Catalonia Santo Domingo: Coastal Comfort in the City

Catalonia Santo Domingo sits on Avenida George Washington, the seafront boulevard known to locals as the Malecon. The Caribbean is right across the road, so many of the upper-floor rooms look straight out over the water. The building is tall enough that the sea views begin well above the traffic below. You are about four kilometres from the historic centre, close enough to reach the old streets in a short taxi ride yet far enough to keep the calmer pace of the waterfront.

Rooms are roomy and comfortable, with a flat-screen TV, a minibar and a bathroom with a shower and bathtub. The hotel keeps two pools, one of them set on a deck above the sea, plus a gym with floor-to-ceiling windows that face the water. Several dining spots sit inside the building, including a buffet restaurant, a snack bar and a lounge bar that opens in the evening. Rooms here come on a room-only basis, with breakfast available to add for a set price per person.

The Malecon promenade runs right outside the door, a long stretch for walks along the shore at sunset. The Colonial City, the oldest European settlement in the Americas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies around four kilometres away, with cobbled lanes, the first cathedral built in the New World and plenty of cafes. The city centre with its shops and restaurants is the same short distance. Las Americas International Airport is roughly 25 kilometres from the hotel, an easy transfer when you arrive or leave.

This one suits couples and travellers who want a sea view, a pool and a quieter waterfront base while still being a short ride from the old town. Good for a mix of relaxing by the water and exploring Santo Domingo's history.