Original Post Date: Jan 29, 2024

My Dominica travel era has been one of the best seasons of life: perhaps naturally so as it was the next season from high school: the time when I went to university, explored and discovered more. With 10+ years living on this magical, natural and enchanted island, I want to share the cream of the information I have gathered, to help you plan your Dominica travels too. Sometimes, the best things in life are hidden in plain sight. And the most popular destinations set the stage for life changing experiences.

Spoiler alert: you might fall in love with Dominica, the nature isle of the Caribbean after reading this. 

Dominica Travel:What is Dominica known for?

Lush. Green. Unspoiled. Unstained. These are all reasons why Dominica is called the nature isle of the Caribbean. And that is what this less popular Caribbean destination is known for. You won’t find a bay with countless luxury resorts, or a dedicated shopping, nightlife, restaurants or bars arena as if you were walking the magnificent mile in Chicago. But what you will find during your Dominica travel escape, is:

• rich, chlorophyll-rich beauty at every neck turn during your road trips,
•  therapeutic black sand beaches ready to heal your sole and get back in touch with mother nature, 
• Natural, volcanic sulfur springs to detox and rejuvenate your body,
• Quiet and peaceful waters (yes, the ones King David refers to in Psalm 23) where you can swim, fish, snorkel or kayak depending on the side of the island you find yourself at.

Dominica is the island for the adventurous, the culinary curious, the hopeless romantic and the nature hungry traveler. 

Dominica Travel: When is the Best time to visit Dominica?

Countless articles touching on Dominica travel will touch on this topic by talking about the weather. But as someone who has lived on the island for many, many years, here is my approach: travel to Dominica (or any other Caribbean island) based on what you want to see the most or do the most.

For instance, if you want to experience nature’s beauty and rejuvenating properties all year long, then travel at any season. But in addition to that, if you also want to experience local culture, history, memorable parties and endless celebrations, here are the key seasons you must have on your radar:

• Dominica Carnival season: this happens in February, every year
• Dominica Jazz & Creole Season: this happens in April – May, every year
• Dominica Independence Season: this happens in October, every year.

As you can see, I am making reference to seasons, and not specific days because these seasons generally include month-long celebrations, cultural activities and events of all kinds. And the beautiful part is, after you are all partied out, nature will await to refresh and rejuvenate you, just as it always does. 

Expectedly, these are also the seasons when most tourists tend to plan their Dominica travel vacation. Therefore, endeavor to secure your flights and hotels in Dominica at least 4-6 months in advance for the best rates. And speaking of hotels…

Dominica Travel: Where to Stay when traveling to Dominica

When it comes to Dominica accommodations and hotels, you have a wide range of options, from budget, to boutique, to “bougie” (luxury). The choice of your accommodation for your Dominica travel depends on whether or not:

• You want to stay more indoors or explore more of the outdoors,
• You want to stay closer to a specific tourist attraction (as they are spread across the island),
• You want to invest in a more upscale hotel experience or prefer comfortable and boutique picks so you can spend your dollars on memorable activities.

Regardless of the type of traveler you are or the type of trips you want to take (at the time), you have options. Here are my best recommendations for finding great accommodation options in Dominica:

• Use the official Dominica’s accommodation website: this website has a catalog of a wide range of properties (including locally owned properties) that you will find useful for planning your Dominica travels. In addition, it allows you to get in touch directly with the properties and book with them, avoiding third-party websites costs;

• Use websites such as Airbnb.com: I like Airbnb especially for budget and unique finds you might not see everywhere. You can secure accommodation options ranging from fully equipped villas, to single/double bedrooms in chic apartments. 

• Use other websites such as hotels.com, booking.com and expedia.com: these popular websites are popular for a reason. They can help you connect with almost all hotels around the world, including Dominica. Expedia also offers options where you can book your flight, Dominica travel vacation car rental and Dominica hotel at the same time.

Now that you have this list, I want to share with you other beautiful and top rated places where you can stay in Dominica. I appreciate each one of them in a different way because they all have different offerings.

Beautiful Resorts for your Dominica Travel Experience:

• The Rosalie Bay Eco Resort: this is Dominica’s top eco-resort, and it is also locally owned. A stay at Rosalie (as we colloquially call it) opens doors to so many nature-friendly experiences like bush tea experiences, turtles watching, and so much more.

• Secret Bay, Dominica: Secret Bay Dominica is an award-winning boutique resort on the island, and is well known for its all inclusive packages and concierge services to guests who want the feeling of “being taken care of”.  

