Boca Chica...safe or in denial?

beastwood

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Jun 30, 2011
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I am a budget traveler on my soon to be 10th trip to Santo Domingo and area. In May I started staying with mi fiance in BC (all told we have spent approx 14 days there as we rotate between the Colonial Zone, Juan Dolio and BC), ...gets me close to the water, and her out of the barrio for a while. She is an older wud be grad soon finishing her degree from UASD and appreciates the diversion. We have fun beaching, dancing (not that what I do can be considered merengue or bachata), eating and critiquing the hooker's wardrobes which provides many laughs and keeps me from getting slapped when i inevitably look. (important to note that the workers, hostesses, waitresses and prostitutes as well as aging ex-pats often know each other here along Duarte, and we are very friendly towards everyone)... ie. there seems to be a community beyond the typical harsh descriptions of prostitution and crime I have read of.

Granted no rock resort experiences here, but we enjoy it and feel (more or less) safe...am I nuts/naive? I am as gringo (looking) as they come. No jewlery or fancy clothes..and we stick to Duarte at night and the beach hotel we stay at. I did have a cop offer "me to buy him lunch....." ahemmmm when he stopped us in my rental KIA one afternoon. Later that day my future Dominican in-laws thought this story was funny while telling me to seriously take care. Perhaps I should contribute to the police "fund" if I am worried about safety? Or this could make matters worse I suppose.

Experiences on safety in BC, ?
thoughts?
why would anyone choose BC with so many other choices in RD?
 

RV429

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Apr 3, 2011
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why would anyone choose BC with so many other choices in RD?

No one using their intellect would choose BC.
 

greydread

Platinum
Jan 3, 2007
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Experiences on safety in BC, ?
thoughts?
why would anyone choose BC with so many other choices in RD?

Because it's close to the airport?

Boca Chica is okay. Some interesting characters (ex-pats and locals) live, work and play there. The beach is okay when the floater count is low and you've pretty much got to be a troubleseeker to find trouble there. It's a pretty good place to relax and you can always find a good conversation. I've met some cool people in Boca Chica and ate and drank too much and it was all good. I wouldn't want to live there (or Las Vegas, or Atlantic City or Myrtle Beach either for that matter) but it's a nice place to spend a couple days during my stay in the Capital.
 

Anastacio

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Feb 22, 2010
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I had an experience where a restaurant tried to charge us over the meal cost in tax which put the bill at around RD$4,000 for chicken & fries, pork chop and fries, and a few beers.
The guy on the next table go the same shock and was being badly bullied. I refused to pay that cost and guns were pulled from behind the bar. They tried to bully us but I ended up paying less than RD2,000 after a lot of threatening and BS.

I wasn't trouble seeking, only not seeking to be robbed!
 

RV429

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Apr 3, 2011
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That's my point Anastacio, it is not a place to take the wife, the crime, pickpocketing and aggressive behavior, etc. is way too much.
 

greydread

Platinum
Jan 3, 2007
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I had an experience where a restaurant tried to charge us over the meal cost in tax which put the bill at around RD$4,000 for chicken & fries, pork chop and fries, and a few beers.
The guy on the next table go the same shock and was being badly bullied. I refused to pay that cost and guns were pulled from behind the bar. They tried to bully us but I ended up paying less than RD2,000 after a lot of threatening and BS.

I wasn't trouble seeking, only not seeking to be robbed!

Wow. What was the name of that restaurant? I'll put it on the list of places to avoid. I have wandered all over BC and Andres and I haven't encountered this type of behaviour by business people. I have seen some aggressive behavior from beggars, vendors and street kids but I see that here in the States and deal with it the same way. Usually "the look" will suffice.

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Besises...the OP is with his novia and I'm sure she can help steer him away from any potentially bad situations.
 

greydread

Platinum
Jan 3, 2007
17,477
488
83
I had an experience where a restaurant tried to charge us over the meal cost in tax which put the bill at around RD$4,000 for chicken & fries, pork chop and fries, and a few beers.
The guy on the next table go the same shock and was being badly bullied. I refused to pay that cost and guns were pulled from behind the bar. They tried to bully us but I ended up paying less than RD2,000 after a lot of threatening and BS.

I wasn't trouble seeking, only not seeking to be robbed!

Wow. What was the name of that restaurant? I'll put it on the list of places to avoid. I have wandered all over BC and Andres and I haven't encountered this type of behaviour by business people. I have seen some aggressive behavior from beggars, vendors and street kids but I see that here in the States and deal with it the same way. Usually "the look" will suffice.

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Besides, the OP's novia can help him steer clear of potential trouble.
 
