Info on Hotels in Boca Chica

[Music]

Hello everyone I'm new to the board. I've only been to the DR once and I must say that I loved it. I've been reading the board for a while and you are all a lot of fun and informative.
I look forward to visiting the DR again and I would like to go visit Boca Chica this time. Any suggestions for good hotels?

Greatly appreciated!

 

[ricktoronto]

Use this Link for EVERYTHING about Boca Chica

Hello everyone I'm new to the board. I've only been to the DR once and I must say that I loved it. I've been reading the board for a while and you are all a lot of fun and informative.
I look forward to visiting the DR again and I would like to go visit Boca Chica this time. Any suggestions for good hotels?

Greatly appreciated!

www.bocachicabeach.net

I know the webmaster, and he's an OK guy with a very well developed web site. Good maps.

Basically there are 3 AI's, Hamaca, Don Juan, Dominican Bay, Hamaca being the best of the lot if you want AI. If you want AI, look in the tour company brochures for one of these 3 hotels - usually a package is a lot less $$$ than booking air and hotel separately.

There are numerous good tourist hotels, the best being Costalunga in the group that are away from the beach but also Garant, El Candil, Calypso, and then there are Europa and Zapata (this is right on the beach), without a pool and family oriented.

To use the beach there are dozens of beach bars that sell you beer etc., and will rent you a beach lounge and umbrella. Of the lot I'd recommend Playa Vista in terms of cleanliness, honesty, and English speaking staff.

 

[Music]

Boca Chica hotels

ricktoronto

Thank you so much for your reply you've been so helpful!
I'm looking towards staying at a non AI resort do you know how how much it will cost? or atleast how much I should look towards spending?

Thanks again

 

[ricktoronto]

The range would be $30- $50 per room / night

ricktoronto

Thank you so much for your reply you've been so helpful!
I'm looking towards staying at a non AI resort do you know how how much it will cost? or atleast how much I should look towards spending?

Thanks again

Depending on when, the size of the room and the hotel you pick, certainly not more than that. Figure around $45. Per room not per person. Outside a package, Hamaca could be $50 or so each, more in high season, so more than double, however they have the food, booze and "fun". And no tourism per se, far too compartmentalized for me at least, but some people are a little timid to try to go outside the walls, so these joints exist for them.

Food in Boca Chica is in the RD$100 per meal with tip range for a general guess, a bit less for breakfast. Maybe RD$200 for dinner per person with a cocktail. The wine is awful and not well stored unless you go to a fancy sort of place.

Keep in mind RD$100 is $5 US. RD$200 is $10. So at worst USA prices for meals.

If you are a big drinker you can save by getting a small bottle of rum and some mix than ordering cuba libres one after the other.

BTW the non AI are not resorts. They are hotels. Usually with a servicable restaurant and/ or bar (Garant is an example of breakfast only, while Costalunga has really lunch and dinner, etc.)

Most have pools, except Europa and Zapata due to their proximity to the beach.

 

[Michael]

Boca Chica is great. The hotel Garant not only serves breakfast Rick they serve the best dinners on the Island. They are cooked fresh each day. Everyone who is eating breakfast makes the decision what is for dinner. Music if you would like some more information regaurding to Boca e-mail me. I am going for Christmas and visited 4 times this year. Garant has my vote.

 

[ricktoronto]

The Garant Dinners are Rather Sparse

Boca Chica is great. The hotel Garant not only serves breakfast Rick they serve the best dinners on the Island. They are cooked fresh each day. Everyone who is eating breakfast makes the decision what is for dinner. Music if you would like some more information regaurding to Boca e-mail me. I am going for Christmas and visited 4 times this year. Garant has my vote.

Since they have not been selling dinner for the last few months. I was there for 12 days in October and once again no dinner.

Lisa is gone and will be working at Terraza Quebec under new ownership, and Lisa was the only one cooking dinners, e.g. the one meal per night which was always great and well priced.

Until there are enough guests or visitors to occupy the dining room at night don't count on dinner reguarly at Garant.

Breakfast though, is still the best in Boca Chica, well priced and filling, in what has to be the cleanest dining room in the town. 8-11 each a.m.

