Napolitano Hotel

Set on the busy Malecon seafront stretch, the Hotel Napolitano sets itself off with a loud Casino Napolitano sign dominating the street front. The hotel entrance sits humbly behind it. Inside, the lobby is modest and largely uninspiring with its small size, shiny white tiles, low ceilings, and bland yellow walls. A Romanesque fountain oddly placed in the center clearly references the Naples name, although that’s pretty much where the similarities begin and end. Napolitano was established in 1975 and that era clearly lingers, although updates imply a more modern future throughout. Elevators ferry guests to the second floor, where a more inspiring scene unfolds around an aqua pool. The terrace here is dominated with sunbeds, and a choice of seating arrangements invite guests to kick back and admire the view beneath white sun umbrellas. The view is really something -- gazing across the Malecon to the sea, interrupted only by tall palm trees that add a welcome tropical touch to urban Santo Domingo. The restaurant and bar shares this level, designed for open-air dining and drinking with a low-key vibe. There’s nothing fancy or luxurious going on here -- a couple of mildly intoxicated bar flies loitered in this area during our visit, although the drinks list featuring Cristal and Dom speaks of a different vibe altogether.

The property sits in a great Santo Domingo location, right opposite the Caribbean Sea, in close proximity to sights. The Colonial Zone -- where restaurants, bars, and shops are in abundance -- is fairly close by, around 17 minutes on foot or six minutes by car. It’s the same to Catedral Primada de America. Other nearby highlights include the National Palace, Larimar Museum (both six minutes by car), Independencia Park (eight minutes’ walk), and Panteon Nacional (eight minutes’ drive). The drive from Las Americas International Airport takes around 30 minutes, and Sans Souci Cruise Terminal is around 15 minutes by car depending on traffic. 

Available in Standard, Superior, and Suite categories, many rooms have been renovated with a fresh modern aesthetic. Some feature matching black lacquer furniture for a bolder tone, while others have timber walls behind matching timber framed beds for a softer natural look. Several rooms feature wall-to-wall glass sliders attractively showcasing deep blue sea views, but there are no balconies to speak of. Suites upsize layouts with separate living areas and huge, luxurious marble bathrooms with substantial spa baths and twin basins, while lower categories offer stand-up showers only. All bathrooms comes stocked with toiletries and hairdryers. Other amenities include flat-screen TVs, safes, work desks, and free bottled water.

Like the hotel itself, features at the Napolitano are a bit mixed. The pool here is a real highlight -- it’s a good size with views of the sea, and plenty of deck chairs and dining settings so guests can dine poolside. The Terrace restaurant and bar shares the same floor. It features a full bar and an Italian-inspired menu with a good range of meat, seafood, and pasta classics alongside Western favorites. The free breakfast is a plus, and while some guests rave about the food, others find it mediocre. Le Spa offers massages, facials, and reflexology in addition to a range of beauty treatments, and the hotel features a gym, but it’s tiny. Gamblers are catered to with an on-site casino, accessible through the lobby, although it tends to attract unsavory characters. Car rentals can be arranged on-site, a laundry service is available, and there’s a hair salon off the lobby. Free Wi-Fi is provided, though it generates mixed reviews on its efficiency. There’s also free parking, but it can be hard to snag a spot.