Travelocity had the best long term rates. To the contrary, Prestige's rates were about double the rates of the usual names. Avoid!
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Travelocity had the best long term rates. To the contrary, Prestige's rates were about double the rates of the usual names. Avoid!
What is going on with the weather in the Dr these days ? The news reports(weather.com) say rainy thunderstorms and clouds for days to come....this is supposed to be high season. Can anyone down there verify this. Thank you in advance.
[QUOTE=Artisttyp]What is going on with the weather in the Dr these days ? The news reports(weather.com) say rainy thunderstorms and clouds for days to come....this is supposed to be high season. Can anyone down there verify this. Thank you in advance.[/QUOTE]Cool and wet in the middle of the week. Today, friday, is picture perfect.
Connect to DR1
Here's the bottom line:
ONLY Orange offers GSM service....which i took. I only bought a new charger (110 volts) and a simcard (through my amiga) for 350 pesos...and my Motorola was ready to rock in the DR. The rates itself to phone are NOT exactly cheap....i beleive about 12 pesos a min WITHIN the island..if you make abroad calls to the US/Europe it will be more expensive.
Other companies such as Verizon,Tricom,Centenial and Claro use CDMA....an older system which still is used widely in North-America...and central and South America and some parts of Asia. Most European,African and also more and more Asian countries use the newer GSM technologies.
About rates i can say that Orange has a lot of cheapo's lately..... 1-2 weeks ago Tricom had some problems with the network...and stayed offline for several HOURS on the whole island!!
During my 3 weeks stay in DR i NEVER had any probs with my Motorola on Orange network.
peace
Johan
What i don't understand is the fact that I can (as a gringo) rent an apartment on MY name....but are NOT able to put the electricity bill on my name too!!!
For that (again) my amiga was needed...to help me out.
I mean..WTF.....!
One advice for guys who want to settle down LT on the Island....do NOT show your aircon unit if the electricety company (CDE) comes by to put a meter inside your house/app.....because IF they see such unit they'll charge you a HIGHER rate per kWh..!!!!!!!!!As you know electricety rates are quite high on the DR....and a monthly bill of 2000-3000 pesos is NOT unusual.
Best thing is just to WAIT with installation AFTER they put the meter....;-)
a normal fan did the job for me while waiting for that...:-)
For just putting the meter you have to pay another 1500 DOP's.....remember if they catch you tapping iillegal power...you get fined at least a 10.000 DOP's fine!!!
And don't forget...YOU ARE THE GRINGO IN THE BARRIO...AND WORD TRAVELS FAST YOU HAVE AN AIRCON UNIT!!!!!!!!;-) SO PLS KEEP IT LOW PROFILE.
Johan
Fellas,
I just posted a Vikings Pre-Trip Report in the Puerta Plata forum, which is where I'll be posting all my Vikings Trip Reports, when I go later this month.
I see them searching men all the time in the clubs.
[QUOTE=Chily]I see them searching men all the time in the clubs.[/QUOTE]
You need a permit for the concealed handgun and clubs don't allow weapons inside their establishment, they risk getting closed down.
an aircon unit? And why do they charge more? How do I prevent mine from being "discovered" ?
[QUOTE=Curry]an aircon unit? And why do they charge more? How do I prevent mine from being "discovered" ?[/QUOTE]
I meant an airconditioning unit. Normaly you have a unit INSIDE a room (most likely your bedroom) and you have a unit up on the roof or against the outside wall.
Only God knows why they charge you more......! In most countries it doesn't matter WHAT kind of equipment you have....as long as you pay for the usage!
NOT so in the DR.....!! IF they see you have an aircon unit they charge you a HIGHER rate for ALL used electricity in your house/appartment..!!! Seems pretty unfair...and it is...:-(
Electricity rates are pretty steep anyway in the DR and fe. TWICE as high as in Panama or any other country in the area that I know of. For normal families (and most Dominicans do NOT have an aircon unit!) with up to 3-4 kids and 2 adults this means a regular power bill between 1500-2000 pesos EACH month!
Many people steel electricity...and accordingly DIE when trying to temper with the cables. If you are in the DR and watch the news/read the newspapers you'll know what i mean.
The power company only comes once to install the meter...so it is wise to install the aircon unit after they installed the meter.
If you fill in the paperwork at CDE they usualy come 1-2 weeks after that to install the meter....write on the paper that before they come they have to PHONE you 1-2 days before....so you have time enough to hide the unit.
Also it is wise to put a firm LOCK on the outside unit as somebody might want to steel it....!
In case of being discovered (only if your spanish is good enough) you can try to bride the electricity guy from NOT reporting you that you have an aircon unit....LOL. 500-1000 pesos might do the trick. Just say something like "OO it was from the former owner and he comes to pick it up tomorrow"...or something like that.
If you allready rent an appartment/house that has the electricity on some-ones other name forget this whole story. The company ONLY comes to check when they are installing the meter.
Anyway for gringo's it's NOT possible to put the bill on your name (as i found out). Pretty weird huh.....!
Johan
I will be in SD next week. I have been to the Colonial District in the daytime by car service looking around. It seemed quiet. Are there any Chicas to be had in the daytime? What happens there at night? Is it comfortable to walk around? Do those street hustlers near pastuer hang in the Colonial zone also waiting for Americanos?
I would like to meet a Chica walking in the daytime but not in the hooker section of town? Any suggestions on the questions above?
Thanks in advance.
J
4give me for making moe of this than I needed to.I thought it was some new brand or something. The electricity situation is crazy in DR. I have been in riots twice when the government cut the electricity off in SD. Tires a blaze and trash for days!
Hi Jackson,
Could you please make a new forum thread inside the DR section about living in the DR???
I feel and know many of us want to live here and want to discuss certain matters about that on this noble board.
TIA
Johan
[QUOTE=Johan007]Hi Jackson,
Could you please make a new forum thread inside the DR section about living in the DR???
I feel and know many of us want to live here and want to discuss certain matters about that on this noble board.[/QUOTE]Have you been on the DR1 message boards? DR1 has tons of information in reference to living in the Dominican Republic.
-Helpmann :)