Best destination for relaxation and family: Mauritius / Cuba / Dominican Republic?

Hi everyone, okay, here’s the scoop: I’ve been dealing with a pretty serious illness, but I’m determined to recover by the end of this year. I want to take my partner and my two little ones (7 and 4 years old) for a ten-day vacation in February 2026 or April 2026. The goal? To help them forget this tough year—let’s be honest—and give us all (and yes, I deserve it too 😉) some fantastic holidays.

Considering the budget for round-trip flights, cost of living on-site (hotel with pool and beach, all-inclusive or half-board meals), and food quality, which would you choose between Mauritius, Cuba, or the Dominican Republic? Heads up—I’ve been a globetrotter in another life, and all-inclusive hotels aren’t usually my thing, but this time, it’s different: I need REST and a family-friendly vacation. Of course, we’ll still do some excursions and sightseeing, so the scenery matters, but I’m really looking for the best value for money between flights, hotels, and a change of scenery :) Is Cuba too Americanized / full of junk food in the hotels?

Any family-focused travel agencies you’d recommend?

Thanks for sharing your experiences—I know this is a long message, but hopefully, it’ll keep the advice focused 😎 And thanks for this forum 😇

Hi there, so Cuba’s a no-go for now—they’re close to famine, and blackouts are almost daily, which is really tough for them. Mauritius is a big budget, just the flight alone is pricey. The Dominican Republic is nice, good value, with great hotels, food, and beaches for kids. But you’ve gotta pick the right spot. You’ll be traveling during school holidays, so it’ll be expensive. If you can shift your dates, it’s not the end of the world if the kids (ages 4–7) miss a little school. March or May, for example. Happy to help!

Hello, And why not Zanzibar?

Why not South Africa on Airbnb, Sri Lanka (flight tickets and accommodation not too expensive)

Budget report for round-trip flights, cost of living on-site (hotel with pool and beach, all-inclusive or half-board), food quality... which would you choose between Mauritius, Cuba, or the Dominican Republic, please?

Hi, As for the budget, the all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic should take the prize, and with kids, I think it’s a good choice. That said, you’ve got to like that "formula"... Either way, it’s ideal if you need a break.

For me, it was the only time in my life I went (about ten days) to an all-inclusive resort about thirty kilometers from Punta Cana, if I remember correctly. It was with family, the kids, and a couple of friends who also had their kids. The trip was subsidized by my company. We all really enjoyed it, and the kids were thrilled, even though for me, it was anything but real travel...

A huge sandy beach with coconut trees stretching for kilometers, with hardly anyone around and "guards" every 100 meters to keep the local population out! The accommodations were decent and very comfortable (I’d even say high-end compared to my previous choices in that category!). Small structures tucked into the vegetation. Absolute peace and quiet since they were very well isolated.

Free water activities, diving (paid), games, evening events, dancing, etc. A varied choice of dining (buffet), several restaurants, bars, pools, etc... A bit like Club Med. We had a great time with friends. We took one or two trips on our own to see life outside the "camp": a whole different world!

Later, I had planned to go back to the Dominican Republic (without an agency this time) to explore the island, and I realized that a standalone flight was more expensive than a week-long all-inclusive stay! All that’s left is to find the right agency...

Hello,

One or two outings (on our own) to see life outside the "resort": A whole other world!

I can confirm that! What’s more, the all-inclusive hotel security guards’ job is to stop non-guests from sneaking in for free drinks, not to stop guests from leaving. I’ll add that the local minibuses cost next to nothing (but you have to pay in Dominican pesos). The bus route map (what they call "guaguas") is basically the country’s road map. Guaguas run from sunrise until just after sunset (and later for some routes in the Punta Cana area and around the capital). You can hop on and off anywhere, just ask.

Later, I’d planned to go back to the Dominican Republic (without an agency this time) to explore the island, and I realized that the flight alone was more expensive than a week-long all-inclusive stay! Still need to find the right agency...

It all depends on how you organize things! For flight tickets, you should sign up for Google Flights 4 or 5 months in advance. Then enter your departure airports (for example, enter Paris, not just Orly or CDG), and other easily accessible airports. For instance, Brussels (FlixBus coaches leave from Paris or CDG Airport and drop you right at Brussels Airport). Then enter ALL the arrival airports (Punta Cana AND Santo Domingo AND Santiago AND Puerto Plata) because, once you know the ropes, the comfortable intercity coaches let you cross the whole country for next to nothing. You just need to know where to spend the first night (I can give you some tips). Then enter your dates. You can set filters: max number of stops, max price, max travel time, and always check the box to hide self-transfer options. Then start the search. And check the "track prices" box so you’ll be notified of any price changes. You can try again with slightly different dates. As soon as you see a good price, grab it. Outside peak periods (July/August and the end of the year), a round-trip price of 600 € is reasonable.

Next, book your hotel. I always do this with German, Swiss, or Austrian operators. It’s all in German, but there are excellent online translators. These operators, who cater to German customers, always offer the choice between a package (flight + on-the-ground services), which I never choose because I have no intention of flying from Germany, or just the hotel without the flight, which I always pick. The prices are MUCH cheaper than what French operators charge.

The easiest way is to use comparison sites for different German operators. For example, ab in den urlaub or sonnenklar.tv.

Example price, even in August 2025 (exceptional promotion): 285 € per person (for two people) for 1 week at an all-inclusive hotel in Cabarete (Puerto Plata area). This is a hotel I know very well (I stayed there last month) and really like.

This hotel has only one downside: it’s close to Puerto Plata Airport, which is poorly served from France. So you’d need to arrive at another airport (Santo Domingo, for example), spend a night near Santo Domingo Airport (around 33 € for a great little hotel), then take the Caribe Tours coach to the Sosúa terminal (600 pesos = 9 €), about a 5-hour trip, and finally take a local minibus (50 pesos = 0.75 €) that drops you right in front of the hotel.

And there you have it—affordable holidays!

Best regards

Thanks for all these explanations. I hope they’ll help anyone planning a trip to the Dominican Republic, especially Switpilipili, because personally, I don’t plan on going back there. PS: I never would’ve guessed that the guards at "all-inclusive hotels" are actually there to stop guests from leaving! !😏