Hi guys! I am brand new to the forum and am having some difficulty locating a decent hotel (or any hotel at all for that matter) in the Villa Mella area of Santo Domingo. Does anyone have any suggestions? A hotel in greater Santo Domingo could be ok too as long as it was on the Villa Mella side of town. I appreciate your help!! Saludos!:classic:
- Thread starter CMercedes
- Start date
Hotels in Villa Mella?
Thank you so much Mauricio!! I will look into that one. I really appreciate your help! Since I don't exactly where things are (yet) I was not sure. It looked as though most of the hotels were in the colonial zone or right on the water. We wont need to worry about the metro but at least is will be a little closer than the others I have found. Thanks again!! Saludos!
One more quick question....do you know approximately how far it is from the Hotel Palacios? I am noticing that many hotels in the area do not have a bath tub. haha
Agreed Barcel? would be a good choice. Not actually near Villa Mella but like Mauricio said with the Metro station being right near the Barcel? it would be convenient. Nice pool and the rooms have been renovated for the most part. Barcel? runs specials all the time. Checkout their website.
Have you ever been to "Villa Mella"?????
Not a great place for a "GRINGA" to walk around, much less stay.
Be VERY careful!
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Please tell us a Dominican, "Novio" is not in this equation???????
Not a great place for a "GRINGA" to walk around, much less stay.
Be VERY careful!
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Please tell us a Dominican, "Novio" is not in this equation???????
Hola Mauricio....
It is. The Palacios is indeed in the Colonial Zone. I just did not know approximately how far that is from Villa Mella. I usually stay at the BQ Santo Domingo which I really like but it is too far from VM. Though I very well may end up there again if I find a good flight/ hotel package. I was trying to stay as close to Villa Mella as I could if at all possible. I already have my reservation booked for the Palacios for a different trip coming up in January for my work so that was the reason I asked about that particular hotel. I really do appreciate your help. Thank you. I hope you enjoy your weekend! :classic:
-CMercedes
It is. The Palacios is indeed in the Colonial Zone. I just did not know approximately how far that is from Villa Mella. I usually stay at the BQ Santo Domingo which I really like but it is too far from VM. Though I very well may end up there again if I find a good flight/ hotel package. I was trying to stay as close to Villa Mella as I could if at all possible. I already have my reservation booked for the Palacios for a different trip coming up in January for my work so that was the reason I asked about that particular hotel. I really do appreciate your help. Thank you. I hope you enjoy your weekend! :classic:
-CMercedes
Maruicio and Keepcoming....
I think that I will likely just go ahead and find a flight/ hotel package that includes the Barcelo if the price is in my range or just go ahead and stay again at the BQ and we will just have to drive back and forth again to and from VM. I am self employed so budgeting is key for me though I feel thankful to be going back forth even as much as I do!! Thanks guys! As you know, I am brand new to the forum and you guys have made me feel very very welcome. Muchas Gracias!!
I think that I will likely just go ahead and find a flight/ hotel package that includes the Barcelo if the price is in my range or just go ahead and stay again at the BQ and we will just have to drive back and forth again to and from VM. I am self employed so budgeting is key for me though I feel thankful to be going back forth even as much as I do!! Thanks guys! As you know, I am brand new to the forum and you guys have made me feel very very welcome. Muchas Gracias!!
Hola Criss Colon y Deyvi....
Thank you both also for your input! I really do appreciate it!! I have been to Villa Mella, yes and you are right....it is NOT somewhere where I would normally spend my time but that is where my husband is from. Even though I have family there now and certainly feel safe with them, I would never go there alone!! We are in the process now of getting his spouse visa to bring him here to be with me so in the interim I am going to be heading back down there to see him soon so was just wondering about hotels not too far from there. Like I said in another response, I usually stay at the BQ but that is no where near our family and I was trying to stay a little closer since we never drive anywhere when I am there, his brother comes to take us out and about and insists on doing so (which I greatly appreciate!). I would like to make it a little closer for him if I can. That was all. My husband is not very familiar with the hotels there. If the Barcelo is not in our budget, then The BQ or The Palacios it is and I will just budget to cover gas for his brother's vehicle when he comes to get us. I can't back there soon enough!!
