Hotel Holiday Inn Santo Domingo

In the residential district of Piantini, just under 2 miles from the colonial zone of Santo Domingo. The capital's international airport is 22 miles away and you should allow 45 minutes for transfers.

Being a business hotel, there are 6 conference rooms available that can accommodate 150 people. A remarkable detail at the Holiday Inn Santo Domingo is the number of flat screen TVs: they're everywhere! If you have your laptop with you, you can surf the net in your room thanks to the free Wi-Fi; if not, there are four computers available for guests to use for free in the lounge bar on the second floor. Head to the hotel's massage room and let yourself be pampered by a masseuse who uses products from the Parisian cosmetic brand Académia. Room service is available 24/7. The small but well-equipped gym, open 24/7, looks out onto the swimming pool and the city. Guests can also use the sauna for free. If you are coming by car, there is a free car park with 92 spots for guests.

This establishment, a 9-storey building with 2 lifts and 179 guest rooms, was opened in 2009 and is a member of the American hotel group IHG. There are two main places where guests usually head to in this Holiday Inn. First, there is the small, rectangular-shaped swimming pool located on the building's rooftop terrace. Open from 9:00am to 6:00pm and 1m30 deep, it is surrounded by a solarium space with white plastic deckchairs (that are both stylish and original) and towels are provided. The spot is very quiet. There is even a little bar open from 9:00am to 6:00pm beside the swimming pool. Then there is the very stylish lounge bar, with its rectangular marble table, on the second floor open from midday to 11:00pm. In it there is a bookcase, two large flat-screen TVs, a Nespresso coffee machine and four computers to surf the web for free.

The wooden doors embedded in the walls are well camouflaged, so much so that it is easy to pass in front of the guest rooms without noticing them! Boasting a contemporary decor with white floor tiling, these rooms are perfect for guests staying on business. They include a flat-screen TV offering 84 satellite channels, a free digital code safe large enough to store a laptop (keeping in mind that the Internet access here, via an ADSL cable or Wi-Fi, is free), individual air-conditioning, a mini-bar refrigerator and tea and coffee-making facilities. However, they don't have a balcony. The bathroom has a toilet, a large shower with a flexible showerhead, welcome toiletries, a telephone, a scale, tissues and a hair-dryer. Room service is available 24/7. In addition to all this, the superior rooms also boast parquet flooring, a microwave, a Nespresso machine, a living room with a large flat-screen TV and a terrace with a whirlpool.

The Aromas restaurant consists of a rectangular-shaped room with pretty parquet flooring that can accommodate 90 guests. Like just about everywhere else in the hotel, you will of course find a large flat-screen TV! The à la carte menu proposes international cuisine featuring grilled meat and there is an open kitchen with show cooking. The wine cellar is particularly well-stocked, with wines from France, Italy, Spain, California, Argentina and Chile. Breakfast is served from 6:00am to 11:00am, lunch from 12:00pm to 3:00pm and dinner from 6:00pm to midnight. The wine/coffee bar is open from 7:00am to 9:30pm and, sure enough, you will find two large flat-screen TVs there. Guests staying in the superior rooms have a special area reserved for them where they can nibble on some snacks, drink some tea, coffee or even an alcoholic drink (for free), and use the Wi-Fi Internet access (also free).