Over the past 5 years I have been at the Camp David Ranch Hotel quite a few times, with mixed but generally fair results. The hotel used to have a competitive rate around USD 50.oo for a double room.
The views are as described by so many quite breath taking and the hotel offers a welcome retreat from the noise, buzz and smog of the city at a manageable distance (IF you have a vehicle) after a day of business in Santiago. The restaurant tries hard to be upper scale... yet the quality of the food/cuisine may not always be at par with the price... still, I've often chosen to have my evening meal at the hotel restaurant enjoying the show of the glitter of the city in the dark bellow.
the hotel mainly consist of two buildings; one with the lobby and restaurant and a few or the less attractive rooms and a second building which has been updated a little with new card-locks on the doors and newer bath rooms and flat screen TVs. The architecture is simple "old-modernism", but it's a comfortable place with individual A/C units which generally function.
Usually, I call in, a day or so ago and make my reservation without any formalities or having to use a credit card. This time, too, only that the price quoted was a about 50% higher than usually (RD$ 2880/USD 74 instead of the usual $50).
I had three small children with me (which I indicated I would at time of my phone reservation) when we checked inn in the late afternoon.
First I was asked for RD$ 3200.oo for the room, which was however immediately corrected when I mentioned that I had been given a lower rate (apparently a summer "special 10% discount") and then I was asked for my credit card.
I indicated I was going to pay cash in advance as always, but I was told I would still need a credit card (mind you, some of the rooms DO have a mini bar fridge, but they are empty except for two complimentary water bottles). An argument of "WHY" ensued and the lady at the front desk could only insist that it was hotel policy and had the misfortune to tell me that it's ALWAYS been like that (NOT true, it's NEVER been asked before!). I demanded to see a director. First I was told there was nobody else to talk to. I would HAVE to sign on a voucher with a RD$6000.oo debit on it which would be refunded should I check out and "no towels or bedding would be missing" (no kidding). I must admit, I started to feel offended and impatient.
Finally, a Lady which I had to ask several times about her whole name was called in: Mrs. Nicol Bermudez (there is a well known Bermudez family in Santiago which has a Rum brand). She claimed first to be the director and eventually to be the owner.
I was again told that this policy, because they've had problems with people who left without doing a proper check out had been in place for YEARS. I again countered that I had been at the hotel less than a year ago and that this had NOT been the case. She corrected, stating that it had been put in place about a year ago (now that she remembered). I refused to give my credit card and offered to leave RD$ 6000 in cash as a security deposit but with protest. She then stated, that if I did not like it, she preferred we'd rather NOT stay at the hotel (it was evening, we had a reservation and I had 3 children with me, I was not going to search for a hotel NOW!).
Anyways, I repeated I would leave the deposit in CASH. So, the said that if it was cash, it was the hotel's policy to ask for RD$10'000!!!
I about had it, but since I had the money on me, I did it. Asked for a receipt on which I demanded that the RATE would be written down too. Since it was a security deposit for the INVENTORY of the room, I asked to HAVE an INVENTORY as I would not like to have an other argument next morning upon check out on how many towels and pillow there may have been! They found THAT ridiculous but I insisted.
It was again suggested that I might rather find an other hotel and mentioned that ALL hotels do that. I told them no, that I am a frequent guest at Hotel Jaragua and Barcelo in Santo Domingo and that while they all ASK if one would LIKE to open a voucher for in-Hotel consumptions, they would not condition access to a room on accepting to surrender you card to them. Mrs. Bermudez told me that it was NOT true, that I could NOT get a room at those hotels without giving a credit card or cash guarantee (beyond paying the full room rate in advance)... so, essentially I was a liar... which I did not take very well after she had lied to me about the time at which their little policy had been put in place and the fact that their policy now seems to be to presume all their guest potential thieves and vandals. (what a great use of computers, not to even be able to identify a RETURNING guest either!).
Unless they change their attitude, I must say, I will NOT go back to Hotel Camp David Ranch.