Thanks again everyone! I am so thankful to have found this site; you have all made me feel very welcome indeed!! :classic:
--CMercedes
Thank you both also for your input! I really do appreciate it!! I have been to Villa Mella, yes and you are right....it is NOT somewhere where I would normally spend my time but that is where my husband is from. Even though I have family there now and certainly feel safe with them, I would never go there alone!! We are in the process now of getting his spouse visa to bring him here to be with me so in the interim I am going to be heading back down there to see him soon so was just wondering about hotels not too far from there. Like I said in another response, I usually stay at the BQ but that is no where near our family and I was trying to stay a little closer since we never drive anywhere when I am there, his brother comes to take us out and about and insists on doing so (which I greatly appreciate!). I would like to make it a little closer for him if I can. That was all. My husband is not very familiar with the hotels there. If the Barcelo is not in our budget, then The BQ or The Palacios it is and I will just budget to cover gas for his brother's vehicle when he comes to get us. I can't back there soon enough!!
Thanks again everyone! I am so thankful to have found this site; you have all made me feel very welcome indeed!! :classic:
--CMercedes
No where near Villa Mella, but neither is Palacios, you might consider Carey House for clean basic room.
.::Welcome to carey House Hotel::.
Just pay for a night or two in advance and if you don't like it move on.
Or if you want the tourist experience Hotel Napolitano.
http://www.napolitanohotel.com/1.aspx
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This is great BigBird thank you!! I pretty much stay away from the tourist 'stuff' though unless my husband is showing me around but even then I have a wonderful 'inside scoop'. :classic: I am going to check out the Carey House Hotel too. Thanks again!!
One thing that I am noticing is that many hotels do not have a bathtub....a MUST for us. I have noticed than many have showers only. If was only going for 2-3 days I wouldn't care but I am going to be there for 9-10 days.
One thing that I am noticing is that many hotels do not have a bathtub....a MUST for us. I have noticed than many have showers only. If was only going for 2-3 days I wouldn't care but I am going to be there for 9-10 days.
"Juan Dolio" could be a great place for your dance studio.
The new Pinewood movie studio is there.
You could train "Locals" to dance in their movies.
Your own "Dance Team" could be hired for work there, and you could do "Zoomba", and other classes for expats & tourists, and even possibly run dance/movement/yoga classes and do "SHOWS",for the local tourist hotels!"Just remember, it was "CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC" who gave you theses great ideas!
I want 10%!!!!!!!!!
Just remember, NEVER, EVER, do any work before you get the pesos in your hand, trust no one, including "Su Esposo" or "Familia", and let no one do your finances, and/or banking!
NEVER GIVE "CREDIT"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NEVER!!
It's better to turn down work because they want credit, but much much worse to work, and then not get paid!!!
You will be told, "That's how we do things here", but not, "Then it's your job to try and get us to pay"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The new Pinewood movie studio is there.
You could train "Locals" to dance in their movies.
Your own "Dance Team" could be hired for work there, and you could do "Zoomba", and other classes for expats & tourists, and even possibly run dance/movement/yoga classes and do "SHOWS",for the local tourist hotels!"Just remember, it was "CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC" who gave you theses great ideas!
I want 10%!!!!!!!!!
Just remember, NEVER, EVER, do any work before you get the pesos in your hand, trust no one, including "Su Esposo" or "Familia", and let no one do your finances, and/or banking!
NEVER GIVE "CREDIT"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NEVER!!
It's better to turn down work because they want credit, but much much worse to work, and then not get paid!!!
You will be told, "That's how we do things here", but not, "Then it's your job to try and get us to pay"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow Criss....thank you so much for the advice!! I really really appreciate that! I was originally thinking that I would open the studio in Santo Domingo but then thought of Boca Chica only because of the tourism there. Most locals know how to Bachata at least to some degree so the plan was to work with the hotels and design our classes for the tourist who also wants to dance but I LOVE your ideas about Juan Dolio!! I did not realize that there was a movie studio there so yes....that would be a PERFECT location! I have been to Juan Dolio as well. The festival that I am featured at there each year is in Juan Dolio for part of the festival and then in the past we would move to Santo Domingo for the remaining days but next year we will be staying in Juan Dolio the entire time.
With regard to getting paid I never work without a contract and am ALWAYS paid before a workshop and for choreography I am paid 50% BEFORE Choreo even begins and the remaining balance before any choreography is taught to anyone. I would not change my practices there.
I was surprised to read that you said don't even trust mi esposo though. Whenever I am there, I have always had him handle the money!! I hate dealing with that kind of stuff and the conversions confuse me so for me it was a welcomed gift for him to be so good with that and for him to want to take care of that for me. I greatly appreciated that! Whenever he handles the money, he has been so meticulous about it and every night he would sit me down and go over exactly what we spent, laying out the receipts if we had them and going over what we spent money on, how much and what we had left for the next day(s). I love that he handles that when I am there! Please please forgive my naivete' but this is something that I should not do? He has been very good with that so far.
