La Romana Holidays

The locals in La Romana say their beaches are the prettiest in the Dominican Republic. And that’s quite a claim in a country famed for its tropical tableau of sand and sea. But they’ve got a point. One glance at this south-east coast and you’ll see exactly where they’re coming from. Expect long sweeps of sand, glossy palms and bath-warm waters.

In terms of where to unfurl your beach towel, Bayahibe steals the spotlight. This peaceful fishing village is fringed by resort hotels, but still oozes old-time charm thanks to its pastel-painted fishermen’s huts, rickety beach bars, and palm-shaded rum shops.

La Romana town itself offers up miniature haciendas, cigar shops and noisy street markets – not to mention a plush, restaurant-packed marina. Just along the coast, meanwhile, is the Dominican Republic’s star turn – its capital, Santo Domingo. First settled by Christopher Columbus, its 16th-century old quarter is like a pop-up history book, with cobbled streets, ornate Spanish churches and café-lined plazas.