Even heads of state must get a thrill when they learn they’re sleeping in the former home of the first governor of the Americas. Oozing old-world charm, the Nicolás de Ovando, now part of local hotel chain Hodelpa, remains one of the nicest stays in the city, featuring 97 rooms packed with 21st-century amenities.
There's a variety of room types: some have four-poster beds, exposed-timber ceilings and 500-year-old walls with views of the port and river. The split-level contemporary-style rooms are more basic. Cobblestone walkways run through lushly shaded courtyards and the fabulous pool has commanding views of the Río Ozama. An excellent buffet breakfast is included in the rate; La Residence, the hotel’s superb and elegant French restaurant (mains US$17 to US$35), has a separate entrance down the street and opens for lunch and dinner.