, make for an amazing photo shoot.

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Samana

The peninsula, located in the northeast of the country, is famous for its magnificent beaches, which are among the ten most beautiful places on the planet. The difference between summer and winter air temperatures is only 5-6°C, the water is always warmed up to +26-28°C – the conditions are ideal for a year-round measured family vacation.

On Samana there are many beaches with white or golden sand, everyone chooses to their taste. The azure clear water with white lamb foam, the famous palm trees hanging over the water, create an ideal atmosphere of relaxation and solitude. The coast is framed by mountain ranges that protect from the winds.

The peninsula is rich in natural attractions: virgin rainforests, soaring rocks, waterfalls, caves. Teenagers will be interested in horseback riding, snorkeling, sailing. From January to March, about 2,500 humpback whales come here for breeding; at other times of the year, dolphins and manatees play in the ocean.

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Sousa

A small resort town on the Atlantic coast near the province of Puerto Plata attracts with some of the most beautiful beaches and quite budget prices. The international airport is located just 7 km away, the hotels are family oriented.

The picturesque bowl-shaped bay is protected by a coral reef located a hundred meters from the shore. The beaches are covered with golden sand, the purest azure-turquoise water is always calm. Many palm trees grow along the coast, in the shade of which you can hide from the midday heat.

The resort is suitable for connoisseurs of a leisurely peaceful holiday. Most of the year the ocean is serene, the weather is conducive to walks, admiring the gorgeous sea sunsets. Fans of varied recreation can rent snorkeling equipment and go to get acquainted with the inhabitants of the coral reef: sea urchins, crabs, parrot fish, or go sea fishing.

Santo Domingo

The capital of the Dominican Republic is the first city built by Europeans on the American continent, rich in historical and natural attractions, with a developed infrastructure. Despite the fact that Santo Domingo is located on the Caribbean Sea, there are no suitable beaches for families with children in the city itself.

Near the coast there is no coral reef that protects from waves, there are strong sea currents, the port pollutes the water. Arriving at the resort, they go to rest on the beaches of Bona Chica and Juan Dolio, located 30-40 minutes drive from the city.

Saint Domingo is interesting to visit with children as a day trip:

For holidays with kids, San Domingo will not be the best place to choose.

Which beach to choose

There are a lot of beaches in the Dominican Republic, each is beautiful in its own way. Everyone will find a place under the sun – both a lover of idly lying on the sand, and an active extreme. From the Atlantic side, beach sand resembles flour, soft and snow-white, practically not heated by the sun.

In summer, on the beaches of the northern coast, the presence of algae is possible, brought by the current from the one-of-a-kind Sargasso Sea, the shores of which these algae form. They don't happen in winter. On the Caribbean coast, the sand has a light golden hue.

Everyone's favorite is Bavaro Beach. Located in the resort of Punta Cana, in the bay. It is worth paying special attention to when traveling with children. Its length is 5 km, and the calmness of the coastal waters is provided by a coral reef stretching along the coast. If algae appear, they are quickly removed.

The swimming area is limited by buoys, lifeguards carefully monitor vacationers and ensure the safety of swimming. The entrance to the sea is gentle, convenient even for the smallest. Parents will not be bored either, the beach infrastructure is well developed – there are many bars and discos, life is always in full swing here. If you wish, you can explore the coral reef, underwater caves and sunken ships.

The magnificent Rincon Beach on the island of Samana, where the famous Bounty commercial was filmed, is worth a visit to experience the very “heavenly delight”. This is a very picturesque place with white sand, a smooth descent into the water, an azure iridescent water surface and lush vegetation framing the coast. The island can be reached by boat.

Macau Beach is located 20 km from Bavaro, it is very beautiful and is still considered wild, which is not often seen in the Dominican Republic. The ocean shimmers with all shades of blue and turquoise, and the snow-white coast frames the greenery of palm trees. You can go on an excursion here, but such a beach is hardly suitable for kids. There is no protective coral reef. You can catch decent waves and take surf lessons.

