Answer the call of the Coconut Coast

Anywhere that’s nicknamed La Costa del Coco – the Coconut Coast – merits immediate attention. Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic lives up to its promising moniker, delivering an azure, gold and green masterclass in Caribbean-island perfection. Of course there are swaying palm trees, plump coconuts, crystalline waters, frolicking dolphins and powder-soft, sun-warmed sands to squish beneath the toes. Naturally, fishy feasts, tropical cocktails, liquid adventures, nocturnal parties and beachfront lounging feature on the local to-do list. And it goes without saying that the region has a bounty of handsome hotels with sea-spying rooms, ravishing restaurants and obliging staff. Whether you’re thirsting for adults-only R&R or something suited to little explorers, we’ve got just the thing. See you by the pool?

For adults-only indulgence: TRS Turquesa Hotel, Punta Cana

We’re not doctors but, if we were, we would prescribe TRS Turquesa Hotel: an island idyll with a beautiful beach, a trio of swimming pools, a swim-up bar, butler service and zero ankle-biters on the horizon. Part of the Palladium Hotel Group, this adults-only hideaway is sitting pretty on the sparkling seashore of Bávaro beach, Punta Cana’s most beloved stretch of sand.

Verdant tropical gardens add a dazzling emerald counterpoint to the 50 shades of blue offered up by the cloudless sky and shimmering cerulean-emerald-azure waves. Alternate between making a splash in the sea and cooling off in the hotel’s glittering pools. A constellation of plush daybeds beckons bottoms to stay put for at least a languid morning or afternoon; keep cool with a steady stream of ice-creams, tropical fruits and other delicious refreshments. Alternatively, stake out your favourite lounge chair, hammock or daybed on the hotel’s pristine, private stretch of beach, fresh coconut juice or cocktail in hand.

Gourmets rejoice: the hotel has a whole holiday’s worth of food and drink options, with four fabulous restaurants to choose from, including à la carte Nikkei (Japanese/Peruvian), Mediterranean and French outposts, plus six laidback bars, exclusively for guests. Best of all, the all-inclusive Infinite Indulgence^® programme means you can eat and drink to your heart’s content without risking any expensive surprises on departure.

There’s also no shortage of things to do: landlubbers can enjoy yoga, volleyball and archery, while liquid lures include windsurfing, diving, and snorkelling. Back on dry land, don’t expect to waste time on anything as pedestrian as walking from A to B: the resort’s handy golf cart shuttle service and shuttle train will whisk you across the expansive Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts complex, whose facilities include multiple swimming pools, a bounty of restaurants and bars and the bliss-inducing Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness centre.

Prepare to be thoroughly pampered throughout your stay here. Each of the suites comes with attentive butler service, 24-hour room service, a tempting mini-bar and a hot tub with muscle-soothing jets to banish residual tension. Although, in this sun-soaked setting, we’ll wager you won’t have any.

British Airways Holidays are ATOL-protected, with low deposits and a 24-hour holiday helpline. Book your Punta Cana holiday at ba.com/trsturquesa

For family fun in the sun: Grand Palladium Palace Resort Spa & Casino

Perhaps you’re craving a Caribbean bolthole that caters to junior explorers without stinting on grown-up indulgence? Step forward Grand Palladium Palace Resort Spa & Casino. A seashell’s throw from the shimmering white sands of Bávaro beach, this family-friendly hotel occupies vast tropical gardens, where Caribbean flowers bloom in a rainbow-bright profusion of colour and gentle birdsong provides a melodious holiday soundtrack.

Guests can take advantage of the generous, all-inclusive Infinite Indulgence^® programme and extensive facilities, thanks to the sprawling Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts complex the hotel belongs to. Dip into a duo of swimming pools, try your luck in the casino and chill out in the luxurious spa; shared facilities at the two neighbouring sister resorts include restaurants, bars, pools and kids’ clubs. Did we mention the mini-golf course, football field, four badminton courts, six tennis courts, four paddle courts and six pétanque courts? In short, there’ll be no cries of “I’m bored!” in this particular patch of Caribbean paradise.

Styled with contemporary elegance and calming neutral hues, hotel bedrooms spy on the Bounty ad-worthy beach and the zingy-green gardens. Every room has a balcony or terrace designed for leisurely sunbathing sessions, and an added boon is the complimentary minibar, which is refreshed daily. Semi-open-plan bathrooms star bathtubs fit for a mermaid or merman, with a sliding, frosted-glass screen (be immodest or modest, the choice is yours) and muscle-pleasing hydrotherapy jets.

Take your taste buds on holiday at the bevvy of on-site restaurants. Turn up the heat at Bhogali, which serves spicy, flavour-packed Indian cuisine, or indulge your sushi addiction at Sumptuori. Las Torres show cooking restaurant offers an array of flavours and, when the sun sinks beneath the sun, unwind with live music at the sociable Guayacán lobby bar.

Little ones will love the swashbuckling, rip-roaring Castillo del Pirata Kids Club, which is built in the style of an old colonial fort. Teens can play it cool in the Black & White Junior Club, home to a laidback lounge with video games, computers and table tennis. There’s also the Baby Club, where a fleet of childcare pros tend to babies and toddlers for a supplementary charge. With all of the younger ones taken care of, there’s really no excuse for off-duty parents not to book that treatment at the tranquil Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness. Go on, you deserve it.

British Airways Holidays are ATOL-protected, with low deposits and a 24-hour holiday helpline. Book your Punta Cana holiday at ba.com/grandpalladiumpalace