P.S. While a wonderful hotel few rooms have A/C ( only 4 I believe) and those ones are a little pricey. And they don't take credit cards. If you are OK with ceiling fan and cash, this would be in the top 3 tourist hotels in Boca Chica.

 

[Bobvhern]

Boca Chica is great. The hotel Garant not only serves breakfast Rick they serve the best dinners on the Island. They are cooked fresh each day. Everyone who is eating breakfast makes the decision what is for dinner. Music if you would like some more information regaurding to Boca e-mail me. I am going for Christmas and visited 4 times this year. Garant has my vote.

Hi Michael!
I am thinking about going to Boca Chica in December. Garant sounds like a nice place to stay. Can you tell me about their rates? Do they allow guests? Thanks for your reply.

Rob

 

[CaribbeanGeorge]

Hotetur Dominican Bay, ask for Mr. Carlos Rubio/GM, c.rubio@hotetur.com , for reservations and rates.
Everything its nearby.

 

[Music]

Boca Chica hotels

Thanks again ricktoronto for replying back you've been great!

Michael I tried e-mailing you and it doesn't work, it says you aren't accepting e-mails. I'm not sure if I did something incorrect since I'm new on this board??

CaribbeanGeorge thanks for the info!!

Everyone has been so helpful!!

 

[ricktoronto]

Go to www.hotelgarant.com

Hi Michael!
I am thinking about going to Boca Chica in December. Garant sounds like a nice place to stay. Can you tell me about their rates? Do they allow guests? Thanks for your reply.

Rob

Link: www.hotelgarant.com (lots of pictures)

There are all the links to Garant you need. Or call in Canada (probably USA too) (800) 650-2616 and they will talk to you in English. Or 1-809-523-5544

The prices on their web site are a tad confusing as they are by the week and with and without meals. Note the options with lunch and dinner are not available so there you go, no dinner again, darn it.

Frankly it is best to talk to them (and haggle) since I don't think a A/C room at $480 US a week is a very good deal for Boca Chica as that is nearly $70 a day. Nor do I care for single vs. double pricing for a room, since the bed holds 2 there are no really big variable costs. I am not sure if the prices are with or without ITBIS - 12% tax. And NO credit cards so bring cash.

Remember only 4 rooms with A/C - if you are not accustomed to hot tropics and humid, consider A/C strongly. I cannot cope with the heat in Boca Chica with just a ceiling fan, no matter where, including right at the beach.

I assume you mean girls (woo hoo!) as "guests" rather than the Euchre Club tourney or the local church group , and yes, they do , with ID and normal discretion. Knock yourself out.

Bascially apart from Zapata (with a 6 a.m. curfew) the non AI hotels are accustomed to the paying guests showing up with non-paying ones with proper ID (cedulas showing they are 18 or over). I guess the paying guest is better described as the doubly paying guest (the room and the girl).

As part of your research try the links via www.bocachicabeach.net and consider Costalunga, El Candil, and Calypso, or maybe Europa, though I would not pay a deposit by Western Union in 1000 years as they request.

 

[Mcinbrass]

While were on the subject...

...how about the Refugio Neptuno? It looks nice. Anyone with info on this place?

 

[ricktoronto]

Nice place, awkward location

...how about the Refugio Neptuno? It looks nice. Anyone with info on this place?

Like Neptune's restaurant is it around the back of Hamaca, e.g. you go into Hamaca and bypass their driveway and keep going and since Hamaca is all walled off including the beach it is a hike back and forth each day to the town and beach. I think there is another similar guesthouse near them as well.

I guess if quiet living was a must you'd do well there as motoconchos and street noise would be minimal, though loud Hamaca activity might disrupt a bit till it ends each night.

 

[Music]

ricktoronto,

I don't want to stay at an AI hotel because I want to explore and see the country. I stayed at an AI on my first trip it was nice if you just want to relax and do nothing (I call it a lazy trip lol) but I do get bored of being on the resort. I want to be out there and really experience what it's like in the DR. I've been to other trips and stayed with friends which I found much more fun that an AI hotel!

So my next question is what are the best sites to see or places to go??

Thanks again!

