Unlike Cancun, where high-rise hotels crowd the coast and millions of bodies find their own speck of sand, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic still has the feel of a beach area that's recently been discovered. In the popular coastal community of Bavaro, the palm trees and beach extend for miles, so it's easy to leave civilization behind if you wander far enough. With its soft white sand and turquoise waters, this Caribbean outpost is an ideal spot to escape your winter blues and whisk away a week in the hot sun.

Spanish-owned Iberostar has four hotels in one complex with some 1,500-plus rooms total, however only three of those hotels are appropriate for families. They include the Iberostar Dominicana, Iberostar Bavaro, and Iberostar Punta Cana. The Grand Hotel is an adults-only property, but take note mom and dad: the restaurants there are available for a romantic night out with the kids.

Each resort has succeeded in creating a tropical paradise, where flamingoes and ibises run free under thickets of palms on the manicured grounds. Unlike other all-inclusives, where the same choice of food is served everyday at one buffet, the Iberostar has seven different restaurants at their Bavaro Resort alone, including Japanese, seafood, and gourmet choices. Since Punta Cana is pretty much devoid of culture and sightseeing, there's little to tear you away from the swim-up bar - a favorite of adults and kids alike, who float over to order limonata and chocolate batidas (milk shakes).

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