if you have to go in August I would go to the North. As you are probably aware, August is right in the middle of the hurricane season and although it's unlikely to happen, if it did you are far better in the North of the country which hasn't has a direct hit for over 20 years. The East and South coast of the Island seem to regulary get hurricanes passing close by and causing weather distruptions.

A couple of the best family hotels are the Gran ventana or the Riu Complex (made up of the Mambo, Merengue and the Batchata).

The diffence between the north and south of the island are the south is in the caribbean sea and the north is in the atlantic ocean, the caribbean sea is a lot calmer than the atlantic and less undercurrent, in the caribbean sea you can walk out a bit further before the water level changes, in Bayahibe which is in the south we wadded out up to our waist for a good 300-500 meters. Also the water in the south is more turquiose and crystal clear along with the sand being more powdery and whiter. The south is more laid back and less lively with fewer areas to visit without a guide. as for the weather in august it is hot hot hot, we have been several times in august and i always come back looking like a native we went to cuba last august to the cayos and it wasnt a patch on the dom rep in any shape or form thats why we're going back to old faithful this year, roll on august 23rd riu palace punta cana here we come

im going end of september to middle of october to the North, is this a good time to visit as in weather wise?!

yes i think all seasons are pretty good weather wise, its never actually cold there they consider 75degrees to be cold!