Hostal Francia

The location is prime, right on the main road of Calle del Sol in a very safe area, with lots to explore nearby. I enjoyed my stay, and the host Christina was very nice. The management felt a bit strange at times, though, and it could seem like an abandoned hostel. It also appears to go by several different names, so I think the experience may depend on various factors. There’s no reception, and it’s casually run. The owner should establish the place more firmly to improve management.

There’s potential here, but I would not stay again or recommend it to anyone looking for a safe, secure place. My luggage was broken into while it was in a locked storage room that only staff could access. When I returned, the luggage lock was gone and $1,000 USD in pesos was missing. I reported it to police, and national police came to investigate. They found that the surveillance footage for that day had been deleted. Even with the footage missing, the owner brushed the matter off, took no responsibility, and did everything she could to deny it. Later, she posted false, terrible things about me in online forums. She comes from a known family in Santiago, and nothing happened to her or in connection with the incident. When she sees this, I’m back in the country. Now that I know more about the culture, her behavior seems typical of a dishonest Dominican. Shame on you. The staff aren’t honest, and there’s no security on the property.

I had a great experience and will definitely come back. The hostel is charming, cute, and clean, with a great location and friendly staff. Thanks :(

The location is good, close to the monumental area in the city center. I requested a room with a private bathroom, but none were available, so I stayed in one with shared bathrooms. They were clean, and I never had to wait for my turn. The shared-bathroom room was smaller than I expected, and I couldn’t see the other rooms to compare. It takes a few minutes to figure out how to control the water temperature. The hotel isn’t set up for people with disabilities. It does have Wi-Fi and a kitchen all guests can use, and breakfast is included in the morning, just cornflakes. There are places nearby to get good food. The hallway light can be too bright at night, so I turned it off. Laundry costs extra, while cleaning service is free.