Boca Chica Resort, Santo Domingo

If you want to escape the "prison" of the all inclusive and rub shoulders with the locals, Boca is the place. You walk out the front door of your hotel and you are downtown. The beach is a sandy and NON WINDY lagoon. The people are very friendly, prices good and it has a mix of many many small hotels(I like them best) and 3 all inclusives. The hidden gem is a sea side restaurant called the Boca Chica Marina. You can eat in luxury for the same as the fried food stands down town. Go at night for a truly romantic meal. Attentive waiters in full length white Neru coats, white sofas on the deck and tables placed wherever you want. The town is "dirty" with trash and it is a "sexual" destination, but there is a lot of beauty and a live and let live attitude. Great snorkling on the reef. I love the place and the bachata music.