I definitely don't extend credit for my classes / workshops/ choreo / performances. In my industry if you do that, you will never get paid!! That goes for anywhere not just in DR though. Thankfully, my experience and professional reputation precede me and I really don't have issues with that although we have not started to really move forward full steam ahead yet there so...stay tuned. I will let you know how that goes. :classic:
Thank you again for your advice and guidance. It is greatly greatly appreciated! Though I am back and forth to Santo Domingo a fair amount, I realize that there is a lot that I am not familiar with there and greatly want to learn!
--CMercedes
With regard to getting paid I never work without a contract and am ALWAYS paid before a workshop and for choreography I am paid 50% BEFORE Choreo even begins and the remaining balance before any choreography is taught to anyone. I would not change my practices there.
I was surprised to read that you said don't even trust mi esposo though. Whenever I am there, I have always had him handle the money!! I hate dealing with that kind of stuff and the conversions confuse me so for me it was a welcomed gift for him to be so good with that and for him to want to take care of that for me. I greatly appreciated that! Whenever he handles the money, he has been so meticulous about it and every night he would sit me down and go over exactly what we spent, laying out the receipts if we had them and going over what we spent money on, how much and what we had left for the next day(s). I love that he handles that when I am there! Please please forgive my naivete' but this is something that I should not do? He has been very good with that so far.
I definitely don't extend credit for my classes / workshops/ choreo / performances. In my industry if you do that, you will never get paid!! That goes for anywhere not just in DR though. Thankfully, my experience and professional reputation precede me and I really don't have issues with that although we have not started to really move forward full steam ahead yet there so...stay tuned. I will let you know how that goes. :classic:
Thank you again for your advice and guidance. It is greatly greatly appreciated! Though I am back and forth to Santo Domingo a fair amount, I realize that there is a lot that I am not familiar with there and greatly want to learn!
--CMercedes
Good for you able to travel on the company dime...even if it is your dime really. I do the same, but once I got tired of paying for hotels I rented an apartment for my wife and I in Villa Mella for $100 US / month...ahemm "all utilities included", ... Ahhh barrio life for gringo...we only go out after 10 with male family members for escorts. And I don't know what terrifies me more crossing Hermanas Mirabel on foot, or the pot holes on Charlie when driving, which has in general lost its luster for me. But at 100 bucks, my wife is happy, or my inexpensive sankette as she calls herself.
nice apartment actually, 3rd floor, windows on all sides, great alternative to hotels. and half the barrio is my wife's family, (those that aren't drugging and robbing), we have a lot of fun.
Although we have a place we rent in boca Chica for $35 a night on the beach when we want to swim and be entertained with people watching.
Btw, possible other option is a newer Holiday Inn Express (real real nice for an hiexpress) on Lincoln within a 10 minute walk to the new metro line and thus fairly easy to VM as well.
modern hotel, pool, gym, sauna, nice rooms, decent restaurants nearby.
nice apartment actually, 3rd floor, windows on all sides, great alternative to hotels. and half the barrio is my wife's family, (those that aren't drugging and robbing), we have a lot of fun.
Although we have a place we rent in boca Chica for $35 a night on the beach when we want to swim and be entertained with people watching.
Btw, possible other option is a newer Holiday Inn Express (real real nice for an hiexpress) on Lincoln within a 10 minute walk to the new metro line and thus fairly easy to VM as well.
modern hotel, pool, gym, sauna, nice rooms, decent restaurants nearby.
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This is great beastwood. I appreciate the information. My husband actually does want us to rent an apartment for the 10 days I will be there. I am fine either way as long as I have a bathtub not just a shower!! haha ;-) As long as it is clean and safe, I am good. He would never have us stay somewhere that he did not feel good about so I am not worried. I am still not sure exactly what we are going to do yet but we now have some really great options thanks to all of you!!
Caba?a "La Paz" is as close as you can come to Villa Mella without actually being there. Just at the other side of la Isabelita. If you have changed your mind about staying in BQ, I can check out some hotels for you in VM. Got family living there, and I will be going from time to time.
I realize that Villa Mella is considered to be the Barrio and is unsafe, but I would be interested to know anyone's opinion about the area. Does anyone think it is getting better (because of the Metro)? What about the new houses and buildings being built? There seems to be many attractive houses for sale or rent in the area. I was just there 2 weeks ago, after not having been there for 2 years, and I was pleased to notice some new attractive apartment buildings and new houses.