Antiguo Hotel Europa

Built in the 1930s, the hotel retains much of its original architecture -- a blend of Spanish Colonial elements along with Roman and Greek design. However, the interior features far more modern furnishings and accents, creating a slight disconnect that doesn’t capitalize on the building’s history. Aside from the minimally furnished lobby, the rooftop terrace is the only other noteworthy common area, and it has lovely views of the Colonial Zone. Because the latter is only open for breakfast and limited nightly cocktail service, the social scene is virtually non-existent. The clientele is a mix of families and couples seeking a basic place to bed down in Santo Domingo's most popular neighborhood. However, keep in mind that the hotel charges steep fees for extra guests.

Situated in Santo Domingo’s historic Colonial Zone, the hotel is within a short a walk of dozens of restaurants, bars, and shops. The Alcazar de Colon is just across the road, overlooking the river. The city’s landmark 16th-century Fortaleza Ozama castle is less than a five-minute walk of the property. It will also take about five minutes to reach the pedestrianized Calle El Conde on foot. There aren't any great beaches in the city, and it's a 35-minute drive to Boca Chica, east of downtown. Las Americas International (SDQ) is 30 minutes away by car. However, this time can almost double during the city’s peak traffic hours. Shuttle bus and taxi service are easy to arrange in the airport terminal and prices are on par with other popular Caribbean destinations. Alternatively, several name brand providers offer rental car booths in the airport terminal, but the city’s roads are chaotic to navigate for tourists.

Rooms at this hotel are spartan. While the original tile flooring and wrought iron balcony railings provide a degree of vintage charm, the basic furniture and miscellaneous accents all live up to the hotel's budget rating. The lack of windows in some rooms only adds to the already dark, claustrophobic atmosphere. Standard Rooms offer basic one-room layouts with only enough floor space to walk around the furniture. Balcony Rooms are similar, but add a small, unfurnished balcony overlooking the Colonial Zone. Superior Rooms have additional floor space, and Suites feature larger layouts, though they aren't separated into living and sleeping areas. Standard features include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, limited bottled water, and (optional) mini-fridges. Free Wi-Fi is also available, and we found the service to be fast throughout the property. The bathrooms in most rooms are compact, though they're a little more modern than the rooms themselves. All have walk-in shower stalls with generic bath amenities, though there was little in the way of counter space in the rooms that we visited. It's also worth noting that noise from the neighborhood can filter into the hotel.

Features are slim at this budget property. The La Terraza spacious rooftop deck offers beautiful views of the city’s famous Colonial Zone and the ruins of San Francisco. A simple, free breakfast is served daily, however, the space is closed for lunch and dinner. Beer, wine, and basic cocktail service are also available on select nights. Although it’s free, the area’s street parking is extremely limited. Wi-Fi is, however, fast and free throughout the property.