Santiago August 2013

[Jao]

Some pics from the last few days. I drove to La Vega twice yesterday. Dropped an amiga off at her house after 11pm and then drove back to Santiago. Stopped at Pasions (near Zeus Cabana), couples dancing on the dance floor, with some working girls sitting around on the outer chairs, sofas. They looked good. The workers at Pasions were friendly. I only stopped in to check it out. From there drove to Matum casino at the Monument. I went into Pure Disco, two dancers were on the small stage dancing. I would have driven to Soho Rooftop bar at that time, but I didn't know where it was and stopped at the hotel to use the bathroom and look up the location on google and google maps. It is on Duarte (Bella Terra Mall I believe) off of Avenida Estrella Sadhalla. I fell asleep, the Vegana had given gave me a good workout earlier in the evening (the Halls cough lozenges gave a nice cooling feeling during oral sex).

Cigar Lounge and Shop (bar/restaurant) on Avenida Estrella Sadhalla near PUCMM, Plaza Platinum and adjacent to Platinum Casino. Tasty mojitos, I smoked a 19 brand cigar, very smooth cigar and watched part of the Yankee game on TV (Sunday afternoon). The name of the place is Vitalis or something like that.

[sonrisa]

Very nice hotel room! Other than the airport and a visit to the monument and baseball stadium, I've never spent much time in Santiago. Actually, I think I'd enjoy the scene there and get even better acquainted with the city. However, every time I check out the hotels there seems to be a small number of quality hotels and most of those appear to be priced unreasonably high. Since I usually rent a car, I'd like a protected parking place at the hotel. This hotel looks nice. What's the price you paid? I saw it also had a nice pool. Any other amenities? Is it guest friendly?

[Jao]

Very nice hotel room! Other than the airport and a visit to the monument and baseball stadium, I've never spent much time in Santiago. Actually, I think I'd enjoy the scene there and get even better acquainted with the city. However, every time I check out the hotels there seems to be a small number of quality hotels and most of those appear to be priced unreasonably high. Since I usually rent a car, I'd like a protected parking place at the hotel. This hotel looks nice. What's the price you paid? I saw it also had a nice pool. Any other amenities? Is it guest friendly?

El Gran Almirante is an excellent hotel, excellent staff. They are renovating and remodeling so it will look nicer. Attached to the lobby is a Casino, so if you like to gamble, it will be close. Two blocks away is a pharmacy that is open 24/7, so if you want to buy water, soda etc., or Cialis, Viagra, it is an easy 5 minute walk. Next door to the hotel is a modern, nice Friday's restaurant with at least 4 televisions showing sports, nice bar, good food (names of menu items are in English with photos, descriptions are in Spanish). Some cute chicas work at that Friday's.

There is a pool bar, pool-table at the pool, nice gym (good free weights, a few machines and treadmill type machines, sauna and massage room). Massage is around $20-$25 (female masseuse) for half an hour.

The hotel is 10 minutes from the monument and a short drive to other bars, restaurants and disco/clubs.

Hodelpa is the company that operates the El Gran Almirante. They operate two other hotels in Santiago, one I believe used to be a Courtyard by Marriott and the other is called Hodelpa Centro Plaza. Hodelpa Centro Plaza is about 6 blocks from the monument, with a casino, free wifi, free breakfast, rates at the Centro Plaza are about $100 per night for two people. If you stay at the Centro Plaza you can use the facilities at the El Gran Almirante Hotel.

I have not had any problems entering with friends.

Orbitz usually has a 15% off code that can save you some money on many hotels, including the Hodelpa hotels.

Another option is to rent an apartment or house using AirBnB. I saw some good rentals priced around $100US per night, one that had a small pool. If you drive, renting an apartment is easier. The places I saw had secure parking.

The Hodelpa Hotels in Santiago have secure parking and they offer free airport pickup and drop-off.

There are nicer rooms at the Gran Almirante than the the room in my photos. They have an Executive floor and some honeymoon suites.

Side trips to Moca, La Vega and Jarabacoa are easy from Santiago. Mountain top area above Santiago, called Camp David that has at least one restaurant and maybe a hotel, with a view of the city, supposedly very nice (I have not visited yet).

