Sosua Reports

[BogieMaker]

Thanks for replying. This will probably be my route as well. Any tips you have for a newbie are appreciated.

I flew into STI a little over a week ago and not much has changed. For a newbie it will be much harder than POP for sure all depending when your flight arrives. Remember the last bus to Sosua is at 7:00 pm and you are at least 20 to 30 minutes from the bus stop. If you get in late the Hodelpa hotel is an expensive but nice place to stay and then catch the bus in the morning. I usually stay there when I leave because they have a shuttle and my flight is 6:00 AM. Something to think about when you leave.

Not sure about tips for a newbie but:

Get some money from the ATM to pay for taxi and bus. There are ATM's on your right as you exit the terminal. I take the max of 10,000 pesos.

If you look to your right you can see where the cars are paying to exit the airport. Across the street will be taxis that can take you to the bus station at Caribe Tours LOS Jardines. If you do not speak Spanish, you should print out "I need to go to the bus station Caribe Tours LOS Jardines" (Necesito ir a la estacion de autobuses Caribe Tours LOS Jardines) should cost around 700 pesos. I paid the driver 1000 pesos since he did a good job. Maybe you have the bus station location already in Google maps so you can make sure he takes you to the right place.

At the bus station, go inside and buy a ticket to Sosua. Look on the ticket for the time the next bus leaves and get on the bus. You will stop twice on the way to Sosua in Santiago and Puerto Plata. If there is no problems with the detour around the bridge, you should be there in a couple of hours. If the detour is plugged could take much more. From reading on DR1 dot com it appears the detour is ok unless one of those big trucks breaks down in that case some people are saying 2 to 3 hours for the detour otherwise 15-20 minutes for the detour.

Getting to the bus station and on the correct bus should be the hardest part of getting form STI to Sosua. Use the translator if need be and make sure you ask the price for the taxis before you get in. Should be around 700 pesos to the bus and 400 peso in Sosua. Have them show you the number if you do not understand. Biggest rip off is them over charging after you arrive at where ever you are going. Of course that applies to almost all transactions in the DR.

At Sosua if you have big luggage you can get a taxi. They will rip you off 400 peso to take you to your hotel.

I agree that flying into POP is less hassle and maybe best for short trips. I prefer to save the money and stay much longer so which ever works best for the person.

Hope this helps.

[SteelFly]

I made over 40 trips to Sosua in 12 years. In my opinion, it is better to fly into POP and pay a few hundred extra. It's ten minutes away from town and less of a hassle and a safer much shorter trip. I flown into Santiago and Santo Domingo in the past but will never do it again when going to the Sue. The few hundred dollars extra is well worth it.

I can dig it. Once I get my first trip in the rear view I can make better future plans for the best airfare dates etc. Seems like that is the main thing with POP is to have as much advanced time as possible. I am not sure how to message but with so much good experience I would love to get whatever input you think is beneficial.

[SteelFly]

As a Delta customer, the cheapest flight for me is into Santiago (based out of Salt Lake a Delta hub) so I can not tell you the difference on price between STI and PTO. I used to rent and drive but now that I stay several months at a time I have used Caribe Tours the last several trips. Cost wise from STI to the bus station in Sosua on my last trip is was 700 dop from the airport to the bus station at LOS Jardines, 220 pesos for the bus to Sosua and 300 pesos from the bus station to my hotel / condo in Sosua. That is about $22 at the current rate. The bus leaves every hour from Santiago and will take about 1. 5 hours to get to Sosua. With the bridge out maybe a little longer than that. The first bus leaves at 6:00 AM and the last bus at 7:00 PM takes about 1/2 hour to get to the station at LOS Jardines so if you flight lands after 6:30 PM you would need to factor a hotel room into the overall cost.

Metro Tours looks like it has 2 buses a day at 1:15 PM and 7:15 PM. The advantage is that Metro drops you in Sosua near the hotels and you would not need to use a taxi for the last mile. I assume the bus rates are similar but I have never used Metro Tours..

Thanks for replying. This will probably be my route as well. Any tips you have for a newbie are appreciated.

[SteelFly]

As a Delta customer, the cheapest flight for me is into Santiago (based out of Salt Lake a Delta hub) so I can not tell you the difference on price between STI and PTO. I used to rent and drive but now that I stay several months at a time I have used Caribe Tours the last several trips. Cost wise from STI to the bus station in Sosua on my last trip is was 700 dop from the airport to the bus station at LOS Jardines, 220 pesos for the bus to Sosua and 300 pesos from the bus station to my hotel / condo in Sosua. That is about $22 at the current rate. The bus leaves every hour from Santiago and will take about 1. 5 hours to get to Sosua. With the bridge out maybe a little longer than that. The first bus leaves at 6:00 AM and the last bus at 7:00 PM takes about 1/2 hour to get to the station at LOS Jardines so if you flight lands after 6:30 PM you would need to factor a hotel room into the overall cost.

