Boutique Hotel Palacio

“Dated review but posting with gratitude”

This review is written 7 years later. Back in Jan 2017, I made the mistake of booking for the date of arrival. We had taken a red eye flight into Punta Cana and it was 100% my mistake that we did not actually have a -no, two -room(s) booked for "the night before." I still remember the great k... more

This review is written 7 years later. Back in Jan 2017, I made the mistake of booking for the date of arrival. We had taken a red eye flight into Punta Cana and it was 100% my mistake that we did not actually have a -no, two -room(s) booked for "the night before." I still remember the great kindness we were shown by the late night/early morning hotel staff as they struggled to ready a room that was not-being-used because of shower repair issues. They changed sheets, found a roll-a-cot for our then 20-something year old daughter, and waived off all of our gratitude. And they totally moved us into the proper roomS as early as they could the next morning ... leaving us free to tourist as best as we could with our red-eye depleted energies. I am currently culling travel paper clutter, and revisiting memories. This is a fond one - my mistake was greeted with great humanity.

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“Recently tried 3 different hotel options near El Conde - this is the one I am returning to”

Over the last three months, I spent three weekends in Santo Domingo, a short flight or 12 hour ferry ride from San Juan, Puerto Rico, my home base. Stayed at a different hotel each stay (each no more than $100 per night), every hotel a 2 to 5 minute walk to El Conde (a pedestrian street and cen... more

Over the last three months, I spent three weekends in Santo Domingo, a short flight or 12 hour ferry ride from San Juan, Puerto Rico, my home base. Stayed at a different hotel each stay (each no more than $100 per night), every hotel a 2 to 5 minute walk to El Conde (a pedestrian street and center of the colonial zone, very close to a huge variety of restaurant, nightlife and cultural options). The room had a bit of a moldy smell, but the weekend I was there, Santo Domingo was flooded by rain storm after rain storm - so maybe not anything you would notice under normal weather conditions. The building is not as "newly renovated" as the other hotels I stayed in, but when it comes to an ambiance and architecture that is a perfect fit for a stay in the colonial sector, this is the place to be. The restaurant onsite is a bit of a joke - a menu where a $12 tuna sandwich was the highlight (surprise, surprise, I never saw a customer or employee in the restaurant area other than for the limited breakfast included in some room price options), the glass of wine I ordered in the small lobby bar came from a bottle probably opened 3 months earlier, but who cares, there are dozens of bars and restaurants within spitting distance. The room itself (I opted for the cheapest room available) was generous in size, accessible by elevator or steps, and had all the basics (safe, nice bathroom, decent bed, and cable TV). The Queen of England would probably pick a more sterile and modern option, but if you are an Indiana Jones type of person, this may become your favorite place to stay in the colonial zone. And if you are single, and you meet someone you may want to invite to your room, the hotel offers you the option to do so. For a $25 fee. Most other hotels do not permit anyone other than registered guests in the rooms. Guests leave their ID with the reception, so its not a policy that impacts your or the other guests' safety. In conclusion, a perfect location, a historic building and an ambiance that perfectly matches the surroundings. BTW, Uber is the absolute best choice for a return trip to the airport from any hotel in Santo Domingo - if you prefer a taxi, the hotel can arrange that as another safe but slightly pricier option as well. (The hotel offers some higher priced rooms/suites as well, some with very large balcony terraces - a somewhat unique option in this area for those who really needs a lot of space.)

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“Unhappy Guest”

The stay was very unpleasant the location great area across from supermarket and on the strip in colonial zone. however for the dates 10/06 thru 10/09 the television was down the complete time and the front desk kept stating that they has someone working on the issue. but spoke with another gues... more

The stay was very unpleasant the location great area across from supermarket and on the strip in colonial zone. however for the dates 10/06 thru 10/09 the television was down the complete time and the front desk kept stating that they has someone working on the issue. but spoke with another guest who stated that it has been out for a month. Behind the hotel they were jack hammering the street from about 730am until 6pm at night. The breakfast was so very limited I only ate the pineapple the workers in the restaurant didn't speak any English at all I just asked for a take away box. The internet was extremely slow the safe in the hotel unable to add a code to lock important papers. The room had a refrigerator but no microwave. They shutdown the lobby and lock they iron gates at about 11pm every night just became difficult leaving and returning. In the morning the staff and very loud with conversations at 8am that carried down the hall and in to the rooms unable to rest during the day time. The bar in the lobby was never staffed and air conditioning went out in lobby and bar went out the second day there extremely hot in lobby and bar area. Again the roof top pool was not open yet again. I dont think I will book this location again on my next trip at all.

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