For a regular hotel, stay in Cofresí. Costambar is made up of short-term rentals, condos, and time shares (see North Coast Villa Rentals for more information.

Chris and Mady’s (Playa Cofresí, tel. 809/970-7502, www.chrisandmadys.com, 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m., US$40–80) is an independent traveler’s dream. It’s next to a restaurant of the same name where both locals and tourists come to hang out and above a small supermarket and gift shop. This three-unit building has one two-bedroom unit with a kitchen, a one-bedroom unit with a kitchen, and a studio with a kitchenette. All units have full baths and are very tastefully decorated and clean. You can also rent a guest house one block away.

Lifestyle Hacienda Resorts (Playa Cofresí, tel. 809/586-1227, www.hacienda-resorts.com, US$150 d) is a complex of four all-inclusive hotels. Of the four, the Crown Villas is the best with the biggest price tag (US$2,275 and up per 1–6 people, per night). It offers 90 private three- and four-bedroom villas in Mediterranean style with private pools. All of the other hotels offer spacious rooms with balconies. The Lifestyle Tropical Beach Resort & Spa is directly on the beach and has 282 rooms, a kids’ club, lots of sports offerings, and of course, the spa. The location of this hotel, directly on Cofresí Beach, is reason enough to book here. Make sure to ask for a room with a balcony overlooking the beach.