<>Our to the Point Review of Hotels in Boca Chica & Santo Domingo

< style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Santo Domingo – Boca Chica – Juan Dolio

< style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">Located on Avenida Bolivar in Santo Domingo, a less expensive alternative to some of the larger chain hotels on the Malecon.  Apart-Hotel Florida is close to one of the local universities, so expect a crowd of college students in the streets.  We would not say that the location is superb, but certainly worth looking into for an extended stay.  Be advised that the desk clerks do not speak English.  In addition, there are not some amenities found in the larger chain hotels like a swimming pool.   Otherwise a fairly clean and decent place.
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< style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">Located on Luisa Ozema Pellerano #2 (corner of Julio Verne) in Santo Domingo, another alternative to the larger chain hotels if an extended stay is what you have in mind or if you simply want a larger and less expensive alternative.  Like Apart-Hotel Florida, it certainly is not in the center of everything, but we have heard good things about this place and they do have a swimming pool. Desk clerks do not speak English, so as we have said before, you will find the bargains if you can manage a little bit of Spanish.
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< style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">On Avenida Lara # 29 and near Gustavo Mejia Ricart in Santo Domingo, a chain hotel alternative for someone that wants to be in a residential area close to the Naco neighborhood.  An OK place in a quiet area.
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< style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">Located directly on Gustavo Mejia Ricart # 8A in Santo Domingo, we would suggest this place if you wanted to be in the Naco residential area and if you wanted to see what it might be like to rent an apartment in this part of the city.  < style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">Not a five star place, but clean and ideally located.  You can easily take a five minute walk over to Avenida Tiradentes and find Baskin-Robbins, Davy Crocket Steak House, etc..  Remember that this is located in a residential area, so you will not encounter many tourists here, but if you want to mix with the upper middle class locals, this is the place to be.
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< style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">Located on the corner of Avenida Abraham Lincoln & Independencia, the Hotel Santo Domingo offers the business traveler the normal array of services and facilities.  Certainly not our favorite hotel, but slightly closer to the center of Santo Domingo than some of the other large hotels of its kind.  Its location  behind the Malecon or waterfront, and at the end of the strip of hotels means that you will not be in the center of things if your primary concern is access to nightlife.  You of course are in walking distance to Avenida George Washington, but the point is that it is a walk.
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< style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">Located directly on the Malecon, # 218 Avenida George Washington, this is an Inter-Continental Hotel and you will pay accordingly (not to be confused with another hotel in Santo Domingo simply called hotel Continental).  We were very disappointed with what should be a true Inter-Continental in all aspects.  While the building, rooms and lobby are quite nice, the service is not up to Inter-Continental standards.  Some of the desk clerks have a problem with English and the so-called business center is nothing more than a glorified magazine rack.  The local Dominican general manager seems to be on a daily 6 hour coffee break, so maybe that explains why the service as a whole is not up to par.  We have nothing against the folks at this hotel, but considering most businessmen or travelers are paying the extra money with the expectation of receiving the type of personal attention and business services usually found at most Inter-Continentals worldwide, we think it is a waste of money.  Our suggestion is for the business traveler to stay at the Jaragua instead.
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< style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">Located on  Avenida Tiradentes, a decent hotel located directly in the center of the city (you will need a taxi if you want to visit the Malecon).  Usual amenities such as swimming pool, A/C, etc.   Perhaps a good alternative if you want to be closer to 27Th of Febrero and the rates are about US$75.
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Located in the Conde district at #106 Duarte, this is our number one suggestion if you want to stay in the Zona Colonial.  At about $ 90 per night, the rooms are spacious and clean.  Walk over to El Conde street mall or within walking distance to the other historical attractions, such as the Alcazar de Colon.  We liked the fact that the hotel is actually a renovated structure, complete with the typical open-air center courtyard found with many of the buildings in the Zona Colonial.  The rooms are quite large and comfortable and we found the bathrooms very modern and large also.  There is no Casino or swimming pool, but for the money and the ambiance, this is without a doubt one of those unheard of hotel bargains we like.

