Zapata hotel Boca Chica ??

[ydkdy]

Has anyone been there and tell me is this a good place to stay? We are looking to just stay there a few days and wish to know more about the town and the hotels there. How far is Boca Chica from La Romana, Drivibg time?

 

[Jim Hinsch]

Re: Zapata hotel Good hotel, bad management

Check the message archives. There have been a lot of comments about this hotel in the past.

This is a decent hotel on a good part of the beach with a small bar, restaurant, and no pool. Hardly a week goes by when I don't hear a complaint about the management there. The hotel is nice but it seems that somehow the management manages to tick off lots of their guests about something. A friend of mine stayed there a few weeks ago and had a good stay until his last day when the manager wanted to charge him 12 dollars for getting a hand pillow damp (not even wet) after he had spent over a thousand dollars on food and lodging there.

It is about a 75-90 minute drive from Boca Chica to La Romana.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

 

[Paul]

I stayed at the Costalunga in Boca Chica recently. While not on the beach, it has a nice pool, resturant and friendly staff. The rooms have air and prices are very reasonable for either single or double rooms. It is a brand new hotel with 35 rooms.

 

[Ciaran]

Re: Zapata hotel attention Jim Hinsch

what in God's name is a hand pillow?

 

[Miguel]

Please Take a Look at this Hotel Review for more information about Zapata and other Hotels around Santo Domingo Copy and paste this address.

<A HREF="http://www.caribbeanliving.com/caribe/DominicanRepublicHotelGuide.htm">http://www.caribbeanliving.com/caribe/DominicanRepublicHotelGuide.htm</A>

 

[tony]

Great link.....the reviews were honest. Unfortunately, it only provided a few hotels and dinner places.

 

[Jim Hinsch]

Re: Zapata hotel Good hotel, bad management

The hand pillow, as my friend explained it, was a small pillow such as might be found on a sofa. Smaller than a bed pillow. He said it had not been damaged in any way.

Too bad, because he had a good 2-week stay up until that incident and it was enough of an altercation to make him never want to go back, he said. He also told me that Zapata's owner later dropped the issue and admitted he was actually mad about something unrelated - his Dominican friend had "disrespected" one of the hotel employees the day before by calling him stupid for something he did.

Another poster on this board recently (March 5 and 6, 1999) reported them advertising one price and charging another and that he received 6 different quotes from 6 different E-mails.

Another poster here on this board (December 5, 1998) reported "poor results staying at the Zapata" and also reported an attitude problem with the management.

I toured the hotel inside and out last month and took some pictures for another web site. The place is fairly nice and well kept. They just need to learn how to treat people well.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

 

[Mike]

I've not found any Budget hotel well managed in BC

Seems they all have employee and management problems. I cannnot explain it logically, but find it true everywhere. If you go with the perception of service ect., you will be dissapointed. If you go with the thought of doing everything yourself and providing same (as if camping) then the little things you do get seem better. The Zapata has bad reputation for little scams aganist guest, be it charges for pillows or guest, not to mention access problems I've heard about.(Guard sleeping ect.) Other hotels are not much better IMHO but once you are known as repeat guest and tip accordingly, things get better. Unfortunely for the first timer these things get on your NERVES ! Take your own soap, towells, pillow..unless staying in upscale place down there.

 

[Jim Hinsch]

Re: Zapata hotel Good hotel, bad management

Management problems and managers who tick off the customers are two different things. It is one thing to be incompetent, slow, unreliable, etc. (most) and quite another to be overtly unsympathetic, dishonest, and arrogant, as the reports have implied.

I have had little or no personal altercations with the management at any hotel in the DR, except at the Hotel Zapata, and this is not what I would call a budget hotel. They are more middle of the road, charging between US$35 and US$60 per room per night.

As Jacqui.hobbins@bull.co.uk posted here on April 22, 1998, "Maybe the Hotel Zapata needs some customer care training".

It is one thing to get grief for lack of some service or ammenity. It is quite another to get it from the owner!

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

 

[Billy]

Superbly clean. Relaxed and friendly. Not for uptight or anxious tourists. I thoroughly enjoyed my three days there in June.

 

[Ken]

Re:Casa Coco For only $25 to $35 USD is good.

Ive always had a pleasant stay at Casa Coco. Gary (Canadian) the owner is very nice and helpfull. His hotel is clean, great food, nice swimming pool, and close to everything. Only negative is no AC but the cieling fans have been sufficient for me and Im from Alaska. I definately recomend the place !