southeast coast accomodations wanted

My husband, ten year old daughter and myself arrive D.R. (Santo Domingo airport)week of 2/17/00-2/26/00. We are interested in finding a nice hotel or apartment type place(separate sleeping arrangement for privacy)with kitchenette in the moderate price range. Is Boca Chica too honky tonk? Anyone know of a great place to stay? No all inclusive resort - we are the explorer types. We are hoping to do a lot of snorkling. Thanks

Boca Chica is indeed a bit honky tonk, but there are a lot of families there as well. There's a number of places there. I stayed at Hostal Zapata and had a good experience, but others on the board have complained that they inflate prices once you arrive -- a bit of a ripoff. Bayahibe has a lot of cabanas, and it's the most ideal place to stay on the Southeast coast, but I don't know of any places with kitchenettes. The Hotel Bayahibe is a nice independent hotel there, and they may have rooms with kitchenettes. Further southeast you can find places just south of Miches that are quite wonderful, but again no kitchenettes. I've got a complete listing in my book The Rough Guide to the Dominican Republic, which is out in the UK but won't be out in the US until February 1 2000. If you want to order it now you can do so via www.amazon.co.uk.

Dear Sean:

How did you get this Rough Guide? Not yet out in U.S. or U.K.! I will begin to investigate Bayahibe - thanks for the info. Cathy

What does Honky Tonk mean?

I have always thought of "Honky Tonk" as being a carnival, circus type of atmosphere with many temporary vendors, sideshows etc, a roving carnival

I wouldn't call Boca Honky Tonk, but it doesn't sound as if it is what the person who made the post is looking for, I assumed they were trying to find a Dominican Cozumel which is near impossible

Cathy, I am planning a trip to the same area @ the end of Feb. So, I have followed your thread - please email or post if you get a really good site that describes Boca. I'm also not into "tourism crazy", thanks D.