Casa Bonita Tropical Lodge
Formerly the vacation retreat of a wealthy Dominican family, Casa Bonita is set on a hill overlooking the north end of Bahoruco...
Compared to other destinations in the Caribbean, lodging in the Dominican Republic is relatively affordable. That said, there is a limited number of options for independent travelers wishing to make decisions on the fly and for whom cost is a concern.
In some places, such as Santo Domingo, you can stay in restored colonial-era buildings with loads of character with comfortable accommodations for less money than you would spend for a night at a bland international-chain-style hotel. Most have websites where you can make reservations in advance and you can often pay with a credit card, though it’s a good idea to check in advance. A good number of all-inclusives, especially outside the holidays and the high season, fall into this category and can be remarkably good deals considering what you get. It’s important, however, to keep in mind the peculiar nature of this style of accommodations.
From US$200 and up (the ceiling is high for the most exclusive resorts) there’s a big jump in terms of the quality of furnishings, food and service, and in the Dominican Republic, maybe more than elsewhere, you truly get what you pay for.
Pay budget room rates and you won’t necessarily feel like you’re on vacation, especially in the cities, but there are some exceptions. The DR has no proper hostels, and very little backpacker culture of the sort found in the rest of Latin America, Europe and elsewhere. The walled compounds generically called ‘cabañas turisticas’,with names suggestive of intercourse or romantic love, on the outskirts of most large towns are short-time hotels for couples seeking privacy. Note that some budget options may not be able to guarantee hot water. In listings here, prices for budget options are up to US$40, midrange are generally between US$40 and US$80 and top end are over US$80. Following are some guidelines on room rates:
Formerly the vacation retreat of a wealthy Dominican family, Casa Bonita is set on a hill overlooking the north end of Bahoruco...
The only five-star hotel in town, the Grand Admiral – a reference to Columbus – is the obvious choice for business travelers on an expense account...
This oceanfront hotel boasts well-appointed rooms with gleaming tile floors, good-sized bathrooms and satellite TV. All suites and apartments have balconies that afford at least partial ocean views...
The InterContinental has one of the plushest lobbies of the hotels on the Malecón and an even more hip bar-lounge area...
Easily the nicest of the luxury hotels on the Malecón, the Hilton is part of a huge complex, including a casino, movie theaters and several restaurants (however, much of it still remains vacant)...
Known as much for its celebrity guests and villa owners as for its facilities and wealth of activities, this enormous, sprawling complex truly resembles a city-state, albeit one with the security paranoia of a G8 conference ringed by anarchist prote...
Set out on the point just east of the main Cabarete beach, these four-star digs are easily the best in town. All the rooms have a balcony or terrace and face the ocean...
A middle of the road hotel, from its floral-print and wicker-furniture design scheme to its very ordinary restaurants, the Jaragua does have a popular nightclub and resort-style facilities and amenities.
The curiously designed and cavernous lobby at the Meliá doesn’t inspire confidence, but this hotel does have the nicest pool area on the Malecón. Rooms are about as comfortable as the average chain hotel but no more.
Cross colonial with a little touch of medieval and you have the Palacio, a maze-like hotel occupying a 17th-century mansion only a block north of the Calle El Conde pedestrian mall...
A new boutique-style hotel only a block from Parque Colón, the Hodelpa Caribe is a convenient choice for those seeking modern comforts without the colonial ambience...
The Kaoba has 25 charming bungalows set on lush grounds away from the main drag. Most rooms have kitchenettes; all have cable TV and minibars...
This small hotel feels like staying in someone’s home. It offers five clean, self-contained apartments at Playa Encuentro, and is perfect for the hardcore surfer, or those wanting seclusion. It also rents scooters so you can get into town easily.
Popular with wedding planners, the PierGiorgio is built on a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean. It’s lavishness – red carpet, ostentatious decoration, grand wooden staircase – will appeal to some, but others may find it a bit tacky...
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