I was told every January or February there is a cigar fair in Santiago with lots of events and promotions and tours of cigar making facilities.

[Jao]

Travel humidor, Bacardi cutter was given to me by the Puerto Rican owner of brand 19 cigars (very nice guy). The Kelner cigar was smooth, the Master Kelner Robusto is stronger.

[jcrew2020]

How much is the grand almirante hotel per night? Looks like a nice hotel and I always wanted to stay there, but i thought it was too expensive.

[Jao]

How much is the grand almirante hotel per night? Looks like a nice hotel and I always wanted to stay there, but i thought it was too expensive.

From Orbitz:

"Take 15% off your next hotel stay with promotion code SPF#15 This limited-time promo code has NO blackout dates, even holidays!

Plus, if you want to double up on discounts, combine your coupon code with a special hotel offer, such as free nights, room or suite upgrade, or dining and spa credits.

Treat yourself to the vacation you deserve. Book by September 2, 2013 for travel by March 31, 2014"

Hodelpa operates three hotels in Santiago with Centro Plaza costing about $100 per night for two people. El Gran Almirante is its most expensive hotel. If you book at Centro Plaza, you can use the gym, pool, etc at the Gran Almirante Hotel.

[Jao]

Cigars can be purchased in Supermercado Nacional and probably in most other large supermarkets.

[MisterPink]

Cigars can be purchased in Supermercado Nacional and probably in most other large supermarkets.

Can you please answer how much Gran Almirante costs per night.
We appreciate the 15% coupon, WHAT DOES IT COST?
The Hodelpa website lists "from $160", that is a little rich for my monger blood.
Do you know if there is 28% tax on top of that?

[Dvdmdz]

Can you please answer how much Gran Almirante costs per night.
We appreciate the 15% coupon, WHAT DOES IT COST?
The Hodelpa website lists "from $160", that is a little rich for my monger blood.
Do you know if there is 28% tax on top of that?

That's the exact price listed for Grand Almirante on their website. I booked hodelpa central plaza once, they wanted $120 us. After two days I cancelled my reservation and just did my regular spot @ the Matum Casino. Its only $60 USD per night. Right across from the monument . Chica friendly with two discos ....

[Jimmydr]

That's the exact price listed for Grand Almirante on their website. I booked hodelpa central plaza once, they wanted $120 us. After two days I cancelled my reservation and just did my regular spot @ the Matum Casino. Its only $60 USD per night. Right across from the monument . Chica friendly with two discos ....

American used them as their bump hotel.

[MisterPink]

That's the exact price listed for Grand Almirante on their website. I booked hodelpa central plaza once, they wanted $120 us. After two days I cancelled my reservation and just did my regular spot @ the Matum Casino. Its only $60 USD per night. Right across from the monument . Chica friendly with two discos ....

Thanks Jao, LOL!
Great, so NO surprise tax.

[Jao]

American used them as their bump hotel.

US Military might use them as well.

Excellent hotel, excellent pool, nice gym, sauna, massage center, good location and no problem when friends visiting. And for around $100US per night the Hodelpa Centro Plaza is a nice hotel, nice rooms (some with balconies), good breakfast buffet in a nice restaurant on the 5th floor with a good view of the city. Secure parking lot at Hodelpa Centro Plaza, casino across the street, casino in the building, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, La Sirena within a few blocks and the monument a five minute walk. Guests at the Hodelpa Centro Plaza can use the pool, gym, suana and massage center at the El Gran Almirante.

Hodelpa offers free airport pickup and drop-off in a nice new van. They will be opening a second hotel in Santo Domingo called the Urbano.

[MisterPink]

US Military might use them as well.

Excellent hotel, excellent pool, nice gym, sauna, massage center, good location and no problem when friends visiting. And for around $100US per night the Hodelpa Centro Plaza is a nice hotel, nice rooms (some with balconies), good breakfast buffet in a nice restaurant on the 5th floor with a good view of the city. Secure parking lot at Hodelpa Centro Plaza, casino across the street, casino in the building, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, La Sirena within a few blocks and the monument a five minute walk. Guests at the Hodelpa Centro Plaza can use the pool, gym, suana and massage center at the El Gran Almirante.

