Best small hotel in Boca Chica

[Ricardo900]

Name: El Candil
Location:Calle Juanico Garcia No.2, Boca Chica
Reason why?:
The rooms are very clean, the staff is very courteous and hospitable, it's gated, so security is very good. It's quiet at night because of the two block proximity from the beach. The Pink Lady is across the street
Free airport transfers, so you'll save US$40 and they rent cars for $30 a-day (including tax & insurance)

[ricktoronto]

Originally Posted by Ricardo900

The Pink Lady is across the street
Free airport transfers, so you'll save US$40 and they rent cars for $30 a-day (including tax & insurance)

It is a very good choice along with Costlunga and Garant ( if a little pricey).

And amazingly, Pink House was not one of the MP's charged in the raids, no idea if it still operates. Clip joint for gringos though of course..

[jrzyguy]

i totaly agree with the OP....El Candil is great!! Costalunga comes in second....but i give my #1 vote to Candil.

Security is much tighter at candil. and i like their key policy (you have to leave the key at the front desk when you leave...seems like a pain in the butt at first...but you dont have to worry about losing it!).

Yes...petteri picks you up in person at the airport for FREE.....and if you are new to town he will swing thru the town and point out some good places to eat etc.

They also have LARGE bottles of water available for your room(5 or 10 gallons..i dunno..but the BIG blue ones). The cost of water can really add up eventualy.

I have to say also that the maid service is MUCH better at candil. I hate to say it...but there were a few days when i didnt get new towels at costalunga

my BIGGEST gripe with costalunga (and i sorta hate posting this...cuz i really like mario but i gotta) When we got there this year...there was a group of about 20 guys from NYC & NJ.....and EVERY NIGHT they would take over all the public spaces with their "girls"....and party in the street right outside my window....and there were hookers and loud guys all around the public areas. Hey...i got NO problem with chica chasers hanging out and partying....but go to one of the discos or down to what is left of Duarte!!! i didnt get an OUNCE of sleep for my first four nights!!!! Dont get me wrong...the guys were just doing their thing...and when i told a few of them about my lack of sleep on their last night...they were VERY appologetic.....but still partied till the wee hours....but not QUITE as loud. this "scene" would never have been tolerated at candil. BUt hey...if you are a bunch of chica chasing guys....then you might prefer costalunga. Just giving the heads up.

Finaly....i just find the layout of Candil nicer. I like the pool in the courtyard...and the balconies that look over it. It is a bit more sociable as well. There are a few tables by the pool where they serve breakfast and drinks....and i met some really cool people there. (nice when you are traveling solo...or even with just one friend). Overall..its just a nicer looking place with better service and caters more to discrete guests and families. (not all the guests are THAT discrete.....but there wont be a big frat party in the halls)

ALso ...at candil there is NO WAY someone will get in with you with out leaving there identification at the desk. Costalunga attempts to do this....but a few of my friends got by the front desk with no problem (this can be either a pro or con....depending what you are looking for).

So....i vote for El Candil as #1.....but i still recommend costalunga....it all depends what you are looking for.

well...i hope this info helps. and this is just my humble opinion

[rellosk]

Originally Posted by jrzyguy

...i just find the layout of Candil nicer. I like the pool in the courtyard...and the balconies that look over it. It is a bit more sociable as well. There are a few tables by the pool where they serve breakfast and drinks...

If you're a late riser don't get a room anywhere near the breakfast area. It gets noisy, early; and the noise carries.

[sweetdbt]

Originally Posted by dominicanguy123

The Dominican people are internationally recognized as being very attractive. The men tend to be lean, muscular, macho, forward, romantic, naturally good dancers, great lovers, and sexually insatiable. The women are known to be slim and curvy with round butts as in that which made Jennifer Lopez famous, for being well endowed, for being hot blooded and passionate, for embracing femininity and a traditional female role, and for being sexually liberated, talented, and provocative.

directly from the bocachicabeach website. How original! My apologies if the poster here is also the website creator, but somehow I doubt it.

[Willie]

Personally I like EL CAUCHO. Nice laid back atmostsphere and very attentive management.

Willie

[rafael]

I second the El Caucho vote. I have never stayed at El Candil but have heard nothing but good things about them. I used to stay at Costalunga all the time and never had any complaints.

El Caucho is my new favorite because they are very close to the beach, good italian restaurant on premises, the owners are very cool, and they have WIFI at the bar. . . .

[jrzyguy]

i just wanted to say again...that i was by no means trying to be overly critical of costalunga....mario is super cool....and in the past i stayed there with no complaints (except for the loud german family beneath me).

IT was a very busy week (durring carnival) so they couldnt switch my room.

Both places have their pro's and cons. I have a few local friends (not sankies) and i liked the fact that they could come see me without too much interferance at costalunga.

bottom line...i think costaluga is great for the chica chasers....candil is a bit nicer (but has certain restrictions...like no big frat parties in the halls).

I never did find the noise level too much either (and i am not an early riser...at least as far as waking up lol). Perhaps the other poster had a room on the first floor....i usualy am on the 2nd or 3rd....and never had a problem. But if you really want QUIET....they have a few room in the back that do not overlook the coutyard/pool area.

well..i would like to hear more about this other place that folks have meantioned. do they have a pool...guest policy...is it low key? is it more for chica chasers or for regular travelers? I used to work for a very fancy hotel in boston for year....and i tend to notice the little things. I am not all that picky...but just a BIT of attention to detail goes a long way with me. (bottled water, airport pickup, and an open attitude towards diverse as well as traditional lifestyles is what i look for).

soooooooo...with all that said...can someone recommend somewhere else to go to in the DR? I am looking for something different on my next trip.

[rafael]

El Caucho has a nice pool, that they clean early every morning. It is very low key. There are chica chasers there as well as chicas but unless you were looking you wouldn't really notice. I stayed there 3 nights and was never bothered by any chicas or were there any wild goings on with the chica chasers.

I met a few cool guests, including a dominican guy in his 50s that was there with his family. Boca is dead these days but he and I took a walk to Isla Bonita one night and had a few beers.

El Caucho has a pool table and ping pong table near the pool as well as gaming machines in the bar area.

I never had any complaints with Mario and Costalunga. They always treated me well, and I would use the internet center next door every day. I prefer sitting at the bar at El Caucho drinking a cold beer and accessing the net with my laptop via WIFI.

They have 2 restaurants. One that does rotisserie chicken and the second is an Italian restaurant. Danny one of the owners, who is Italian, does most of the cooking at the Italian place. Usually the italian place opens for dinner only, while the chicken place is open for lunch. They serve breakfast as well. Twice I was hungry and the italian place was not opened yet. Danny told me if he is there, he will cook. He made me a meal even though they were not opened yet.

Maybe because El Caucho is relatively new, but they seem very customer service oriented and all 4 owners are cool guys. Heck if I am not staying overnight in Boca I will still stop in and say hello.

[helpmann]

Originally Posted by rafael

very customer service oriented and all 4 owners are cool guys. Heck if I am not staying overnight in Boca I will still stop in and say hello.

The management is first class.


-Helpmann