I am sorry, I might miss the place and the tranquility it used to offer, but I can not accept their way of receiving guests and how the celebrate hospitality.
... J-D.
The views are as described by so many quite breath taking and the hotel offers a welcome retreat from the noise, buzz and smog of the city at a manageable distance (IF you have a vehicle) after a day of business in Santiago. The restaurant tries hard to be upper scale... yet the quality of the food/cuisine may not always be at par with the price... still, I've often chosen to have my evening meal at the hotel restaurant enjoying the show of the glitter of the city in the dark bellow.
the hotel mainly consist of two buildings; one with the lobby and restaurant and a few or the less attractive rooms and a second building which has been updated a little with new card-locks on the doors and newer bath rooms and flat screen TVs. The architecture is simple "old-modernism", but it's a comfortable place with individual A/C units which generally function.
Usually, I call in, a day or so ago and make my reservation without any formalities or having to use a credit card. This time, too, only that the price quoted was a about 50% higher than usually (RD$ 2880/USD 74 instead of the usual $50).
I had three small children with me (which I indicated I would at time of my phone reservation) when we checked inn in the late afternoon.
First I was asked for RD$ 3200.oo for the room, which was however immediately corrected when I mentioned that I had been given a lower rate (apparently a summer "special 10% discount") and then I was asked for my credit card.
I indicated I was going to pay cash in advance as always, but I was told I would still need a credit card (mind you, some of the rooms DO have a mini bar fridge, but they are empty except for two complimentary water bottles). An argument of "WHY" ensued and the lady at the front desk could only insist that it was hotel policy and had the misfortune to tell me that it's ALWAYS been like that (NOT true, it's NEVER been asked before!). I demanded to see a director. First I was told there was nobody else to talk to. I would HAVE to sign on a voucher with a RD$6000.oo debit on it which would be refunded should I check out and "no towels or bedding would be missing" (no kidding). I must admit, I started to feel offended and impatient.
Finally, a Lady which I had to ask several times about her whole name was called in: Mrs. Nicol Bermudez (there is a well known Bermudez family in Santiago which has a Rum brand). She claimed first to be the director and eventually to be the owner.
I was again told that this policy, because they've had problems with people who left without doing a proper check out had been in place for YEARS. I again countered that I had been at the hotel less than a year ago and that this had NOT been the case. She corrected, stating that it had been put in place about a year ago (now that she remembered). I refused to give my credit card and offered to leave RD$ 6000 in cash as a security deposit but with protest. She then stated, that if I did not like it, she preferred we'd rather NOT stay at the hotel (it was evening, we had a reservation and I had 3 children with me, I was not going to search for a hotel NOW!).
Anyways, I repeated I would leave the deposit in CASH. So, the said that if it was cash, it was the hotel's policy to ask for RD$10'000!!!
I about had it, but since I had the money on me, I did it. Asked for a receipt on which I demanded that the RATE would be written down too. Since it was a security deposit for the INVENTORY of the room, I asked to HAVE an INVENTORY as I would not like to have an other argument next morning upon check out on how many towels and pillow there may have been! They found THAT ridiculous but I insisted.
It was again suggested that I might rather find an other hotel and mentioned that ALL hotels do that. I told them no, that I am a frequent guest at Hotel Jaragua and Barcelo in Santo Domingo and that while they all ASK if one would LIKE to open a voucher for in-Hotel consumptions, they would not condition access to a room on accepting to surrender you card to them. Mrs. Bermudez told me that it was NOT true, that I could NOT get a room at those hotels without giving a credit card or cash guarantee (beyond paying the full room rate in advance)... so, essentially I was a liar... which I did not take very well after she had lied to me about the time at which their little policy had been put in place and the fact that their policy now seems to be to presume all their guest potential thieves and vandals. (what a great use of computers, not to even be able to identify a RETURNING guest either!).
Unless they change their attitude, I must say, I will NOT go back to Hotel Camp David Ranch.
I am sorry, I might miss the place and the tranquility it used to offer, but I can not accept their way of receiving guests and how the celebrate hospitality.
... J-D.