Boca Chica

[Grub1]

Looks like I've found a no-nonsense chica friendly hotel in boca chica. The calypso beach hotel seems cheap and ideal for my one day stay. Has anybody tried it?

This is a decent hotel that includes breakfast cook to order and is chica friendly with a safe, hot water, pool, disco next door, bar across street, beach short walk. The best thing is the employees making the stay relaxing.

Try the Candy shop 1st. Right next door and if you don't find the chica you need there don't worry just ask the Boss Paco and he can probably get what you are looking for.

The reason I have only been to B / C so far is that it is cheaper and very close to the airport women are very hot and it is a party atmosphere. Sure they are some negative stuff like the tip seekers but you become wise to all that and they end up leaving you alone. Party like a rock star while your there.

I have been to Santo Domingo but the place's I went there all ask for way to many peso's for there chica's

[Boriman]

There is a restaurant, (although now is only open from dec. Mid feb-and run by Mario-he got tired of refurbishing the restaurant for a procession of temporary owners that would leave after a year or two. I have been coming here since they opened. Over 14 years ago) , it has gone downhill (when it split from the other partners-they do not care. And have been selling off their apartments-Mario leaves the daily operations to his wife now and spends more time at his lake). It still is a good bargain, although they are moving away from the monger type of client (atmosphere to a more family oriented one-at least that is what they would like).

What I recall, when I was there about a year and a half ago, was that when he opened the restaurant in December there was noone going there except his family and some of his friends. I could be mistaken but no customers who were staying at the hotel went to eat there (at least I never saw any hotel customers there). I did mention to Mario about eating there but he was evasive about the matter. I do not know why. Mario, the owner of Costa Lunga did try to open the restaurant year round but, from what I heard, found it to be too much work so after trying to get other people to set up a restaurant, only to fail, time and time again, he simply stopped having one year round. The hotel, as I was informed by someone, was originally built by Mario's father, who passed away so Mario took it over.

He now has a jet sky business, and other real estate, that he works with. He appears to serve many Italians from his country. The times I was there I saw him, every so often, with a group of Italians. Mario, in other words, is not making money solely through Costa Lunga. He has other ventures.

The day to day operation was run by his wife and sister in law. His sister in law moved to New Jersey with her husband so I am guessing that the wife is now doing most of the business there. Mario used to pass by two to three times a week but never stayed too long.

As for selling apartments I did notice this since some of the buyers I happen to know or have met on my trips there.

Many hotels do not like mongers and try to move away from this crowd but cannot do so since mongers bring in so much business. The truth of the matter is that most of the problems in chica friendly hotels involves chicas with mongers. This is also true with hotels in Sosua. I've talked to some of the owners of these hotels and they said the same thing. Most of the problems involve chicas and mongers. That said, Rit Teach, I am thinking of going to Boca Chica soon. Any chica friendly hotel you can recommend to me besides Costa Lunga and Candil? I am actually more familiar with hotels in Sosua than in Boca Chica.

[Rit Teach]

Costalunga is fine for the price and it is well kept. The prices are decent. You usually get two beds in each room. Make sure to request a room facing away from the pool, since such rooms tend to be more quiet. Also, do not get anything on the first floor. It tends to be louder, in general, than on the other floors. Depending on the crowd it does get noisy. They also have wifi, desktops that you pay for if you need to use a computer, and telephone service, in the main office, that can call the states (prices are pretty cheap.).

There is no attached bar or restaurant. There is a tv in the room but no phone in each room. The prices at Costalunga, like everywhere else, tends to be more expensive during the busy season and cheaper during off peak times. This is one of the better, chica friendly, hotels in Boca Chica.

There is a restaurant, (although now is only open from dec. Mid feb-and run by Mario-he got tired of refurbishing the restaurant for a procession of temporary owners that would leave after a year or two. I have been coming here since they opened. Over 14 years ago) , it has gone downhill (when it split from the other partners-they do not care. And have been selling off their apartments-Mario leaves the daily operations to his wife now and spends more time at his lake). It still is a good bargain, although they are moving away from the monger type of client (atmosphere to a more family oriented one-at least that is what they would like).

[Boriman]

The problem with the Costalunga, is that it attracts idiots (who feel it is okay to use the hallways as their private living room and scream out to their friends, regardless of the time of day or night). There are a group here now, doing just that. These idiots have no respect for the other guests. (or the chicas they drag along with them)

Costalunga is fine for the price and it is well kept. The prices are decent. You usually get two beds in each room. Make sure to request a room facing away from the pool, since such rooms tend to be more quiet. Also, do not get anything on the first floor. It tends to be louder, in general, than on the other floors. Depending on the crowd it does get noisy. They also have wifi, desktops that you pay for if you need to use a computer, and telephone service, in the main office, that can call the states (prices are pretty cheap.).

