Santo Domingo

[Jaosousa]

Stayed one night at the hilton on the malecon in santo domingo. Booked online using Orbitz, I used coupon (promotion) code welcome10, to save 10%. Price was about 114 dollars for one night. Check in was fast and easy, checked in with my dominican gf. Parked my car on the 3rd floor and entered the hotel from the parking garage. I had an oceanfront room on the 11th floor. Nice room. Had some beers in the lobby bar, met some other Americans there. ATM machine in the lobby works good. Casino next door and the mall in the malecon center is in the same complex. The mall has various shops, some fast food restaurants, other restaurants, movie theaters and a few bars including Blue Velvet.

Swam in the pool on the 6th floor, the pool is really shallow.

Bought two cups of coffee the next day in one restaurant in the Hilton, price was about 312 pesos (caro).

[Charles Pooter]

One night last fall, I went to the ATM in the lobby of the BHD bank in the block next to the Hotel Discovery. I requested 5000 pesos. I am tall (about 6'4") and didn't see the money come out right away. By the time, I went to grab it, it went back in the machine. Next morning, I went to the BHD bank and sooke to an officer. He said he couldn't help me and I had to call a central number which handles the ATMs. They, in turn, wouldn't help me and said I had to deal with the problem thru my own bank. When I returned to the US and protested the matter to my bank in writing, they went to BHD in SDQ which said it never happened. They denied there was a camera and refused to acknowledge that there was excess money in the machine. End result, I got screwed.

Scams and poor maintenance are so common with ATMs in the DR that I now only use my card inside the bank at the teller counter. Obviously this requires enough planning to draw money during opening hours. Note you will need your passport and, at some banks, a second form of photo ID such as a driving licence.

[LondonSoul]

Try dotcells. They have cheap used GSM quadband phones. Just install a SIM card and with your new number your ready to go.

Enjoy,

The Alphabet

I heard Claro (the other main cellular provider competition to orange) were doing some promotional offer of phones for 300 pesos, its worth checking it out. Basic single band phones are cheap here, I think I paid about 700 pesos for a brand new orange phone from the orange shop which came with some credit too.

[Member #3435]

One night last fall, I went to the ATM in the lobby of the BHD bank in the block next to the Hotel Discovery. I requested 5000 pesos. I am tall (about 6'4") and didn't see the money come out right away. By the time, I went to grab it, it went back in the machine. Next morning, I went to the BHD bank and sooke to an officer. He said he couldn't help me and I had to call a central number which handles the ATMs. They, in turn, wouldn't help me and said I had to deal with the problem thru my own bank. When I returned to the US and protested the matter to my bank in writing, they went to BHD in SDQ which said it never happened. They denied there was a camera and refused to acknowledge that there was excess money in the machine. End result, I got screwed.

Once, about 4 years ago, somewhere between Boca Chica & Juan Dolio, I attempted to withdraw some money from an ATM as I had been doing routinely throughout the entire trip.

This one time, I heard the machine cycling as they noramlly do and heard the door pop open but no cash was produced. Checked online and sure enough my account had been debited the amount I had attempted to withdraw.

After I got home, I called my bank (BoA) explained the situation and asked if I had any recourse. The rep said yes. They can initiate some sort of audit for that machine on that day or request the corresponding balance sheets and if the machine showed an overage on that day then they would credit my account for the amount.

Result was all positive. Apparently the audit showed an overage and they credited my account for the correct amount.

Schwmm

[Jaosousa]

One night last fall, I went to the ATM in the lobby of the BHD bank in the block next to the Hotel Discovery. I requested 5000 pesos. I am tall (about 6'4") and didn't see the money come out right away. By the time, I went to grab it, it went back in the machine. Next morning, I went to the BHD bank and sooke to an officer. He said he couldn't help me and I had to call a central number which handles the ATMs. They, in turn, wouldn't help me and said I had to deal with the problem thru my own bank. When I returned to the US and protested the matter to my bank in writing, they went to BHD in SDQ which said it never happened. They denied there was a camera and refused to acknowledge that there was excess money in the machine. End result, I got screwed.

Terrible, I can see that happening. The good thing with my experience is that the receipt said 200 pesos, so at least I have written proof that I only received 200 pesos and not 2000 pesos.

