Coral Costa Caribe Beach Resort
Coral Costa Caribe is the answer to "what is the cheapest all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic that is not a disaster?" It sits beachfront on Juan Dolio Boulevard in San Pedro de Macoris, which the resort's own pages place 30 to 45 minutes from Las Americas International Airport and about 55 minutes from Santo Domingo, making it one of the easiest Dominican resorts to reach if your flight lands in the capital rather than Punta Cana. The beach is legitimately good, calm and shallow and white, and the water sports are included rather than upsold. The animation team, billed as the Amigos Chocolates, gets called out again and again as the thing that makes a budget resort feel alive instead of dreary.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +One of the cheapest all-inclusive weeks in the Dominican Republic, and it is priced that way on purpose rather than being a discounted luxury property
- +Juan Dolio puts you close to Santo Domingo: the resort's own pages put Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) at 30 to 45 minutes and the colonial city at about 55 minutes, so a short trip actually feels short
- +White sand beach with calm, shallow water that is genuinely good for swimming, noticeably gentler than the Bavaro-area surf when the weather turns choppy
- +The animation crew, the Amigos Chocolates, are the single most praised thing about the place in traveler forums and in the resort's own guest comments, and they run aerobics, tournaments and a nightly show
- +Staff warmth is the other consistent highlight, and it holds up at a price point where service usually slips first
- +The whole property reopened in April 2022 after about 18 months of work and more than 15 million dollars, so the 451 rooms, the buffet, the Kids Club and the InSense Spa are a generation newer than the rate suggests
- +Five named dining venues rather than a single buffet: The Terrace buffet, The Coast for Tex-Mex, Breezes for Mediterranean, Stove for Dominican cooking and Corner, the snack bar at the Rincon Beach Grill, plus a Spot Bar that stays open 24 hours
- +Snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, water polo and pool diving lessons are in the all-inclusive, so the water sports do not come with a surcharge
Cons
- −Food quality is basic even measured against other budget all-inclusives, and travelers describe it as fuel rather than a reason to book
- −The included alcohol is on the cheap end, and guests who have done Mexican resorts at a similar rate notice the difference in what gets poured
- −Upkeep has drifted since the 2022 reopening: guests still report rooms where the fridge or TV needed chasing, and one of the elevators is slow and dated
- −Airport transfers are not included, so budget for a taxi or private car from SDQ on top of the package price
- −Juan Dolio is a quiet strip, not Punta Cana. There is far less outside the gate, so this rewards guests who plan to stay on property
- −Only The Terrace, Stove and Corner take walk-ins. The Coast and Breezes both require a reservation, and slots go fast enough that most meals end up at the buffet
- −The beach bar carries an extra charge, so the pina colada in a pineapple and the cocktail in a coconut are not part of the all-inclusive
- −Service can be uneven, and the language gap between staff and English-speaking guests creates some friction at the margins
The physical product is newer than the price implies. Coral Hospitality closed the hotel for roughly 18 months, spent more than 15 million dollars and reopened in April 2022 with every area redone, including all 451 rooms in Standard, Deluxe and Superior categories with sea, garden or pool views, a renovated Kids Club and an expanded InSense Spa. Dining runs to five venues: The Terrace buffet for all three meals, The Coast for Tex-Mex, Breezes for Mediterranean, Stove for Dominican dishes and Corner, a beach grill snack bar that also reopens from 11pm to 6am. Nights move to the Bachata disco, open 11pm to 3am, and the attached sports bar. What you are trading for the rate is food quality and drink quality, both of which are basic, and some upkeep drift in the years since the reopening.
This makes the most sense for a first all-inclusive, for groups where getting everyone to a beach affordably matters more than the menu, and for anyone flying into Santo Domingo who does not want a long transfer. Families get a Kids Club for ages 4 to 12, a calm swimming beach and a nightly show, and parents will mind the food more than the kids do. If the budget stretches to Bavaro or to Bahia Principe La Romana and Dreams La Romana down the coast, expect a clear step up in dining for the money. Day trips are the other argument for being here: the Cave of Wonders, Los Tres Ojos and the colonial zone of Santo Domingo are all within reach, which is not true of most Punta Cana resorts.
Common Questions
Where is Juan Dolio, and how do I get there from the airport?
Has the resort been renovated, and when?
Is the beach as good as Bavaro, and does sargassum reach it?
Does it work for families with kids?
How bad is the food and drink, really?
What costs extra beyond the all-inclusive?
Restaurants (4)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | La Terraza |
| Mexican | La Costa |
| Mediterranean & Spanish | Brisas |
| Caribbean & local | El Fogón |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Juan Dolio Beach2 min drive · 0.6 mi
San Pedro de Macorís Cathedral13 min drive · 8.5 mi
Boca Chica Beach25 min drive · 15 mi
Cueva de las Maravillas35 min drive · 22 mi
Acuario Nacional45 min drive · 31 mi
More things to do (25)
- Teeth of the Dog · golf60 min drive · 39 mi
- Altos de Chavón · historic site55 min drive · 40 mi
- Los Tres Ojos National Park · nature50 min drive · 31 mi
- Dye Fore · golf55 min drive · 40 mi
- National Botanical Garden · nature60 min drive · 40 mi
- Zona Colonial (Santo Domingo) · town50 min drive · 35 mi
- Los Marlins Golf Course · golf5 min drive · 0.9 mi
- Guayacanes Beach · beach5 min drive · 2.9 mi
- Playa Caribe · beach10 min drive · 7.1 mi
- Dive or snorkel trip to La Caleta Underwater National Park · excursion40 min drive · 23 mi
- La Romana · town50 min drive · 33 mi
- Alcázar de Colón · museum50 min drive · 34 mi
- Fortaleza Ozama · historic site50 min drive · 35 mi
- Columbus Lighthouse (Faro a Colón) · museum50 min drive · 33 mi
- Ruinas de San Francisco · historic site50 min drive · 35 mi
- Playa Caletón · beach50 min drive · 35 mi
- Puerta del Conde · historic site55 min drive · 35 mi
- Catedral Primada de América · historic site55 min drive · 35 mi
- Santo Domingo Malecón · town55 min drive · 37 mi
- Panteón Nacional · historic site55 min drive · 35 mi
- Museo de las Casas Reales · museum55 min drive · 35 mi
- Santo Domingo National Zoo · wildlife60 min drive · 37 mi
- Casa de Campo Marina · marina60 min drive · 41 mi
- Deep-sea fishing charter · excursion60 min drive · 41 mi
- Parque Mirador Sur · nature60 min drive · 40 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Seaweed & sargassum
Juan Dolio & Boca Chica gets sargassum, typically worst May through September.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.5 · 10,970 reviews
“Our heartfelt thanks to Coral Costa Caribe Hotel for an absolutely unforgettable vacation! From the very first day, everything exceeded our expectations. The staff was incredibly warm, friendly, and attentive, always ready to help with a smile. The r...”
“A real honest review: This resort is really nice if your trying to have a chill week. The rooms are exactly what the photos on the website look like, the food is a huge buffer with a lot of selection. Every night theres rice, chicken, beef, pork, lot...”
“The activities, entertainment, and shows were so much fun. We had the best time during our stay thanks to the entertainment team. Extra thanks to Peluche for taking the time to make sure we enjoyed our stay. My family will definitely be coming back t...”