There is no attached bar or restaurant. There is a tv in the room but no phone in each room. The prices at Costalunga, like everywhere else, tends to be more expensive during the busy season and cheaper during off peak times. This is one of the better, chica friendly, hotels in Boca Chica.

[Rit Teach]

I would be interested in your take on the Calypso. I will be in Boca Chica for one day in early April and always though the hotel looked good from the outside.

The website is.

http://calypsobeachhotel.com/indexEN.html

I usually stay at the Costalunga while in Boca Chica and highly recommend it. Not the best place I ever stayed but worth the $40 per night. The Costalunga is very girl friendly.

The rooms on the ground floor are two bedrooms with a stove and fridge. The ones on the pool side were very quite when I stayed there. The last two trips I was on the second floor facing west and there was a lot of noise on the street until about 1:00 AM. I believe there is a bar about half a block West of the hotel. One of the motococho guys said there were girls there but I never checked it out.

The problem with the Costalunga, is that it attracts idiots (who feel it is okay to use the hallways as their private living room and scream out to their friends, regardless of the time of day or night). There are a group here now, doing just that. These idiots have no respect for the other guests. (or the chicas they drag along with them)

[BogieMaker]

I may check out Calypso but haven't seen it yet.

I would be interested in your take on the Calypso. I will be in Boca Chica for one day in early April and always though the hotel looked good from the outside.

The website is.

http://calypsobeachhotel.com/indexEN.html

I usually stay at the Costalunga while in Boca Chica and highly recommend it. Not the best place I ever stayed but worth the $40 per night. The Costalunga is very girl friendly.

The rooms on the ground floor are two bedrooms with a stove and fridge. The ones on the pool side were very quite when I stayed there. The last two trips I was on the second floor facing west and there was a lot of noise on the street until about 1:00 AM. I believe there is a bar about half a block West of the hotel. One of the motococho guys said there were girls there but I never checked it out.

[Member #4480]

My next choice would be Costalunga and that might quickly escalate to #1 if it is dead quiet at night, which I think it is.

Although my info is fairly dated, Costalunga was a lot better than some of the dumps in Sosua. My suite had two bedrooms, a mini type kitchen with a fridge, Key safe, A / C (in one room only) , cable TV with porn channels, hot water and of all things, a bidet.

The hotel facilities included a pool, restaurant and Internet cafe. The thing I didn't like about the hotel at the time was that there was no bar, so you had to either hang out in the restaurant or lobby. Speaking of which, they typically had girls avail on-site.

As for noise, it's far enough away from the strip not to be a factor. However, there are some motoconcho's out front, so if you're really sensitive book a room on the back side.

Also, as side note re BC hotels, if you're on a budget and don't mind roughing it a little, I recommend the Casa Coco Hotel:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...c.html#REVIEWS

[Zip Head]

Yes, it is fine and the employees are friendly (or were a couple years ago) , but it is a block or two back from the beach, in spite of the name which suggests it is on the beach.

I'm on the ground here in Boca Chica right now. Won't post a full report till the end of my trip but have been having fun and enjoying the "quaint" town of BC. This is my first trip here although I have done Sosua many times. Overall I like Sosua better for the cleaner beach and diving; Boca can be a bit more of a hustlers' paradise, as others have mentioned.

I have been staying at the Zapata Hotel, right on the beach, very nice and chica friendly with some limitations (the owner, altho a great guy, is trying to maintain some kind of "family" atmosphere, and he won't let you bring chicas in to the bar of for food, etc). Doesn't bother me much. Think my room is about $65 a night. I also walked around and did a check of several other hotels just for a possible next trip. Costalunga apartments are pretty nice, simple but more than adequate and only $40 a day for one person. Costalunga is a few blocks from the beach but VERY nice and Quiet at night. There are some night noise issues at Zapata, mostly next door hotels and bars and some middle of the night dog barking issues.

I also checked out hotel Madjera (think spelling is close) and it is right on the beach and only $40 a night, similar to Costalunga, very basic but looks clean and no chica limitations. If Ihad dto do it again, I might try Madjera for a night or two and stay there if it was quiet at night (you never know since it is on the beach and all along the beach are restaurants and bars with sometime loud music going to the wee hours.) My next choice would be Costalunga and that might quickly escalate to #1 if it is dead quiet at night, which I think it is.

All for today. Back to the USA tomorrow and more report to follow then. If Ihave a chance I may check out Calypso but haven't seen it yet.

[Frannie]

Looks like I've found a no-nonsense chica friendly hotel in boca chica. The calypso beach hotel seems cheap and ideal for my one day stay. Has anybody tried it?

