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Sunset over the sea at Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata

Where to Stay in Puerto Plata

A beach resort, a boutique hideaway or a room in the old town — here is where to sleep.

Most people meet Puerto Plata for a few hours from a ship. Stay a few nights and you get the waterfalls without the clock, the cable car on the first clear morning and Cayo Arena, which no cruise call really allows. Accommodation falls into two groups: the beach resorts east of town at Playa Dorada and Costa Dorada, and a smaller choice in the city and to the west at Cofresí and Maimón.

Below are the properties we would look at first, all checked on Trip.com for location and guest scores. We do not show hotel photographs — we have no licence to use them — and we do not quote nightly rates, which change constantly with the season. Every card links to live prices and availability.

Where to stay

Playa Dorada & Costa Dorada

The classic resort strip: a long golden beach, a golf course, 15 minutes from the old town and 20 from the airport.

Casa Colonial Beach & Spa

📍 Playa Dorada beachfront
9.6 100 reviews

The boutique exception among the big resorts: a small, colonial-style hotel of around fifty suites on the Playa Dorada sand, with a spa and by far the highest guest score in Puerto Plata. Not an all-inclusive — you come here for quiet and service.

  • Highest-rated hotel in the area
  • Small and calm, right on the beach
  • Spa on site
See rates & availability

Blue JackTar

📍 Playa Dorada, beside the golf course
8.5 101 reviews

A modern hotel-and-condo complex inside the Playa Dorada resort area, with spacious suites, pools and its own beach club. A good pick if you prefer room to spread out over a wristband buffet.

  • Spacious suites and apartments
  • Next to the Playa Dorada golf course
  • Strong guest reviews
See rates & availability

VH - Gran Ventana Beach Resort

📍 Playa Dorada beachfront
7.8 115 reviews

A long-established all-inclusive directly on Playa Dorada beach, popular with families and with visitors who want a classic, good-value resort week close to town and the airport.

  • All-inclusive on the beach
  • Family-friendly
  • About 15 minutes from the old town
See rates & availability

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada

📍 Costa Dorada beachfront

The Iberostar on the Costa Dorada strip, the closest resort beach to the city. A large all-inclusive with the brand’s reliable food and entertainment, a short taxi ride from the Malecón and the cable car.

  • All-inclusive from a well-known brand
  • Closest resort beach to town
  • Check Trip.com for current guest scores
See rates & availability

Emotions by Hodelpa Puerto Plata

📍 Playa Dorada
7.6 103 reviews

A large all-inclusive of more than four hundred rooms within walking distance of Playa Dorada beach and the golf course, run by the Dominican Hodelpa group. Guests regularly praise the friendly staff.

  • Big all-inclusive with several pools
  • Walk to the beach and golf course
  • Dominican-run
See rates & availability

Viva Heavens by Wyndham

📍 Playa Dorada complex
7.6 100 reviews

An all-inclusive in the Playa Dorada complex under the Wyndham Trademark umbrella, with an activities programme and a lively atmosphere that suits sociable travellers on a budget.

  • All-inclusive
  • Activities and entertainment
  • Inside the Playa Dorada complex
See rates & availability

BlueBay Villas Doradas Adults Only

📍 Playa Dorada

An adults-only all-inclusive in Playa Dorada — the option for couples who want the resort formula without children around the pool.

  • Adults only
  • All-inclusive
  • Check Trip.com for current guest scores
See rates & availability
See all Puerto Plata hotels

In town, Cofresí & Maimón

A walkable base in the historic centre, and resorts on the bays to the west near Ocean World and Amber Cove.

Dinasty Hotel

📍 Calle Beller, Puerto Plata centre
8.0 104 reviews

A simple, well-reviewed town hotel in the historic centre — the practical choice if you want to walk to Parque Independencia, the Malecón and the Taino Bay port rather than stay in a resort.

  • In the old town
  • Walk to the park, fort and cruise port
  • Good value
See rates & availability

Holiday Inn Puerto Plata-Cofresi Bay Area

📍 Navarrete highway, near Cofresí
8.0 5 reviews

A new international-brand hotel on the main road west of the city, convenient for Cofresí, Ocean World and Amber Cove. It has only a handful of reviews so far, but they are positive.

  • New, familiar brand
  • Handy for Cofresí and Ocean World
  • Few reviews yet
See rates & availability

Senator Puerto Plata

📍 Maimón Bay, west of Puerto Plata
7.9 105 reviews

A big all-inclusive beach resort on the Navarrete road at Maimón Bay, the same bay as the Amber Cove cruise terminal. Away from town, with its own beach and plenty of pools.

  • All-inclusive with its own beach
  • Close to Amber Cove
  • Good for a pure beach stay
See rates & availability

Lifestyle Tropical Beach Resort & Spa

📍 Cofresí
7.4 115 reviews

Part of a very large all-inclusive resort complex at Cofresí, next to Ocean World. Reviews are mixed, with the beach and location praised more than the upselling — read recent ones before booking.

  • All-inclusive at Cofresí beach
  • Next to Ocean World
  • Mixed reviews — check recent ones
See rates & availability
Search hotels in Puerto Plata

Which base suits you?

Base Good for Less good for Price level
Playa Dorada Beach, all-inclusive ease, golf, families Local life; you need a taxi for town $$–$$$
Costa Dorada Beach close to the city and cable car Choice — only a few hotels $$–$$$
Puerto Plata centre Old town on foot, Malecón, cruise connections, budget Beach and pool time $–$$
Cofresí & Maimón Ocean World, quiet bays, Amber Cove Restaurants and sights without transport $$–$$$

How to choose

  • A classic beach week: an all-inclusive at Playa Dorada.
  • A special occasion: the boutique hotel on the Playa Dorada sand.
  • A night before or after a cruise, or a city break: the historic centre, within walking distance of the park and the Malecón.
  • Water sports and nightlife: look further east to Sosúa and Cabarete — use the search link above and filter by area.
Book early for winter. December to April is high season on the north coast, and the best-rated places fill first. From May to October prices fall noticeably — with the hurricane-season caveats in our best time to visit guide.
Hotel links go to Trip.com. When our Trip.com partnership is active we may earn a commission on completed stays, at no extra cost to you. Ratings and review counts are from Trip.com and change over time.
Plan your day ashore

Make every hour in port count

Waterfalls, the old town, a beach or all three — compare independent shore excursions with port pickup and book in a couple of taps.

Browse Puerto Plata excursions Compare all excursions
Good to know

Where to stay: FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What is the best area to stay in Puerto Plata?

For a beach holiday, Playa Dorada: the best choice of resorts on the best beach near the city. For sightseeing on foot, the historic centre.

Are there hotels near the Taino Bay cruise port?

Yes — small hotels in the old town are within walking distance of the port gate. Remember that Puerto Plata is a port of call, so cruises do not normally start or end here.

Is Playa Dorada all-inclusive only?

Mostly, but not entirely. Several hotels there are room-only or bed-and-breakfast, including the area’s top-rated boutique property.

How far are the resorts from the airport?

Playa Dorada and Costa Dorada are about 15–20 minutes from Gregorio Luperón airport (POP); the city centre is 20–30 minutes.