As a beach destination Boca Chica is nowhere near the class of the Northest Coast or for that matter most of the beach destinations in the Carribean but as a vacation destination it is close to the airport, very inexpensive, close to other beaches (Guayacanes, Juan Dolio) and the Capitol and really can be fast or slow depending upon what the traveler likes. There are a couple of bars on Duarte where you can sit and sip and watch the world go by and never be "propositioned" if that's not what you're looking for and I've never had people try to "push" drugs on me there.
Not all the hotels are "old" and a few of the ones that are have been well maintained and are on par with hotels in the more popular Caribbean destinations which cost 3x as much.
Index | Villa Florencia
I had a 1BR with two balconies offering 90 degree apart ocean views, a dishwasher, washing machine, fully equipped kitchen, pantry, large living room well appointed with a 55" TV, formal dining room off the kitchen (8 seat table), Italian marble everywhere, excellent service and top flight security including an indoor garage for the whopping price of $100/night. In Aruba you get to stay at the Coconut In Motel with a horse hair double bed with bad coils and the 3/4 empty slime pool from "Karate Kid" for $100 a night.
I have had a great time relaxing there and it's not a good idea to use credit cards anywhere in the D.R., not just Boca Chica. I have never felt unsafe there and I sure can't say the same about Santo Domingo where an evening stroll can turn into quite an adventure. There are admittedly too many vendors on the beach and they tend to become a little annoying but when offered trinkets, I tell them who I buy my trinkets from, when offered massage/mani/pedi I tell them who I use for that, I never pay a table/chair fee because I only table/ chair where there is no fee for me and when the cigars guys come by I explain to them that Cohiba makes no cigars in "window" boxes and how the binder leaf isn't supposed to be poking out of the wrapper leaf and where the stamps are located on the genuine boxes and from that point on they go well out of their way to avoid me.
Boca Chica is only scary to a chump who should never travel outside his comfort zone in the 1st place and I agree that the OP should have gone without his "scared buddy" there to ruin his trip and he would have had a great time visiting, relaxing and taking in the sights and sounds and smells.
