Tropix Hotel

As one of Sosua’s first hotels, Tropix has an interesting history that dates back to the second World War, when the small town was designated a safe haven for Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. Sylvie Papernik, the daughter of two of these refugees, grew up in Sosua, but moved to the United States as a young girl. In 1980, she returned to her childhood home and opened Tropix, as a way of welcoming travelers in the same way the Sosuans welcomed her family back in the 1940s. Though Sylvie is no longer alive, her dynamic spirit is still carried out by the hotel’s warm staff -- many of whom have been working at Tropix since its inception. Though it is by no means a luxury resort, Tropix is one of few family-friendly hotels left in the area. Thanks to a strict registered guests only policy (aka no sex tourists allowed), Tropix is able to show visitors a different side of Sosua that few people get to see or experience. Because of this, the hotel hosts a great deal of families, school groups, and even long-term volunteers who have come to work in the Dominican Republic. Return guests call themselves, "Tropixies."   The hotel is made up of five, two-story white buildings with orange tiled roofs, centered around a small pool and patio. There haven't been many updates since the '80s but classic wood furniture and towering palm trees look timeless. 

Perched on a hill just above downtown Sosua, Tropix is secluded, not only by its location but by its high-walled gardens and lush, tropical plants. Because it is not downtown, the neighborhood isn’t swarming with sex tourists and prostitutes. The hotel is about a five-minute walk from a large grocery store, and about a 10- to 15-minute walk to either Playa Alicia or Playa Sosua. All of the bars and restaurants downtown are also within about 10 minutes' walking distance. Gregorio Luperon International Airport is about a 13-minute drive west of the hotel.  

Rooms at Tropix are bright and pleasant, but also in need of a serious update. Sunny rooms are painted in an array of tropical colors, with red billowy curtains, blue painted wood furniture, and yellow-green bedding. Mattresses are pretty uncomfortable, and the threadbare sheets could definitely stand to be replaced. Rooms are equipped with high-power ceiling fans, large closets with safes, and mini-fridges, but the wall-unit air conditioners are set to energy-efficient mode and don’t do a great job of cooling off the rooms. Bathrooms are tiny, with walk-in showers and tacky (but somewhat charming) sea-life shower curtains. Fifteen minutes before showering, guests need to turn on the room’s hot water heater. Once in the shower, temperature control is iffy, and the hot water doesn’t last long. Because the property is unplugged and eco-friendly, there are no in-room TVs or phones, and guests are required to turn off all lights and cooling mechanisms when leaving the room. This also means throwing toilet paper in the trash instead of the toilet, and being conscious about water consumption. Most rooms include a double bed and a single daybed and can accommodate two or three people. Larger rooms, called Quads, consist of two separate bedroom and can accommodate up to five people.       We didn't notice any cleanliness issues on our visit, but there was some obvious wear and tear like damaged tiles in tubs and chipped paint. 

Probably because it hasn’t been altered since 1980, the pool area at Tropix manages to pull off a certain vintage-chic. The small pool is surrounded by green and white plastic lounge chairs, which, at any other hotel would look tacky and dated, but here seem to effortlessly conjure a feeling of 1960s retro cool. Guests typically eat their breakfast here at one of the matching table and chair sets. Juan’s famous pancakes are super popular: large, fluffy pillows of buttery goodness that happen to be one of the few a la carte breakfast items available each morning. But if pancakes aren’t your thing, the hotel can also whip up things like eggs, omelets, or just some some good ole Dominican coffee. Those who’d prefer to make their own meals can do so in the hotel’s communal kitchen. It’s equipped with a full-size refrigerator, a stove top, sink, and plenty of pots, pans, and kitchen utensils. There’s also a small honor bar with bottles of water, soda, and beer in the breakfast room. Though most guests take their morning meal outside, the breakfast room is next to the kitchen for rainy days and larger groups. Tropix offers free Wi-Fi and free parking in a large driveway adjacent to the hotel.