Jun 18, 2007
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www.rentalmetrocountry.com
Wow. What was the name of that restaurant? I'll put it on the list of places to avoid. I have wandered all over BC and Andres and I haven't encountered this type of behaviour by business people. I have seen some aggressive behavior from beggars, vendors and street kids but I see that here in the States and deal with it the same way. Usually "the look" will suffice.

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Besides, the OP's novia can help him steer clear of potential trouble.

Right next door to the Boat House you have several beach shacks that offer food etc they have that kind of MO and I have seen them doing it. These are not business people they're crooks!!! The best bet is always to go and relax at the Boat House.
 

Yachtmaster

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Jul 2, 2007
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why would anyone choose BC with so many other choices in RD?

No one using their intellect would choose BC.
Not so! Although I have no interest in vacationing in BC as I have a rented apartment available in SD for my infrequent visits, When I do visit, myself and my very good SD friends often spend an enjoyable Sunday afternoon at the beach in BC. Pick (rent) a table on the beach, relax, knock back a few Jumbo Presidentes, enjoy the food, watch the locals (seemingly half of SD on Sundays) and enjoy the BC DR social party atmosphere. Way toooooo many people and observers around on Sundays for the "Ladrones" to do their thing..........
 

greydread

Platinum
Jan 3, 2007
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Right next door to the Boat House you have several beach shacks that offer food etc they have that kind of MO and I have seen them doing it. These are not business people they're crooks!!! The best bet is always to go and relax at the Boat House.

Boca Chica caught a bad rap IMO. Anyplace that great to watch a Sunset has plenty of redeeming value.

Boat House at 00:54


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Anastacio

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Feb 22, 2010
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Right next door to the Boat House you have several beach shacks that offer food etc they have that kind of MO and I have seen them doing it. These are not business people they're crooks!!! The best bet is always to go and relax at the Boat House.

Sounds about right!
 

xamaicano

Well-known member
Apr 16, 2004
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Experiences on safety in BC, ?
thoughts?
why would anyone choose BC with so many other choices in RD?

I have been to BC recently I didn't feel unsafe and I walked around very late at night and deep into the morning. It used to be a place avoided when it used to be extremely seedy but I find it fine for a couple of days of beach and relaxation. I chill at the Boat House during the day and have met some cool people. A night I hang out at Batey and it is usually a good time. Not much nightlife outside of that. After a couple of days it is time to head elsewhere. On weekends the beach crowd is largely Dominican families. At night you will have to venture down to the Piano bar to see any concentration of hookers so that scene is pretty easy to avoid. Boca Chica hardly rates as particularly dangerous and I am not in denial. It may even be a little boring for people who crave a lot stimulation.
 

pedrochemical

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Aug 22, 2008
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A beach restaurant guy in BC tried that crap with me one time.
I just refused to pay and agreed to fight all of his cousins right there and then if he liked.

Apart from that I never had any grief in BC and I lived there for over a year.
Staying there is perfectly fine - living there successfully is a bit of an art form.

But as AZB would point out less diplomatically - there exists in Boca Chica an unusually high concentration of people whom one should not let into one's inner circle of friends.
 

rice&beans

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May 16, 2010
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One of my favorite videos by rice&beans...................

<iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gj6pbKO2tzg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


Boca Chica mtb - YouTube



You have excellent taste bigbird.........

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51418611@N05/6057773167/" title="ThankYouMistakeTheBeautiful by bocachica64, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6057773167_763826658b.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="ThankYouMistakeTheBeautiful"></a>
 

rubenpriego

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Feb 28, 2011
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I have been in BC about 5-6 times during the last 2 years. No problem at all. No danger, no rip-off in restaurants, amazing quiet turquoise water beach, good prices in restaurants, bars and small hotels. What else people need?
I really like BC.
 

Gemcee

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Dec 30, 2009
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I have many local friends that live in Boca Chica and have also had extended stays there many times. Honestly, the only problems I have had have been at all inclusive resorts..rip offs, bad food etc. I opt to stay at Mangos every time and chill on Duarte. My husband and I are in our early 30's and have had many great experiences with locals and tourists alike. I won't neglect to tell you that it's a little dirty and poverty is more apparent here than say in..Las Terrenas or PC...the ladies are sometimes aggressive and there is never a toilet seat in any dining establishment...that's all small beans. It's close to my heart cuz it's the first place I visited and the first place I formed tight friendships with locals when I was 20. i love Boca chica..i also love juan Dolio.
 

AJL6767

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Apr 14, 2011
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Just make sure you bting your own toilet paper with you, ands maybe a few sticks to make a seat. Seriously, if you go to good places with good people your chances of danger are greatly reduced. You have to use good sense.