Sublime Samana

Sublime Samana’s concept is a simple one, and it’s hard to fault: a smallish resort with the amenities of a big one, set on an estate that feels far from the D.R.’s more developed stretches of coastline. The hotel’s small private beach is one of the prettiest on the island. It’s just a strip of soft sand with the warm crystalline Atlantic water lapping at it from one side, and rows of swaying coconut palms on the other — with the verdant hills of the Samana Peninsula rising in the background. It’s a bit isolated, but if you’ve come in search of rest and relaxation — or to get a little closer to nature — that’s hardly a knock against the place. This isn’t a hotel from which you take jaunts into town, but rather one from which you make excursions into the natural world — or perhaps nowhere farther than the spa, or a beach chair, or a day bed by the pool.

Each of the twenty-five rooms is either a suite or a standalone casita. That means fully equipped kitchens, separate living areas, spa-like marble bathrooms and a private balcony or terrace at every level. Book well and you’ll have an outdoor jacuzzi thrown into the mix as well. The décor is simple and contemporary, with plenty of sunlight flooding in through floor-to-ceiling windows, lots of fresh white paint, and the occasional pop of Caribbean turquoise or blue.

In addition to excursions off-site (whale-watching, snorkeling, sailing, hiking, biking…), there are a couple tennis courts for those wishing to stay active, as well as a gym, a rustic-chic spa, and a sprawling set of interconnected pools. The restaurants are the essence of Caribbean dining, but with better food — a beachside grill serving fresh, simply prepared seafood, and an all-day Dominican bistro, both with menus determined by what the fishermen catch that day just off the hotel’s beach.

How to get there: Sublime Samana is located 14 miles, about a 20-minute drive, from Samanà El Catey International Airport (AZS).