But the beach of Boca Chica will delight you with a shallow and calm sea, the beauty of coastal vegetation and the presence of a picturesque coral reef. When choosing a vacation spot, it is useful to inquire about the features of the nearby beach in advance so that it is convenient for each family member.

Hotels for families with children with a water park

Family holidays are attractive not only for the opportunity to enjoy the sea and the sun with children, but also for the developed infrastructure of children's recreation. Children's clubs, animation for children and even their own water parks are quite common for local hotels.

Barceló Bávaro Palace All Inclusive 5 is located just 20 km from Punta Cana Airport on the magnificent Barceló Beach.

The nearby long coral reef is full of life and worthy of detailed study. The rooms are decorated in a tropical style, there are rooms and suites specially equipped for families. 12 restaurants, bars and buffets offer a variety of dishes for every taste, and there are always those that can be offered to a child.

The complex, which is considered one of the best on the coast, provides all the conditions for accommodation with children and a comfortable stay. On the territory of the resort complex, which includes the hotel, there are several swimming pools for children, special entertainment and educational programs for children are offered.

If necessary, a nanny can be invited to the child. A club for children from 3 to 12 years old is open from 9 to 24 hours, there is a disco for teenagers from 13 to 18 years old, where only non-alcoholic drinks are served, the Barcy children's water park with slides, castles and waterfalls, a pirate-style water park with artificial waves.

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Bahia Principe Grand Turquesa – All Inclusive 5 is located just 35 km from Punta Cana International Airport, and therefore the transfer will not be tiring.

The maximum is focused on staying with children, including the smallest. The well-equipped family rooms have an area with a changing table, a microwave and a baby bottle steriliser. Children's toiletries are provided, a daily replenished children's minibar with juices, milkshakes and soft drinks.

Dining options at restaurants include regular children's menus and menus for children with special needs. The hotel has special conditions for family holidays, including access to the water park, children's SPA treatments, an exclusive children's area in the buffet, swings, entertainment.

There is a club for children from 4 to 12 years old, educational programs are organized on the topic of caring for nature. Children's sports equipment is issued, there is a skating area and an attraction “Autodrom”. All this is at the disposal of vacationers who are tired of the sea and the sun.

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Princess Family Club Bávaro 5 is located 250 meters from the famous Bávaro Beach and just 11.2 km from Punta Cana Airport.

For families, specially equipped rooms are available, some of which have direct access to the pool. There is a playground for the little ones, a kids club, a themed water park with slides. On site you can play tennis, table tennis, darts, animation programs for adults and children are held.

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Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana – Gourmet All Inclusive by Karisma 5 is located in the resort of Uvero Alto, which is 60 km from the airport.

It has a full-service spa and wellness center and an excellent aqua park for water activities. Free baby cots are provided in the rooms. Entertainment and activities for children in the games room supervised by the hotel staff are also free. For a fee, you can invite a nanny to your child. The white sandy beach is right next to the hotel.

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After landing at the airport, Royalton Splash Punta Cana Resort & Spa – All Inclusive 4 is a 30-minute drive away.

The complex consists of 4 buildings, 2 of which are located in close proximity to the beach, 2 at some distance. A walk to the sea through the hotel, where peacocks walk, will take 10-15 minutes, but you can take a bus. The hotel has an aqua park, playrooms, clubs for children of different ages. A fitness center and sports equipment are at the guests' disposal. Experienced instructors conduct aqua aerobics lessons, teach volleyball and dance.

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In Occidental Caribe – All Inclusive 4, the road from the airport will take no more than 20 minutes.

It is located directly at the snow-white beach of Bavaro, and for its careful attitude to nature it was awarded the Blue Flag and the Green Globe certificate. The territory is green, with an abundance of palm trees, there are large pools in the form of natural reservoirs, a water park with slides for children's entertainment. There are fun performances for children and themed parties. The food is very varied and will satisfy the most demanding taste. Nearby is the amusement park “Manati”, which will certainly be appreciated by children.