However, it does seem to be a bit of a scam on the part of the banks. The ATM fee to withdraw cash from an ATM machine can from $2-$4 dollars per transaction. By the ATM giving me only 200 pesos when I requested 2000, they know I will try again and therefore they will receive an additional transaction fee. Doesn't surprise me in Santo Domingo, so many scams in Santo Domingo. Same thing happened to me in Moca at an ATM machine. I pressed the button for 900 pesos and the machine gave me 500 pesos and the receipt said I received 500 pesos. I wonder if that happens to Dominicans, or is the ATM programmed to only do this to people with foreign bank accounts.

I gassed up the my car a few times in DR, most times for 500 pesos I got a little less than 3/4 tank of gas. I stopped at one gas station on Autopista Duarte in Santo Domingo coming from Santiago, I gave the guy 500 pesos and after I had already driven away from the gas station, I noticed the needle for the gas tank did not even reach half. Not sure if that was a scam or whether he gave me premium more expensive gas. I always ask for regular gas.

The traffic in Santo Domingo is terrible. Makes it somewhat of an unlivable City.

[The Alphabet]

I have decided where to stay now I need to know where to find a cheap cell phone to take with me that I can use. Any ideas?

Make sure you buy an unlocked one.

Enjoy,

The Alphabet

[The Alphabet]

I have decided where to stay now I need to know where to find a cheap cell phone to take with me that I can use. Any ideas?

Try dotcells. They have cheap used GSM quadband phones. Just install a SIM card and with your new number your ready to go.

Enjoy,

The Alphabet

[Ladanian]

Buy a cheap phone on ebay as long as it uses a sim card then swap out the sim when you get to the DR. Or wait until you get to the DR and buy a cheap phone there,the Orange stores have some pretty cheap phones.

I found one on ebay for around $10 shipped but it is a Verizon phone will this work? How cheap are they at Orange? I would rather pay a little more and know it will work

[Manizales911]

I have decided where to stay now I need to know where to find a cheap cell phone to take with me that I can use. Any ideas?

Buy a cheap phone on ebay as long as it uses a sim card then swap out the sim when you get to the DR. Or wait until you get to the DR and buy a cheap phone there,the Orange stores have some pretty cheap phones.

[Ladanian]

I have decided where to stay now I need to know where to find a cheap cell phone to take with me that I can use. Any ideas?

[Koki9290]

One night last fall, I went to the ATM in the lobby of the BHD bank in the block next to the Hotel Discovery. I requested 5000 pesos. I am tall (about 6'4") and didn't see the money come out right away. By the time, I went to grab it, it went back in the machine. Next morning, I went to the BHD bank and sooke to an officer. He said he couldn't help me and I had to call a central number which handles the ATMs. They, in turn, wouldn't help me and said I had to deal with the problem thru my own bank. When I returned to the US and protested the matter to my bank in writing, they went to BHD in SDQ which said it never happened. They denied there was a camera and refused to acknowledge that there was excess money in the machine. End result, I got screwed.

[Jaosousa]

Flew into sdq from nyc, the eye candy started at the airport. There was an 18 year chica on the same flight, light skin, not short, nice body, she had on one of the smallest plaid miniskirts that I have seen a chica wear in public. While sitting waiting near the gate, she walked by me a few times, she had black boots with high heels, and from behind when she walked by I could see she had on black panties, the skirt stopped just at the same level as her ass cheeks. There were two other 19 year old cuties on the flight.

Rented a car at the airport and spent the first night in Juan Dolio with a gf chica. The second night I went to the hilton on the malecon in sdq, checked in with my gf chica, paid 114 for one night, made the reservations online. Ocean front room, very nice hotel, appeared to me all the doors were made from cherry wood. I had my laptop, brought some dvd movies, I watched the "Benjamin Button" movie (with brad pitt) in spanish with english subtitles. One part of the movie Brad Pitt visits a brothel when he is 7 years old, but he looks like he is 80 years old, I was joking with my chica that they were in Santo Domingo.

I used the ATM machines in the malecon center with my bank debit card. One ATM for banco popular I chose the button for 2000 pesos and the machine gave me 200 pesos. My chica said I must have pressed the wrong button, so I did it again with her watching, pressed the button for 2000 pesos and again I received 200 pesos. (I always chose the option to receive receipts and the receipts said 200 pesos, I have not checked my bank account yet). I then walked over to a BHD atm and chose the button for 2500 pesos and I was given 500 pesos. The next day I used the atm machine in the hilton and withdrew 2000 pesos without a problem.

