Downtown Puerto Plata- any place at all decent?

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Juanita R.

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I've been searching extensively for a place to stay in downtown Puerto Plata short-term (a few days) this winter.

Everyone seems to recommend Playa Dorada. However the hotels located actually downtown are scorned as 1) seedy, 2) run-down, or 3) of ill-repute.

Is this true? I like to walk and would like to be downtown. We are Spanish speaking and so language is not an issue. In fact, I would prefer a Dominican owned and Dominican-run hotel.

If you have one to recommend, which is pleasant, not used for illicit liaisons, reasonably priced and within walking distance of public transportation, I'd love to hear about it. Also, please include a website or email and current phone number. Most of the places I've researched downtown do not seem to have updated info on the web.

Thank you!
Juanita R.
 

CFA123

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Anastacio

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I've stayed at the sunshine hotel in pop. About 100 Metres past the intersection for the melon and the main through road going into pop from sosua direction. It looks a bit like a 70 road movie set but is well run, clean and has a little restaurant that does good chicken chow mein. I paid about 1100 pesos per night, nothing at all flash and I think a week there would be more than enough, but it does the job.
 

dv8

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you may try hotel KMA, well, not a hotel, more like apartments to rent for short term. nice, clean and i hear now they have a pool too.
located just off the main street, manolo tavarez justo and right opposite jose luis supermarket.
HOTEL PUERTO PLATA
not sure how updated their info is...
 

bigbird

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Will this be your first time staying in Puerto Plata?

Their is a major difference between staying at Playa Dorada and downtown Puerto Plata.


I've been searching extensively for a place to stay in downtown Puerto Plata short-term (a few days) this winter.

Everyone seems to recommend Playa Dorada. However the hotels located actually downtown are scorned as 1) seedy, 2) run-down, or 3) of ill-repute.

Is this true? I like to walk and would like to be downtown. We are Spanish speaking and so language is not an issue. In fact, I would prefer a Dominican owned and Dominican-run hotel.

If you have one to recommend, which is pleasant, not used for illicit liaisons, reasonably priced and within walking distance of public transportation, I'd love to hear about it. Also, please include a website or email and current phone number. Most of the places I've researched downtown do not seem to have updated info on the web.

Thank you!
Juanita R.
 

Juanita R.

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Sep 13, 2010
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Thanks to all who have responded. I realize there is a big difference between Puerto Plata and Playa Dorada... Playa Dorada doesn't sound too appealing to us, because we don't want to be near the tourist spots. Basically we're looking for a place where one can walk, catch public transportation to "the sights" while enjoying the water's edge. Sunshine Hotel is apparently noisy. What about Apart Hotel Lomar? It's on the maleco'n... does mean it will be inundated by various forms of misbehavior at night?
I've also read about one called Victoriano; does anyone know anything about it? Gracias anticipadas
 

bigbird

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....Basically we're looking for a place where one can walk, catch public transportation to "the sights" while enjoying the water's edge...............

Apart Hotel Lomar? It's on the maleco'n... does mean it will be inundated by various forms of misbehavior at night?......

I have stayed at Lormar but for some reason I don't think you will like it.

Just curious but what "sights" are you interested in seeing and are you familiar with the public transportation system in PP? Maybe it is just me but after two days in downtown PP there isn't much to do.
 

Anastacio

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A few days in pop will be more than enough to do and see everything, going from your posting though are you sure pop is the place for you? What you require doesn't really seem on the cards with pop.
 

Juanita R.

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Hmmm. Why wouldn't I like Lomar? I did look at KMA's website, and it looks really nice. But how far is it from downtown?

As far as why POP is under consideration, it's because I figure that from there we can do day trips to the telefer'ico/cable ride, Sosua , the Jewish quarter and cheese factory, the Museo de Ambar, Isabela where C.Colo'n discovered America. After we are done in the POP area, we would then move on to Punta Rucia and Monte Cristi a few days later.
Doesn't that sound like a plan?
 

canuk8068

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From what you appear to want to do, Sosua or Caberete would probably be better.

