Santiago

[Charles Pooter]

Sorry to disagree with you Sir Pooter but I have been on Caribe Tours when they have stopped at the airport. Just before they depart from Puerto Plata the driver will ask if anyone wants to get off at Grand Parada, Montellano, Airport or La Union, if so they make sure you have your luggage on the bus as they will not open the cargo holds for these stops.

I stand corrected and I am very glad to hear that is now the case. Very sensible and useful for everyone. Thanks for letting us know. Good tip about the luggage, too.

I assume he stopped on the main road at the airport and didn't enter along the service road?

[Llttf]

This is the best solution. Although it might look funny going past the airport into Charamicos, then having to come back again, it is likely to be the quickest, and will certainly be the cheapest, method.

They don't stop at or near the POP airport. I have tried without success to bribe Caribe Tours drivers to make unscheduled stops for me (for example at Costambar and at Field of Dreams). Locals confirm they cannot be bribed to do that though there would be no harm in trying.

But even if Caribe Tours did drop you on the main road near the airport you would still have a 15 minute walk to the terminus (a problem if you have a suitcase or it is raining) or you could take a motoconcho as far as the barrier (they are not allowed further) and then you only have 5 minutes to walk.

Similarly you could tip a regular publico en route from Charamicos to Puerto Plata to take you as far as the barrier and walk the remaining 5 minutes. I believe they are not normally allowed past the barrier although I have seen one or two inside at the terminal.

Sorry to disagree with you Sir Pooter but I have been on Caribe Tours when they have stopped at the airport. Just before they depart from Puerto Plata the driver will ask if anyone wants to get off at Grand Parada, Montellano, Airport or La Union, if so they make sure you have your luggage on the bus as they will not open the cargo holds for these stops.

[Macmasher]

I've done this Spirit flight. It's not TOO bad on a weekday, when the Sosua-bound busses depart just after 7am. But on a Sunday, the earliest bus out is like 9:20am. So I had to kill nearly 6 hours (3 at airport, then 3 at bus station).

On DR1, there's a thread about an open-24-hours casino not too far from the Metro/Caribe stations. The idea was not to sleep there, just finding a place with some activity, food and drink to kill time 'til the busses start running.

I was looking into flying spirit into Santiago as there is a flight which is both cheap and convenient for me but it arrives at 2AM. Spirit seems to only arrive or depart there in the very early morning hours.

Does anybody experience with these flights and what alternatives you have? I've flown into POP and Las Americas. I'd be interested in seeing Santiago then going to Sosua/Caberete. Any cheap ($50 ish) hotels you can take a cab to and check in at 3AM?

[Charles Pooter]

... your best choice might be to take Caribe Tours to their bus station in Charamicos, Sosua. From there you could take a taxi back to the airport.

Charamicos is much closer to the airport, than the bus stations in Puerto Plata. It will take more time going to charamicos, sosua, because you will pass the airport on the way to Sosua, but the taxi fare might be cheaper from Charamicos, Sosua than if you were to take a taxi from one of the bus stations in Puerto Plata, to the airport. it will be much cheaper!

Metro Bus Stop is in El Batey, Sosua on the other side of Sosua Beach from Charamicos and thus is a little more further away from the airport, than Charamicos.

This is the best solution. Although it might look funny going past the airport into Charamicos, then having to come back again, it is likely to be the quickest, and will certainly be the cheapest, method.

They don't stop at or near the POP airport. I have tried without success to bribe Caribe Tours drivers to make unscheduled stops for me (for example at Costambar and at Field of Dreams). Locals confirm they cannot be bribed to do that though there would be no harm in trying.

But even if Caribe Tours did drop you on the main road near the airport you would still have a 15 minute walk to the terminus (a problem if you have a suitcase or it is raining) or you could take a motoconcho as far as the barrier (they are not allowed further) and then you only have 5 minutes to walk.

Similarly you could tip a regular publico en route from Charamicos to Puerto Plata to take you as far as the barrier and walk the remaining 5 minutes. I believe they are not normally allowed past the barrier although I have seen one or two inside at the terminal.

[Marc Anthony]

I was looking into flying spirit into Santiago as there is a flight which is both cheap and convenient for me but it arrives at 2AM. Spirit seems to only arrive or depart there in the very early morning hours.

Does anybody experience with these flights and what alternatives you have? I've flown into POP and Las Americas. I'd be interested in seeing Santiago then going to Sosua/Caberete. Any cheap ($50 ish) hotels you can take a cab to and check in at 3AM?

