Santiago

[Dwade]

Hello everybody!

Headed to Santiago for a multi day work trip, and will be staying at the Hodelpa Gran Almirante. Is there anything close by that area to some action? I see the hotel has a casino and a massage place, but the hotel looks pretty decent and wasn't sure if it was legit only massage? Also ok with taking an uber somewhere close, but time is kind of limited. Thanks in advance and will report back upon my return!

[Dwade]

Hello everybody!

Headed to Santiago for a multi day work trip, and will be staying at the Hodelpa Gran Almirante. Is there anything close by that area to some action? I see the hotel has a casino and a massage place, but the hotel looks pretty decent and wasn't sure if it was legit only massage? Also ok with taking an uber somewhere close, but time is kind of limited. Thanks in advance and will report back upon my return!

[Mr Enternational]

I would be willing to do something like that with all my stuff safely guarded in my hotel room but not at 12 am when I am due to arrive. I was looking for some service that might even meet me at baggage claim. If all fails I will take an airport taxi. I was just curious to know if any remise services were available at that hour.

For what it's worth, I have never heard of an instance of being taken for a ride when you needed a ride in DR. We are talking about a country where you pull on to the side of the road and pick up random strangers. The most that would happen is an inflated price, but your belonging will be safe.

Remember taxis in the DR are not marked as they are in other countries. They are just older normal cars with the plastic taxi sign that you can probably get anywhere. Personally I would opt for the Uber instead of those raggedy ass taxis that you are going to pay 3 times as much for. Hell with Uber you have the driver's picture and license plates on your account. For a regular taxi you don't got shit.

[Artisttyp]

Just order it on your app the same as you do anywhere else and see how it turns out.

I would be willing to do something like that with all my stuff safely guarded in my hotel room but not at 12 am when I am due to arrive. I was looking for some service that might even meet me at baggage claim. If all fails I will take an airport taxi. I was just curious to know if any remise services were available at that hour.

[Mr Enternational]

I do have Uber and an unlimited international data plan. Can Uber meet me at the airport terminal?

I always rent a car so I really don't know. My guess is that they may be on the street right in front of the airport. Because the way Santiago airport is set up, when you come into the driveway you have to take a ticket. Then leaving out you have to pay 25 pesos. But it is a short distance to walk. There is the building, driveway, 2 rows of parking, little patch of grass, then the street. They just as well may be inside and make the customer pay the parking fee though. Just order it on your app the same as you do anywhere else and see how it turns out.

[Artisttyp]

I don't know if you will have internet on your phone, but for less than $10 you will be in the house with an Uber. I have T-mobile from the States so I always have free internet international.

I don't recall exchange places at the Santiago airport at all. May be because I am not really looking for them since I use the ATM. When you leave out the building and go to the right, there is a Banco Popular ATM (that I always use) and the same bank. Maybe people exchange money inside. But it definitely is not opened at that time of night.

I do have Uber and an unlimited international data plan. Can Uber meet me at the airport terminal?

Thanks Again.

[Mr Enternational]

I will be arriving at 12 am in STI and Hotel LOS Jardines does not offer taxi service unfortunately. Besides doing the obvious and getting into a taxi located at the airport are there other options?

Will the airport have an exchange place open at that time? I assume airport taxis will not take dollars?

I don't know if you will have internet on your phone, but for less than $10 you will be in the house with an Uber. I have T-mobile from the States so I always have free internet international.

I don't recall exchange places at the Santiago airport at all. May be because I am not really looking for them since I use the ATM. When you leave out the building and go to the right, there is a Banco Popular ATM (that I always use) and the same bank. Maybe people exchange money inside. But it definitely is not opened at that time of night.

[Artisttyp]

Greetings.

I will be arriving at 12 am in STI and Hotel LOS Jardines does not offer taxi service unfortunately. Besides doing the obvious and getting into a taxi located at the airport are there other options? Someone gave me the information for SUN Transfers but I don't see an email / contact info for them on their website. It's all self help. I like to communicate with actual humans.

Will the airport have an exchange place open at that time? I assume airport taxis will not take dollars?

I chose LOS Jardines due to it being mentioned here on ISG. Can anyone clue me in if there are cambios and a Claro service center in the general area? Any other points of interest within walking distance?

Thanks so much.

[FlbMac31]

DR is well known for its Cabanas. Rent by the hour rooms w / shower, TV, etc. Imperial is just down the road toward the city. There are several closer to you at different rates. Uber will pick you up and take you there and if you ask pick you up.

Club chica has limited pics, but has many more options. He will send you pictures. I have some local digits but sorry, won't share on a public forum. Girls end up getting harassed. The guy that runs it is an intermediary only. I've seen the change in his web site format noting additional fees, but whenever I've told him what I want he works out the details and I've never paid extra.

If you do not have WhatsApp on your cell, get it. You can video, voice or text call US and in-country easily. Locals use it a lot as a standard text receiver to avoid text fees. I have kids still there so use it both to US and back at no cost. It will also allow video and picture transfers.

