The Renaissance Jaragua is one of the "murderer's row" of top-notch resort hotels situated along the "malecon" of Santo Domingo and about a mile west of Zona Colonial (the other resorts are the Melia and the V Centenario InterContinental). It is interesting to think of this hotel (part of the worldwide Marriott chain) as a contemporary walled city in comparison to the original walled city of the Zona Colonial. The grounds are attractive and substantial, with a pool and gym. The friendly and English-speaking staff does tend to discourage guests from walking outside the "walls", as they recommend taking a cab for everything. While the Caribbean Sea is just across the road, the hotel is a fair distance from the Zona Colonial and other sites, walking distance for some but not for others. On the other hand, the malecon (otherwise known as the eight-kilometer stretch of the Avenida George Washington bordering the sea) is a lively stretch day or night. Locals jog or fish during the breezy and sunny mornings, while at night the party atmosphere is sometimes so seductive that the malecon has even acquired the nickname "world's largest disco" from the Guiness Book of World Records. The Renaissance features several popular restaurants, a disco and a casino as well. The main floor also has meeting rooms and the all-important ATM or "banco automatico".
The elevator lobby on each floor has a window with a stunning panorama of the Caribbean, making the mundane task of changing levels a pleasurable experience. The Renaissance is one of the largest properties in the country, so the bright hallways are rather extensive. My comfortable standard room faced east, with a view of the hulking Faro a Colon (is this a plus or a minus?), the Caribbean Sea, and the surrounding city. The large picture window actually slides opens about 3 inches, just enough to stick out your camera for a photo. The room itself was spacious and had a typically contemporary design, with a king bed, writing table and a cushy chair and ottomon ensemble. I did find the bathroom a bit tight, but the Renaissance does feature the popular Bath and Body Works product line. There is a mirrored closet with a handy in-room safe, and there is a stocked mini-bar beneath the large television set.
The philosophical question of whether one should stay in a resort such as the Renaissance is a matter of your personal tastes. Most backpacker types would probably dread staying at a place like this, as you are isolated from the rest of the city and surrounded by plush amenities that are geared to pamper the globetrotting businessman. However, the Renaissance is certainly good at what it does and is recommended if you want a more sophisticated place to stay and play, what with hot nightlife within the premises and also down the malecon.