• Jungle Bay Dominica: Jungle Bay Dominica is one of the island’s best eco-wellness resorts. With clean and spacious villas, you feel enveloped in nature, and surrounded with countless possibilities of adventures, Jungle Bay Dominica is worth considering if you love natural retreats and eco-friendly experiences.

• Intercontinental Hotel Dominica: part of the IHG hotel chains, IHG Dominica provides upscale luxury while still maintaining the natural appeal of the island. They are opening this spring, and I can’t wait to see what the resort has in store for local and international visitors.

• Coulibri Ridge, Dominica: Coulibri Ridge is Dominica’s newest sustainable luxury resort, with amazing views, an environmentally conscious design and really unique hospitality. A lot of luxury travelers head there when looking for unique Caribbean “off the grid” experiences that they can cherish forever. 

Mid-range hotels for your Dominica Travel Experience:

• The Fort Young Hotel: this Dominica hotel & dive resort is one of the best locations in the capital city, Roseau. Central, and within walking distance of everything that happens downtown. The hotel is also very popular for its weekend brunches, which my friends and I love going to on Sundays, after church. 

• Hotel The Champs:  I really like this hotel because it’s chic, cute, small and boutique. Smaller than those you would see in the north, but for all my experiences there, I have had great customer service. 

• The Atlantique View Hotel: this hotel is a good stop if you are visiting the North of the island and are looking for a place to stay. The rooms are generally spacious, and I like the fact they are within a short driving distance (10-15 mins) from most of the attractions in the north. 

Unique budget hotels and accommodations in Dominica

• The Soufriere Guest House: more than a guesthouse, this is a place where you can find a community of travelers and also dive deeper in the lifestyle of the Soufriere community. Soufriere is a popular fishing village on the island, well known as one of the best sites in the Caribbean for the most mesmerizing snorkeling experiences. There are so many activities you can do when you visit Soufriere, Dominica, and I’d encourage you to explore a few of them when you go there. 

• The Seaworld Guesthouse: located in (another fishing community) Newtown, this property is within walking distance to the capital city, Roseau. The Seaworld guest house is also pretty unique in the sense that they produce a lot of their own local products, including red wine. 

• Hibiscus Valley Inn: this property is located towards the north side of the island, and provides ultimate seclusion. I like that it is very nestled in nature, and truly creates the ideal environment to escape, which is something a lot of visitors look forward to during their Dominica travel experiences. It is also a minute away from one of Dominica’s popular rivers (Concorde River), which is one of the best sites on island for river tubing experiences.  

• Villa Passiflora, Calibishie: this villa is truly a unique destination if you want to plan a group escape with your friends in the northeast side of the island. The views are unbeatable, and the experience is absolutely worth it. 

There are also several hotels in Dominica that provide seasonal deals and offerings, which would be of interest to you if you are in for the best travel deals for your Dominica hotels. Check out these articles:

• Best Dominican hotels with Valentine’s Day Packages
• Top Hotels in Dominica for a memorable staycation experience

Dominica Travel: Where to Eat during your Trip to Dominica

Your Dominica Travel experience would not be complete without you experiencing Dominican cuisine. Caribbean cuisine takes its roots from African, Caribbean and European influences. During your Dominica travel adventure, tasting some of the local delicacies is a MUST. Popular Dominican dishes such as pelau, broth, stuffed bakes or grilled lobster should definitely be on your radar when you visit Dominica! To make it easier for you, I have combined some of the best restaurants I recommend in Dominica, in these articles:

• The best restaurants in Dominica: my top picks 
• Fusion Cuisine, Dominica: French, Canadian and Caribbean at Lacou
• Healthy Caribbean Island food: Work and Brunch at Tropical Blendz Cafe

I know for sure these will give you tantalizing meal options for your Dominica travel experience!

Dominica Travel: Things to do and Bucket list experiences

For an even more exciting Dominica Travel experience, I have compiled the best articles and resources you can use to when looking for the things to do on the island. Help yourself! Check each one of them out and use it at your leisure to plan your most memorable Dominica travel experience.

• The Ultimate guide to Dominica’s Carnival
• 15 Things to do in Dominica during the summer
• 10 Bucket List adventures you must have in Dominica 
• Summer staycation in Dominica under $150: How I did it

I hope you found this article helpful, and I hope that it serves as another amazing resource for the planning of your Dominica travel experience.

See you in the next adventure,

Clem