Dominican Republic - is it like the Caribbean Islands?

[seale]

More specifically, are there areas similar to Antigua?

We usually rent a villa in Antigua for a week around Christmas, but the prices are creeping up and now something semi lux looks to be about £5,000 a week.

Had a quick look at the Dominican Republic and similar villas are £1500-2000 a week. That's a massive saving. We could spend the difference on daily cleaning and an in house chef.

We like tropical beaches, quiet but not deserted, nice restaurants, bars.

No.

Not been myself but know a few people that went. They were regulars to places in the Caribean like Antigua. They hated it. Felt very different from places like Antigua etc. There's a reason it is so much cheaper I guess.