Santo Domingo

[Jaosousa]

IsGPS service available on car rentals?

Alamo offers for their vehicles in the DR for $10US per day (GPS can be added when you make the reservation at alamo's website).

You can get maps for your Garmin GPS for DR and Haiti and other Caribbean locations from this site: "Dominican Republic GPS Map for Garmin Devices-$49.95. This GPS map will give you turn by turn directions to your destination using a POI (point of interest), city point and/or latitude and longitude with the ability to preplan driving destinations before getting into your car. The easy to follow instructions allow you to download and install the map into Garmin BaseCamp desktop software and transfer it to your Garmin GPS in minutes. Compatible with ALL Garmin GPS units.

Include Haiti for only $10 more with the Dominican Republic & Haiti GPS Map!

Traveling to other islands? Check out the Caribbean mapset.

Latest Dominican Republic Update: March 2013 v3.4": http://www.gpstravelmaps.com/dominic...FaVx5Qod4nXGow

Nokia gives free maps for some of their cell phones, which don't need a data connection to be accessed.

Sometimes life is much easier without a rental car. You have to be careful parking it overnight on certain streets. I intend to make use of the Metro, GuaGuas and buses on future trips. Parkinsons gave a good report of the gua gua that runs between boca and santo domingo.

[BoricuaOnline]

I've updated the best of list


Truly yours

Jon Jon

Willing to help anyone out, the best I can.

Over 20 years of experience in the Dominican Republic

Pm me with any questions.

Impressive list. My best breakfast buffet ever was at former Melia Santo Domingo (now Sheraton?). Cheff Pepper has some juicy steaks. My coldest beer ever, ceniza style or vestida de novia was at current La Parada last year. How much for a ribeye at David Crocketts? Mega Centro mall has worked good for me to meet girls. Best selection of girls was at Casa Teresa about seven years ago. Lots of busty tall women. I love busty women.

Some of my best meals have been on rural street shacks that sells grilled meats.

[Princzz]

Everyone has different tastes. Some like thick chicas, I like flacitas.

What is Flacita?

[BoricuaOnline]

My first trip to Santo Domingo, I rented a car with Avis at the Santo Domingo airport, over 8 years ago. .

IsGPS service available on car rentals?

[BoricuaOnline]

This happened 30 minutes ago. It was so unbelievable I just have to share it with you guys.

So I was chatting with this cupid chica, FOR THE FIRST TIME. FIFTEEN MINUTES into the conversation, she wanted me to send her money so she can buy bikini / lingerie for when we meet. I was thinking, you got to be shitting me. Do I have the word "moron" written on my forehead? So I decided to have some fun with her and see how far I could go.

It has happened to me a few times and it is always fun to play her game. Some girls are straight asking money because some guys send money. Pretty girls have at least a thousand foreign contacts, with just 1% of them sending money they will profit a couple thousand dollars.

[Tempoecorto]

I've been in Santo Domingo since Saturday.

Anyway, just 2 more days and then back to reality. I'm thinking Santiago today or tomorrow.

Nice report. Enjoyed reading and learned some.

Is pedestrian mall a name of a mall? Do you go inside and ask the women as to who might be willing to come to your place to give you a massage? How did the gig work?

I work with online sites and as your correctly said, it is an interesting cultural exercise but I have been able to make it work even though I have had no shows and some times people have cold feet at the last moment. Now I can whittle down my list to some solid new.s and some question mark new-s plus the old ones. The fun however is in getting lucky when you least expect it.

Re fake cuban (not into cigar but learned some here too and I am sure the cops are on the take). No advice whatsoever. Perhaps you should give it to your boss anyway saying honestly they could not be returned.

[Mr Gogo]

I've been in Santo Domingo since Saturday. It's my second time in a little over a year. I'm having a super time relaxing, the primary purpose of my trip. I'm once again staying at the Palacio, a hotel I've come to love. I have the biggest room which has a great big balcony which is the same size as many hotel rooms. However, while I've mostly had lots of fun and relaxation, the trip has had its ups and downs. The one and only drawback (for me) is that the wi-fi is not that good in the rooms.