I ate at Coyote Bar in the Malecon Center, Churrasco, (supposedly an 8 ounce steak, the steaks that I have gotten here are usually long and flat, thin, with an oily dressing garlic mix in a small bowel on the side) Nobody in coyote bar that night, it is western themed with photos of john wayne, the light was dim, i couldn't read the menu. The menu was a small piece of paper with maybe 10 items and no prices. i sat outside because I could smoke outside the restaurant. After that i went to the coppa disco in the melia, a couple of cute chicas there, didn't see any working girls, but it was early. The next day I checked out of the Hilton and visited some people I know in Zona Colonial and then drove to Santiago alone. Photos coming soon.

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[Njoyit Now]

Awesome Helpmann! Thanks for the quick reply. I saw that Dominican Bay wasnt on the beach, but for the price $283 for me and my wingman for 3 nights all inclusive seems too good to pass on. I am thinking if not only for meals and drinks that is a super steal! If I go there and just stay in Boca Chica am I going to be dissapointed? Maybe it is best if I just stay in Santo Domingo? I know my stay in San Jose (Costa Rica) was unbelievable! But unfortunately the spots in DR seem a lot more spread out than in CR. I have been reading posts for the last 2 weeks trying to get all my info without having to bother any of you but it is just so overwhelming, its hard to know where to begin LOL. I appreciate any advice you all are willing to give, and I can promise you it will not be wasting your time, I will be more than happy to consider all suggestions. Casa Iraisa what is the going rate there?

Thanks

I stayed at Dominican Bay. It has a private section of beach connected by a walkway. The food was ok but nothing great. I was with my chica for the entire time there, but within 2 blocks of stepping off the site there were plenty of guys on motoconchos soliciting girls. There is a hotel about 4 blocks down the street that was only about $45 a night and was chica friendly but cannot remember the name.

[Helpmann]

Awesome Helpmann! Thanks for the quick reply. I saw that Dominican Bay wasnt on the beach, but for the price $283 for me and my wingman for 3 nights all inclusive seems too good to pass on. I am thinking if not only for meals and drinks that is a super steal! If I go there and just stay in Boca Chica am I going to be dissapointed? Maybe it is best if I just stay in Santo Domingo? I know my stay in San Jose (Costa Rica) was unbelievable! But unfortunately the spots in DR seem a lot more spread out than in CR...

No problem. Between ISG, YouTube, and several other travel websites there is more than enough current and historical information (trip reports, photos, and video) on the Dominican Republic. Nevertheless, you need to know that those familiar with Costa Rica, will tell you that the Dominican Republic is nothing like it. The spots in the DR are more spread out and you have to decide what you value most (the beaches, the women, the nightlife) and even those have sub-categories (surfing beaches, scuba beaches, white sand beaches, light women, dark women, hookers, students, piano bars, hooker discos, car washes, Dominican discos...)

I have been to many parts of the island and I still prefer the South Coast (Santo Domingo, Boca Chica, Bayahibe); however, without a car and some knowledge of the island, getting around could be frustrating. Sosua (North Coast) is the most popular "single traveler" destination in the Dominican Republic, but I don't think that it is going to come close to your experience in San Jose.

I chose and continue to choose the South Coast, because for me, it is the best combination of beaches, women, and nightlife on the island. Weekends at Boca Chica beach, but evenings and weekdays in the capital, Santo Domingo.

BTW, I believe that the prices at Casa Iraisa are RD$2,000 - RD$3,000. Also, there are buses (gua-guas) that can shuttle you between Santo Domingo and Boca Chica (hours: 8am - 8pm) for about RD$60 (taxis are US$30). Taxi rides within Santo Domingo generally cost between RD$100 - RD$300.

Best of Luck!
Helpmann

Written in 2005 and 2006
The Pepsi Challenge: Boca Chica vs. Sosua
The Pepsi Challenge Pt. II - North vs. South

[Chief Justice]

Awesome Helpmann! Thanks for the quick reply. I saw that Dominican Bay wasnt on the beach, but for the price $283 for me and my wingman for 3 nights all inclusive seems too good to pass on. I am thinking if not only for meals and drinks that is a super steal! If I go there and just stay in Boca Chica am I going to be dissapointed? Maybe it is best if I just stay in Santo Domingo? I know my stay in San Jose (Costa Rica) was unbelievable! But unfortunately the spots in DR seem a lot more spread out than in CR. I have been reading posts for the last 2 weeks trying to get all my info without having to bother any of you but it is just so overwhelming, its hard to know where to begin LOL. I appreciate any advice you all are willing to give, and I can promise you it will not be wasting your time, I will be more than happy to consider all suggestions. Casa Iraisa what is the going rate there?

Thanks

Boca chica is dead! your best bet is to go Sosua.