We were visting Santo Domingo with my partner and his family ( who are Dominicans) so we decided to waite untill we arrived in SD before we sellected a hotel.After two horrifying looks at moldy hotels recommended to us by family memebers we all relized that though we were Dominican by birth or association that we where soft Americans in need of the basics - like a clean bed. So we high tailed it to the Plaza Colonial. The staff was friendly, the beds where clean and we were able to rent a two bedroom apratment for 75 dollars per night. Which was a barign for a family of four.The the kitchen sink and stove where functional for making coffee and the half-size fridge kept the beers cold. However, the air conditioner in one of the rooms bearly worked.
It was a short walk to El Conde and the rest of the Colonial District.
The best part about our stay at the hotel where the security gaurds who let us use the pool after hours as long as we kept our clothes on. The hotel restuarant is over priced and unremarkable.For good home cooked dominican food in a clean and friendly environment take a right out of the hotel parking lot and make an immediate left up the street just past the nursery school on the right hand side you will find good food at a no name cafe. The pescado (fish) escobeche is excellent ask for an extra order of fish if you like - it don't remeber the prices they where so cheap.