Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
SALINAS HOTEL & RESTAURANT
You'll feel like you need a passport to visit this lovely
hotel
( 809-866-8141;
www.hotelsalinas.net
; Puerto Hermosa 7; d RD$3500, d all-incl RD$6000; ), located at the
near-literal end of the road on the peninsula, 20km southwest of Baní, amid semi-arid dunes and
desert, striking mountains and a postcard-blue bay - it looks more like the American southwest than
the DR. All the rooms in this surprising four-story hotel with thatched roof have stunning views of the
mountains across the bay, as does the restaurant - easily the best place to eat in town, with lobster
(RD$700), fresh fish (RD$395) and chicken (RD$325). It's all decked out very shabby-chic with rus-
tic furnishings and kitschy paraphernalia and antiques. The extra large top-floor suites go for the same
price, so it pays to ask for them specifically. Sailboats are docked at the attached marina and the hotel
has its own yacht, on which guests get a free ride on Sunday sails. Otherwise, it's most easily reached
by car, but there are
guaguas
to Baní (RD$55, 40 minutes) that pass the hotel four times a day
(9:40am, noon, 1:15pm and 3pm). In Baní, they depart from the Asomicaba terminal at the southern
end of Av Fernando Deligne.
Sleeping & Eating
Hotel Caribani
( 809-522-3871;
hotelcaribani@gmail.com
; cnr Calles Sánchez 12 & San Tomé; s/d RD$1500/1800;
)
Conveniently located only one block from the northwestern edge of Parque Duarte.
Each basic room has a cable TV, air-con, a faux floral arrangement and a standard safe
box in the bathroom.
HOTEL
$$
ITALIAN
$$
Pala Pizza
(cnr Calles Duarte & Sánchez; mains RD$116-278, pizzas RD$254-631; 10am-midnight; )
Yes,
it's a chain, but this is Baní and locals swear it's better than anything else nearby. Think of
it as a Dominican Pizza Hut: there's perfectly decent pizza, and also tacos, calzones,
pasta, burgers and decent brownies with ice cream.
Information
Banco León
(cnr Hwy Sánchez & Calle Mella)
BanReservas
(cnr Calle Sánchez & Señora de Regla)
One block east of the park; another is half a
block east of the
guagua
stop for Barahona.
