BeachLa Romana & Bayahibe Beach Week
- 5★ beach hotel near Bayahibe
- Direct flights from the UK
- Return road transfers
From£1,449per person · 2 sharing
View details
Dominican Republic · Holidays from the UK
Dominican Republic holidays from the UK
Palm-lined Caribbean beaches near Punta Cana and Bayahibe, and the old colonial streets of Santo Domingo. A UK consultant arranges your flights, hotels and transfers as one ATOL protected holiday.
Packages from £1,349 per person, with return flights, hotel and transfers
Direct from the UK
Flights from London Gatwick and Manchester to Punta Cana take approx. 9 hours.
Long palm-lined beaches
Soft sand and warm sea on the east coast, with Saona Island a boat trip from Bayahibe.
A UNESCO old town
The Colonial City of Santo Domingo makes an easy add-on to a beach stay.
ATOL protected
Holidays that include a flight are protected under ATOL 10416.
Dominican Republic holiday packages
Dominican Republic holiday packages
Flights, hotel and transfers in one price. Every package can be changed: more nights, a different hotel or another UK airport.
3 packages · guide prices per person
Beach
Twin-centreSanto Domingo & Beach
- 5★ hotels in both places
- Direct flights from the UK
- Private transfer between the two
From£1,599per person · 2 sharing
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BeachPunta Cana Beach Week
- 7 nights · Half board
- 5★ hotel in Bávaro
- Return flights and transfers
From£1,349per person · 2 sharing
View details
Overview
Dominican Republic holiday guide for UK travellers
Dominican Republic holidays from the UK are long-haul but easy, with direct flights from London Gatwick and Manchester to Punta Cana taking approx. 9 hours. Most visitors stay on the east coast, on the beaches of Bávaro or Bayahibe. Many add two or three nights in Santo Domingo, the capital. The drier, sunnier months run from around December to April.
The east coast has long, palm-lined beaches and warm, shallow sea. Bávaro and Punta Cana are the main resort area, close to the airport. Further south, Bayahibe is a smaller fishing village with a beach, a lighthouse at Dominicus and boats to Saona Island, a national park island with sandy beaches.
Santo Domingo lies on the south coast, approx. 2 hours 30 minutes from Punta Cana by road. Its Zona Colonial, or Colonial City, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with stone streets and squares from the early 1500s, the Ozama Fortress and Calle Las Damas. Most hotels here are within walking distance of the old town.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Dominican Republic
Three bases for a first visit, from the main beach resort area to the old colonial capital. Transfer times are approximate and depend on your hotel.
Punta Cana & Bávaro
Beach · Families · Resorts
The main resort coast, with a long palm-lined beach, warm shallow sea and plenty of restaurants and excursions close by. The most convenient base for a first visit.
Nearest airport: Punta Cana Airport, approx. 15–30 mins
Packages from £1,349 pp
La Romana & Bayahibe
Beach · Couples · Boat trips
A quieter coast around the fishing village of Bayahibe and Dominicus Beach, with boats to Saona Island and a day trip to the village of Altos de Chavón.
Nearest airport: Punta Cana Airport, approx. 1 hr 15 mins–1 hr 30 mins
Packages from £1,449 pp
Santo Domingo
History · City · Twin-centre
The capital and its UNESCO-listed Zona Colonial, with stone streets, old squares and the Ozama Fortress. Often paired with a beach stay.
Nearest airport: Punta Cana Airport, approx. 2 hrs 30 mins
Packages from £1,599 pp
Things to see
Places to see in Dominican Republic
A few of the sights to plan your trip around. We can suggest hotels close to the ones you most want to see.
Weather
Dominican Republic weather by month
Average daytime highs at Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, and the sea temperature at Punta Cana. The chart runs from July to June, so the drier season sits in one block. Hover over or tap a month for the figures.
View as a table
| Month | Punta Cana | Sea at Punta Cana | Santo Domingo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul | 32°C | 28°C | 32°C |
| Aug | 32°C | 28°C | 32°C |
| Sep | 32°C | 29°C | 32°C |
| Oct | 31°C | 29°C | 32°C |
| Nov | 30°C | 28°C | 31°C |
| Dec | 29°C | 27°C | 30°C |
| Jan | 28°C | 26°C | 29°C |
| Feb | 28°C | 26°C | 30°C |
| Mar | 29°C | 26°C | 30°C |
| Apr | 30°C | 26°C | 31°C |
| May | 30°C | 27°C | 31°C |
| Jun | 31°C | 28°C | 31°C |
Long-term averages from weather2travel.com. Actual weather varies year to year.
December to April
The drier, sunnier months, with daytime highs of around 28–31°C and a sea of around 26–27°C. Breezes off the Atlantic keep the heat comfortable on the east coast.
June to November
Hotter and more humid, at around 31–32°C, with more rain, often in short heavy showers. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, and storms can affect your trip.
Seaweed on the beaches
Sargassum seaweed can wash up on some east coast beaches at times. Amounts vary by year, month and beach, so ask your consultant about your dates.
A quiet stretch of beach
Muslim-friendly travel
Muslim-friendly travel in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is not a Muslim-majority country, and halal food is very limited. Seafood and vegetarian dishes are easy to find. We’re honest about what exists, and we confirm what each hotel can offer before you book.
- Halal food is very limitedHalal meat is hard to find in resort areas, so ask restaurants how food is prepared
- Seafood and vegetarianFresh fish and shellfish, rice, beans, plantain and vegetable dishes are widely served
- Meals on requestSome resorts can arrange meals for guests on request; we ask before you book, and it depends on the hotel
- Halal flight mealsMost airlines offer halal meals on request when you book; we can note this for you
- Plan aheadBring snacks for excursion days, as options on boats and at beach stops can be limited
- Confirmed before bookingWe never describe a hotel as halal unless it is, and we say plainly what is not available
Dominican Republic holiday FAQs
Questions about Dominican Republic holidays
Quick answers for UK travellers. For anything else, our UK team is happy to help.
020 7871 4545How long is the flight to the Dominican Republic from the UK?
Direct flights from London Gatwick and Manchester to Punta Cana take approx. 9 hours, and there are direct flights from Birmingham on selected dates. From other airports you fly with one stop. The Dominican Republic is 4 hours behind the UK in winter and 5 hours behind in summer, as it does not change its clocks.
Do I need a visa for the Dominican Republic?
UK passport holders do not usually need a visa for a holiday, and there is an online entry and exit form to complete for your trip. Rules can change, so check the latest entry requirements, including your passport validity, before you travel. We can tell you the general rules, but we can’t apply for entry documents for you.
Is the Dominican Republic suitable for Muslim travellers?
It is not a Muslim-majority country, and halal food is very limited. Seafood and vegetarian dishes are easy to find, and some resorts can arrange meals on request. Facilities vary by hotel, so we confirm what is available before you book.
When is the best time to visit the Dominican Republic?
December to April is the drier, sunnier period, with daytime highs of around 28–31°C. June to November is hotter and wetter, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs through these months.
Does seaweed affect the beaches?
Sargassum seaweed can wash up on some east coast beaches at times. It varies by year, month and beach, and resorts often clear their own stretch of sand. Ask your consultant about the time of year you plan to travel.
Are Dominican Republic holiday packages ATOL protected?
Yes. Holidays that include a flight are protected under ATOL 10416, and you’ll receive an ATOL Certificate when you pay.
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