Santo Domingo

[Knowledge]

In theory yes, but debt obligations are not honored across the board and neither are labor law obligations such as severance payments. Sometimes debts are settled as kidnap ransom. There is quite a lot that happens beyond the beaches and car wash bars. Another example of the raise prices to make up for lost customers mentality is the idea that they can attract retail customers by maintaining jet engine level music volume at the entrances of stores. It's as if there is a belief the buying public finds that irresistible. It would draw attention except everybody does it, so in the end it's just an annoying background of noise pollution.

At the end. They must pay the bills. Right?

[Darelax]

Dominican business logic is if there is less demand and less customers, raise prices. Hotels and restaurants also do it.

At the end. They must pay the bills. Right?

[Knowledge]

Mr. Grilled is popular among people who live in marginal barrios but want to project an image of prosperity. Check their Instagram feed if you aren't sure what I mean. In "Dominican" (as distinct from Spanish) it's known as "figuereando".

Speaking of Spanish, in both "Dominican" and Spanish "tarea" means homework / school assignment or a measurement unit for small plots of undeveloped land. "Errands" as in "run errands" would be "diligencias" as in "hacer diligencias".

I was out today doing tareas (errands) and drove by a location on Av. Venezuela, in Santo Domingo este. I add that because there were a few veteran posters who did not know Av. Venezuela was in Santo Domingo este. This was a couple of years ago. I hope they have worked out their geography issues at this point.

Name of the place is Mr. Grilled. Now they are a restaurant, bar, car wash. So you can't eat or drink with a mask on. So it is understandable that no one had one on in the place from what I could see. But there was also absolutely no social distancing.

[Sawassdee]

You will find much better deals for price and space if you expand the horizon beyond the two streets away from the Conde, Parque Independencia, and the cathedral plaza. There is a pretty significant tourist premium on airbnb rates in the inner Colonial Zone. It's not a big deal for stays under one month in length but it adds up quickly for longer term stays.

I saw some good longer term deals too. I was visiting Zona Colonial for less than 4 days during both trips. I already had my main apt in Boca Chica. You hit it on the head. If staying a month or more much better deals just outside of touristy spots.

[Knowledge]

You will find much better deals for price and space if you expand the horizon beyond the two streets away from the Conde, Parque Independencia, and the cathedral plaza. There is a pretty significant tourist premium on airbnb rates in the inner Colonial Zone. It's not a big deal for stays under one month in length but it adds up quickly for longer term stays.

As of the last 2 months I have stayed in one apartment for $25 per night, one for $30, and the last for $45 per night. All were very nice and less than 2 minutes walk from the park in the square. I am a tiny bit sad I posted good reviews on the 2 lower priced ones due to they now stay occupied long term. Too good to last.

[Knowledge]

Yeah, I am part of that problem. LOL!

The most active forum right now on ISG is Medellin Colombia.

[Sawassdee]

I am going to stay at a $30 per night apartment in Zona Colonial, ranked 4. 98 out of 5. 00 by guests. I will report and give my opinion, if interested and if the place fits your needs.

As of the last 2 months I have stayed in one apartment for $25 per night, one for $30, and the last for $45 per night. All were very nice and less than 2 minutes walk from the park in the square. I am a tiny bit sad I posted good reviews on the 2 lower priced ones due to they now stay occupied long term. Too good to last.

[Turgid]

There is fuss about Colombia?

The most active forum right now on ISG is Medellin Colombia.

[SubCmdr]

I stay away from crowded bars in the US and the DR.

I was out today doing tareas (errands) and drove by a location on Av. Venezuela, in Santo Domingo este. I add that because there were a few veteran posters who did not know Av. Venezuela was in Santo Domingo este. This was a couple of years ago. I hope they have worked out their geography issues at this point.

Name of the place is Mr. Grilled. Now they are a restaurant, bar, car wash. So you can't eat or drink with a mask on. So it is understandable that no one had one on in the place from what I could see. But there was also absolutely no social distancing.

Even with most of the dining room in open area with a patio you still would not catch me in there. On top of that I can't recommend the food. Block party in mi barro tonight with no one with masks on. Observed from a distance. Was told by my chica visiting who showed up by using a taxi exempt from restrictions that in the barrio they simply play games with the police. Staying close to their homes and partying and when the police show everyone goes into someone's house. They wait until they leave and then go back to partying.

Now, I'm sure someone is going to jump bad up in here and write that I am scared either in the public forum or via PM but personally I am comfortable with each and everyone's opinion of me that is posting up in here. I've been in Republica Dominicana through the entire COVID-19 scare. Boots on the ground reporting when I felt like it. Real info! Not relaying some text I received from girl I fucked while I was here a week.

My objective in the DR is to have fun, relax and return without COVID or an STI. So far so good.

