Hotel Francis is located near Parque Colón and the ruins. It was the first place I stayed when I decided to visit the dominican republic. Being so near to zone colonial and being able to experience walking around and seeing the historic buildings were a plus. The staff was friendly, and the hotel hosted a wedding reception as well which was amazing to be a part of. This hotel was one of the main reasons I fell in love with Santo Domingo. It's currently undergoing renovations and I can't wait to see what it looks like when they are done.