Day Pass at Boca Chica or Juan Dolio AI

[jruane44]

The food and drink are not free. You have to pay for the day pass.

[MRC1961]

Thanks, we'll be giving it a try on Saturday.

I hear a lot about how crowded everything is on Sunday ... and how it is so much less crowded during the week. What about Saturdays?

Jennifer

[jruane44]

Originally Posted by MRC1961

Thanks, we'll be giving it a try on Saturday.

I hear a lot about how crowded everything is on Sunday ... and how it is so much less crowded during the week. What about Saturdays?

Jennifer

I like to go during the week. It is alot less crowded. Some busy days you can wait at the counter for an hour or more. I dont know about Saturdays.

[DomLou]

From what I have seen going to the AI's, Saturday is certainly busy, but not as busy as Sunday. As Boca Chica is so close to the Capital, many work on Saturday, but Sunday is free and clear, thus the insurgence of people!

We are going to try during the week during Semana Santa. Probably on the Tuesday while most folks still have to work. Hopefully not too crowded.

[Valerie617]

Jennifer - The Hamaca is probably the closest AI. The beach is calm and beautiful. If you are driving and getting a daypass, just let the guard know and you'll be directed to the parking area.

There are two places to eat lunch. In the center of the property there's a very large restaurant covered by a thatched roof - it's a buffet and there are so many choices of food. The food is really good. On the beach, there's pizza all afternoon, bar on sand and a bar at the pool on the beach.

There's a smaller place for lunch on the beach side, usually BBQ stuff and a lot of sides. Unlimited food and drinks.

They are building a new pool on the beach, closer to where the wall is that separates the resort from the local beach.

[MRC1961]

We went on the 9th of February one day pre-cruise. We're from the US and drove from Santa Domingo (wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart, but am glad we did.)

We got to the resort about 10:30 and found out it would be 11:00 before they started giving out bracelets for day passes. We just had a seat in the lobby area. A few minutes before 11:00 they took our money and gave us the wristbands. It was all painless. We stayed the full day (actually noticed as we were leaving that we had overstayed our day pass by a few minutes!).

It was crowded but not overly so. We found beach chairs and were able to get ones under sunshades in the afternoon. The new pool was not opened on that day, but was filled with water and being treated for opening. I expect that it opened a couple of days later.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

Jennifer

[johne]

Originally Posted by Kyle

no wonder the AI's are crowded on sundays with families...free food and drink...

Not "free"--Day pass=$50 per head.

[nctrader]

Originally Posted by Valerie617

Jennifer - The Hamaca is probably the closest AI. The food is really good.

I would say to the contrary that the food is really good at the Hamaca. I've been there a few times with as recent as yesterday and the food quality is poor in the restaurant. The chicken was undercooked, the pork was like rubber and the rice/beef dish looked better than it tased.

If you go to the Hamaca, you're better off with the grill (ie. pizza, french fries, hotdog, etc....)

For the money, if you're just looking for the Beach fun, you're better off at the Pelican Restuarant or Aura House in Juan Dolio.