Restaurante La Yola

Perched above the water, with a palm-thatched roof and open-air views of the sunset, this restaurant's casual, beachy atmosphere contrasts with its sophisticated (and quite pricey) Med-Latin seafood. The just-caught choices change frequently but might include tangy fish ceviche or crunchy shrimp tempura. The service is elegant, as are the well-dressed folks waiting to get inside during high season. Take a lesson from them and make a reservation before you show.

The Restaurante La Yola is part of the The Punta Cana Hotel, which stretches along a 5km strand of Caribbean beach with an ecological reserve, 18-hole oceanfront golf course and horse-riding ranch. The resort is located in the Dominican Republic village of Higuey.

This tropical property is commended for developing a 105-acre ecological reserve with a biodiversity/sustainability research centre located across the road. The resort's outdoor pools are available 24 hours a day, where the main pool features an adjacent children's pool, a "quiet" pool includes a waterfall and children's section, and a third pool provides sea views. Non-motorized water-sports gear is complimentary, and reef, wreck, freshwater-cave and underground-river dives are offered for a fee. Complimentary eco-tours navigate the ecological reserve.