Metro Tours looks like it has 2 buses a day at 1:15 PM and 7:15 PM. The advantage is that Metro drops you in Sosua near the hotels and you would not need to use a taxi for the last mile. I assume the bus rates are similar but I have never used Metro Tours.

This is my experience of taking the bus from STI to Sosua others may have a different experience than me. I you do not speak any Spanish there might be a little difficulty with the airport taxi and understanding the buses leaving the station but it is very doable.

Flights to Santiago have terrible arrival times but are much cheaper, I fly into Santo Domingo for many dollars less then POP and spend the night with ladies I know. I rent a nice airbnb with a pool and gym for 60 bucks. In Santo Domingo I go to the mall catch a movie and a casino. I do an early Caribe Tour express bus. Gets to Sosua in just under 5 hours. I make about 6 trips a year so I am very high on saving money. Saving the 300 on my flights makes possible for more trips. I fly out of BWI airport. My trips cost me about $1200 total for a 5 day trip. Flight $350, airbnb $200 ,food $100 and women 550. I have been doing this for years and have no problem using the bus. I like starting in Santo Domingo to break the ice with a solid chicas who I know who give great service. If you are doing one trip a year or have big money POP is the best choice. Sometimes flights to POP can be $600 more then Santo Domingo. I just checked a decent flight to POP under 18 hours is over 900 bucks.

Appreciate the response. Will be first time trip and short 5 day trip during SB weekend. Flying from Houston so STI and SDQ are comparable in price whereas POP is much more but closer. The budget you laid out us the exact same I have calculated for my 5 day trip. I am unsure how to send direct messages here but even without direct messages I'd be open to further advice such as Airbnb vs Hotel and things like that.

[Turgid]

Ahnvee is just a hotel ran by a bunch of scammers. They target the make it rain guys. 4 girls will usually get a room there and charge guys 200 short time.

I'm not so sure I'd say that the make it rainers are being scammed.

[SteelFly]

As a Delta customer, the cheapest flight for me is into Santiago (based out of Salt Lake a Delta hub) so I can not tell you the difference on price between STI and PTO. I used to rent and drive but now that I stay several months at a time I have used Caribe Tours the last several trips. Cost wise from STI to the bus station in Sosua on my last trip is was 700 dop from the airport to the bus station at LOS Jardines, 220 pesos for the bus to Sosua and 300 pesos from the bus station to my hotel / condo in Sosua. That is about $22 at the current rate. The bus leaves every hour from Santiago and will take about 1. 5 hours to get to Sosua. With the bridge out maybe a little longer than that. The first bus leaves at 6:00 AM and the last bus at 7:00 PM takes about 1/2 hour to get to the station at LOS Jardines so if you flight lands after 6:30 PM you would need to factor a hotel room into the overall cost.

Metro Tours looks like it has 2 buses a day at 1:15 PM and 7:15 PM. The advantage is that Metro drops you in Sosua near the hotels and you would not need to use a taxi for the last mile. I assume the bus rates are similar but I have never used Metro Tours.

This is my experience of taking the bus from STI to Sosua others may have a different experience than me. I you do not speak any Spanish there might be a little difficulty with the airport taxi and understanding the buses leaving the station but it is very doable.

Appreciate the reply. I will be flying from Houston and using Spirit with the Super Bowl weekend the target dates. Any lodging tips? Airbnb vs Hotel and things like that.

[Durandpaul]

Hi guys!

I am a former regular punter, who like many, got sidelined during COVID. But I am back, and am thinking of a trip.

I was cruising the forums and online and heard about Ahnvee. The last time I was in the DR was about 8 years ago, so this place is new to me. My experience in the DR is Blackbeards twice. I have also cruised Sosua on Saturday nights, as well as visited Oxygen in Cabarete way back in the day.

How does Ahnvee compare to Blackbeards? Is it like Blackbeards where the girls are vetted for psychos? Or is that pool bar area wide open to anybody? Is there a set price? Or does each lady negotiate on her own?

What I like about Blackbeards is that the girls are screened, and there is an incentive on the girls being good patrons, as ripping someone off or stealing will get them barred.

Thanks in advance!

Ahnvee is just a hotel ran by a bunch of scammers. They target the make it rain guys. 4 girls will usually get a room there and charge guys 200 short time.

[TravelingMan3]

Hi guys!

I am a former regular punter, who like many, got sidelined during COVID. But I am back, and am thinking of a trip.

I was cruising the forums and online and heard about Ahnvee. The last time I was in the DR was about 8 years ago, so this place is new to me. My experience in the DR is Blackbeards twice. I have also cruised Sosua on Saturday nights, as well as visited Oxygen in Cabarete way back in the day.