We stayed in Sosua for two months last winter and took the Gwagwa into Puerto Plata. You can then walk the Malecon, see the architecture in the downtown and visit the Museum's. The Gwagwa was about a dollar each way per person.

Sosua has a nice beach, decent restaurants, and it is easy to intermingle with the locals. You also have your choice of accomodations without being on a resort.

You will hear a lot about the seedy side of Sosua but with a "no gracias" you are free to see the town as it is; vibrant, colorful with beautiful vistas.
 

rice&beans

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May 16, 2010
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Just do it

Hmmm. Why wouldn't I like Lomar? I did look at KMA's website, and it looks really nice. But how far is it from downtown?

As far as why POP is under consideration, it's because I figure that from there we can do day trips to the telefer'ico/cable ride, Sosua , the Jewish quarter and cheese factory, the Museo de Ambar, Isabela where C.Colo'n discovered America. After we are done in the POP area, we would then move on to Punta Rucia and Monte Cristi a few days later.
Doesn't that sound like a plan?


You should be fine with the Lomar, right across the street from the ocean, nice pool...I've stayed here many times....also the Portifino, right down the street is a pretty good option....(when I get thrown out of the lomar I usually stay here).......nice little pool, great little restaurant....excellent Pizza...it should do....prices between 35-55 dollars...depending on your needs and wants..........of course I'm just joking about being thrown out of anywhere......I think??...lol...good luck....:cheeky:
 

bigbird

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.......Sunshine Hotel is apparently noisy. What about Apart Hotel Lomar? It's on the maleco'n... does mean it will be inundated by various forms of misbehavior at night?......
What noise and misbehavior are you so concerned about? Possibly someone playing bachata a little too loud or a gentleman escorting his new found female friend to the privacy of his hotel room?
 

dv8

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lomar is on the malecon indeed but i have never been inside. your only problem there may be noise, especially during weekends when dominicans park their cars along the malecon, put the music at full volume and drink beer :)
hotel victoriano is fairly close to the malecon also, few streets away, very pretty building from the outside but again - never been inside so i cannot help here.
however i do live in POP myslef and i think it is a better base for trips than sosua or cabarete. public transport is not so bad and even a walk around town is more interesting than a stroll on perdo clisante :)
i am not aware of any public transport to la isabela, you may have to change cars in luperon. but the trip itself is worth it: views are amazing and museum, althought run down and sad is an interesting place itself.
to answer your question: KMA is snap in the middle of the city, about 20 minutes walk to the malecon, all the way down the street, or few minutes in a car. walking distance from supermarket and close to restaurants.
 

Tor

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I've stayed at the Victoriano. It was clean , quiet, inexpensive, and central.

Yes Victoriano is very good. It's right in the center of town. A five minutes walk down to the Malecon. Ask for rooms in the new section, they are very good.
 

DavidZ

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www.vipcigartours.com
Also, for the record...there's no "Jewish Quarter" in Pto Pta...there is an excellent Museum and the original synagogue in Sosua...and I don't think the Productos Sosua Plant(cheese factory?) would ever be considered a tourist attraction...
 

Juanita R.

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Sep 13, 2010
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And about reserving ahead...?

I really appreciate the information everyone has supplied. Since we are all different, it's really impossible for one person to tell another where to stay, that's for sure. So... I'm thinking it might be better to visit a few places the day of arrival. What will be my chances of getting something at Victoriano or KMA at 5-6 p.m.towards the end of January?
Or should I just reserve?
And do they actually honor reservations made way in advance?

By the way, there is a listing for a Villa Carolina on Virginia Elena Ortega St. ...any comments on what that might be like? It appears to have N. American owners.

Thank you!
 

POPNYChic

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Jul 27, 2009
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i have no idea why everyones always detracting folks from visiting and staying in downtown POP.

btw, KMA is owned by friends of the family and its quite nice and clean and convenient.

you will get MUCH more of a feel of what the average dominicans lives like in downtown POP than sosua, that is not even contestable. everyone doesnt wanna stay in tourist enclaves and i applaud that. you will be just fine.
 
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