As part of our holiday to the DR we wanted to see other parts than the AI hotel we were booked into. It was actually cheaper to fly to an AI hotel and not stay there for part of the time than to do flights / hotels independently!

Booked Hotel Metur because they offer a trip into the middle of DR to Rancho Ariba at a very reasonable cost $70 per person for 2 nights - all inclusive!

Hotel Metur is run by Kurt and his wife. The hotel is clean, has reasonably hot water, air con in some rooms and a back up generator for when the power fails (as it often does). Kurt's wife offers a range of meals all at a very reasonable cost. Recommend the hotel for anyone wanting to stay somewhere inexpensive in Santa Domingo for a few nights.

The trip to Rancho Ariba is stunning and very well worth doing.

We got a coach from the hotel in Peurto Plata to Santa Domingo. The hotel rep booked the taxi and the coach for us. Taxi to Puerto Plata coat almost as much as coach trip!. Less than £6 will see you all the way from PP to SD by coach (recommend the metro). We stayed overnight at Hotel Metur and then set off for Rancho Ariba. This journey took over 4 hours - mainly because the road peters out at San Jose de Ocoa and from there on is more like tracks! Spectacular views made it very worthwhile though.

The accomodation is at Rancho Mahoma about 30 minutes drive from Rancho Ariba and built from river stones. Kurt took his own generator as there is no electricity to this outlying part of DR. Water was direct from the river and pure enough to drink quite safely. Accomodation is very basic, but this is more than compensated by the pure tranquility of this place. Set in the mountains and surrounded with tropical plants it was breathtaking. There is a swimming pool in the 'garden' fed from the river which is a few minutes walk away. Part of the trip is a days horse riding through the mountains. We visited a coffee plantation and just enjoyed the spectacular views. Having never riden before my husband was sterling and just walked his way through the whole day - there was no pressure to do any more. It was well worth the few aches at the ned of the day.

Kurt cooked - a very basic but edible menu. Boiled green bananas for breakfast!

Mosquitoes were a problem and you need to take plenty of DEET and clothes to cover from head to toe. The mosquito netting over the bed was reasonable effective.

For a complete get away from civilization break it is superb. It also offers the chance to see how DR people live away from the cities and glimse part of the real DR. No luxury - except the pure peace but thoroughly recommended.

This is a small, simple, clean & comfortable, friendly place located in central Santo Domingo. The staff is very friendly and helpful. If you are flying into Santo Domingo but traveling to other parts of the country and just need a decent, very cheap place to stay overnight, you can't beat this place. The owners will pick you up at the airport, transport you to the bus stations, arrange reliable taxi transport, etc. Lots of good free advice from the staff & a nice little bar & patio.