< style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">Undeniably our favorite business Hotel, located directly on the Malecon at #367 Avenida George Washington in Santo Domingo.   What do we like about the Jaragua? Just about everything.  For the money, in comparison to the Melia (located right next door), the Inter-Continental or the Napolitano, this is the place where you get what you pay for.  The hotel is fairly new, clean and well run. The occupancy is approximately 70% American, while the average ratio of American clientele in other major hotels in Santo Domingo is about 15% to 20%.  What does that tell you?  Aside from the restaurants, swimming pool, etc, - the Jaragua also has the largest and usually most crowded casino in Santo Domingo. We do not own stock in Renaissance nor have we received any compensation for this review.  We simply think this is the best business hotel on the Malecon for the money.  Certainly not an inexpensive place, but one that lives up to expectations.
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< style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">Located directly on the beach in Boca Chica, we can suggest Hotel Zapata as an alternative to the Don Juan or Hamaca beach resort.  Zapata’s is small, but for about $60 per night, its not a bad deal if you want to walk out your door and have the beach a few footsteps away.  The place is clean and comfortable, our only complaints are that the rooms are very small and even though breakfast is included, the chef cooks that same thing everyday for breakfast.  In other words breakfast is included, but there is no menu.  Everyday you will receive toast and an omelet.
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< style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">Located at #8 Dominguez in Boca Chica, we can highly suggest Casa Coco. The place is very small, but is clean and has a swimming pool.  The property is fairly new and management does keep the place immaculate.  The only drawback is that the hotel is not on the beach and you must walk about 3 blocks to the waterfront. Room rates are about $55 per night and the larger mini-apartments are $75 per night.
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< style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">Located on calle Dominquez, about 1 block from the beach in Boca Chica, this is one of the bargain places you only hear about from word of mouth.  For about $ 50 per night, this has got to be the best deal in Boca Chica.  The hotel has 33 rooms and all of them are huge.  It is clean, modern and comfortable. The only drawback is that the Dominican owner is never around and the girls at the front desk basically run the hotel.  For that reason, breakfast is supposed to be included, but the chef shows up when she wants and the desk clerks end up eating the food intended for the guests.  Since the girls do not speak much English, booking a reservation can be difficult.  However, $ 55 to $ 60 per night for a huge comfortable room on a Caribbean Island, which is equivalent to a Fairfield Inn or Howard Johnson is nothing to complain about.  There is no swimming pool at the Europa.
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< style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif;">Part of the Coral group of resorts, we can say with certainty that it is the largest and most complete resort complex in Boca Chica.  The Coral Hamaca is very comfortable and is all-inclusive.  When comparing all-inclusive resorts, the Coral Hamaca is a great place to stay and does have everything a good resort should have. However, the only thing we do not like is that they run the place like your typical cattle car operation.  The meaning is, as a practice, they normally overbook and you may be the one to get bumped when you show up. While they make good on it and will put you in the Don Juan or elsewhere when this happens, I do not like getting X when I pay for Y.   Also, if you calculate the costs for someplace else and do not need the resort type of accommodation, a week-long stay at one of the other places mentioned may add up to a less expensive vacation.  One plus is that the Hamaca does have a good casino.
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<>Part of the Coral Hotel group and chain of resorts, probably the largest and most complete resort in Juan Dolio.  The Costa Caribe is a very nice place and the grounds are fairly large and spread out.  You will certainly get the feeling of staying in a large and self-contained resort complex.  Our only negative comments are that it is isolated and guests cannot easily leave the compound should they want to try a local restaurant or “walk around the town”.  If you want isolation, stay at the Costa Caribe.  If you like the idea that you can walk out the front door and do a little exploring in the local town, then the Coral Hamaca in Boca Chica would be a better choice.  Otherwise, both Coral resorts are up to standard and guests will not be disappointed at either one if an all inclusive resort vacation is what you are looking for. 
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