Where to Stay: Lavish Resorts

Although the hotels in the Dominican Republic do not number among the Caribbean’s finest, there are nonetheless some luxurious places to stay. Tortuga Bay is a boutique property set on a private beach within the grounds of the much larger Puntacana Resort & Club. Thirteen villas house 30 bright and airy suites — offering from one to four bedrooms — with interiors by famed fashion designer Oscar de la Renta. Wicker canopy beds, rattan furniture, potted palms and ornithological prints all combine to stylish effect. Baths feature Jacuzzi tubs and walk-in showers. All of Puntacana’s facilities — including a Six Senses spa — are within a short walk. Dining options include La Yola for excellent Mediterranean cuisine. Casa de Campo resort lies 50 miles to the west. The 185-room hotel is augmented by a gated community of 1,400 luxury villas, more than a dozen restaurants and a marina with berths for 350 yachts. Casa de Campo is clearly no hideaway, but it offers a reliable degree of comfort. And Pete Dye’s Teeth of the Dog course is incomparable.