Hodelpa offers free airport pickup and drop-off in a nice new van. They will be opening a second hotel in Santo Domingo called the Urbano.

I assume you work for Hodelpa?
Any particular reason why you choose to ignore my question?
I will try one more time:

Jao - "How much did you pay including tax and discount for a room @ The Gran Almirante"?

[Jao]

I assume you work for Hodelpa?
Any particular reason why you choose to ignore my question?
I will try one more time:

Jao - "How much did you pay including tax and discount for a room @ The Gran Almirante"?

I don't work for Hodelpa. You have replied to several of my posts with what I consider a somewhat rude manner.

I am sure we can meet and I will be more than happy to tell you what I paid. Tell me when and where and I'll be there.

Thanks.

PS.

I assume you probably post trip reports with photos and information, (and don't just try to snipe from the sidelines).

[Jao]

Per person, double occupancy rate (total price for two people around $100US). Free internet, free parking, small gym, breakfast buffet included in the 5th floor restaurant. Photos I took over a year ago.

[uncle ruckus]

Per person, double occupancy rate (total price for two people around $100US). Free internet, free parking, small gym, breakfast buffet included in the 5th floor restaurant. Photos I took over a year ago.

If you stay in Centro Plaza, do not play in their casino. It's the biggest rip-off in town. Stick to the Matum or Gran Almirante casinos. Also, there's a broom closet sized bar in Centro Plaza that gets packed with the after hours club. You could probably make an easy pick up there if you don't have something for the night.

[Jao]

If you stay in Centro Plaza, do not play in their casino. It's the biggest rip-off in town. Stick to the Matum or Gran Almirante casinos. Also, there's a broom closet sized bar in Centro Plaza that gets packed with the after hours club. You could probably make an easy pick up there if you don't have something for the night.

Thanks.

A separate company owns and operates the casinos that are part of the two Hodelpa Hotels. I believe generally throughout the DR, casinos are not owned and operated by the hotels where they may be located.

There was a casino across the street from the Centro Plaza Hotel (maybe attached to the Aloha Del Sol Hotel). I don't gamble. Odds always favor the casino everywhere in the world. Casinos can be good to get change for bigger bills.

[Jao]

2,000 feet above sea level on a mountain overlooking Santiago, maybe 30 minutes from Santiago (I have not yet visited). Camp David Ranch, www.campdavidranch.com/. Has some classic American vehicles on display (Cadillac, Chevrolet, Willys). More photos and prices on booking.com; http://www.booking.com/hotel/do/camp...-ranch.es.html.

[JPENA]

Love to go to Pasion and casa blanca when am in Santiago always have a good time love to take two girls at a time
I met this beautiful blond named Alessandra three years ago she was the most beautiful pro I have ever seen to bad her numbers I had for her no longer work .......

[Jao]

Love to go to Pasion and casa blanca when am in Santiago always have a good time love to take two girls at a time
I met this beautiful blond named Alessandra three years ago she was the most beautiful pro I have ever seen to bad her numbers I had for her no longer work .......

I stopped in Pasions about a month ago, Sunday night around 11:30, saw a tall pretty blond with a nice smile, friendly. Workers were friendly. Couples were sitting at tables near the dance platform, some were dancing. Casa Blanca I have only driven by in the daytime, on a future trip I will visit.

Years ago I visited Tribeca, valet parking, good friendly service at the bar, all the chicas were getting grinded by the end of the night. Las Colinas Rancho Tipico was fun the one I time I visited years ago, back then 75 pesos (around $2US for a large bottle of Presidente beer) served with small plastic cups, inexpensive metal chairs and tables, live music, dancing merengue on the dance floor (merengue some of the dudes are all up on the chica and vice versa). Pool tables near the entrance of Las Colinas Rancho Tipico. Monte Bar, near Las Colinas Rancho Tipico, Monday nights are birthday nights.

A parking area at the monument had a bunch of people on a Sunday evening (same area where they erect platforms in February for Carnival).