I'll see if I can contact you by Twitter as an option.

Mac out.

Good advice about the PM. I see they have a cash option now, so I will have to look into that when I am back home. Also great to hear that uber is good.

One thing I see about the hotel is it will be hard to make use of due to the smallness, the front desk is sure to notice and I am concerned about them perhaps saying something offhand to one of my coworkers. Would love to get the digits, sorry I don't have access to PM, I don't really have a way to sign up right now as I am en route. I will have to do that when I get back home, as I can see where that would be valuable. I am on twitter with the same name however.

Which agency did you use? I have seen club chica mentioned on here a few times, but they see to not have a wide selection? Also, the fact that they list BBFS as an option for just slightly more sort of concerned me some, not sure if that is common practice or what.

Thank you for the info.

[TravelAllOva]

There are places in Santiago where women are available but there were a couple of police / Law and Order intervention and some places that were frequented by overseas guests, closed. The local car wash places are mostly for locals and needs time which you seem to have very little of.

That right there was super helpful to me, thank you. I saw some news articles and some mentions in there but you spelled out the crack down item great for me. I had a shadow of understanding of that, but you really filled in the blanks there.

You can try the McD next to where you would be staying but you need again, time and some conversation skills. I can only think of the casino (Hotel Matum) next to the monument, and also perhaps the other one (Aloha del Sol) next to your hotel, where I have read that women are available at times. I personally do not go look for women in those places, reason why those are second hand account.

Thanks for the tip. I will give that a try. I appreciate the help.

[TravelAllOva]

Wish you had PM option. Worth getting.

I'm an expat who just returned from Santiago a few months ago. Uber is fantastic there adn will charge to your credit card. Be mindful if your CC does not have free conversion fees are killers. Exchange in Miami is possible for pesons but exchange rate plus fee destroys any benefit.

If you have time in country any bank will exchange and give you top exchnage rate.

Central is a nice place but distant from the city and not good for visits unless you have them come to you. And hotels tend to be a challenge. I often used an agency based in Santiago or could offer some great digits but need to do so on PM.

Mac OUt.

Good advice about the PM. I see they have a cash option now, so I will have to look into that when I am back home. Also great to hear that uber is good.

One thing I see about the hotel is it will be hard to make use of due to the smallness, the front desk is sure to notice and I am concerned about them perhaps saying something offhand to one of my coworkers. Would love to get the digits, sorry I don't have access to PM, I don't really have a way to sign up right now as I am en route. I will have to do that when I get back home, as I can see where that would be valuable. I am on twitter with the same name however.

Which agency did you use? I have seen club chica mentioned on here a few times, but they see to not have a wide selection? Also, the fact that they list BBFS as an option for just slightly more sort of concerned me some, not sure if that is common practice or what.

Thank you for the info.

[TravelAllOva]

You order Dominican pesos from your bank?

No, this is my first trip to DR. Most of my trips have been North America, Europe, and China. For those locations, the bank has worked out great. I just go to the website, put in my order, and the money shows up a few days later. The exchange rate has always been fair in those cases.

[Knowledge]

He should get cash from an ATM. It's convenient and you get a fair exchange rate.

What problem would this pose unless you are planning to buy local Dominican pussy on the plane? 9 times out of 10 you never want to change money in your home country anyway unless you like being ripped off.

[Knowledge]

American from Miami is available. I know many people switched to Jet Blue to get away from American. I decided years ago to stick with American because in spite of all its shortcomings (and there are many) they consistently have as good or better routes and schedules of any airline. That is why their frequent flyer miles are as valuable as they are. Jet Blue is catching up to American and Delta but they are not quite there yet. If you live in Broward County then Jet Blue is even more attractive but in my opinion not enough to compensate for being able to use American miles on all the oneworld airlines. That's been extremely valuable.

Could not make a flight reservation out of FLL to STI as reported. Would be nice not to have to go to San Juan.

Any confirmation this is available on Jet Blue now?

Mac Out.

[Tempoecorto]

I will be in town for five days with four other co-workers whom I would rather leave out of this part of my life. I will likely be busy most of the day with some free time later on, likely after 9 pm. I am staying at the Hodelpa Centro Plaza hotel. I won't have a car.

Your hours are your enemy. Unlike Sosua, Santiago is not a town that only does one thing. There are places in Santiago where women are available but there were a couple of police / Law and Order intervention and some places that were frequented by overseas guests, closed. The local car wash places are mostly for locals and needs time which you seem to have very little of. You can try the McD next to where you would be staying but you need again, time and some conversation skills. I can only think of the casino (Hotel Matum) next to the monument, and also perhaps the other one (Aloha del Sol) next to your hotel, where I have read that women are available at times. I personally do not go look for women in those places, reason why those are second hand account.

I could give you a couple of contacts but these are, being regular people, mostly available during the daytime or early evening but I would encourage you to try the casinos, especially at Matum. All walking distances.

You can certainly pay people in USD cash. That would be more than welcome by the receivers and you would likely be overpaying but most likely that is the least of your problems.