Sofitel Nicolas Santo Domingo

This hotel definitely deserves it's number one rating. Upon checking in we were given cold towels and fruit punch and then led to our lovely room. We booked the standard room and I was suprised at how large it was. There was a desk area along with a nice tv and the bed was beyond comfortable. The bathroom was also large with a tub and shower. The hotel itself is beautiful with a large garden, with the bar and pool on one end, and the restaurant on the other. We ate most of our meals by the pool/bar and while the food within the hotel is expensive for Santo Domingo, it is about the same here in the states. All of the photos of the hotel on Sofitel's website are very much true, everything looks the same.

The wireless internet access (for a small cost of about $2 USD per hour) was another great suprise. If you don't have/bring your laptop you can use their computers in their computer room which is located by the pool. The staff is incredibly friendly, the food is delishish and the view of the river is as amazing as the breeze it sends into the hotel.

I arrived on Jan 12th and left on the 17th. Suprisingly enough Robert DeNiro, Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie and the rest of the people associated with "The Good Shepard" were staying at the hotel from the 5th to the 14th and I bumped into both DeNiro and Damon. The hotel is very private and has a nice quiet feel to it. I highly recomend this hotel, it is the best in the city.

Also, like others have mentioned, the location is the best.

The only downside to the hotel's location is the lack of beach but there is a beach within a 1/2 an hour drive, it is called Boca Chica and is very beautiful. I asked the driver to go to the Hamaca Hilton hotel and rather than paying $50 per person for a day pass via the Hilton, I decided to first eat at their Pelican restaurant which is located on the beach, and after eating you are allowed to enjoy the beach, free of cost. So there is a tip for you. Instead of stopping at the day pass stand tell them you are there for the restaurant and after eating, move over to the beach.

After seeing the Hilton which is very much a resort (obviously) I was very happy I decided to stay at the Sofitel, it is much more peaceful.

The only hotel that compares to this gem is the Monasterio in Cuzco, set in a similar, gorgeous colonial environment. A certain Sofitel French panache is evident in every touch, as is the lovely Latin charm of the hotel staff. I returned home to Michigan on Jan 7, 2006 after a week's stay in the Nicolas Ovando, which included New Year's Eve, and a lovely multi-course dinner in the patio that night. Can't beat the location for watching the midnight fireworks on New Year's Eve. Hotel was also good enough for Robert DeNiro, who checked in for a few days during our stay.

Our double room was huge, and luckily facing away from the noisy Calle de las Damas. My only, relatively minor gripes are 1) low water pressure in shower, and 2) the front desk's unreliability in making timely wake-up calls on request. Still, I'd return in a heartbeat! Ernie Gutierrez, Royal Oak, Michigan.

Girlfriend and I stayed at the hotel and chose it due to TripAdvisors #1 rating and we were not disappointed. Housed in a renovated old mansion the hotel just seems to embody Caribbean elegance. Rooms were very comfortable, lovely toiletries, very fancy, which was due to the fact that the hotel is owned by the French Sofitel Corp. No power outages despite the fact that the rest of the city was suffering from blackouts. Nice pool, excellent gym. It was just lovely to walk around the hotel and look out onto the river during the evenings.

It was great knowing that every day as we would walk out onto the street we were on the first ever street in the New Continent and that the family of Christopher Columbus had lived on the street. Such history was just amazing. Walking distance to all the great historical sites and sights. We saw other hotels during our stay were relieved that the one we had chosen one could simply step out onto the street, other fancy hotels seemed to be behind walls and not too accessible to the street.

Though very pricey, the restaurant in the hotel had the best food we had during our stay in Santo Domingo. The included morning breakfast was VERY well laid out and was delicious. Great hotel, great food, great location. Our only mistake was staying too long in Santo Domingo, the city just does not have enough to offer.

