Boca Chica Experience

[boricua_nyc]

Our experience (my wife and I) in Boca Chica was very memorable. Both for the hospitality of the people (including our hosts at the Hotel Zapata) as well as for the pervasiveness of the local prostitution.

We stayed at the Hotel Zapata because of all the good reviews we read about at this forum as well as on tripadvisor.com (not to mention its proximity to the beach). We agree that the hotel is very clean and well maintained even though the furnishings are a little dated. The owners, Martha and Robert, treat the guests so familial that it has a B&B feel. The staff as well are very accommodating and cater to your every need. On the week that we were there, most of the guests would converge at the bar before dinner to share a few drinks before moving on with their respective plans.

We happened to get moved (for our first night) to another property that the owners built at the far extreme of town due to our room having a plumbing problem. The hotel was called the San Gabriel (?) and it was really a classy place. The rooms in this property were very new with a pool on site. If this property had access to the beach we may have stayed there for our entire week. This would have been a mistake since we would have missed out on the Hotel Zapata experience.

The beach was awesome. I loved how the lagoon created such a large swimming pool like feel. The beach vendors were mild and were easy to dismiss with a “No Gracias”. The beach in front of the Hotel Zapata (probably goes for all beach front properties) was cleaned every night and ready to go first thing in the morning.

The night life was a little disappointing from the perspective of a married couple looking to socialize with others on vacation. The night life in town seemed overwhelmingly dominated by single men and working girls. We patronized the three clubs in town but were very disappointed. The two clubs located on Duarte Avenue were just another venue for single men to meet working girls. The third was at the Hamaca AI resort. We were most disappointed with this club because we thought that it would have been patronized by the same couples that were hanging out on the beach. Instead it was full of teenagers. There were a few working girls with their dates. The best I could figure is that the cover at the Hamaca paid itself off when you factor in the free drinks.

The stay was very pleasant (despite the lack of social life for couples) because of the weather, the hospitality of the locals, the beach and the Hotel Zapata.

[Ricardo900]

Originally Posted by boricua_nyc

Our experience (my wife and I) in Boca Chica was very memorable. Both for the hospitality of the people (including our hosts at the Hotel Zapata) as well as for the pervasiveness of the local prostitution.

We stayed at the Hotel Zapata because of all the good reviews we read about at this forum as well as on tripadvisor.com (not to mention its proximity to the beach). We agree that the hotel is very clean and well maintained even though the furnishings are a little dated. The owners, Martha and Robert, treat the guests so familial that it has a B&B feel. The staff as well are very accommodating and cater to your every need. On the week that we were there, most of the guests would converge at the bar before dinner to share a few drinks before moving on with their respective plans.

We happened to get moved (for our first night) to another property that the owners built at the far extreme of town due to our room having a plumbing problem. The hotel was called the San Gabriel (?) and it was really a classy place. The rooms in this property were very new with a pool on site. If this property had access to the beach we may have stayed there for our entire week. This would have been a mistake since we would have missed out on the Hotel Zapata experience.

The beach was awesome. I loved how the lagoon created such a large swimming pool like feel. The beach vendors were mild and were easy to dismiss with a “No Gracias”. The beach in front of the Hotel Zapata (probably goes for all beach front properties) was cleaned every night and ready to go first thing in the morning.

The night life was a little disappointing from the perspective of a married couple looking to socialize with others on vacation. The night life in town seemed overwhelmingly dominated by single men and working girls. We patronized the three clubs in town but were very disappointed. The two clubs located on Duarte Avenue were just another venue for single men to meet working girls. The third was at the Hamaca AI resort. We were most disappointed with this club because we thought that it would have been patronized by the same couples that were hanging out on the beach. Instead it was full of teenagers. There were a few working girls with their dates. The best I could figure is that the cover at the Hamaca paid itself off when you factor in the free drinks.

The stay was very pleasant (despite the lack of social life for couples) because of the weather, the hospitality of the locals, the beach and the Hotel Zapata.

You should have stayed in Juan Dolio or Punta Cana for the AI experience.

[Berzin]

I stayed in Boca Chica from 25 Dec. To the 29th. The Hotel Zapata is cool and I love the proximity to the beach. But if you are married and go with your wife you will not enjoy the nightlife. Boca Chica at night sucks, there is no other way to put it. And if you want to meet other travellers that is not the place to go. I want to add to your experience that everyone I met outside the hotel was a hustler and I was more than happy to get the hell out of Dodge and spend some time in the capital.

[PuertoRican2]

boricua_nyc
im glad that you had a good time at Boca Chica , the dominican republic is a beatuiful country to tell you the truth i like the dominican republic beter than my own country Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is also beautiful but there is too much crime i feel more beter in the DR. I went to casa de campo, dominican republic its a beautiful place located at the province of La Romana. I love the dominican music the merengue

[ricktoronto]

Originally Posted by Berzin

But if you are married and go with your wife you will not enjoy the nightlife. Boca Chica at night sucks, there is no other way to put it. And if you want to meet other travellers that is not the place to go. I want to add to your experience that everyone I met outside the hotel was a hustler and I was more than happy to get the hell out of Dodge and spend some time in the capital.

