Santo Domingo

[RickFlorida]

First Triple and with the possibility of a on going curfew, I'd suggest the Zona Colonial / Gazcue area.

Thanks, is an apartment a bad idea? Found them for less than $40 a day.

[Triple Darknes]

I'm coming to Santo Domingo for the first time in may, looking around Expedia for hotels and got a few questions.

What area of town would you recommend looking?

Found some cheap apartments, is it a bad idea not having the security of a hotel for a first timer?

Thanks guys, looking forward to contributing to the board.

First Triple and with the possibility of a on going curfew, I'd suggest the Zona Colonial / Gazcue area.

[RickFlorida]

I'm coming to Santo Domingo for the first time in may, looking around Expedia for hotels and got a few questions.

What area of town would you recommend looking?

Found some cheap apartments, is it a bad idea not having the security of a hotel for a first timer?

Thanks guys, looking forward to contributing to the board.

[StrawHat]

My last visit was in mid December. I stayed at a hotel with nice bar and restaurant but did venture out for early dinners & cigars. I lined up overnight stays (2 chicas in series not parallel LOL) for the week. Enjoyable & fun. The beginning of the year is very busy for me so no new trips scheduled but hopeful for March. I love Santo Domingo and the people especially the women!

Strawhat.

Hello folks,

I am visiting DR by Feb. End. I heard there is curfew after 7 pm Monday through Friday. Is it strictly followed? How to spend time after 7 at night with no party and bars.

[SmotPoker]

Was wondering if any of the upscale hotels are offering covid tests for guests to avoid dealing with clinics.

[Prtyr2]

Prtyr2,

Where exactly is this place, please? I usually stay off the malecon, near Adrian Tropical. Thanks.

I.

They keep low profile. I added to google maps and they deleted. LOL. Total old school SDQ vibe. There used to be a ton of places like it. It is in between independencia and malecon but after Nunez. Will have to check a map. No idea of the street name etc. If you want straight P4P, this is not your spot. I am usually the youngest guy there and am close enough to 60 to taste it. The old businessmen that go there buy bottles, tip well and flirt a bit then go home to wife.

[D Cups]

Prtyr2,

Where exactly is this place, please? I usually stay off the malecon, near Adrian Tropical. Thanks.

I.

[Prtyr2]

Not earth shattering info, but a while back I saw a post saying outback Santo Domingo was permanently closed. A few weeks back I made killer hot wings but wanted to order fries or similar delivery to save time. Outback was in the delivery app. Ordered blooming onion and maybe 20 minutes later it was delivered. GF and kids loved it, as most Dominicans dig anything new and "exotic" to them. They loved HRC last Sunday as well. Kids eat free sundays, so may be a semi regular deal.

For Starbucks fans the second Starbucks in SDQ appears to be where the bar and terrace was in outback. I did not enter either of them but it appears outback remodeled and downsized and Starbucks moved in. I am not a Starbucks guy but between downtown and acropolis you fans should be covered.

Was also surprised to find my fave piano bar was open. Decided to drive by when another bar was closed. Have not been in maybe two years. My old fave waitress met me in street though with a new lesbianish look. All good. Beer was ice cold. No dimes but some decent Dominicana's and venezolanas and good service. Not a casa, though I do not doubt deals are cut for after hours etc. May be worth checking other bars in the afternoon. This place opens at noon when they used to open at 4 PM. Good to know if I get bored.

Also espiral had a live band doing Marley tunes on Bob's Bday. They opened 11 am and closed 5 PM. Was great to get out and see some live music.

I may have to do more exploring when I have a slow work day and see what else is out there with modified hours etc.

[Prtyr2]

Hey Knowledge, I downloaded Amadita's apps, which can be googled. You can also send a text or WhatsApp message at 1809 682 5414 and get back a link that will take you to their apps. The apps is user friendly that enables you to create your account, select the test center of your choice, and pay for the (Antigen for Travel) test. After the online payment, I took Uber to Amadita's main lab at Calle Abelardo Rodriguez Urlaneta, No 102, Gazcue, showed my payment and got my sample for the test collected. It's a 24 hour a day lab. They have a good customer service, given my limited spoken Spanish and nobody with more than a couple of words in English. But they were all wanting to help and, the young nurses, all females, couldn't have been any nicer; 3 of them tried too hard to stand out for being the best understanding my needs. Have I not already had more than 4 chicas lined-up for late Friday and Saturday, I would have asked for their numbers. Try your hand with them, if you ever get to use this Amadita center.

