If you’ve read my blog a bit, you’ll know I’m pretty into history and architecture, especially in regards to the Spanish colonial era. Be it my current home base of Miami where nothing is more than 80 or 90 years old, or just the thought of centuries old structures still being utilized, I like to travel to colonial cities.
Santo Domingo is one of those places. It is actually the oldest continually inhabited European settlement in the Americas and was founded by Christopher Columbus’ brother at the end of the 1400s. You can spend a couple of days just meandering the colonial neighborhood sipping coffees in one of the leafy plazas or joking around with the ultra-friendly locals and not be bored for a second.
I started my week long trip in Santo Domingo and ended it there, and lucky me, the fantastic El Beaterio Hotel generously offered me a room for my last night in The DR. I normally would just make a brief mention of where I stay, but El Beaterio was a fantastic little bed & breakfast.
The staff is extremely friendly, bilingual, and the second you walk in from the street into the hotel, you’ll feel instantly relaxed. The inviting entry room, complete with antique instruments adorning the walls to the vintage furniture offer a unique touch. Continue on past the front desk into the verdant courtyard, which boasts lush tropical vegetation and nice decor.
The bedrooms surround the courtyard on two floors and are all updated with plenty of electrical outlets, AC, fans, modern bathrooms, comfortable beds and fast Wi-Fi (where most hotels fail normally).
I slept great and the breakfast they offered, while nothing over the top, filled my belly with some protein and nice Dominican coffee. The prices are very reasonable given the quality of the rooms and start at $75 a night. The location couldn’t be better in the heart of the Zona Colonial for setting out to explore the neighborhood or spending a night before heading out for other destinations in the country. Here are some pics of the hotel:
