Renaissance Santo Domingo Jaragua Hotel & Casino  

On Malecon Avenue with sweeping Caribbean Sea views, this waterfront hotel sits in the heart of Santo Domingo. You're minutes from the Colonial Zone, Catedral Primada de América, El Conde Street and the National Botanical Garden.

Contemporary rooms and suites with chic décor, plush bedding and flat-panel TVs set a modern, easygoing tone. Rooms offer minibars or refrigerators, coffee/tea makers, air conditioning and sea- or city-facing outlooks; some amenities carry additional fees.

Play your luck in the on-site casino, cool off in indoor and outdoor pools, or sip by the poolside bar and multiple lounges. There's a full-service spa and sauna, a 24-hour fitness center, outdoor tennis courts, a nightclub, concierge services, a coffee house and free self-parking—wake up to sea-breeze mornings and step straight into the action.

A business center plus meeting and event space (about a dozen venues) with AV and catering options make this a solid choice for conferences and social events. Wired and wireless internet are available for guests (surcharges may apply).

On-site dining covers breakfast, lunch and dinner with locally inspired Dominican and international flavors, plus a coffee shop for snacks. Enjoy poolside drinks, multiple bars and limited-hour 24-hour room service; buffet breakfasts are offered for a fee.