Coral Hamaca Review

The Coral Hamaca - Boca Chica Beach Resort is a nice facility. The resort has a lot of land with beautiful gardens, large pools, and a crystal clear beachfront.

My vacation was inexpensive; I liked the fact that the staff didn?t hound me for tips. I also liked the activities staff; they offered creative day activities on the beach and night activities, including shows and karaoke. Even though the resort did all they can, I would not recommend Coral Hamaca for a young American professional. If you are looking for gourmet food, shopping and more than a resort, go elsewhere.

Though the resort is nice, there is extreme poverty surrounding the resort. When you stay in a resort for 7 nights you would most likely want to venture out. Venturing out results hounding by prostitutes, eager moped taxi drivers, and people wanting to shine your shoes. On most islands you see jewelry shops, souvenirs etc. this was not the case in Boca Chica.

In addition, the food at Coral Hamaca was mediocre- though they offered great variety of food and you will never be hungry, the food was greasy. I expected more seafood and more local cuisine.

The local cuisine is greasy, so it sounds like you got it.

I travel overseas 3-4 times a year. Now that I'm retired, I expect to travel even more. One thing that I found out is that you could always find something wrong with the place.
I happen to think, that the Hamaca is one of the best you can get for the money. It's the closest hotel to Santo Domingo that has its own private beach with the kind of quality that it offers. As for prostitution, have you looked is the town that you live in. Trust me is there. As for poverty, welcome to the developing world.

It's a Way of Life in the DR

Prosititution and Poverty is a way of life anywhere you go in the DR. It's sad one can not venture out without being hounded and potentially be a victim of crime. Sadly the often riots, and continued harrasment to the tourist will only mean more prostitution and an increase in attacks on tourist. Best bet is to take your dollars elsewhere. After all why pay to be a victim of crime and hounded by prostitutes ?

Thanks for the review. Did they have any optional tours to other parts of the island or Santo Domingo that you can book from the hotel?

Yes they did

for $40 american I went on a 1.5 hour 4 wheeler ride around town on dirt roads etc. lotsa fun.

They had boat rides, santo domingo half and full day tours, snorkeling, scuba etc.

DEAD WRONG OPINION : Coral Hamaca Review

Jay needs to see an eye doctor since on the main drag (Duarte) in Boca Chica, right outside the beach exit from the Hamaca, on Duarte it is hard to count the tourist type stores and restaurants since there are about 50 of them.

Along the beach itself, once you overcome the "sheer terror" of leaving the resort itself, there are maybe 20 or so beach bars selling drinks and food and renting chairs and umbrellas from the Hamaca all the way down to the Don Juan resort.

And the people there on the street DAY or NIGHT wouldn't harm a fly. I go to Boca Chica and other DR cities 5 or 6 times a year and we see a handful of "brave" Hamaca-ians risking the dangerous walk down Duarte as late as 9 or 10 p.m. In groups and laughing nervously. Less beggars than, say , Tijuana, in fact other than the nut-ball that breaks old bottles on his head there really are no beggars at all.

You could trip over the cops on Duarte most nights, and despite their flaws, I don't think they would mug you either, so there is some additional help.

Jay you do the small town a real disservice by making others think there is danger and nothing else lurking about Boca Chica when it is patently false what you say.

I stayed at the Hamaca once, it was like a day care for adults more than experiencing the most microscopic flavour or the DR and I wouldn't stay there again. Good value but it could be in Florida or in Cuba or in Peurto Rico and you wouldn't know the difference.

Re: It's a Way of Life in the DR

These are the kinds of posts that burn me up!!! "Prostitution and poverty are a way of life everywhere in the DR...". Here's little piece of advice for you, go and visit places where real Dominicans live, not the areas frequented by tourists looking for sex and see if you can find a prostitute? Go to my hometown, Cotui, and I'll pay you if you can find a prostitute walking the streets. Poverty..."yes" the DR is a developing country and as such you will find poor people. Not everywhere you go though, as you say. Who's attacking tourists? Give me an example? Where do you suggest these tourists take their money? Jamaica? Even poorer then the DR and with more prostitution...Do you have any vested interest in discouraging tourists from coming to the DR?

