Hotel Alisei is located directly on Las Terrenas Beach, with more coconut trees per square mile than anywhere else in the world. The breathtaking Samana Peninsula in the northeastern corner of the Dominican Republic nails it on laid-back Caribbean style and the resort delights guests with its golden sand beach and coral reef banks. Mornings are a no-brainer thanks to the resort's free daily breakfast buffet. Go ahead and sleep in, breakfast is served until 11 AM, so there's no rush. The large outdoor infinity pool will be a big hit with kids and grownups alike. The kids can spend hours splashing around or showing off their diving skills while the grownups enjoy a refreshing drink at the swim-up pool bar. The on-site full-service spa welcomes you with its floral, incense-scented, candle lit relaxation terrace, and it gets even better from there, with a full menu of salon services and body treatments. After your treatment, visit the Turkish Hammam, it's the Middle-Eastern variant of a sauna, for even further relaxation.

One-bedroom condos sleep four guests and offer a fully-equipped kitchenette allowing you to prepare basic meals or heat up leftovers. Two-bedroom condos sleep five guests and have full kitchens. Bake up a batch (or two) of chocolate chip cookies and let the kids assist. Don’t feel like cooking dinner? No problem! Enjoy a Mediterranean/Caribbean fusion feast at the on-site restaurant, where tropical, coconut-inspired dishes abound. Cable TVs provide in-suite entertainment. At the end of the night, gather everyone on the private balcony to enjoy the show the sky puts on at sunset – it’s different every night. Upgrade to a two-bedroom with a loft, it sleeps seven guests and has extra space. Keep in mind that it has two floors and there are stairs. It’s never fun leaving your four-legged family member behind while everyone else enjoys a fun family vacation. Good news! Hotel Alisei is a dog-friendly resort.

Pack up your sunglasses, sunblock, and the kids’ goggles and toys and head for the beach. Lounging under an umbrella is a perfectly acceptable way to spend the day, or you can round up beach volleyball teams, try kitesurfing, go snorkeling or challenge the kids to a game of ping pong. Flora Tours is the leading excursion agency in Las Terrenas. January through March is the prime whale-watching season, as more than three-thousand humpbacks make their way through the area each year. See the El Limón waterfalls or go ATV-ing. Other excursions include ziplining, horseback riding, VIP sailing catamaran tours, Jeep safaris, national park tours, and three beaches tours.