Entertainment for children

Almost every hotel designed for families has entertainment for children, so they will not be bored. But if you want more, you can diversify your pastime in amusement parks.

While vacationing in Punta Cana, don't forget to visit Bavaro Adventure Park, an amusement park that offers interesting rides for children and adults. Here you can fly over the jungle on a cable, rise with your parents on wings that are so similar to real ones, 20 meters above the ground, and admire the panorama of the park from a bird's eye view. Children can swim in the lagoon with a large waterfall, go down the mountain in a plastic ball, ride horses, play paintball and jump on a trampoline.

Thematic entertainment Manati Park deserves special attention. On the territory of the park, tourists will find lush tropical vegetation and about 200 species of animals and birds – monkeys, turtles, crocodiles, flamingos, parrots and many others. Shows of parrots, sea lions with dolphins, dressage of horses are held. Children and adults can swim with dolphins. The village of the Taino Indians is reproduced, where they arrange a show with dances and rituals.

In Dolphin Island Park, located on a special platform in the sea near the coral reef, you can frolic with dolphins and sea lions in their natural environment, which is completely safe and will leave an unforgettable experience. An interesting trip on a catamaran to the “Seaquarium”, where it is proposed to dive into the water using special equipment or under a dome, walk along the coral reef, watching the life of the underwater world.

“Ocean World Adventure Park” in Puerto Plato, among other attractions, allows young visitors and their parents to get to know marine animals better. With them you can communicate, stroke, feed. There are special programs dedicated to respect for the environment.

Excursions

A variety of excursion programs will help you get to know the country better and get new impressions. If the age of the children allows, visit the capital of the Dominican Republic with them. There you can see a lot of interesting things, because Santo Domingo was the first city founded by Europeans in the New World after the discovery of America by Columbus.

The palace-residence of the viceroys with a collection of art objects and ancient artifacts of colonial times, erected for Diego Colon, son of Christopher Columbus, and also one of the first Catholic cathedrals built in the Western Hemisphere, has been preserved.

The Lighthouse of Columbus, a kind of museum-mausoleum, keeps a sarcophagus with the remains of a navigator. Excursions to the nearest islands, to the exotic Samana Peninsula with almost untouched nature, will be interesting. From January to March, humpback whales can be seen mating in the bay near the peninsula.

Best time to travel

The Dominican Republic is considered a year-round resort with a tropical trade wind climate. The hottest month is August with temperatures up to +32°C, but even at this time the wind from the sea brings freshness. The coolest is January, when the air temperature can drop to +22°C. At this time, the water temperature is kept at + 26-28 ° C, and the air is cooler than water.

From the Caribbean Sea is always somewhat warmer than on the Atlantic coast. From May to September is the rainy season, which occurs most often at night and, as a rule, does not interfere with rest. Hurricanes are possible in September – October, but the Dominicans believe that God keeps their island from cataclysms, and it is less prone to them than the same Bahamas.

The best and most comfortable season for families with children can be considered the period from December to April. In March, the number of fresh tropical fruits increases, you can heartily eat delicious fragrant mangoes and stock up on natural vitamins, which are not so abundant in our latitudes in spring.

Travel Tips

Plan your trip in advance, carefully select a resort and hotel, read reviews, think through all the possibilities and nuances, “playing” the upcoming vacation mentally. You will not only be well prepared for the trip and be able to avoid possible problems, but also enjoy the process. In addition, early booking will save a lot.

A direct flight will take 12 hours, and when traveling with children, it is better to choose night flights. The child can sleep most of the way and not get tired. To spend time pleasantly with benefit, take books on the road (preferably electronic ones, they are lighter), guides, films and cartoons for the child.

Prepare a travel kit, remembering to put the medicines that you usually use if necessary – antiseptics, antipyretics and painkillers, remedies for colds and indigestion, moisture-resistant adhesive tape. Mosquito repellents and sunburn remedies will not be superfluous, which, of course, are best avoided. To do this, we stock up on sun creams with the maximum degree of protection. Never neglect health insurance.