[velichay]

Originally posted by dale7
....if you want to see the real country, stay outside of the AI. Then take the gua gua(a little bus usually crowded) and experience Santo Domingo. While you and I might agree as to the practical and cheap utility of same, (though I have yet to take the guagua myself) I would say for most tourists experiencing the DR or BC for the first time ESPECIALLY without good Spanish, a guagua to the captial may be a trifle impractical in terms of procedures, destinations and especially finding it for the return trip to Boca Chica.

With OK Spanish sure, but I would not recommend it all the time to all visitors, that's all.

[Piediahef]

I like Boca Chica. Of course, this place can be a dual or different experience for the tourist and the local. Being a local myself, I wished the entire beach was full of foreigners and Dominicans(locals) stayed away. I would like to be the only Dominican on the beach.

While foreigners consider Dominicans friendly and socially desirable for the experience, there is nothing I hate more than sharing a swimming pool or a beach with "chopos" who **** and even evacuate on the beach. I dislike going there on the weekends, because that is when the typical jerk comes in with a group of drinking buddies(you can almost picture them with a bottle of rum in a yellow net). They chase all the women and harass couples. I also hate vendors with a passion. I hate to be bothered by these hungry pests, who have no selling finesse.

This is why staying within the safe walls of Hamaca is my choice. I prefer to have a wall to keep Dominicans out. But that is not easy. The daily pass is too cheap, so many Dominicans venture in. So I stick to weekdays away from paydays. I wished the daily pass be increased to $1500 to keep the rift raft out.

But my best advice is not to buy gifts in Boca Chica. Anything there will cost you more, including the typical fried fish with batata or tostones, which is overpriced, considering you are not sitting in a restaurant. I rather spend $1000 for a meal at Neptuno, where the rift raft needs to work harder for a meal.

Also note that locals prefer a swimming pool before the beach. I stay away from pools, where locals behave like stone age animals.

TW

[dremucha]

Which could be the "Kiss-Of-Death" for the place! Something for everyone! An eclectic "Mix" of all things Dominican"! A taste of the entire Island in one place! No other "All-Inclusive" can show you what it is like to live in the DR like the Coral Hamaca! Come on down.Don't take my word for it,visit the Boca Chica web site! CRISCO

[Repwailia]

This has been discussed many times here. Try using the serach feature.

Also on the Travel page you'll find information about Boca Chica.

[courlerwele]

Rick,
Always correcting me, lol. If it is your first time in the country and you don't speak spanish it may not be your cup of tea taking a gua gua. You see, I always take a gua gua to Santo Domingo from Boca Chica but use taxi to get back to Boca Chica because nothing runs in the later evening to Boca Chica. A taxi from BC to Santo Domingo should cost around 500RD, if they say 700 or 800 go to the next one because they are trying to overcharge you.
dale7(Howard)

[brurdefdoro]

Has any one any experience of this hotel and the town of Boca Chica many thanks Declan

[BrianGoldsmith]

I stayed in the hotel in June 2003. I absolutely loved it! The hotel is gorgeous. The beach is beautiful. The staff are so friendly. There are plenty of activities and a great variety of food and drinks. The 24 hour all-inclusive is a great bonus! My friend (age 29) and I (age 21) regularly ventured out of the hotel into the town of Boca Chica. It is a great place, you get to meet lots of people (tourists and locals). The prices for drinks etc outside the hotel are reasonable. All in all it was a great holiday, and we are returning to the Hamaca in 6 weeks time, can't wait!!!!!! I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone!!!
Any questions, just let me know!!!

[courlerwele]

I will give my opinion on the Hamaca. It is the best AI in my opinion in Boca Chica if you can overlook the gated walls keeping you apart from the locals, the local hotel guides telling you how dangerous it is outside of the resort, so they can lead a group around like a herd of sheep and take you to places where you get ripped off. The hotel's taxis overcharge you, etc. I have been to the Casino there: is small but adequate, the disco there called Las Ollas has a bunch of dumb looking tourists trying to dance and have local sankies working the disco there to pick you up. The food sucks there in my opinion but guess what: it is an AI what else would I expect. The place is so far from being a Dominican experience, instead it is just another AI, no local flavor there.

Boca Chica is a nice town. You will be harassed by vendors if you decide to go to the public beach but a simple no, or vaya if needed will work. The beach itself is lovely and is very calm. Perfect for snorkeling but not for water sports(surfing,etc) because it is protected by a coral reef and there are not many waves. There are many good local dominican restaurants and cafes around where you can eat REAL dominican food not the buffet crap of an AI. Hotels there are very inexpensive. Check out the website mentioned previously. There is a lot of nightlife and there are working men/women, if you know what I mean but if you want to see the real country, stay outside of the AI. Then take the gua gua(a little bus usually crowded) and experience Santo Domingo. Walk along el malecon, visit the colonial zone and go shopping, a must see is the botanical gardens-impressive. Santo Domingo has a lot of history/architecture with regards the city being introduced to Europeans over 500years ago. Whether you stay at the Hamaca or at a local hotel make sure you get outside of the hotel and wander around and just use common sense and everything will be great.
dale7(Howard)

[velichay]

Originally posted by gracedeclan
Has any one any experience of this hotel and the town of Boca Chica many thanks Declan Besides other replies, if you lock yourself behind the pink walls at Hamaca you could be in Aruba or Mexico for all that matters. This is not a criticism of Hamaca but AI in general. Private beach, no vendors, food and drink with no cash outlay, etc.

I stayed there once, it is sterile and nice though the food is ordinary. No Dominican food night but they did have Arabian Food nite (!) when I was there. And tacos once. Free iodine tasting safe water in the rooms. OK TV. CNN etc.

They do their best to keep you from wandering out into downtown mainly because you can spend in the gift shop etc., inside. Actually I recall very limited costly gifts, quite remarkable since they have so many guests you would think they'd pitch more crap.

If you do no AI you can buy a pass for a day, not cheap but you get meals for lunch time - also you can be accosted by the time share guys on the beach - I guess if you can put up wth the irritating sales pitch there is a chance something free like a day pass is provided.

Nice but tiny casino. Routine entertainment with the acts, and songsters etc., nothing special, kids like some of it.

Since the air/AI packages are often SO cheap you probably can travel and stay for 1/2 the cost of an AA flight and a $35 a night nice hotel and your own meals. But you don't really get a flavour of the country.

[Percocetti]

Boca Chica has a wonderful web-site called www.bocachicabeach.net check it out it has everything you would want to know about the village for a first time tourist. I (along with many others on this board)have been there many times and love the village, some here give it a bad rap as a sex destination, which of course there's lots of that....but also if you want a great beach and fantastic resturants and a lively nightlife.....it's a great spot.....imo!