Planning to stay in Hilton La Romana during your trip to the Dominican Republic? Check out my honest review and discover all the amenities and advantages the resort offers.
Hilton La Romana is an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, situated in the southern part of the island. It’s a luxurious resort with beautiful facilities and a prime beachfront location, offering a retreat to unwind and disconnect from the world.
I was recently a guest at Hilton La Romana and had a great time during my stay. If you’re planning your trip to the Dominican Republic and you’re trying to figure out if this hotel is the right choice for you, read on. I will tell you all about my experience and hopefully, I’ll help you make up your mind.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary stay at Hilton La Romana, but my opinions are always my own, and my own only.
Table of Contents
TWO RESORTS IN ONE
Hilton La Romana is divided in two, with two areas adjacent to one another.
One is an All-Inclusive Adults-Only Resort, which exclusively accommodates guests that are 18 and over. The second accommodation is an All-Inclusive Family Resort, catering to families with little ones, as well as adult visitors who prefer to stay in this area.
Both the Adults-Only Resort and the All-Inclusive Family Resort feature top-notch amenities. What’s more, adult guests have access to the facilities and restaurants in both areas. This is also valid for adults who are traveling with children, as long as children are supervised by another adult in the family area.
This to me is a huge advantage, as you get to try a lot more restaurants and you’ll never be bored. It’s like two resorts for the price of one!
We personally stayed at the Adults-Only Resort but we ate at restaurants on both sides and used the amenities and facilities of both areas, so you’ll see a bit of both in my post. Let’s dive into this honest review of the resort, which will hopefully help you decide whether Hilton la Romana is the right hotel for you.
Book your stay at Hilton La Romana ON THEIR WEBSITE, or on BOOKING.COM
THE LOCATION
Hilton La Romana is located on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, 89 miles east of Santo Domingo, the capital city.
The closest airport is Punta Cana International Airport, which is about 50 minutes away by car. Otherwise, you can also fly to the Las American International Airport in Santo Domingo, which is one hour and a half away.
The Adults-Only and the Family Resorts are right next to each other, facing the paradisiac Bayahibe Beach. The town of Bayahibe, which features great beaches, restaurants, and bars, is a also a short distance from the resort.
THE ALL-INCLUSIVE CONCEPT
As an all-inclusive resort, Hilton La Romana includes all food and drinks, as well as a complimentary mini-bar and 24-hour room service in case you crave a midnight snack or feel like having breakfast in bed.
Pool and beachside bars cater to guests enjoying the amenities, and all the activities in the resort, aside from golfing and scuba diving, are also included in the package.
THE ROOMS
Hilton La Romana Adults-Only features spacious rooms with views of the resort pools, the sea, or the gardens. They are all furnished with a flat-screen TV, a complimentary minibar that’s refreshed daily, a seating area, and a fully equipped ensuite bathroom.
All the rooms, no matter the category, come with either a furnished private balcony or terrace. You can choose between a Garden view room, a Deluxe room, or a Premium room. Guests with mobility issues can book a fully accessible room.
The All-Inclusive Family Resort, on top of the accommodation options above, features a Master Suite with a private plunge pool and a hydro hot tub in the bathroom, and Family Rooms with a separate living area that accommodate up to 4 guests. Some of the suites also feature a sofa-bed in the seating room.
Then there are the Enclave suites, whose guests enjoy special amenities, such as concierge service, exclusive beach and restaurant access, personalized check-in and out, and a bathrobe, slippers, and pillow menu.
We stayed in an Enclave Swim Out room that overlooks the garden and has direct access to the pool. The room was spacious and I liked that it was very colorful, a far cry from the usual hotel chain rooms.
WHY YOU SHOULD STAY IN AN ENCLAVE ROOM
Hilton La Romana offers exclusive benefits to guests staying in the Enclave accommodations such as:
- Private check-in at the Enclave reception;
- Breakfast and lunch at multiple locations exclusively for Enclave guests;
- Coffee, breakfast, snacks and premium drinks at the Encore Lounge Bar;
- Access to members-only pools and beach areas.
An upgraded complimentary mini-bar, a pillow menu, and nightly turndown service are also included for Enclave guests.
I personally loved being able to access all the extra areas and restaurants for breakfast and lunch. The Enclave pools were my favorite as they tended to be quieter than the one open to all the guests. The drinks at the Enclave pool bars were also a lot better (although my favorite ones were at the Adults-Only Enclave lounge).
Keep in mind that adults can access all the Enclave areas, also the one that are actually part of the Family resort, while families with children can only access the Enclave areas and restaurants of the Family resort.
I also want to give a shout-out to Yailin, the receptionist at the Enclave lounge who checked us in. We’ve stayed at hundreds of luxury hotels over the last few years, and hers was probably the best check-in we’ve ever had. She made it very personal and funny and we just loved it.