How does Ahnvee compare to Blackbeards? Is it like Blackbeards where the girls are vetted for psychos? Or is that pool bar area wide open to anybody? Is there a set price? Or does each lady negotiate on her own?

What I like about Blackbeards is that the girls are screened, and there is an incentive on the girls being good patrons, as ripping someone off or stealing will get them barred.

Thanks in advance!

As the title says the Ahnvee is dead it had girls during covid but when the casino opened all the people stop going there. The girls weren't vetted open to anyone. There was no set price they were freelancers.

[Manny51]

Hi guys!

I am a former regular punter, who like many, got sidelined during COVID. But I am back, and am thinking of a trip.

I was cruising the forums and online and heard about Ahnvee. The last time I was in the DR was about 8 years ago, so this place is new to me. My experience in the DR is Blackbeards twice. I have also cruised Sosua on Saturday nights, as well as visited Oxygen in Cabarete way back in the day.

How does Ahnvee compare to Blackbeards? Is it like Blackbeards where the girls are vetted for psychos? Or is that pool bar area wide open to anybody? Is there a set price? Or does each lady negotiate on her own?

What I like about Blackbeards is that the girls are screened, and there is an incentive on the girls being good patrons, as ripping someone off or stealing will get them barred.

Thanks in advance!

[BogieMaker]

I did this and didn't quite get how bad a problem "the bridge" being out was. I'd heard some references to it for awhile but didn't get that buses are not getting from Santiago to Sosua. There are fewer times but they sell you a ticket to Sosua. The bus just hits a line of traffic in Montellano and turns around. It is possible and kinda terrifying and dangerous to take a Moto from there on. If you know what being on a Moto in heavy traffic is like it's doable. Get several for luggage too. There is the mountain road to Santiago but buses don't take that route.

I took the bus from Santiago to Sosua Wednesday (1/11) without a problem. The route through Montellano adds about 20 minutes to the trip. The condo where I am staying is near the bus station and it appears the yellow busses are arriving from and leaving Sosua quire often. Maybe you just had bad luck with your trip.

[George03]

I am making a trip in a few weeks for the first time in a few years. I wondered if the Son the Bar was still open. It was a favorite place to hang for me.

[EdWhy]

All gone with trade winds.

Thanks for the reply Questner. Pity, I loved them both.

[Marc Anthony]

As a Delta customer, the cheapest flight for me is into Santiago (based out of Salt Lake a Delta hub) so I can not tell you the difference on price between STI and PTO. I used to rent and drive but now that I stay several months at a time I have used Caribe Tours the last several trips. Cost wise from STI to the bus station in Sosua on my last trip is was 700 dop from the airport to the bus station at LOS Jardines, 220 pesos for the bus to Sosua and 300 pesos from the bus station to my hotel / condo in Sosua. That is about $22 at the current rate. The bus leaves every hour from Santiago and will take about 1. 5 hours to get to Sosua. With the bridge out maybe a little longer than that. The first bus leaves at 6:00 AM and the last bus at 7:00 PM takes about 1/2 hour to get to the station at LOS Jardines so if you flight lands after 6:30 PM you would need to factor a hotel room into the overall cost.

Metro Tours looks like it has 2 buses a day at 1:15 PM and 7:15 PM. The advantage is that Metro drops you in Sosua near the hotels and you would not need to use a taxi for the last mile. I assume the bus rates are similar but I have never used Metro Tours.

This is my experience of taking the bus from STI to Sosua others may have a different experience than me. I you do not speak any Spanish there might be a little difficulty with the airport taxi and understanding the buses leaving the station but it is very doable.

I did this and didn't quite get how bad a problem "the bridge" being out was. I'd heard some references to it for awhile but didn't get that buses are not getting from Santiago to Sosua. There are fewer times but they sell you a ticket to Sosua. The bus just hits a line of traffic in Montellano and turns around. It is possible and kinda terrifying and dangerous to take a Moto from there on. If you know what being on a Moto in heavy traffic is like it's doable. Get several for luggage too. There is the mountain road to Santiago but buses don't take that route.

[Questner]

Happy New Year everyone.

I've been out of the loop for quit sometime. Getting back into it now. Got a few questions I'm hoping the vets can help me out with. What is the update with Passions? Is it still gone or did someone reinvent it? Is Sinatra's restaurant still alive?

Thanks for your help.

Ed.

All gone with trade winds.

[TravelingMan3]

Happy New Year everyone.

I've been out of the loop for quit sometime. Getting back into it now. Got a few questions I'm hoping the vets can help me out with. What is the update with Passions? Is it still gone or did someone reinvent it? Is Sinatra's restaurant still alive?

Thanks for your help..

Man Passions has been closed for over 10 years nobody reinvented it. Peter the owner was a drinking buddy of mine he is part owner of Blue Ice which is just a bar with cute staff. Sinatra with a quick google search shows that it is permanently closed.