From Its Colonial Zone to a Just-Opened Hyatt, Travelers are Flocking to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic

Maybe you know the colorful streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Or the vibrant sounds of Kingston, Jamaica. Perhaps you’ve strolled through the centuries-old boulevards of Fort-de-France, Martinique, or the historic corners of Nassau. 

The Caribbean is filled with fascinating cities, pulsing, energetic capitals that are worth the trip in their own right. But there’s another city you may not have considered, one that has quietly been developing into a full-fledged hotspot of its own: Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. 

In recent years, Santo Domingo has been cultivating a niche as a modern Caribbean urban getaway, with dozens of new flight routes from across the US and a growing number of high-level hotels, both boutique and high-rise, historic and big-branded. (That includes the just-debuted Kimpton Las Mercedes). 

Now, the city has another major new addition: the Hyatt Centric Santo Domingo, the first-ever Hyatt Centric-branded hotel in the Caribbean, which just opened its doors in the capital (rates starting at $161 per night).

It’s set in the heart of the upscale Piantini neighborhood, with 130 rooms, with four dining concepts (including a rooftop bar), a high-tech fitness center and 

The debut in Piantini highlights how much Santo Domingo has grown, and how it has really become two distinct destinations: on the one hand, you get the hip, modern areas like Piantini and the financial district, with world-class retail offerings like the Blue Mall and bustling eateries. 

On the other hand, there’s the Colonial Zone, the five-hundred-year-old historic quarter that still somehow remains under the radar of most travelers. The Zona Colonial is a world unto itself, from boutique hotels like the lovely Billini (rates starting at $186) to the aforementioned Kimpton, which just opened its doors in a 16h century building (rates starting at $172).

As for the Hyatt, it’s another important new branded debut for the capital, which has also welcomed two new Marriott-portfolio hotels in the last calendar year, a classic Marriott and a Courtyard.

So where else do we like to recommend in Santo Domingo? Yes, the Kimpton is a great option, but we also love the JW Marriott Santo Domingo, which opened a decade ago and is the best all-around hotel in the capital, from its extremely cool glass-floored patio to the transparent pool on the deck. (Rates at $489)

What about things to do? In areas like Piantini, it’s all about strolling, shopping and dining. In the Colonial Zone, you’ll find a remarkable mix of art galleries, sidewalk cafes, hip bars and historic sites. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, after all.

How do you actually get to Santo Domingo? It’s actually one of the easiest places in the Caribbean to get to, with nonstop flights from a host of US cities and a very nice, very well-run airport, Las Americas.