Re: Coral Hamaca Review *PIC*

I don't find your description too out of line except for the part about lack of shops, but I thought a little more detail and perspective was in order.

It all depends on what you expect. The Hamaca offers one of the most outstanding values on the island if you do your research and book through a good tour operation, which can get you typically 50% off the rack rate. It is also one of the top ten resorts in terms of overall beauty, quality of food and service, and ammenities available in its price range and size I've ever visited in the DR, and I've visited a lot of them.

There is a poor neighborhood directly behind the resort but for the most part, the poverty in the area is on the other side of town. The area on the opposite side of the town, directly next to the Hamaca is quite upscale (the Neptunos side), with a couple houses you couldn't buy for under $500,000. Boca Chica in general is a real mix, which is one of its charms.

As far as gourmet food is concerned, the Pelicanos restaurant at the Hamaca Resort is as good as it gets. Did you try it? It is in the top 3 best places to eat in town and my personal favorite when price is no object (it isn't cheap and it isn't included in the all-inclusive package price). Consider that many guests are paying US$60 per night per person, all-inclusive. I'm not sure how gourmet do you expect at that price, but I'd say their food is decent in general.

Many of the Hamaca's included a-la-carte restaurants have an outstanding ambiance. I really like their chinese restaurant for both atmosphere AND quality, but it is for sure, a matter of taste. Also consider that there are literally dozens of excellent restaurants within a few blocks of the hotel for those guests that want to experience something beyond the buffets that are typical of most large all-inclusive resorts. Certainly one can find numerous local dishes amongst the Italian, German, French, and numerous seafood restaurants.

Didn't you notice the nearly 60 different shops along Calle Duarte, where they sell every imaginable souvineer, beach wear, fashion boutiques, jewelry, and arts and crafts? The Hamaca itself houses the finest jewelry shop in town and several small boutiques.

Yes, there are assertive motoconcho drivers (who rarely ask twice), shoe shine boys (maybe 10 in the whole town), as well as some prostitutes (male and female), "guides", a bum and a bag lady. Have you ever been through a staw market in Jamaica, the silver market in Cancun, walked through Time Square in NYC, cruised the strip at South Beach Miami at night, or seen time shares promoted in <name your tourist town>? Boca Chica's locals are quite mild in comparison and certainly little cause for concern except for the most timid of tourists.

Keep in mind that no atmosphere can please everyone. You have on one hand, those demanding more "action", saying Boca Chica has tamed down to the point of no longer being exciting or even that it is boring lately. Then you have the tourists that are intimidated, prefering the serenity of the Cayman Islands, where the locals earn so much they aren't interested in the tourists, all the hotel staff are made up of Americans and Canadians, and you can't even _find_ an interesting tourist strip to walk.

It is important to pick a destination that matches what you like.
See www.BocaChicaBeach.net for an accurate description of what to expect, and this board is a great place for finding alternatives if what you read isn't your cup of tea.

You have the small and personal properties in the peaceful and unspoiled area of Samana (samana.net), the highly controlled and gated properties of Playa Dorada on the north coast, the mega properties of Punta Cana with their outstanding white sand coconut studded beach (and not much else), or perhaps even one of the several golf resorts.

Even if Boca Chica wasn't what you expected, I hope you'll sample some of the other places that are more in line with your personal tastes.

Re: It's a Way of Life in the DR

Manny, you must have a low testosterone level, your suppressed sexual drive is obvious by you commentary, I suggest that you take your vacation in some mountain monestary and meditate, and leave those tourist pumped up with Viagra and exploding libido alone. Prostitution is a good business, it hasn't hurt Thailand any?? besides you are not going to eradicate the world oldest profesion. Duarte thinks there are no hookers in his home town, he doesn't know but there are brothels in every town in the DR, he just doesn't know the one in his home town. All he has to ask is a moto-concho driver and he will take him there. The DR is the Thailand of the Carabbian.I love it.

what about the beach there...can you walk for a while or is it a short beachfront? is the area safe for a girl traveling alone?

