(formally known as Hostal – Aparthotel Condo Parque & Venus Cafe Bar)
Front of the Hostel Parque
The Apartment – Hotel – Hostal Condo Parque has it all
; affordability, location, comfort, cleanliness, service and attentive staff. It is an excellent value in a clean and safe environment. Aparthotel Condo Parque is a wonderful budget hotel and is one of the best options for a short or long term stay in the oldest city in the Americas, Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Hostal Parque Venus Bar Patio and Cafeteria
There are 14 apartments and studios with daily cleaning. The large roof-top penthouse is perfect for a long term stay. We also have backpackers’ rooms available for both male and female. All of our rooms are comfortable, secure and are cleaned daily. You have the Malecon (the sea side road), Calle el Conde, shopping, restaurants, buses and all the museums and sights of the Colonial City, all within a few blocks of the front door.
Located in the lobby is Venus Bar and Cafeteria. Here you can enjoy a cold or hot drink, breakfast, local homemade dishes and pleasant conversation. Here you can chat and share your adventures or get some sightseeing information. If you choose you can sit quietly and unwind in the peaceful atmosphere near the small garden pool. You can lounge in the bar or relax in the Spanish-style courtyard and enjoy the fresh open space. There is free WiFi available in the Patio and Cafeteria.
Hostal Parque Venus Bar Patio and Cafeteria
Our amenities include:
*Breakfast is included
*Security Lockers
*24-hour security
*Cable TV with international programming
*Free WiFi in the Bar and Patio
*Private Bathrooms with a shower and warm water
*Air Conditioning and/ or ceiling fan
*Studios have a kitchenette with refrigerator
*Luggage and bicycle storage
The apartment at Hostal Parque
Other pluses include:
*Bar and Cafeteria on location
*Bus station to Boca Chica Beach and other attractions is nearby.
*Backpackers are welcome.
*Dog friendly
*A typical Spanish interior courtyard for relaxing
*Roof -top terrace with a stunning view of Santo Domingo and the Caribbean Sea
*Languages spoken – English, Spanish, French and German
*Swiss management
Daylight view from Hostal Parque roof-top terrace
Hostal Condo Parque & Venus Cafe Bar
Calle Palo Hincado #165, Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
Owner – Walter Rufenacht
Traveling by a bus or guagua (smaller bus) is simple even if you are not proficient in Spanish. Just ask people and they will be happy to guide you as to where to catch a bus and how to get to the right bus. Traveling by bus is very economical and safe and is a great way to see the country of Dominican Republic.
A large comfortable bus stuck on the small streets of Colonial Zone.
Santo Domingo City Bus
Oficina Metropolitana de Servicios de Autobuses/ Metropolitan Office of Bus Services better known as OMSA are the city buses and they cost between RD$15 and RD$30 (6/2019). Located in Santo Domingo and Santiago they have many routes and stops. You can find more information in the “SERVICIOS” section at their web site. Metropolitana Bus
The Large Busses
These buses will take you cross country are full size modern vehicles equipped with air conditioning. Most have onboard movies and are quite comfortable as buses go. The average price from Santo Domingo to Puerta Plata by bus is about $6USD (2006-prices are an average). Remember to take a sweater on the bus. They can get very cold as they keep the air conditioning quite high. They buss is really a very comfortable way to travel any long distance.
*Caribe Tours
Their location in Santo Domingo is Avenida 27 de Febrero and Leopoldo Navarro. They have routs throughout the country and take pride in their promptness. Make sure to take a jacket as sometimes their air conditioning is a bit strong. Check their web site for bus destinations and schedules.
Phone in Santo Domingo: 809-221-4422.
You can also make a reservation on their web site. Caribe Tours
*Metro Tours
Operate from Ave.Winston Churchill and Hatuey, near Ave. 27 de Febrero in Santo Domingo. Their routs are limited.
Phone in Santo Domingo: 809-566-7126 Metro Tours
*Expreso Bávaro
To Bavaro / Punta Cana from Santo Domingo and back with many stops along the way.