[Member #4643]

I like Santiago a lot. There are few places in the world where regular girls are available on an easier basis. That being said, there is not a lot of easily accessible P4P, for those times when convenience is more important than real GFE.

The night before last was no exception to my frustrations. My new girlfriend (we met on Tagged and fucked on our second date last April) went home at midnight, as her mother is some type of religious nut, and she is not allowed to sleep out. I was at the Hodelpa Gran Central, which I recommend for price, convenience, location and being girl-friendly.

So, I took a walk through the Casinos, and the pickings were slim (as always, the girls who are employed at the casinos were outstanding, but I have had no success trying to get these girls. They are probably available for a real date- on their day off- dinner, flowers, meet Mami, etc). Finally, a 25-30 ish woman was seen walking down the street, conversing with cab drivers, and I asked her where she was going. She said the casinos, had a pretty nice face and body, so I invited her up for some company. She gave a very good BBBJTCIM and was soon $40 US richer and on her way around 2 am to lose all of her new riches playing the one armed bandit.

Being still pretty horny (I had now fucked my girl twice, and gotten a blow job from the street girl, but I was in the DR for the first day after a prolonged absence and was clearly in heat), I called a number I found on the internet. A 7 am delivery was promised, but failed to materialize. Imagine my frustration when 7 am came and went!

At this point, I showered and got ready for work. As I stepped into my cab an hour later, I asked the doorman about morning pleasures. Passions is closed, and the car washes don't have action until the afternoon. Imagine my joy when the doorman, whose name is Juan, pulled out a list of numbers and names! Sadly, although I was interested, I would not be back from my appointment until my novia returned to my hotel from her Mom's house. She is not into threesomes, so I passed. However, Juan truly brightened my day, as well as my prospects for returning the Santiago, City of Gentlemen, soon! In my view, this was all it took to make Santiago complete. Lot's of willing "freebies", Passions for the rare night when I have the energy to put up with a long cab ride, loud music and high prices (don't get me wrong, despite these drawbacks, the girls at Passions are really hot), and a scene of independent girls who are available during the day for the occasionally full-service massage makes this city complete! For a guy like me, who likes sex to be available 24/7, but prefers the GFE experience over everything, the city is now perfect.

If anyone gets to the Hodelpa Central Plaza soon, please PM me Juan's phone number. I think he can be a real help in the future, and I would hate to lose him!

[Anthonyvmontana]

Going forward, I am looking to rent an apartment when I travel to Santiago? I want to rent on nightly, possible week. Anyone aware of resources?

[Koki9290]

I definitely got a phone last time when I was in sosua, it helped when managing the numbers that you get, however what bus company is easiest to take to the POP airport? Would it be caribe or metro? I know theres various companies.

From STI? I'd take Caribe to POP and nearby is the parada for publicos to Sosua. Just tell them to drop you at the apt and they'll pull into the entrance to the airport a little ways and deposit you. Short walk to terminal. ten minutes.

[Jaosousa]

I definitely got a phone last time when I was in sosua, it helped when managing the numbers that you get, however what bus company is easiest to take to the POP airport? Would it be caribe or metro? I know theres various companies.

I don't know if Caribe Tours or Metro stop at the airport. If they don't stop at the airport, your best choice might be to take Caribe Tours to their bus station in Charamicos, Sosua. From there you could take a taxi back to the airport.

Charamicos is closer to the airport, than the bus stations in Puerto Plata. It will take more time going to charamicos, sosua, because you will pass the airport on the way to Sosua, but the taxi fare might be cheaper from Charamicos, Sosua than if you were to take a taxi from one of the bus stations in Puerto Plata, to the airport.

Metro Bus Stop is in El Batey, Sosua on the other side of Sosua Beach from Charamicos and thus is a little more further away from the airport, than Charamicos.

[Jaosousa]

First time in Santiago, I already like this city. I will head out to Passion's tonite. Any other places besides the ones listed in the BO's Mongering Map ?

The car washes, casa blanca and ilusiones. Another member got a chica from a food stand place, read back a few pages and you will see his post and his description of the place.

[MagikMusic]

You can buy a cell phone in Dom Rep at Claro for 500 pesos. Some guys buy chips at Claro or Orange for their cell phones and switch the chips. Chips I have been told cost 200 pesos. The cell phones you could buy in DR are like the prepaid cell phones in the States. You would purchase a card, scratch off the secret code on the back, dial 1133 for Claro and then enter the secret code and minutes will be added to the cell phone.

