Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 809-563-5000;
www.barcelo.com
; cnr Maximo Gomez & 27 de Febrero; r from US$75;
)
Still known to locals as Barcelo Lina, this outpost of the Spanish chain is within walk-
ing distance of the Plaza de la Cultura (and is only steps away from the main east-west
artery through the city). The spacious rooms have all of the contemporary touches and
features of a business-class hotel. The bathrooms are especially nice.
The inner courtyard pool and lounge area is equal to any of the Malecón hotels (though
the gym is decrepit). A casino, bakery, cigar lounge, piano bar and two restaurants - one
Japanese and the other a recommended buffet (open 24 hours) - mean some guests never
leave the property. The biggest downside is pricey wi-fi.
Hotel San Marco
MAP
HOTEL
$$
GOOGLE MAP
( 809-686-2876;
hotelsanmarco@codetel.net.do
; Calle Santiago 752; s/d incl breakfast US$72/81;
)
Housed in an old colonial-style home, San Marco's
pièce de résistance
is the
shady, inner courtyard pool area furnished with hammocks and lounge chairs. Rooms are
simply but tastefully furnished, as you'd expect from the owners of the recommended res-
taurant Il Cappucino (
Click here
)
.
The San Marco is located around the corner from a metro stop and the stop for Expreso
Bávaro buses. It's also within walking distance of the Malecón, while the campus of the
Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo is a few blocks west.
Hostal Riazor
MAP
HOTEL
$$
GOOGLE MAP
( 809-685-5566;
hostal_riazor@hotmail.com
; Av Independencia 457; s/d incl breakfast US$65/75;
)
The Riazor boasts professional English-speaking front-desk staff and extremely
well-kept rooms (some of the nicest in this price range) with faux-wood floors and
flatscreen TVs. An elevator means you don't have to lug your bags to whatever floor
you're on. Breakfast is served in Manolo, the recommended next-door restaurant.
Malecón
Less appealing than you might otherwise expect considering its waterfront Caribbean set-
ting, Santo Domingo's Malecón, a long expanse of baking concrete, has several high-rise
hotels. The upside is that many rooms have views; the downside is that you'll have to take