Great info. Thanks. I live a few blocks from an amadita's so if I should need a test, will head there.

[ChiSmitty]

Hello folks,

I am visiting DR by Feb. End. I heard there is curfew after 7 pm Monday through Friday. Is it strictly followed? How to spend time after 7 at night with no party and bars.

Very strictly enforced. I have been to Santo Domingo three times since the curfew started. They curfew is at 7 but they give you three hours afterwards to travel. So there is not problem getting where you need to go by vehicle during these hours, but once the time hits, curfew is enforced. Remember all restaurants close by curfew time at 7 and discos are still closed. There are some outdoor cafes that served alcohol that are open. YouTube toque de queda in Dominican Republic and you will see all the arrests during the curfew. New Years weekend the curfew was 12 in the afternoon because of the reckless partying during Christmas. It lasted for two weekends.

[LittlePete]

Hello folks,

I am visiting DR by Feb. End. I heard there is curfew after 7 pm Monday through Friday. Is it strictly followed? How to spend time after 7 at night with no party and bars.

[Cestme]

Hi Cestme. Thank you for the in depth report regarding the covid test that Is necessary for travel back to the U. S. You mentioned in your earlier report that you returned to the lab for the written copy of the report. Is that necessary for boarding or is the report that was sent to your phone sufficient. Thanks, Sailor02.

Hey Sailors, I am sure the electronic report would have made it through to boarding. But I remember the young ladies who collected the test sample asking me to come back for the physical report. I suspect it was their way of guaranteeing a 100% tight, boarding assurance and, a roughly $3 uber round trip, was a negligible expense for me.

[Sailor02]

Hi Cestme. Thank you for the in depth report regarding the covid test that Is necessary for travel back to the U. S. You mentioned in your earlier report that you returned to the lab for the written copy of the report. Is that necessary for boarding or is the report that was sent to your phone sufficient. Thanks, Sailor02.

[Cestme]

Did you have to make an appointment for your test at Amadita? Which Amadita location did you use?

Hey Knowledge, I downloaded Amadita's apps, which can be googled. You can also send a text or WhatsApp message at 1809 682 5414 and get back a link that will take you to their apps. The apps is user friendly that enables you to create your account, select the test center of your choice, and pay for the (Antigen for Travel) test. After the online payment, I took Uber to Amadita's main lab at Calle Abelardo Rodriguez Urlaneta, No 102, Gazcue, showed my payment and got my sample for the test collected. It's a 24 hour a day lab. They have a good customer service, given my limited spoken Spanish and nobody with more than a couple of words in English. But they were all wanting to help and, the young nurses, all females, couldn't have been any nicer; 3 of them tried too hard to stand out for being the best understanding my needs. Have I not already had more than 4 chicas lined-up for late Friday and Saturday, I would have asked for their numbers. Try your hand with them, if you ever get to use this Amadita center.

[Knowledge]

Did you have to make an appointment for your test at Amadita? Which Amadita location did you use?

Just got back today from the DR after 8 well deserved time off days in Santo Domingo. Arrived SDQ on 1/30, breezed through and out of the airport seamlessly and, except for the walk through temperature check, there were no other Covid-19 related controls. Equally easy boarding my flight back today. Had the Antigen test for 1,995 pesos, (approx. $34) taken at Amadita Lab on Friday and had the electronic results sent to my phone in less than 3 hours. I went back to the lab and collected the paper report that I presented at the airport today. You can still use the automated boarding pass printer at the airport but only after verification of the negative covid test results and clearance by the airline agent. You can not print a boarding pass from home or anywhere else. Don't let these covid related restrictive conditions scare you off the abundance of the wonderful times still to be had in the DR. By the way, on my return to the US, no one mentioned anything to me about having to quarantine.