Yes, it is fine and the employees are friendly (or were a couple years ago) , but it is a block or two back from the beach, in spite of the name which suggests it is on the beach.

[Lakeside32]

Looks like I've found a no-nonsense chica friendly hotel in boca chica. The calypso beach hotel seems cheap and ideal for my one day stay. Has anybody tried it?

[Cagep1967]

I saw what appeared to be new embedded reflectors in the asphalt (lane markers) on the highway between Boca Chica and the exit for Las Americas Airport (SDQ). Seems the concrete barrier was also painted and maybe new reflectors installed on top of the barrier. I did not drive that road at night this trip, but I would imagine the reflectors and the other improvements should make that section of road easier and safer to drive on at night.

I live here most of the time and have seen over the past 4 years lots of road improvements. They are actually filling in potholes on a semi regular basis. The streets are being repaved, barriers are painted with bright yellow paint and reflectors being installed.

Danilo seems to be doing a bit of good in a short period of time.

That stretch of highway in boca chica has always been dangerous at night, if they've gotten that far to put in the reflectors great. It will make it much safer. What they need is the pedestrian bridges, I don't recall any on that stretch of road.

[Charles Pooter]

Do you recommend taking cash and exchange it for DOP or using the ATM

Obviously if you arrive with, and hold, sufficient cash for your whole holiday you risk losing a lot in what is a very dishonest country. For this reason many prefer to accept the ATM transaction charges and only draw enough for a day (or two) at a time.

But I would recommend not using the ATM machines (and even less ones which are not outside a bank) , but using your debit card at the teller counter inside the bank. This has three advantages:

1) You can draw larger sums than at most ATMs.

2) No chance of your card getting mangled or eaten, and a lot less chance of it being criminally cloned.

3) You can tuck away your money and "adjust your clothing" in a safer environment than out on the street.

4) You can ask for small notes and coins. Change is often hard to come by in the DR and not having it can result in overpaying.

The disadvantages are that you can only do so during bank opening hours (which vary from bank to bank) and that you need to carry your passport (copies are not acceptable).

[Stebo419]

I always take some cash and and an ATM card. I use the ATM card to take a daily amount of money out of my account so I am not carrying too much money at any one time. Last time I went to the DR I took about $1000 cash with me and pulled about $2500 out of various ATM's to pay for expenses.

In Boca Chica the Banco Popular on Av Duarte just past the park is good for taking out large amounts like 10, 000 DOP. In the daytime this ATM is sometimes very busy and you might have to wait in line. Also the Banco Popular ATM might require you to use the Spanish menus. This is the bank I ususlly use in Boca Chica. I have also used the BanReservas which is near the Hamaca but I have never successfully withdrawn more than 4, 000 DOP per transaction and end up doing two transactions in a row. The English menus work at this ATM which is nice if you can't read Spanish. The bank charge for using an ATM was 112 DOP last time I was in the DR.

There are several cambios on Av Duarte and most have a sign outside giving the current exchange rate. I have used the one next to the entrance to the Boat House without any issues. You can also get money exchanged at the Hamaca and the Don Juan but will not get as good a rate.

I would agree you should only use your ATM at banks and not the stand alone machines. I have never had any problems using my card but make sure you let your bank know you are traveling to the DR before you leave so the don't cancel your card the first time you use it.

Thanks for the information.

[BogieMaker]

Do you recommend taking cash and exchange it for DOP or using the ATM

I always take some cash and and an ATM card. I use the ATM card to take a daily amount of money out of my account so I am not carrying too much money at any one time. Last time I went to the DR I took about $1000 cash with me and pulled about $2500 out of various ATM's to pay for expenses.

In Boca Chica the Banco Popular on Av Duarte just past the park is good for taking out large amounts like 10, 000 DOP. In the daytime this ATM is sometimes very busy and you might have to wait in line. Also the Banco Popular ATM might require you to use the Spanish menus. This is the bank I ususlly use in Boca Chica. I have also used the BanReservas which is near the Hamaca but I have never successfully withdrawn more than 4, 000 DOP per transaction and end up doing two transactions in a row. The English menus work at this ATM which is nice if you can't read Spanish. The bank charge for using an ATM was 112 DOP last time I was in the DR.

There are several cambios on Av Duarte and most have a sign outside giving the current exchange rate. I have used the one next to the entrance to the Boat House without any issues. You can also get money exchanged at the Hamaca and the Don Juan but will not get as good a rate.

I would agree you should only use your ATM at banks and not the stand alone machines. I have never had any problems using my card but make sure you let your bank know you are traveling to the DR before you leave so the don't cancel your card the first time you use it.

[Stebo419]

Go to a bank ATM, use your debit card. Never use an ATM at a business like a gas station.

Do you recommend taking cash and exchange it for DOP or using the ATM