It’s hard to imagine a hotter destination that the Dominican Republic. Over the past several years the country has experienced, in the words of its tourism minister, “explosive” visitor arrival growth.

And while it is a surprisingly diverse destination, with attractions that include Santo Domingo’s Zona Colonial district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, the country is best known for its spectacular white-sand beaches, which offer an array of resort properties from upscale to intimate.

Many of the leading resorts are found in the main resort district of Punta Cana but the country also offers outstanding beachfront properties in smaller coastal cities including Las Terrenas. The Punta Cana properties are dominated by lush and often sprawling all-inclusive properties featuring an array of deluxe room categories, multiple dining options, and entertainment options ranging from casinos to nightclubs.

Meanwhile, Las Terrenas properties offers a more intimate resort experience, with smaller and more upscale boutique properties set amongst secluded beaches located at the edge of lush rainforests.

Yet regardless of region, there are a handful of Dominican beachside resorts whose consistently high-quality amenities, facilities and services stand out from the crowd and place these properties a step above the others. Here are the five best beachside Dominican Republic resorts:

Balcones del Atlanticos: This beachside boutique luxury resort is tucked into a coconut palm tree-laden, 2,000-foot stretch of Las Terrenas Beach, which offers Robinson Crusoe-like beauty and solitude. Guests can opt for two- and three-bedroom villa suites, or deluxe penthouse suites. Accommodations feature Viking appliances, wireless high-speed Internet, Balinese-style stone showers and sinks, private plunge pools and hand-carved exotic wood furnishings.

The resort’s public facilities include a spa and fitness center, a fine-dining restaurant and a beachfront bar and grill, with two pools and a swim-up bar, plus a show kitchen for culinary events. Active guests will find snorkeling trails, SCUBA facilities, sailing instruction, guided tours of historic districts and national park tours.

What’s so special: Penthouse Villa accommodations feature 4,000 square feet of space plus rooftop decks with sweeping ocean views and private plunge pools. Guest services include ground transfers, personal butler and chef services, an on-site wine steward, children’s activities and babysitting, a concierge, in-room dining, laundry and dry cleaning.

Club Med Punta Cana: The resort offers a seemingly idyllic setting with a long, coconut palm tree-lined beach which borders a picturesque collection of winding paths, secluded gardens and beachside relaxation areas featuring unobstructed ocean views.  The picturesque settings attract romantic couples and vacationers seeking quiet relaxation, yet also accommodates families with children of all ages. True to the Club Med brand’s pursuit of its guests’ happiness, the property features activities and options designed to provide restorative experiences for mind and body.

What’s so special: The Tiara Luxury Space is a boutique hotel within the resort featuring 32 suites plus a lounge area and private infinity pool. Located in charming pastel-colored bungalows, each 753 square-foot beachfront suite features a master bedroom with an en suite bathroom and a second room for children or guests. Mini-bars are re-stocked daily with soft drinks. Each suite offers Wi-Fi access and a terrace facing the beach. The private Perla Bar hosts special champagne and cocktail hours each evening. Tiara services also include a dedicated concierge providing services that including booking spa treatments and off-site excursions. 

Paradisus Palma Real: This all-inclusive beachside resort is distinguished by meticulous landscaping and classic architecture including arched entryways. A large central outdoor courtyard features gardens, graceful fountains and elegant sculpture framed by Doric columns and stately, terra cotta-topped arches.

The beach is lined with tall coconut palm trees and the grounds feature interlocking pathways surrounded by lush gardens. The resort’s accommodations are equally impressive, with marble floors, stocked refrigerators, CD and DVD players, plus large bathrooms with two-person whirlpools.

Exclusive accommodations: Billed as a boutique hotel experience within the hotel, the resort’s 200 “Royal Service” suites feature exclusive amenities, facilities and services including personal butler service and private, VIP check-in at the Royal Service lounge. The lounge also offers daily continental breakfast, Internet access and evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Royal Service guests also have exclusive access to the resort’s YHI Spa and wellness area.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana: Punta Cana offers numerous upscale all-inclusive beachfront resorts, but the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is the only one that can claim to be on the cutting edge of celebrity culture.

In keeping with the brand signature established at Hard Rock hotels around the world, the sprawling 121-acre resort features a staggering array of photographs, instruments, garments, records and paintings tied to global music icons.

The property is also a headline act, with free-flowing canals winding across the property. A massive reflecting pool extends from the center of the property to the edge of Macao Beach, which extends across the entire property and features a quaint boardwalk-style path. Generously landscaped pool areas feature lounge chairs and beds, swim-up bars, tall palm trees, thatched-roof bars, restaurants and amenity stations. 

What’s so special: The resort’s Rock Star suite offers the ultimate in accommodations for multiple guests. The three-bedroom suites measure 7,744 square feet and feature king size beds; private terraces with a infinity hydro spa tubs; full kitchens; surround sound systems; baby grand pianos, pool tables and large bathrooms with double-head showers. Guests will also find Paul Stanley and Aerosmith memorabilia; a home theater, Blu Ray DVD player and Xbox 360 Kinect; a 65-inch plasma TV and four Xbox guitars and wireless Internet access.

Westin Puntacana Resort: A 204-room property located in the Playa Blanca area of the Punta Cana Resort & Club complex, this upscale property features 16 suites, meeting and wedding facilities, a children’s club, a large outdoor pool, and a poolside grill. The property also features a lobby bar, a cigar bar, a children’s club, a 24-hour business center and a health and fitness center.

Guests will also have access to the land and water sports including scuba diving, Segway tours, horseback riding, kite boarding, and paddle boarding.

What’s so special: Guests will also have access to amenities at the Punta Cana Resort & Club, which features three miles of private, white-sand beaches, 45 holes of championship golf, a Six Senses spa facility, multiple restaurants, and a 1,500-acre ecological reserve with fresh water springs, ecological trails, an equestrian center and a petting zoo.