Phone: 809-682-9670 Expreso Bávaro
*Terrabús
Located on Avenida 27 de Febrero at Maximo Gomez at Plaza Criolla with busses to Santiago, Puerta Plata and Port-a-Prince, Haiti. Contact: 809-472-1080
*Expreso Macoris
Buses to La Romana and Higuey.
Contact: 809-687-2190
Express Bus
These buses will take you over the entire island. Many of these small busses or guaguas are not in the best shape and riding one can be confusing. The bus stop area is on Revelos Street in front of Enriquillo Park (not far from the Colonial Zone). There is no real office or bus station. Just many bus hubs scattered around in the area. Each has busses or guaguas that go to different parts of the country.
Riding these smaller busses is a true experience that one should have. Some buses are very old and rickety and others are quite nice and could even have air conditioning. These buses are very inexpensive and collect the fare after departure. Make sure you have the correct change as some collectors will not make change.
Watch your belongings. There are many thieves in the area of Parque Enriquillo. It will seem like there is no order at all. Just give yourself enough time to understand what is happening and to get on the correct bus.
Example trip: La Romana from Santo Domingo is about $3USD (2006), buses leave every hour from 5 AM to 9 PM, takes a little under 2 hours, stopping at Camino Ave. The return trip is the same fare.
Tour bus in Colonial Zone
Bus From Santo Domingo to Boca Chica
(7/2012) The terminal is located on Jose Marti which is two blocks from Parque Enriquillo (between Plaza Marti Department Store and Plaza de los Buhoneros) in Santo Domingo. Express buses run every 30 minutes with the fare being $70 Pesos (7/2012).
To get to the terminal from Colonial Zone taking a moto concho (public car): Go to the beginning of the Conde in front of Petrus (this is not far from the Pacos Restaurant and the Parque Independencia – on the corner of Palo Hincado and Calle las Mercedes). The cost is about $25 pesos (DOP). The car will travel on Ave. Mella, past the fire station, then turn onto Ave. Jose Marti, and pass directly in front of Parque Enriquillo then on to the front of the terminal (refer to express bus above). You can also ask any taxi driver to take you. They know where it is.
Here is where you catch the first bus. You will be taken to another terminal, The Andres bus, here you have to change buses and pay for another bus.
This bus will then take you to Boca Chica making the final stop at the park in the center of the town of Boca Chica.
Monday through Saturday you may be able to leave from and be dropped off at Parque Independencia, near the gas station, before 6 PM, on the way to the terminal. On Sundays, the bus only goes to the terminal at Parque Enriquillo.
Note– Make sure you catch the last bus out of Boca Chica, ask the driver to be sure of the time, or you will be spending the night or taking a taxi (usually at least $1000 pesos (8/2011) to return back to the city. It really is very simple.
Here in Dominican Republic we use the Metric System of Measurement as does most of the world. Here are some basic conversions that might be helpful
*1 Foot (ft) = 0.3048 meter (m)
*1 acre = 0.4047 hectare
*1 gallon = 3.785 Liters (1000 cm 3)
*1 mile per hour (US Statute) = 1.609347 kilometer per hour (km)
*1 inch (in) = 25.4 millimeter (mm) , 2.54 centimeter (cm),
0.0254 meter (m)
*1 gallon (gal) = 4.546 liter
*32° degree Fahrenheit (F) = 0° degree Celsius or 212°F = 100°C
to change from ° F to ° C take the degree F minus 32 ÷ by 1.8
To change from ° C to ° F take the degree C x by 1.8 + 32
*Note that even though the main type of measurement here is in meters they do use pounds and gallons in most businesses.
The time in the Dominican Republic is Eastern Standard Time (EST). The same as New York and Miami in the Eastern United States. The country did try using the Daylight Savings Time change but it did not work out well so they decided not to change the clocks like the North Americans. This means that when the states in North America change their clocks the Dominican Republic does not. Thus making for an hour time difference during this time change.
We are on GMT -4. See below for an explanation
Longitude & Latitude
Dominican Republic is located between latitude 17° 40′ and 19° 56′ North and longitude 68° 20′ and 72°01′ West of the Greenwich Meridian (GMT -4). This means if you are using Greenwich time Dominican Republic time would be minus 4 hours (UTC/GMT -4 hours)
All You Want To Know About The Oldest City In The Americas
