Since U.S. Citizens aren’t really free to vacation in Cuba just yet, it remains exclusively Canada’s (and the rest of the world’s) super-affordable family vacation destination. However, most Americans I know think of the Dominican Republic for affordable resort vacations. However, while Canadians might find it pricier, it’s still a great option for families.
The resorts in the Dominican Republic are usually quite large, with large rooms. Many easily accommodate families with three children or more. Punta Cana is the #1 spot to visit, and it’s priced accordingly.
Now, a baby-friendly resort does not necessarily have to have a baby club, but there are a few Dominican Republic resorts with baby clubs and they do come very highly recommended.
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Baby Clubs, Not Just Babysitting…
Most hotels offer babysitting services at an additional cost for children of all ages. But the bonus of a baby club means you can often just pop by for an hour or two when it suits your schedule and/or your baby’s routine.
If your baby is an easy napper, you may want to drop them off at naptime. They’re supervised while they sleep, and you can steal a few moments to yourselves. Or perhaps you’d feel more comfortable letting your baby play in a safe, supervised, and air-conditioned area during awake time so you could hit the beach for a snooze or a snorkel. Either way, if you’re comfortable enough to leave your little one in the care of others, it’s nice to have that option.
Baby Clubs at resorts vary widely in terms of amenities and services available, and also – cost. Club Med’s Baby Club in Punta Cana is extra – roughly $95 US per day. But the level of care is excellent and it’s available for babies as young as three months old. And you pay per use.
Dominican Republic Resorts with Baby Clubs…
Finding accurate information of this nature is often challenging. I reached out to hotels personally as well as waded through all the information online to find the resorts with baby clubs in the Dominican Republic who will care for infants and toddlers 0-4 years of age.
Turns out they’re all in Punta Cana!
See Also:
Dominican Republic Resorts with Baby Clubs: Punta Cana
Club Med Punta Cana
I had the pleasure of staying at Club Med Ixtapa Pacific, so I was able to witness first-hand how great the Baby Club Med (infants) and Petit Club Med (toddlers) is. And I have some colleagues who are repeat visitors to both Ixtapa Pacific and Punta Cana.
The baby facilities throughout the resort are super-convenient and excellent. And if you feel comfortable enough to leave your baby in the care of their G.Os–likely studying Early Childhood Development in university–then it’s definitely worth the extra daily fee (which is not insignificant).
Baby Club Basics:
- Cost: Approx. US $100/day
- Age: 4 – 23mos. for Baby Club, 24mos. – 4 years for Petit Club
Grand Palladium Resorts
Palladium Hotel Group has three Grand Palladium resorts in Punta Cana, (Palace, Bavaro, and Punta Cana) and as with their sister resorts in Mexico, all three offer a baby club experience for babies aged 1-3.
Grand Palladium resorts are large, most rooms accommodate larger families, and the overall experience is not overwhelmingly *family* which is great when your babies are small and you don’t need a lot of bells and whistles.
Grand Palladium hotels are also super-accommodating if one of your family members has a food allergy.
According to the Palladium Hotel Group’s website, the baby clubs are:
“Supervised by our professionals with the presence of parents, this special area situated next to the Mini Club is dedicated to caring for babies from 1 to 3 with stimulating toys. Next to this is another area with a dormitory with cots and space for preparing food. That way, the parents can enjoy an exclusive space for their baby.”
Baby Club Basics:
- Cost: Included
- Age: 1 – 3 years
- “Supervised by our professionals with the presence of parents…”
Melia Caribe Beach Resort
As with their sister resorts in Cuba and Jamaica, the Melia hotel group is one of the few to consistently offer baby care for littler babies–here as young as 12-months-old–and their children’s programs are no longer Flintstones-themed. Now called “The Kidsdom Universe,” their activities programs are adapted to each age, with three groups: Seeds from 1 year to 4 years old, Buds from 5 to 7, and Trees from 8 to 10.
The newly-renovated Melia Caribe is a large resort divided into two sections, the Caribe and now The Level–which offers a step up in luxury for rooms, dining, and service. All guests have access to the new waterpark and the children’s activities and amenities.
This resort gets consistently good reviews, for all aspects of a guest’s stay.
Baby Club Basics:
- Cost: Included
- Age: 12 months to 4 years
Paradisus Palma Real
The Paradisus Palma Real is Melia’s fancier, big sister resort brand’s newest addition to the Dominican Republic. In addition to their exclusive Family Concierge Rooms, the Paradisus Palma Real offers a supervised mini club for littles aged 1-4 that’s open seven days a week at no extra cost.
Baby Club Basics:
- Cost: Included
- Age: 1 – 4 years
Paradisus Punta Cana
The first Paradisus resort to enter the Dominican Republic was the Paradisus Punta Cana.
In addition to their exclusive Family Concierge Rooms, the Paradisus Punta Cana offers a supervised mini club for littles aged 1-4 that’s open seven days a week at no extra cost.
Baby Club Basics:
- Cost: Included
- Age: 1 – 4 years
I’ve been to the Dominican Republic only once, and that was many, many moons ago. For lots of people this destination is their one and only, and my well-traveled friend admitted that the beach in Punta Cana was the nicest she’d ever seen.
Do take care to prevent against mosquito bites, and use bottled water for formula.
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See Also:
- Resorts with Baby Clubs in the Caribbean and Mexico
- The Best Resorts for Babies & Toddlers
- Tips for Flying with an Infant or Toddler at Every Age & Stage
- Tips for Visiting Mexico and the Caribbean with a Baby or Toddler
- Family Travel Writers & Bloggers Share Their Best Vacations with a Baby
Image courtesy Go Dominican Republic.
Hi,
We are planning to visit Dominican Republic next March with our 5 month old and 2 years old. Any suggestions for us as we like comfort but not willing to pay for luxury unless it is affordable 🙂
I’ve heard lots of great things about the Melia Tropical, but I’ve never actually stayed there 🙂
What a great list – thank you!
We went to the DR last year and loved it. Beautiful, warm water and very friendly people!
I wish more hotels would offer baby clubs!
Anyone know how bad the mosquitos are in DR in December?
Hi Peden! Most resorts spray for mosquitos, so you’re not likely to be too impacted if you stay near your hotel. Rainy season–from May to October–is probably when they’re at their worst. Always best to take precautions to avoid being bitten, though.
Paradisus Baby Club was excellent when we took out 17 month old . we did not see one mosquito!
This is great to know–thanks, Jennifer!
Does Paradisus Palma Real have a babyclub?
Yes, there is a mini club included at no extra cost for children ages 1yr and up.
Newest addition to the baby clubs and all-for-kids activities in general is Nickelodeon hotel, it’s really kid’s dream – all from Dora the Explorer to Flintstones and Spongebob…
does anyone know if there are time limits when dropping your baby off at a baby club? Can you use the baby club daily and for how many hours??
Hi Cherie!
Usually the baby clubs have set hours and usage is set from resort to resort. However those with baby clubs included usually have no limit outside of operating hours, and those where you have to pay you would have to reserve and you would only pay for the time you use.
Hi Corinne! Thanks for all your amazing suggestions. I just looked on the websites for Grand Palladium and Melia Caribe, but it seems under 4s still require a parent to be present at all times. Do you know this to be the case? Having a baby club option where I can actually leave them with professionals is a main criteria of my holiday, so I want to be sure it’s an option! Thank you.
Hi Sarah,
I have never known this to be the case but I can look into it for you.
This Information is all old. None of these resorts Allow baby’s anymore, only individual babysitting. took me hours of research, phone calls and digging but please update your info.
The post has been updated however all of these resorts always allowed babies, lol.