I am glad you had a great trip. You showed everyone that Santo Domingo is only hard in the minds of those who are not big dogs. They can't run with us cause they cannot pee in tall grass.

That being said: When I return to my country of origin my objectives are to complete my business in the minimum time possible, gorge myself on my favorite fast foods (none of my favorites are here), not get COVID-19 and not get killed by the police. Although I worry far more about the police than COVID-19, so far so good.

But what the fuck to I know. I just live here.

[StrawHat]

Yes, I flew out at 5 PM on a full flight.

Glad you had a good time Strawhat. I wonder if crossed paths today at the airport LOL. I noticed few other solo travelers at the airport returning home but not many unlike the pre-COVID days.

I went to the club section in Piantini last Sunday, went to an outdoor club 'Maria' during the day. This place was packed with over 500 young people in mid twenties, all of them in big crowds with bottle service at each table and no face masks at all. No restrictions at the other bar / lounges either. It reminded me of what we hear about the beach parties in Florida that were in the news during this summer. If the health officials don't take things seriously in the DR, this could be another hot zone that could rise at any time. If anyone wants to get in on the action, they should go soon before the lockdowns go in effect next year and take full precautions for yourself while you're down here. Overall, it is still a good place to go for the short timers, but is changing just like everywhere else in the world. Now onto my next adventure to Columbia in Dec with friends, never been there so very excited to see what all the fuss is about.

I stay away from crowded bars in the US and the DR. I stay at the hotel and relax. Pool, terrace bar, cigars, food. But go out for dinner once or twice per trip & go out to buy cigars. I'm not going to hang out at any place that's crowded. My guess is that the number of COVID infected people is higher than reported in the DR but to be fair, I feel the same about the US. I noticed on my way thru customs (on the way in) that the people they picked for the random COVID test looked Dominican. Tourism is over 10% of the DR GDP and the country needs the revenue. My objective in the DR is to have fun, relax and return without COVID or an STI. So far so good.

Strawhat.

[StrawHat]

Let me know how the rental works out. My hope is that the cigar factories open up for visitors so I could visit Santiago and rent a place but I don't see that happening any time soon.

Strawhat.

I am going to stay at a $30 per night apartment in Zona Colonial, ranked 4. 98 out of 5. 00 by guests. I will report and give my opinion, if interested and if the place fits your needs.

[Knowledge]

You know the country well.

Dominican business logic is if there is less demand and less customers, raise prices. Hotels and restaurants also do it.

[Knowledge]

There is fuss about Colombia?

Glad you had a good time Strawhat. I wonder if crossed paths today at the airport LOL. I noticed few other solo travelers at the airport returning home but not many unlike the pre-COVID days.

Overall, it is still a good place to go for the short timers, but is changing just like everywhere else in the world. Now onto my next adventure to Columbia in Dec with friends, never been there so very excited to see what all the fuss is about.

[Knowledge]

The cost of grocery items other than rice, beans, local fruit and meat scraps is absurdly high in the Dominican Republic compared to even 10 years ago. It's gotten worse because of the pandemic but it was already crazy expensive compared to Latin American countries that don't depend as much on tourism and imported goods (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, etc.). Besides the high cost of imported goods, government corruption is a major cause. An example of this corruption is consumer tax rates of up to 25% but very little evidence of even basic infrastructure and social services investment.

It's not very noticeable to tourists. What you have to spend as a full time resident does not compare well with what you have to spend. And what you get in return. In other Caribbean / Latin America countries. It's a question of quality of life. Noise pollution, unreliable water and electricity supply, and zero customer service unless you spend New York / London / Paris costs at restaurant and other hospitality venues. For those who have traveled a bit a prime example of the customer service gap is noticeable if you approach an employee in a supermarket or hardware store and ask where something can be found. You are lucky if you can get employees to stop using their phones long enough to speak with you, and even luckier if you get a useful response.

I have asked the same in the past, getting similar number $. You have to add to the equation that, like in my country, colmadones also sell on account so you can get food and pay later. According to WU in 2018 Dominican Republic ranked 9th in money transfer received. Although I find most produce cheap, it has been cheaper in the past. For example, since my first visit in 1998 and for a decade a pound of coffee cost the equivalent of $2, now it cost the double. Avocados, plantain, the cost was the equivalent of 5 cents of a dollar in street markets. Now they cost more since they are very popular export items.

[BoricuaOnline]

However my next trip I hope to rent a place for the week instead of the hotel. Then I will buy food and cook with my Chica #1 and find out first hand. Bye Santo Domingo till next trip.

Strawhat.

I am going to stay at a $30 per night apartment in Zona Colonial, ranked 4. 98 out of 5. 00 by guests. I will report and give my opinion, if interested and if the place fits your needs.