From the moment they welcome you with cold, wet towels and fruit punch, you know you're in a quality establishment. They open doors for you, are so so nice. Breakfast buffet is included and excellent (only a few indoor tables, though, read:air conditioning), the rest are under fans outdoors. The view of the river is much better at night (pretty industrial in daytime), pool looks nice (never actually swam)....bartenders vary in their generosity with alcohol, but this is easily remedied...such personality...history...architecture...a stone's throw from Plaza Espana with entertainment on weekends and restaurants and so many colonial sites are literally a couple of steps away...DO NOT recommend the Mercure Commericial (a sister hotel also owned by Accor and located on Calle Conde) if you care at all for aesthetics... The Nicolas pampers you...I had to turn the A/C off and then back on to give it a jump start a few times...but you will never feel the city power outages for more than 30 seconds. Overall an unforgettable, classical, place. Great beds, bathtub, room service...cable channels are lacking, but TV is nice.

(Photos only)

This was one of the best hotels I have stayed at in a long time.

The hotel is beautiful. Rooms are spacious and beautifully decorated.

Public areas are beautiful landscaped. This hotel is a tranquil oasis in a very busy city.

The hotel staff could not be more professional. They were great.

Restaurant and bars all very good.

Great pool too.

If you are staying in Santo Domingo either for business or pleasure you must give this hotel a try. You wont be disappointed.

I can confirm all comments from the previous statements plus my additional add-ons:

The location of the Hotel in the heart of the colonial district is perfect for a visit of the city. All interesting points are within walking distance.

In addition the Hotel's own pool above the river provides nice views and a terrific occasion to relax after a hard tour.

The rooms with bathtub and a seperate shower are fantastic. Fresh flowers in every room underline the individual care for every guest. Insulated windows, a nearly noiseless air condition (feather blankets and pillows!) and an insulated window keep you protected from heat, dust and noise. A perfect place to relax.

From our impression, Santo Domingo is worth a visit, if you are in the Dominican Republic, three nights are enough to visit all major attractions. But the (colonial) charme, that Mexican cities provide - like Tasco, Guanajuato, Campeche, Merida etc - is not half as nice. In addition the city is very dirty outside the colonial district in some places (like the Malecon).

In general the food in the entire DR is extremely mediocre and uninspiring and therefore not a good value at all. Do not expect too much regarding taste and size of portions when you have left the Hotel.

This is an extraordinary hotel. Not only are the rooms beautiful (either the colonial or modern side), the hotel itself used to be the palace of the first governor of Santo Domingo, Nicolás de Ovando (and therefore first governor of America). Dating from the beginning of the 16th century, it has been very tastefully remodeled, keeping with the lines of colonial architecture. The rooms are beautifully decorated (we stayed several nights in a colonial room, later on in a "modern" room), and you are welcomed with a bottle of rum and slippers. The welcome at the reception is also very pleasant: a towel to wipe your hands and a very tasty fruit drink. The hallways, gardens, views, location (in the heart of the colonial neighborhood) are all excellent. The restaurant is first-class as well, with wonderful food and service. The people at the reception, front door, café, all parts of the hotel are very attentive and friendly. Don't miss out on this one! If you spend any time in Santo Domingo, be sure to stay here, it will be worth every minute of your visit.

I was in Santa Domingo for three days on a business conference, and my stay could not have been better. First class in all respects. An outstanding hotel, at Hampton Inn US $$ prices!

I had planned to spend my wedding night at one of the big hotels in the Malecon, but when a few nigths before the wedding I went for dinner to this hotelˇs restaurant I changed my mind.

This hotel was inaugurated on July 21st 2003 but it has been open since June 30th.

it is set in a magnificent palace with a spectaculer view over the Ozama river, at the core of the Colonial City of Santo Domingo.

There are two types of rooms, contemporary and colonial, any type you choose will be good enough even if your expectations are very high you will not be disappointed.

The breakfast buffet is excellent, as is the food in general.

If you have been to Santo Domingo before, you will be surprised with this hotel, it is far beyond whatever you have seen in this city before.

Very recommended