BUTLER SERVICE
Listen to me. If you’re an Enclave guest, you NEED to opt in for the butler service. At 199 USD per week (price correct at the time of publishing this post), it is so worth it.
Your butler will help you organize your days, make reservations for special services, and make sure you’re always happy and comfortable.
Michael was our butler, and he was an absolute rockstar. Always smiling, always responsive, he made our stay easier and better.
He brought us a cooler full of drinks when we were chilling by the pool or at the beach so that we didn’t have to go to the bar every time we wanted something to drink. He also realized that we had recently got married and surprised us with a special sign on our door and the most beautiful charcuterie board accompanied by a bottle of wine in our room.
Your butler will also organize a romantic breakfast once during your stay. They set up our table on the terrace and we had eggs and mimosas right by the pool.
Book your stay at Hilton La Romana ON THEIR WEBSITE, or on BOOKING.COM
THE POOLS
Each part of the resort (family and adults-only) has two pools surrounded by cabanas and sun loungers, and the pool service ensures you always have a drink in your hand.
One pool on each side is open to everyone, while the Enclave pool is reserved for Enclave guests. As always, guests of the adults-only area can enjoy the amenities of both resorts.
My favorite pools were the adults-only infinity pool (pictured below) and the Enclave adults-only pool.
Loungers tend to be occupied early in the morning, but to avoid the hassle you can reserve a private cabana for the day like we did.
The Family Resort also boasts a waterpark which let me tell you, for being a resort waterpark it’s amazing! It has multiple slides and a very fun lazy river.
ROMANTIC POOL CORNER
If you’re celebrating a special occasion (or not!), consider booking the Romantic Pool Corner for one day. For an extra fee, you can have a private corner in the resort that comes with a private pool, loungers, a cabana in front of the sea, and a gazebo with a table.
This is the perfect place to get away from it all and enjoy a peaceful day with your partner, friends, or family (the area can be booked for up to 4 people).
When you’re hungry, you’ll be served lunch right here under the gazebo. The menu is from The Grill restaurant and both the white fish ceviche and the burger were really good, some of the best food we’ve had in the resort.
You’ll also get served premium cocktails and sparkling wine throughout the day. Yes, we were so spoiled! And we loved it. It was so nice to be just the two of us enjoying a lazy day together.
THE BEACH
Hilton La Romana boasts a private beach area reserved for guests. Located on the pristine Bayahibe Beach, it features white sand shores, turquoise warm waters, and great facilities. The color of the water is a-ma-zing and we witnessed some beautiful sunsets here.
Here you’ll find sun loungers and cabanas you can rent for an extra fee.
If you’re an Enclave guest, you also have access to a cordoned-off area with nicer sun loungers.
THE FOOD
Hilton La Romana Adults-Only features five on-site restaurants and five bars and lounges, and 24-hour room service.
Guests at Hilton La Romana Adults-Only can also access, free of charge, the six restaurants and 8 bars and lounges at the adjacent resort. These are the establishments at the family-friendly accommodation.
Having been to other all-inclusives that require reservations at specialty dining restaurants, something I find awesome about Hilton La Romana is that you don’t need reservations for any restaurants except for the Teppanyaki and the Sushi Bar at Sakura (but you can access the regular Asian food at Sakura without booking in advance).
Chinola
Chinola is the place to go for Dominican and Caribbean cuisine. The restaurant features an outdoor area with wooden tables and benches and serves authentic Caribbean dishes, including the popular Mofongo, starters, and sweets.
This was our favorite restaurant at the resort. We loved the casual atmosphere on the beach, and everything we ate was delicious. I recommend sharing a few appetizers and don’t miss the coconut fish.
Caoba
Caoba serves an international buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a trendy, modern-looking restaurant that also hosts theme nights. Breakfast here was incredible! Such a huge selection.
Ausangate
Ausangate Restaurant specializes in Peruvian cuisine. We only had three nights at the resort and couldn’t possibly try all the restaurants so we came here just for appetizers before having dinner at Sakura. The appetizers were good but the service was slow and can be improved.
Aroma Café
Fresh premium coffee, along with pastries and light bites are served in this coffee shop. It features nice decor and comfortable seating areas, making it the perfect setting for an afternoon pick-me-up. I also recommend skipping the coffee at the breakfast restaurant and picking up a drink here!
Pizzeria & Snacks
Pizzeria is just the eatery you need when you’re spending your day at the pool. It’s a poolside hut that serves freshly baked pizza by the slice.
If all you want for lunch is a quick snack, check out the daily snack offer at the beach. One day they were serving poke bowls and they were really good!
