General Info

[Grandnash84]

I have always bought Insurance when I rent there. This way no issues. If you buy Ins from some other source they need to check the coverage etc before they let you off the hook if you get into an accident.

Thanks for the info.

[Mr Gogo]

Exactly. I remember, I guess a few years ago now, when Mr. E. made his first visit to Sosua and picked up a girl in the disco where all the men go to meet hookers, took her home, fucked her, and then purported to be surprised when she asked for money in the morning, as it had not occurred to him that she was a prostitute.

With all due respect, I would not give Mr. E's skill in reading of a girl's situation and motives a great deal of credibility. Yes, maybe there are some on Dominican Cupid who just want to be taken out for a couple of beers and a night in a hotel with clean sheets and fucked by a nice guy who is just passing through to break up the monotony of their boring lives, but I think they will be a small minority.

A gift of some money, even if disguised as "money for the kid's birthday" to save face, discharges future obligations, and if the girl is disappointed that you don't get back to her, then at least she can say to herself "Well, at least I got 1000 pesos and a night in a hotel with a hot shower and a /c, and got my pussy eaten, so not a total waste of time," which helps to soften the blow of rejection.

I've traveled the world with Mr E and he is a cool dude. But it's funny watching his interaction with pros. He is hardcore. With his non-pros he doesn't give them money but he does little things to contribute. He might buy the kids a toy or fix something at her house but pussy is rarely free. Hanging out with the fellas he is usually the first one to buy you a beer.

[Frannie]

I'm with you on this one Old Kool. If a girl just wants to be with a nice guy for free, then you are setting yourself up for more problems. Feelings get involved on her part, which can lead to more problems. Why lead her on when you can just keep it real.

Exactly. I remember, I guess a few years ago now, when Mr. E. made his first visit to Sosua and picked up a girl in the disco where all the men go to meet hookers, took her home, fucked her, and then purported to be surprised when she asked for money in the morning, as it had not occurred to him that she was a prostitute.

With all due respect, I would not give Mr. E's skill in reading of a girl's situation and motives a great deal of credibility. Yes, maybe there are some on Dominican Cupid who just want to be taken out for a couple of beers and a night in a hotel with clean sheets and fucked by a nice guy who is just passing through to break up the monotony of their boring lives, but I think they will be a small minority.

A gift of some money, even if disguised as "money for the kid's birthday" to save face, discharges future obligations, and if the girl is disappointed that you don't get back to her, then at least she can say to herself "Well, at least I got 1000 pesos and a night in a hotel with a hot shower and a /c, and got my pussy eaten, so not a total waste of time," which helps to soften the blow of rejection.

[Mr Gogo]

There are boat loads sweet young ladies in there 20's but they are not looking for 50 plus guys as their dream dates. I prefer to put my cards on the table. I have some that understand I am not their novio but enjoy their pussy and company. I refuse to play games or mislead nice DR chicas cause my intentions are far from honorable.

I'm with you on this one Old Kool. If a girl just wants to be with a nice guy for free, then you are setting yourself up for more problems. Feelings get involved on her part, which can lead to more problems. Why lead her on when you can just keep it real. You are only there for a short time so if they give up free pussy, I would question the self respect she has for herself. I don't sell a fantasy, those days played out five years ago when the girls stopped being sweet. Now its about pay for play (P4 P).

Outside of the tourist areas their are some sweet girls but they have expectations that I can't meet. You have to meet the family eventually. You have to put in time (no sex). You have to be romantic, dinner dates, gifts, dancing, it all adds up. Why not be straight-up and pay to have it your way. They and you know what you want so why act like it is more than it is? I don't want some chic with low self-esteem who wants to give up some pussy hoping I'm that knight in shinning armor.

[OldKool]

There are boat loads sweet young ladies in there 20's but they are not looking for 50 plus guys as their dream dates. I prefer to put my cards on the table. I have some that understand I am not their novio but enjoy their pussy and company. I refuse to play games or mislead nice DR chicas cause my intentions are far from honorable.

Fair enough. This is perhaps less likely to be true with a girl you meet on DC than some random girl working in a coffee shop in Santiago. But, in my limited experience, I'd say you are largely correct. There are a lot of regular girls who just want to have a good time with a nice guy.

[ORourke86]

Why is that a kicker? The DR is full of normal chicks. I have no idea why you guys continue to treat them like prostitutes trying to force money on them. They don't want your money later. They don't want to be whisked off to your country. They just want to get out and have a good time with a nice guy.

Fair enough. This is perhaps less likely to be true with a girl you meet on DC than some random girl working in a coffee shop in Santiago. But, in my limited experience, I'd say you are largely correct. There are a lot of regular girls who just want to have a good time with a nice guy.