I definitely got a phone last time when I was in sosua, it helped when managing the numbers that you get, however what bus company is easiest to take to the POP airport? Would it be caribe or metro? I know theres various companies.

[MagikMusic]

If for some reason you get stopped at your hotel bringing in a pro, there are numerous cabanas in Santiago. Price for a short term rental at a Cabana ranges from 100 to over 1000 pesos, depending on the cabana and the room.

If you take a taxi to a cabana, you could ask the driver for his card with the phone number and his taxi number, so that you could call him to pick you up after you are finished in the cabana.

The cabanas that I am familiar are on the main road when entering Santiago from the direction of Santo Domingo. They are about ten minutes from the Monument.

My favorite cabana was bora bora. You can order beer and soda at cabanas. Some Cabanas offer food.

Usually the more expensive rooms at a cabana are located closer to the entrance, some rooms will have names like ejecutivo, fantasia etc. If you continue to drive into the cabana complex, the more basic, inexpensive rooms will be found.

You can buy a cell phone in Dom Rep at Claro for 500 pesos. Some guys buy chips at Claro or Orange for their cell phones and switch the chips. Chips I have been told cost 200 pesos. The cell phones you could buy in DR are like the prepaid cell phones in the States. You would purchase a card, scratch off the secret code on the back, dial 1133 for Claro and then enter the secret code and minutes will be added to the cell phone.

From Centro Plaza you can walk up Calle de Sol to get to the Monument. There are several bars and restaurants around the monument, kuka macara and montezuma being the two biggest places.

At night some transvestites stroll around the monument. Some pros hang around near the casino that is attached to the Hodelpa Centro.

Have fun, any questions ask and post a report when you can, thanks.

Hopefully I won't get stopped but its good to know theres options, I kinda like the centralized location especially during the daytime with people walking around, and from this board and others, I've nailed down the places I need to check out such as Ahi Bar for karakoe, the mall during the day, mcdonalds by the univeristy, the park, on top of the usual places (passions, car washes, etc). At night I may check out the discos, monte bar, to really see the local talent. I see this as a different experience but I believe things will be great armed with this knowledge.

[Boricua Traveler]

First time in Santiago, I already like this city. I will head out to Passion's tonite. Any other places besides the ones listed in the BO's Mongering Map ?

[Jaosousa]

Awesome info, this is great help, nothing like getting a chica to go swimsuit shopping, I wasn't planning on driving much since it appears its easy to get lost however if Im out and about drinking, its probably better to cab it from place to place.

If for some reason you get stopped at your hotel bringing in a pro, there are numerous cabanas in Santiago. Price for a short term rental at a Cabana ranges from 100 to over 1000 pesos, depending on the cabana and the room.

If you take a taxi to a cabana, you could ask the driver for his card with the phone number and his taxi number, so that you could call him to pick you up after you are finished in the cabana.

The cabanas that I am familiar are on the main road when entering Santiago from the direction of Santo Domingo. They are about ten minutes from the Monument.

My favorite cabana was bora bora. You can order beer and soda at cabanas. Some Cabanas offer food.

Usually the more expensive rooms at a cabana are located closer to the entrance, some rooms will have names like ejecutivo, fantasia etc. If you continue to drive into the cabana complex, the more basic, inexpensive rooms will be found.

You can buy a cell phone in Dom Rep at Claro for 500 pesos. Some guys buy chips at Claro or Orange for their cell phones and switch the chips. Chips I have been told cost 200 pesos. The cell phones you could buy in DR are like the prepaid cell phones in the States. You would purchase a card, scratch off the secret code on the back, dial 1133 for Claro and then enter the secret code and minutes will be added to the cell phone.

From Centro Plaza you can walk up Calle de Sol to get to the Monument. There are several bars and restaurants around the monument, kuka macara and montezuma being the two biggest places.

At night some transvestites stroll around the monument. Some pros hang around near the casino that is attached to the Hodelpa Centro.

Have fun, any questions ask and post a report when you can, thanks.

[Jaosousa]

Awesome info, this is great help, nothing like getting a chica to go swimsuit shopping, I wasn't planning on driving much since it appears its easy to get lost however if Im out and about drinking, its probably better to cab it from place to place.

From the hodelpa centro plaza to the hodelpa el gran almirante is an easy drive, about ten minutes. Try to find an honest taxi driver. There are no meters in the taxis there, so confirm prices before you use a particular driver. You can always ask people at the hotel to call a taxi for you. Fridays restaurant next door to the El Gran Almirante is a fairly new restaurant, it has good service and is clean.