First off and relevant to the forum, I've confined my mongering to picking up women who work at the many beauty parlors on the pedestrian mall who are looking to freelance. They're far from pros and less expensive, I. E. 1000 pesos for massage and whatever else. The lack of professionalism, I. E, naivete, appeals to me lots more than casas or bars. Actually, I met up with a fellow ISG person (I don't know if he wants to be named) who showed me Jaragua and all the sites / casas around it. Great guy. But the area totally turned me off. I thought I was in Las Vegas. Anyway, back to the beauty parlor women. I'm surprised no one's mentioned them. They range up to about 8.

I had little success with the "dating" sites, cupido, tagged and badoo. I did make several appointments but the girls seemed to chicken out at the last minute. But it's fun partaking in these sites and kind of a cultural learning experience. However, the cost (in time and money) and benefit really did not add up.

As for the not so good, I stayed in 2 hotels before Palacio and disliked both of them. Barcelo was actually a gorgeous hotel with great amenities. However, I not only found it a bit hoity toity for me, but without a car, one is totally dependent on taxis as there is nothing in the area. I also left a plastic bag of toiletries there and it was an incredible hassle to get it back. The bureaucracy I had to go through was akin to the military.

Next night was spent in Hotel Santo Domingo. It was virtually empty and I loved the peacefulness. It's a great place to relax and the staff is super-friendly, unlike the put-offish staff at Barcelo. HOWEVER, the hotel is sorely in need of major renovations throughout. It's also not the greatest area with seemingly not much to do within walking distance.

AS for taxis, I don't how you guys do it, but it was rare for me to get a taxi for 200 pesos. They all want $10 in front of a hotel. Outside hotels, they seem to have turista rates of about 300 pesos (some start out asking for more). It could be my lack of fluent Spanish, but I don't think so and I rarely got a 200 peso rate. I finally befriended a cab driver who works outside the Palacio, and I now get dominicana rates. He actually took me to Boca Chica for $40 and the ride back was gratis!

Beware of Cuban cigars! I bought a box of Cohiba Habanos for my boss for $225. I knew nothing about cigars, but now I'm a little more savvy. I bought them at the tobacco store near the Mercure Hotel on the pedestrian mall, but my guess is the problem is widespread. And that is, they're phony. My idiot boss decided she didn't want them after I bought them and I went to return them. At first, the owner said no and then he agreed to do so for a 1000 peso penalty. I said screw that, figuring I could sell them and get my money back in the USA. In searching for prices on the internet, I stumbled across a cigar forum. There's a dang forum for everything! In turn, I was led to a site to check the serial number and found they were bogus. I went back to the store. I didn't plan on bringing up the phony cigar bit, but decided to bite the bullet and pay the 1000 peso penalty. After all, the cigars are basically worthless. But he changed his mind and said no!

I'm a little torn what to do. I could dispute the charge, but then again, it's not exactly legal buying Cuban cigars. Then again, they weren't Cuban, haha. Also, the tourist police or whatever you call them, are a few blocks away and I can file a complaint. However, I lean against doing that since I don't want to waste precious vacation time and I have to think they are well aware of the problem. What do you think?

Anyway, just 2 more days and then back to reality. I'm thinking Santiago today or tomorrow.

[Jaosousa]

Debbies Dominican is a travel site with reviews of hotels and other things, seems to be owned and operated by an African American woman from Canada. From her site:"The Barahona Province with its capital Santa Cruz de Barahona is one of these special Dominican destinations I often recommend to my friends who like to experience parts of the Dominican Republic that are not yet discovered by mass tourism. The region's pristine coastline, national parks, lakes and abundance of (endemic) flora and fauna make it an ideal location for almost any type of vacationing.

The incredible raw beauty of the undeveloped beaches, like the totally isolated beach of Bahia de Las Aguilas, the Barahona- Enriquillo coastal highway that has been described as one of the most scenic and spectacular coastal roads in the Caribbean and the proximity to 5 spectacular national parks and various mountain forests, make this region one of the best kept secrets of the Caribbean.

Only a few (private, domestic, chartered) flights arrive at Barahona International Airport María Montéz (BRX). I always fly to Santo Domingo's International Airport Las Americas (SDQ) where I rent a car since reaching Barahona by car is easy (West bound on the Sanchez Highway) and does not require a 4x4 driven vehicle." http://www.debbiesdominicantravel.co...stination_info

I'll probably be making that trip in a few days, unless I decide to hit some cabanas in santo domingo este or oeste, bonao and santiago, (before checking into a hotel, sport fucking lite).

