Santo Domingo Revisit - Need Info Please.

[ludwik]

Last time I visited Santo Domingo was in 1998.
I was there solo for only for 5 days and stayed at San Geronimo Hotel and Casino for $20/night and loved the place, it was clean and most importantly the air conditioning worked like a charm thru'-out the 5 days. I walked at night along the Malecon and even though I was the only "gringo" no-one accosted me and I felt very safe. Food was good and reasonably priced everywhere.
Cab drives where very cheap. Vesuvio and nearby Chinese restaurant(forget the name) where excellent and very inexpensive.
How is it now?
I am not as healthy as I was in 1998 and walk much slower. I plan to go again in May or June for a week.
Updated info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you kindly.
Ludwik from New York.

[Chirimoya]

I think San Geronimo is closed, and so is the nearby Chinese restaurant on the Malecón. I'm passing that way today so I'll double check on the hotel.

In the US$20 range your only options are really going to be the pensiones on Calle Danae in Gazcue. Do a search on this site, there are more details on other threads.

There are some other options on the western side of Gazcue, nearer to the area you mention like place called Bella Epoca just off Independencia, three blocks east of Máximo Gómez, which looks nice from the outside, but no idea of pricing.

[Alyonka]

There was a hotel (don't remember the name) I found near Casino Neapolitano off Malecon (I have no idea what was the name of that area but it was close to walk to the Colonial Zone) that was $20 per night. Rooms had fans and cold showers. The good thing about it was that they cleaned thoroughly every day and all rooms were on the same level - no need to walk up the stars with a bag