 

[ricktoronto]

Other than the capital, I don't go anywhere

And even then the last time was maybe 8 trips ago ( the whole Colonial Zone thing, which I recommend). I went shopping this March for a DVD player at the Plaza Lama but that was for a resident who is a luddite.

I am thinking a side trip to Santiago to experience the Metro Bus, maybe. And the stuff like Brugal or Jimines factories.

But basically I go breakfast, chores, pool, lunch, beach, dinner, chatting with friends, repeat. A different beach is still a beach to me, so travelling around the country side holds no interest.

I know others may have more defined things to see like caves and streams and so on, sorry , I don't. I would say, in the spirit of AI avoidance, skip the "jungle tours" and such with gigantic trucks and 2 gallons of rum each that are really aimed at the AI tourist. At outrageous cost.

I think Rob here in DR1 had a great Colonial tour, for a bit of a cost but to me sounded ideal if you really want to know the history and see the inner city of old.

If you are cool with speaking a bit of Spanish (or a lot), hire a car and driver, set the rate in advance and head out one direction or another for a few hours - go to La Romana, San Pedro, see where people live, visit a batey ( I visited the one in San Ysidro with an American who speaks creole and a Haitian driver).

Sometimes just seeing the different things is a lot of fun. Like a Dominican grocery store is interesting with products you just don't see. I had fun going to a hardware store in Coquito to get some nuts and bolts - had to learn the words for them first, the find them in the store. 5 pesos of fun.

 

[dale7]

Los Pinos

Hey all,
ricktoronto you seem to know a great deal about Boca Chica but when I stayed there a few days in May I stayed at Residence Los Pinos. I have never ran across anyone every mentioning this small hotel/apartments anywhere on this board. I am staying there again next week. You can't beat 30US dollars a night for a kitchenette, (stove and refrigerator), and an inroom safebox. Also has cable TV and two double beds in the apartment. The $30US includes all taxes and guests are not extra. Did I also mention free airport pickup and right near the Costa Lunga Hotel? That's my recommendation for good value accomodations with some perks.

 

[ricktoronto]

If you want to be near the Costalunga, stay there

Did I also mention free airport pickup and right near the Costa Lunga Hotel? That's my recommendation for good value accomodations with some perks.

The 8 Italian tourists robbed at gunpoint for everything they had at Los Pinos this year may debate the desirability of the place.

It's an apartment building/condo and I do not know of one person regular to Boca Chica that stays there or recommends it. Stick to Costalunga, el Candil, Garant, Calypso, Europa in that order.

Any place that allows guests as you say don't charge for them, so this is not a selling point.

 

[dale7]

that took me by surprise

I can't recommend a place that has had a major robbery take place. Maybe I am just a country man who is easily pleased but I found it better than a Motel 6. So in light of this new info disregard my last post.

 

[Jim Hinsch]

I recommend Los Pinos. It is a nice place. There is lots of info at the Boca Chica site. Just click below, 1st photo:

<a href="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net/los_pinos/los_pinos.html"><img border="0" src="http://www.bocachicabeach.net/los_pinos/photos/los_pinos_side_small.jpg" width="318" height="150"></a>

<img border="2" src="http://www.BocachicaBeach.net/los_pinos/photos/los_pinos_corner_view_small.jpg" alt="los_pinos_corner_view.jpg (60728 bytes)" width="180" height="100"><img border="2" src="http://www.BocachicaBeach.net/los_pinos/photos/los_pinos_merge1a_small.jpg" alt="los_pinos_merge1a.jpg (23371 bytes)" width="326" height="100"><img border="2" src="http://www.BocachicaBeach.net/los_pinos/photos/los_pinos_merge1_small.jpg" alt="los_pinos_merge1.jpg (29951 bytes)" width="260" height="100">

You should make sure you are the type of client that is right for this hotel. They have no pool, they like things kept clean and quiet, they prefer a week minimum over shorter stays, and they don't put up with antics (parties, heavy chica traffic, etc.).

The place is immaculate inside. Most guests are Italian and it is Italian run.

 

[ricktoronto]

Perfect if you don't want to swim and wear Kevlar

I agree with you 100% Jimmy.