I'll probably cross into Haiti at the border town Pedernales and inquire about boats to get closer to Jacmel, Haiti.

[Jaosousa]

Judging by the questions asked on this forum it would seem most people do not use the search function or look back more than one page. So it does no harm to repeat useful information such as this.

My first trip to Santo Domingo, I rented a car with Avis at the Santo Domingo airport, over 8 years ago. No google maps, no youtube videos, no one sent me maps, nor photos. I checked into the Marriott Jaragua, went swimming in the pool. That night went out the rear entrance, some "hustler" was there and he showed me and a wingman La Parada (nice "old" house with a vaulted wood ceiling), a few blocks away. I would never have found the place on my own. Me and the wingman only guys in the place. At least 10 attractive women. It was a goof. I had fun. I drove to Sebana Perdida, north of zona oriental, santo domingo este, visited a house there. Also a home not far from parque mirador sur, I had a great time. First time staying in santo domingo, driving a car and not knowing much Spanish.

Exiting some small bar on the Malecon at 8am and walking back to the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel. Walking on Avenida Lincoln after 11pm, from Cafe Trio (freezing cold strong A/C) to Hotel Hispaniola (over a ten minute walk), because I did not want to pay what the taxi wanted to charge (I had paid less going there, not an outrageous amount, I decided to walk. Rental car was back at the hotel).

[Jooks]

I know about Apolo (it's been talked about enough here) and have used them, probably not as much as I should. The problem (my probem) is sometimes the wait can be 20 minutes and I don't want to wait. In any event, that problem is solved when I'm taking a taxi from the Palacio. Now all the drivers give me good rates and I have a few cards for them to pick me up from wherever I am, although that puts me in the same position as with Apolo, waiting for a taxi. Sometimes it doesn't matter, sometimes it does.

As for hopping on a metro, nothing beats walking a half a block to the supermarket to indulge my needs and wants. Or a couple of blocks to the "beauty parlor" to look pretty and feel good.) Etc, etc. And personally, and I emphasize PERSONALLY, there's no way I'm getting on a metro in a 3rd world country, particularly where I don't speak the language well. I doubt I'm alone on this, but it's irrelevant.

Even though I've been to the DR a number of times, most of the trips were long ago so I consider myself a newbie. I defer to those more experienced and I appreciate learning from all of you. And as a result, my stay this time has been that much more enjoyable. I pick and choose what info to use. I don't feel compelled to follow every bit of advice. But sometimes, jeez.)

Anyway, thanks to everyone for making this forum what it is. I certainly don't mean for this to be controversial and I hope it's received in the spirit it's given.

Stoopid noobie, jooks

[Mr Gogo]

Have you stayed at the Barcelo Santo Domingo Hotel?

No, never will stay there. Jooks is a good dude, so I won't get him in the middle of this. Every newbie please read his report.

[Jaosousa]

Http://www.apolotaxi.com/ApoloTaxi/Contacto.html

Apolo Taxi: (809) 537-0000

Apolo Limousines, (809)537-4444; Oficina-(809)537-1245.

[Llttf]

An excerpt from my post from April 13, 2013 in response to one of your posts:

I have posted the phone number and web address of Apolo Taxi Company before. Metro costs 20 pesos (about 50 cents US).

Http://www.apolotaxi.com/ApoloTaxi/Contacto.html

[Jaosousa]

AS for taxis, I don't how you guys do it, but it was rare for me to get a taxi for 200 pesos. They all want $10 in front of a hotel.

An excerpt from my post from April 13, 2013 in response to one of your posts:

You can ask the chicas on the 9th floor club premium lounge to call a taxi for you. Some of the taxi guys who wait outside the hotel may not be the cheapest. The workers on the 9th floor will probably call apolo taxi company.

I have posted the phone number and web address of Apolo Taxi Company before. Metro costs 20 pesos (about 50 cents US).

[Jaosousa]

Everyone has different tastes. Some like thick chicas, I like flacitas.

How can a person agree with someone who says a place is basically great, when that person basically says it is terrible. Gogo basically says Zona Colonial is terrible and Jooks basically says its somewhat great and gogo says jooks is honest.)