Be advised that Santo Domingo can be very dangerous. The locals are very friendly and easy going and they will be the first one to tell you to be careful. Violent crime is rampant. If you do choose to go do not walk outside at night.
Tourists are a primary prey. I got violently mugged a few feet from my hotel in the old historical quarters. I travel extensively and this was a first for me. As far as the beach at Boca Chica it's swarming with hagglers, hustlers and prostitutes. I one point I had 6 of them around my chair. The oldest one was probably 17 years old. I live in the city, but this surpass any red light district that i have known.
Thanks for the heads up. This hotel you mentioned , is it well lit and in a busy area or a cheaper one off the main "drag". Whilst all info is usefull,IMO, it's got to be given with a full background otherwise it can be misleading. Would hate to think people will be put off going on the basis of your experience. Which I'm sure must have been "worrying". Santo Domingo is like any other big city in the world, with its NO GO areas and with plenty to see outside them, dont let the "crime fear" keep you from enjoying that amazing town, my advice will be get a cabbie for the day, and keep him nearby.
Try to go to the Colonial Zone and then to the more upscale areas of downtown, there's a lot of restaurant that you can try and at night bars get full with a cheerful crowd.
As a non-dominican living in Santo Domingo , I can trully say that this city ,or the country for that matter, isn't more dangerours than any other city. In fact, its much less dangerous than most othe southamerican cities, FOR SURE and it certainly is less dangerurs than many american and european cities.