The Grill
The Grill is an open-air restaurant with sea views that serves grilled specialties for dinner. Enclave guests also have access to the restaurant for breakfast and lunch.
Romantic Dinner
Romantic dinners on the pier can be planned ahead of time with the help of your concierge or your butler. Guests can choose between 3 menus – Francisco went for a fish and seafood menu, while I went for a meat menu.
We had an early dinner to make sure not to miss sunset, and it was the perfect romantic setting. The food was delicious from starter to dessert.
Saul and Jose were our waiters for the night and they were exceptional. They were so nice, attentive, and all-around just great waiters. Highly recommended – this was the highlight of our stay.
Sakura
Sakura is an elegant Pan-Asian restaurant that opens for dinner. It features an à la carte menu and also serves freshly made sushi. Some of the delicacies you can try include bento boxes, soups, and noodle dishes.
While Hilton La Romana’s other specialty restaurants don’t require reservations, this one does if you want to eat at the Teppanyaki show dinner or at the Sushi Bar. A reservation is not required for the general Asian restaurant.
Our butler managed to get us a reservation at the Teppanyaki dinner show, which is usually fully booked as it’s really popular. The cook was funny and the show was hilarious – it’s definitely not your usual dinner! Check out my IG Stories if you want to see a few clips from it.
However, we had an uncomfortable experience with our waiter who acted very unprofessional, and this spoiled our dinner. We reported the incident and various members of the staff apologized and made sure this issue was dealt with, and we had a great rest of our stay. S*it happens – it’s more about how the hotel deals with it, and they did well.
Noor
Noor prepares Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, with a varied menu of specialties that go from fresh salads and soups to entrées, seafood, and grilled steak. Adults-only Enclave guests can have breakfast here as well, and that’s what we did.
Other Restaurants & Cafes
Tres Hermanas Coffee Shop: Premium coffee, pastries, and cakes are served at this coffee shop. It has a relaxed atmosphere and a clean look, and it’s an ideal spot for an afternoon break with coffee and sweets.
Mare Grill & Restaurant: Grill specialties and seafood are the staple dishes at Mare Grill & Restaurant. Salads, soups, and appetizers are also on the menu, which you’ll enjoy in a seaside setting. The restaurant opens for dinner only and has a casual dress code.
Moustache: Moustache is a Gourmet French restaurant featuring an elegant dining room and offering an à la carte dining experience.
Spices Market: This buffet-style restaurant serves international classics for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Azzurri: Azzurri is an a la carte Italian restaurant, serving all the classics paired with fine wines in a beautiful setting.
THE SPA & GYM
Drift Away, the resort spa, is a luxury oasis offering a variety of wellness and skincare services using natural products. It aims to help your worries drift away as you relax.
When I arrived at Hilton La Romana, I was coming from a stressful month where I traveled to 13 (!) countries, and I needed some relaxation time. I was craving a massage so badly.
My husband and I got a 30-minute massage, and while it was a bit short and I’d recommend going for the one-hour massage, oh gosh it was SO good. I felt the stress melting away and leaving my body. I almost fell asleep and I rarely do during a massage (hyperactive brain and all). Ask for Jesania, she has magic hands.
The spa also features a seaside location where for a little extra you can have your massage with the sound of the waves.
After our massage, Fran and I spent some time in the hydrotherapy section which features a pool, koi ponds, and a hot tub. We were alone the whole time, and it felts like our little oasis away from everything. We truly enjoyed our time there and I would recommend paying the small fee to access this area.
The resort also features a gym. We didn’t personally make use of it, but it looked like it was well-equipped for being a hotel gym.
THE ACTIVITIES
The are so many activities at the resort, that you’ll have a hard time leaving the property! You can spend the entire day in the water, going from water aerobic classes to snorkeling, windsurfing, and kayaking in the sea. And the aerobic classes are not your usual boring ones – I’ve seen an aquagym class that was using iron bars, I’d never seen that before!
You can also schedule scuba diving lessons with the on-site PADI Dive Center.
If that’s your thing, there’s a casino on-site, which opens from 7 PM to 2 AM, and is equipped with poker and blackjack tables, a roulette, and slot machines. You can also find well-equipped game room with darts, pool and ping-pong tables, and live entertainment every evening.
The All-Inclusive Family Resort has, on top of those activities, Kids and Teens Clubs. These organize supervised events such as treasure hunts, bonfires, sandcastle building, and camping on the beach.
RATES
Rates at Hilton La Romana All-Inclusive start at $560 per night for 2 adults. The price of course varies depending on availability and the time of the year you visit.
For the All-Inclusive Family Resort, special prices apply for children. Please note that guests 13 and over are considered adults.
Book your stay at Hilton La Romana ON THEIR WEBSITE, or on BOOKING.COM