[Mr Enternational]

I'd describe my overall experience with Dominican Cupid on this trip as mixed. When it's good, it is really good. But the amount of time you put in is much higher than other ways of meeting beautiful girls here.
We kiss in the pool a bit and then I suggest we go back to the room for a nap. Awesome sex.
Here's the kicker. When I offer her money (1500 pesos), she turns it down flat. I kindly explain that I know she isn't a prostitute, I want to help with her schooling. She says no again. I insist. Finally, she acknowledges that it is for school and agrees to take the money. So I paid 1700 for the whole day with her.

Why is that a kicker? The DR is full of normal chicks. I have no idea why you guys continue to treat them like prostitutes trying to force money on them. They don't want your money later. They don't want to be whisked off to your country. They just want to get out and have a good time with a nice guy.

In any case, it was so much more GFE than I've ever managed to squeeze out of a Sosua girl and for less dime. I'd call that a win.

Exactly why I can't take more than a day or 2 of Sosua. Being able to speak Spanish, the non-pros are a much better option for me.

If only all my DC experiences were so good. Several girls backed out last minute, sometimes after I had waited an hour or more for her to arrive. One girl could not come until after 9 PM, which made me think the odds of GFE were low, so I backed out. One girl wanted to bring a friend along to make sure it was safe. I said no thanks.

I did warn that 18-19 year olds with no kids was a huge iffy. Now you have seen first hand what I explained before. Me personally, I didn't want 18 and 19 year old chicks when I was that age. I damn sure don't want them now. Give me a grown woman. But different strokes for different folks.

You should have let the other girl bring her friend. I was in Santiago last week and this girl from Bonao brought her sister. I asked why she didn't come alone. She said that she wanted to be on the safe side. I said all that means is that she would die with you. Anyway we left her sister in the lobby. After we had finished fucking she was all worried about her sister. I told her that her sister was an adult. She kept trying to call but the sister was not answering the phone. She was saying that we must go down and check on her, she hasn't eaten anything, etc. I told her that I was not in the babysitting business. Finally she talked me in to going downstairs to check on her sister and there she is sitting on the couch with a shit eating grin next to a Dominican guy who had talked his way up on her.

[Tempoecorto]

Perhaps the worst part: I've now experienced incredible GFE w / a 19 year old, which makes snagging a pro in the bar relatively unexciting for me. Now that I know it can happen, I will be spending a ton of time and money trying to recreate this success.

Excellent summary of the DR experience! Here's wishing you more of the same.

[Sammon]

They charge a deposit in the US? That is news to me! I am from Boston but never seen anything like they do in the DR. They put a stake on the $1500 at Nelly so that funds could not be used, if hypothetically my card limit runs out. Back home, I only have to give the card details. No blocking of funds, at least not in the states including the South or the Midwest or CA where I have rented -no knowledge of NY.

Usually it is a hold transaction. Hold is released when you return the car.

[Sammon]

So your saying don't buy the insurance online but wait until I get to dr and buy the insurance there? Wouldn't it be easier just to buy it online when reserving the car?

I have always bought Insurance when I rent there. This way no issues. If you buy Ins from some other source they need to check the coverage etc before they let you off the hook if you get into an accident.

[ORourke86]

I'd describe my overall experience with Dominican Cupid on this trip as mixed. When it's good, it is really good. But the amount of time you put in is much higher than other ways of meeting beautiful girls here.

First the good: I met an incredible 19 year old girl from Puerto Plata. We exchanged some messages in advance. She expressed reluctance to come to Sosua because of all the prostitution. I told her that was several streets away, we wouldn't go there, and she would be in a very safe part of town. OK. She said Puerto Plata was very far away and she didn't have money for a taxi. I said no problem: take a guagua to the Texaco station and motoconcho to my hotel. I'll give you 200 pesos to cover this when you arrive (probably cost her 100-150 round trip). OK. So she is on her way.

When she arrives, I notice she has put on a few pounds since her DC photos were taken. She still looks good-not quite as skinny as some of the girls in Sosua, but much better than most of them. I'd give her an 8 on looks alone. OK. She leaves her cedula at the desk and puts her things in my room. Beach. Hotel pool. Drinks poolside. A lot of conversation. It feels like a date that is going really well. There is nothing Sosua-Professional about this girl. She seems genuinely interested in me. I'd give her a 10 on personality.

We kiss in the pool a bit and then I suggest we go back to the room for a nap. Awesome sex. This girl takes a pounding and makes a lot of noise. She begs me to squeeze her tits. When I'm about to finish, I pull off the condom and shoot all over her chest. She smiles from ear to ear. Not only was it a complaint-free experience, but she made me believe that she enjoyed herself. Perhaps it was fake. Who cares. It was awesome. She showers off and cuddles in for a bit. We do this two more times before she says it is getting dark and she should go.