See www.BocaChicaBeach.net/beach.html for a detailed description of the beach. The beach is 1.5 miles long from the Hamaca to the Marina. The beach is safe during daylight. At night there are no lights on the beach so I would not recommend walking on the beach at night.

The area is as safe as any tourist area in the Dominican Republic. Search the archives to find lots of information about safety in the Dominican Republic.

Re: It's a Way of Life in the DR

I guarentee there is a place in Cotui where Dominican men can engaged in sex for money. They don?t walk the streets like the tourist areas but prostitution has existed in the DR a long time before tourism did. Every little town in the DR has their cabaret where women are available.

Re: It's a Way of Life in the DR

This is absolute nonsense. You obviously have no idea about life in the DR. The country is way more diverse, complicated and sophisticated than your statement indicates. I have been living here for seven years now and have been the victim of crime once. For any big city in this world (I live in the capital) that looks like a very decent average.
Willem-Jan

Jay: What did you expect for US$60 a day?(Hotel costs per room $35 adjusted to 2001) Have you tried Motel 6? There are Hotels,like the Ramadas in the United States that charge you US$100 for a cheap looking room and no food. We are giving you great greasy food Dominican style in addition to a nice room. Just the beach at Hamaca should cost $100 a day. Have you tried Orchard Beach in New York? What about Coney Island? Have you been to Miami Beach? Where are the palm trees, the calm warm water and the natural white sand there?

The next time you come to Hamaca, just make believe you paid for the room, forget about the food, and spend the extra bucks you would pay in a Motel 6 and go next door to eat fine seafood at Neptuno, El Pelicano or Boca Marina, then rent a car and drive to Santo Domingo and explore the night life.

TW

Guess what..... TW I agree totally!!!!!

Nobody said it better!!!

Re: It's a Way of Life in the DR

Of course you can get sex for money everywhere you go in the world. From the poorest places to the richest. Remember Heidy Fleiss??? The point is that tourist areas are quite different than the rest of the country. There are no prostitutes walking the streets in Cotui and it's not a way of life. I have never been to a cabaret in my life an would not go. The people that frequent those places are low class. I personally think that if you're half-way decent looking you can get girls in the DR without having to pay for it. Way easier than other countries, that's for sure.

Re: It's a Way of Life in the DR

Most people who do use prostitutes do not do it because they can't get a girl without paying for it. Have you ever heard of Rob Lowe? Charlie Sheen?

In fact, most customers are married and have a girlfriend or two on the side. It just goes to show you are commenting on a subject you know little about. That's fine that you don't know about it. But then you shouldn't be telling the board "how it is", because you apparently don't know anything more about it than what you've read in the media.

You have no idea if there are prostitutes walking the street in Cotui. They don't all wear signs or solicit. In fact, most don't.

Re: It's a Way of Life in the DR

I know my town well enough to know for a fact that there are absolutely no prostitutes walking the streets in cotui. I don't know that I agree with your statement that "Most people who do use prostitutes do not do it because they can't get a girl without paying for it". I would say Some people...but not most. I'm not an expert in the subject...but I do think I know what I'm talking about, at least in my town. Maybe I should have said that I've never had to pay for sex other than I've never been to a Cabaret. When I was growing up there were two cabarets in Cotui, on the outskirts of the city. Everybody knew who frequented there, and it was not most people and it was not the most educated or best looking people, either. Those cabarets are not there anymore. Nowdays if you want to pick up a girl for sex for money you may be able to do that at a "Carwash", but that's it. You're right, I'm not a sex industry expert, but I do know my town. That's all I commented about. I would not talk about the sex industry in Boca Chica, for instance, because even though I've been there, I don't know everything that goes on there. On that one you may be the expert. Again I was just commenting about the state of the sex industry in my town, which apparently YOU seem to be the one who knows nothing about. I would invite you to come down to Cotui and I'll pay for the Chica and hotel if you can pick up a girl who's walking the streets.