Sun, Sand and Serenity: Our Holiday Escape to the Dominican Republic at Hilton La Romana All-Inclusive

We opted for the adults-only side of the hotel while still having full access to the family-friendly amenities. It was basically the best of both worlds — peaceful days on our side and plenty of energy on the other side when we wanted to access the activities.

What really made this trip work for my family was the endless array of options for everyone.

The adult and family hotels are so close together that it would be conducive to groups that have multiple parties that could choose their side and still spend plenty of time together.

From the majestic pool with its swim-up bar to the perfectly clear waters at the beach and activities like beach volleyball, Zumba and even pinball and billiards, we had zero chance for awkwardness or tension to percolate.

The water park was so endearing. It was particularly joyful for my parents, who are both in their 70s, because it was more activity-driven than tanning and drinking than the adult pool.

The restaurants were delicious and offered a great variety. The adult-only restaurants weren’t particularly well-advertised, so it took us a day to figure out which ones were there. I highly recommend Noor (Mediterranean), Mare (seafood) and Chinola (Latin American). I loved the 3-course menu structure — my parents could try new foods they had never even heard of.

The buffet was just fine, but it did the trick for breakfast and early-bird lunches my parents love. The poolside grill also hits the spot during pool time!

It was the perfect balance of relaxation and entertainment, with just enough going on to keep everyone happy. Truly, it was the best time! If you’re looking for a way to make holiday memories without the meltdowns, this trip gets a big thumbs up from me.

This is a very reasonably priced all-inclusive hotel with so many options for a broad range of traveler's interests and physical abilities (e.g., they were very accommodating with our request for ground-level rooms for my parents, who can’t do stairs very well.).

It’s not a foodie destination, but the food still hits the spot and was accessible at all times.

The rooms are lovely, comfortable, and the staff went above and beyond every time.

The lobbies were perfect for post-dinner hang-outs where you could casually hang out and chat.

It’s about 45 min west of Punta Cana and about two hours east of Santo Domingo. This leaves plenty of opportunity to leave the resort for non-hotel activities.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Dominican Republic page.