Here's the kicker. When I offer her money (1500 pesos), she turns it down flat. I kindly explain that I know she isn't a prostitute, I want to help with her schooling. She says no again. I insist. Finally, she acknowledges that it is for school and agrees to take the money. So I paid 1700 for the whole day with her.

OK. So maybe this girl had a great time. Or maybe she was looking to play the long game with me wiring her money in perpetuity (not going to happen, but she doesn't know that). Or maybe she was playing the really long game, hoping to bang her way to better citizenship (not going to happen, but you can't blame her for trying). In any case, it was so much more GFE than I've ever managed to squeeze out of a Sosua girl and for less dime. I'd call that a win.

If only all my DC experiences were so good. Several girls backed out last minute, sometimes after I had waited an hour or more for her to arrive. One girl could not come until after 9 PM, which made me think the odds of GFE were low, so I backed out. One girl wanted to bring a friend along to make sure it was safe. I said no thanks. It was all pretty frustrating. You have to keep several lines open at once in order to have any chance that one of them will pull through. And, on top of this, none of these girls are regularly on DC. So you are constantly checking for messages that might not come until tomorrow. Altogether, this process sucks up hours of your day on the ground. And it makes scheduling your day impossible.

I'm not sure I'd try this again, at least not while staying in Sosua. Perhaps if I were staying in Puerto Plata, Santiago, or Santo Domingo, this would be good. Most girls expressed reluctance to come to Sosua because of its reputation or the distance form their house. This would be less of a problem in another location (though your fallout options would be limited as well).

Perhaps the worst part: I've now experienced incredible GFE w / a 19 year old, which makes snagging a pro in the bar relatively unexciting for me. Now that I know it can happen, I will be spending a ton of time and money trying to recreate this success.

[Tempoecorto]

Thrifty car rental does $250 hold, for a compact car. Booking on expedia confirms rental without any CC information.

Never rented from Thrifty. I use Hertz in the US because of membership and that I know, no holds. In the DR, I use a local but book direct through ACE.

[Lou32]

More or less true, but I would use the bank ones in bank working hours when possible. I think it is also OK to use the ATMs outside La Sirena or La Pola in Sosua (in air-conditioned booth), or inside the large Playero supermarket in Sosua, as there is security and in the case of La Sirena in Puerto Plata the ATM is outside with security, but there is a branch of the bank inside. There is a Banco Popular ATM and bank at Santiago airport, but no night security right by the ATM, though it is close to where a lot of people are. There is also a Banco Popular ATM in the lobby next to the Emergency Room at the Clinica Dr. Hernandez in Puerto Plata, and I think there is also a machine in the lobby at the hospital in Sosua, though my memory is not all that it should be.

One may also sometimes have to use the ATMs indoors at Santo Domingo airport. Again the Banco Popular ATM is preferred. Scotia Bank in PP has an armed guard, and there is also a machine inside the Metro Bus terminal / pharmacy in Sosua that is fairly safe to use.

I would avoid BanReservas, though this is the only ATM on the outside concourse at Puerto Plata airport, because they seem to have low minimum withdrawals, so ratio of ATM fee to amount drawn is unfavorable. I would also avoid other local banks, as some will not allow withdrawals on foreign cards and might possibly swallow your card.

Anyway Banco Popular, ScotiaBank, and BanReservas are reliable enough, so I stick to them.

As Pooter says, make sure you touch base with your home bank before you go and take a stack of US bills or Euros to change if needs be. If you don't need them, you can always take them back home.

Frannie and CharlesPooter. Thanks!

[Grandnash84]

Do,


2. Do buy Total coverage Insurance from the local Guy. This coverage is Total in case anything happens without deductible. Only issue is if you are driving drunk or hit a pedestrian. In other words a Police case. I have paid anywhere from $20 to $35 in addition to rental charges depending on my negotiation with rental guy.


Happy motoring.

So your saying don't buy the insurance online but wait until I get to dr and buy the insurance there? Wouldn't it be easier just to buy it online when reserving the car?

[Haunted]

They charge a deposit in the US? That is news to me! I am from Boston but never seen anything like they do in the DR. They put a stake on the $1500 at Nelly so that funds could not be used, if hypothetically my card limit runs out. Back home, I only have to give the card details. No blocking of funds, at least not in the states including the South or the Midwest or CA where I have rented -no knowledge of NY.

Thrifty car rental does $250 hold, for a compact car. Are you renting bigger vehicle? Perhaps its a higher hold for more expensive vehicles.

Booking on expedia confirms rental without any CC information.