Frankly the more whining Nancy's that stay away from Boca Chica the better but for an adult with an ounce of backbone there is nothing wrong with Boca Chica insofar as places to eat and drink and be entertained without, gasp!, being drawn into the wily clutches of street girls.

[Berzin]

Originally Posted by ricktoronto

Frankly the more whining Nancy's that stay away from Boca Chica the better but for an adult with an ounce of backbone there is nothing wrong with Boca Chica insofar as places to eat and drink and be entertained without, gasp!, being drawn into the wily clutches of street girls.

it's people like YOU who think that that cesspool called Boca Chica passes for anything like a vacation spot. With all of the monos hanging out at every single eating or drinking establishment bothering tourists and all of the hookers only a slug would find this environment palatable. Only a rat would find paradise here, so you can keep Boca Chica and keep yourself marinating in its venereal diseases.

[ricktoronto]

Originally Posted by Berzin

it's people like YOU who think that that cesspool called Boca Chica passes for anything like a vacation spot. With all of the monos hanging out at every single eating or drinking establishment bothering tourists and all of the hookers only a slug would find this environment palatable. Only a rat would find paradise here, so you can keep Boca Chica and keep yourself marinating in its venereal diseases.

Berzin, or may I call you Nancy, what are monos? In Spanish it means lovelies so that sounds quite good actually. I am sure that there are as many or more venereal diseases in the capital so use a rubber.

The best news is that you aren't going back so that means a bit of a success for the monos, I must say.

Really to others, unless you are in the womens temperance league or a prude if you cannot tolerate some strumpets here and there you should avoid a great deal of the third world and 90% of Latin America. For others with a less thin skin, Boca Chica is a safe, affordable place with a nice beach and a crazy, at times, atmosphere that is not anywhere near as bad as Nancy says.

[jrzyguy]

if the hookers aint your things...and they are not mine...i agree...B.C. is an affordable safe and easy trip from nyc. Sure the nightlife sucks..my friends there always wants to go to the clubs in the capital at night...but i have no need for that. I live in NYC and have the best clubs at my disposal (but i dont even enjoy that here).

I basicaly go to b.c. cuz i like the beach..i love the lagoon..i like swimming out to matica every day and snorkeling and hanging out with some of the locals out there. and then when i need a break from the beach i can do a day trip to the capital or do one of the touristy day trips (heh..i have yet to do that).

I was kinda surprised that durring my last trip that there actualy quite a few families hanging out on duarte late at night. As long as you dont sit in front of the disco the girls will pretty much leave you alone.

WE would also spend a lot of time hanging out with DJ Flaco at that other bar with the pool tables in the back. Heh...beware playing pool with the locals...i play in some leagues here in nyc...the rules there are much different....as in there werent any lol.

IF you were traveling with a family...then yeah..i think staying at the don juan would be a good idea. THey have some entertainment on the beach at night that looks pretty safe for the whole family.

I personaly would love to go up north and meet ya'll in sosua....but i only can barely afford to go once a year...so i go where i know people.

I dont need much on vacation...the beach...a presidente...and i am happy. as soon as i hit the lotto tho...WATCH OUT!!

[LauraP]

Hi all,

A few years back my family & I travelled many times to Puerto Plata & Sosua. At the time, we loved it! At this time, we also travelled many times to the Bahamas and Barbados as well.

Well, I re-married in 2002 and went back to the DR. We went to Punta Cana and had one of the worst vacations of my life. Won't bother you with the details at this point.

My 'new' husband kept constantly talking about a vacation he took to 'Boca Chica' and great it was. Well, last year he talked me into it and 'SURPRISE', ... I had one of the BEST vacations ever!! At the same time, my two (now grown) daughters travelled to Puerto Plata, and besides the excursions, were very disillusioned.

In two weeks, the four of us are going back to BC. Last time we stayed at the Don Juan and this time we're staying at the DBR (formerly BCR). On our vacation last year, we never laughed so much while on vacation.

Of course, we used common sense at night, but our daily shopping trips in the village were the highlight. We met so many friends, including 'Terry', who helped us immensely at the far end (more public) area of the beach and all he wanted for his trouble was a cigarette. Also, the guys who brought us a 'Presidente' and wanted to show us 'Paradise' (sorry forgot the names) but they loved 'CANADA'.

I'm a cappucino addict and the village cappucino bar (smallest I've ever seen), served the BEST I've ever tasted.

I should also mention the staff at the DJR. Two of our servers (Joana Perez and another girl), came on our last morning in tears, bringing us coffee and rum to take home.

I have packed and unpacked already this week and we're counting the days to January 29th. Long story short (sort of), .... life is what you make it! And we 'made' Boca Chica one of our favorite destinations 'ever'!!!!

Laura

[ricktoronto]

Living proof that we need more Laura's and way less Nancy's.