Casa Colonial Beach & Spa

Casa Colonial Beach & Spa is the boutique alternative inside the Playa Dorada complex. With about 50 rooms and suites in a white colonial-style building surrounded by gardens, it is far smaller than the all-inclusives around it, and it is the only hotel in the complex that is not all-inclusive. It belongs to VH Hotels & Resorts, the Dominican group that also runs VH Gran Ventana nearby.

The feel is quiet and polished. Rooms are spacious, with colonial-inspired decor, and the suite categories run up to a penthouse. There is a spa, an outdoor pool and two restaurants: Veranda, a casual spot for breakfast and lunch with ocean views, and Lucía, a fine-dining restaurant with Franco-Caribbean cooking. Guest reviews are consistently excellent, with scores in the mid-9s out of 10 on several booking platforms, and reviews from 2026 praise the staff, cleanliness and immaculate grounds.

The hotel sits at a fairly quiet end of Playa Dorada, so you get direct access to the long golden beach without the music and activity of the bigger resorts in front of you. The beach is public and shared with neighboring hotels, and the water is open Atlantic: calm in summer, wavier with winter north swells. One common criticism is that garden foliage blocks the sea view from many rooms, so ask for an ocean-view category if that matters to you.

Rates are typically in the upper range for Puerto Plata, often around $300 to $360 a night in listings, but you are not paying for an all-inclusive package, so budget for meals and drinks. The Playa Dorada golf course is next door, and the plaza with shops and casual restaurants is a short walk away. Puerto Plata's old town is about 10 to 15 minutes by taxi, and the airport about 15 to 20.

Who it is best for: couples, honeymooners, golfers and travelers who prefer a small, quiet hotel and choosing where to eat. Who it is not for: families who want kids' clubs and all-day entertainment, or travelers who want everything included; Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada is the simpler package option nearby.