Hotel W&P Santo Domingo

It’s difficult to understand what BQ Santo Domingo is trying to be because every space feels as though it was designed with a distinct style independent of every other space. The rooftop deck is sleek, modern and South Beach-esque; the restaurant is dark, relaxed, and Mediterranean; while the lobby and most other common areas are bland and dated with a razor thin veneer of luxury that would have been right at home in the 1990s. Overall, it's a relatively polished -- though entirely mismatched -- mix of business hotel elements under a single roof. The hotel is clearly targeting a reserved, executive clientele who appreciates a safe, quiet play to stay. Couples do stay here, mostly for the location and pool, but the stodgy atmosphere doesn't cater to romance. 

The neighborhood is mostly clean and modern, but is ultimately charmless and commercial. Office buildings and complexes line both sides of the street in either direction. A handful of American chain restaurants (Chili’s, McDonald’s, Tony Roma’s) is within a short walk, as is Bella Vista Mall with dozens of stores, a market, banking services, and a pharmacy. The famous Columbus Lighthouse and Alcázar de Colón palace in Zona Colonial are each roughly 20 minutes away by car. Because of the Dominican Republic’s notoriously horrible roads and traffic conditions, travelers who don’t need a car should skip the rental counter. Traffic chokes the adjacent Avenue Sarasota day and night. The hotel only offers paid airport shuttle service. However, taxis and Uber are ubiquitous throughout the city with affordable rides to and from Las Americas International Airport (35 to 40 minutes east).

Like most of the hotel’s common areas, room decor is bland and dated. A monochromatic, brown-on-beige color scheme, generic, executive-style furniture, and a lack of wall art creates a sterile and forgettable look. Peeling paint, stained bathtubs, and nicked furniture all reveal the hotel’s age and a sense that the staff isn’t paying attention to the finer details. Beyond the (admittedly spacious) layouts, there’s little to differentiate the room categories. Standard and Superior Rooms both offer similar, studio-style layouts; while Suites upgrade to an additional living and dining room. Some Suites (including the Royal Suites and Penthouses) are a bit more upscale, with a wet bar and a private balcony with a small hot tub. Standard amenities in every category include flat-screen TVs with cable service and fast, free Wi-Fi. Mini-fridges and stocked minibars (with liquor) are also provided. Bathrooms are dated (some tubs need a solid cleaning) and cramped in almost every category. Shower/tub combinations covered with fabric curtains and generic bath amenities are standard. Past guests have complained that walls are thin and it's easy to hear noise between rooms. 

If there’s a single amenity that helps differentiate this hotel from other area properties, it’s the rooftop deck. The panoramic space offers a sparkling outdoor pool, a beautiful open-air lounge, and sweeping city views in every direction. A crisp, white-on-white color scheme, waterfall, modern furniture, and live music or DJs all create an upscale, nightclub-style atmosphere. A light tapas menu and full bar are available.

The hotel’s full restaurant, Casa Vera, is its most sophisticated space with a decor that’s a full step above the property’s mid-range persona. The interior dining area includes wood laminate flooring, plush leather booth seating, exposed brick, and copper accents that feel like a modern take on traditional Mediterranean design. The alfresco terrace provides large, flat-screen TVs (typically tuned to world soccer matches) and a relaxed, lounge-like vibe. Free breakfast is served buffet style with a sizable mix of Western and local dishes, while lunch and dinner are both a la carte. The latter two menus consist of a wide variety of dishes including Peruvian, Italian, and Spanish.

The combined event and meeting rooms can accommodate more than 1,000 guests total. The first-floor business center is little more than a cheap, cubicle-style desk with three computer workstations. The tiny fitness center is dark, cramped, and looks like an afterthought. Free parking is provided in a secure, covered garage. Wi-Fi is likewise free and fast in all common areas.