Holiday Village

For the price range, this is one of the better places we saw in DomRep, though I’d put it around four stars. The rooms were roomy enough, the location was good, it felt safe, and there were enough outlets. Internet was often very good, and the staff were lovely, though Spanish made communication easier. The rooftop bar was cute, the food better than expected, and they gave us water for free and washed our clothes. A few things could be better. The toilet paper was barely one layer, and our sheets and mattress weren’t clean at first. It took a while to get them changed. The internet dropped out sometimes but usually came back quickly. We changed rooms in between, so we had one very modern AC and another that didn’t respond to the remote. The bar could be loud, though it didn’t bother us in the rooms, and I found it a bit pricey. Still, it was a nice, affordable stay in PP.

Dynasty Hotel is right in the middle of the city, with plenty of attractions within walking distance. The staff were attentive and professional, from the welcome at reception to helping with questions. After recent heavy rain caused a problem with our room, they moved us without hesitation. I also enjoyed the food there. The warm welcome and helpful service made the stay feel comfortable.

The staff were pretty responsive, but the rooms and food were a letdown. My first room constantly smelled of urine and had wallpaper coming off the walls. The second faced the street, where I woke up to construction workers on scaffolding looking in the window and using a jackhammer on the concrete wall. The food was mediocre: eggs were always overcooked, pasta was inedible, and the lamb was okay. The hotel was advertised at $50 cdn a night, but I realized when leaving that I’d been charged $50 usd per night. It’s in the old city centre, which is busy during the day, but all the stores, bars, and restaurants close at night.

There’s a great rooftop bar and a very good free breakfast. I’ve been coming to Dominican Republic for many years and somehow never knew this little gem was here. A cheap getaway if you’re in the area.