General Info

[Ebauche]

I have limited experience in Latin America, and zero experience in the DR. My mongering has been across Asia, German FKKs, and Eastern Europe. Just got back from a wonderful Pattaya holiday. I'm wondering if DR might offer a bit of what I enjoy.

In Thailand, I truly enjoy the "holiday girlfriend" experience. Finding a reasonably compatible girl, often a non-pro looking for a good time and some extra cash in the form of "gifts" so they maintain plausible deniability about their working girl status.

Is such a situation possible in the DR? A holiday girlfriend to basically pamper me and attend to my wants and needs in and out of the bedroom for a few days? If so, best channel to source such girls?

[SubCmdr]

Well the media has been talking about parity this last week but it probably would not last too long, now that ECB has raised their rate by 50 basis points today. Of course the FEDs might increase soon by even 100 basis points so we will see but the fact that the DOP has come down from 56.5 sucks big time.

I feel your pain Brother.

I am getting 58+ DOP to 1 from my bank card (tarjeta). And that is low. I am seeing 60.1 cash (effectivo) at the cambios.

I am glad I got my big deals done at the 58 DOP level. Combine the strong DOP with the 8 - 10% inflation rate and I am really feeling it. There are many specific areas where prices are way higher than the average rate of inflation. Construction materials come to mind in my case.

So putting this into the Art of the Pussy deal: 3000 DOP for social / sexual services.

USD / DOP 1 to 58 51.72 USD.

USD / DOP 1 to 54 55.56 USD.

That is a 7. 5% increase for me just because of exchange rates.

Let me add that is such a pleasure to be able to discuss issues in the Dominican Republic that are more than just "where the chicas at". You know why? Because if you just show up and put "boots on the ground" you will find the chicas. That is what being a "man in the arena" is about. Anyone who does not like the focus of my posts can put me on ignore.

[SubCmdr]

Well the media has been talking about parity this last week but it probably would not last too long, now that ECB has raised their rate by 50 basis points today. Of course the FEDs might increase soon by even 100 basis points so we will see but the fact that the DOP has come down from 56.5 sucks big time.

Yes, Brother I understand your pain.

I am getting 58+ DOP to 1 from my bank card (tarjeta). And that is low. I am seeing 60.1 cash (effectivo) at the cambios.

I hit it just right and made all of my big deals when the USD / DOP exchange rate was 1 to 58. Feeling pretty good about those deals now that they are locked in and complete. Because with the combination of the DOP getting stronger against the USD and 8 - 10% consumer inflation here. OUCH!

Let's put that into perspective when engaging in the "Art of the pussy deal":

3000 DOP at 1 to 58 was: 51.72 USD.

3000 DOP at 1 to 54 is: 55.56 USD.

That is a 7. 5 % increase for the same social / sexual services.

[Tempoecorto]

July 20,2022.

I just saw something that I have never seen before. I'm in a Caribe Express in Santo Domingo este and the advertised exchange rate USD / DOP is 1 to 54. And the advertised exchange rate for EUR / DOP is 1 to 54. Dollar parity with the Euro. Who would have thunk it? The Euro is getting crushed! Like Bigfoot stepping on a grape.

Well the media has been talking about parity this last week but it probably would not last too long, now that ECB has raised their rate by 50 basis points today. Of course the FEDs might increase soon by even 100 basis points so we will see but the fact that the DOP has come down from 56.5 sucks big time.

[SubCmdr]

July 20,2022.

I just saw something that I have never seen before. I'm in a Caribe Express in Santo Domingo este and the advertised exchange rate USD / DOP is 1 to 54. And the advertised exchange rate for EUR / DOP is 1 to 54. Dollar parity with the Euro. Who would have thunk it? The Euro is getting crushed! Like Bigfoot stepping on a grape.

[SubCmdr]

That explains why the exchange rate for USD was 54.25 for me, while the news media is hollering about "strong" USD!

Exactly! Yesterday I go 54.4 out of the ATM. Caribe express was advertising 54.

[Tempoecorto]

If the DOP moves back to 58 I will buy pesos and max out again. But I doubt that will happen anytime soon. The central bank here is on point with their interest rate movements. That is why the DOP is not getting crushed against the USD like so many other currencies are.

That explains why the exchange rate for USD was 54.25 for me, while the news media is hollering about "strong" USD!

[SubCmdr]

Today I needed to goto the bank and make a transaction. It took me 38 minutes. Not including drive time or taking money out of the ATM. 20 people were standing in line when I arrived. I was in Santo Domingo este.

The same transaction in Sosua would have taken me 10 - 15 minutes. And that includes the time it would have taken me to walk from where I usually stay to the bank and return.

I opened my bank accounts many years ago when I first moved to the Dominican Republic. I just opened more one month ago. Once you get your first account. After three to six months you can get an account at any bank you want. Because after six months you simply ask your current bank for a letter of good standing. Then you take that letter along with proof you have a monthly income and with that you can open another account. At my new bank I am a preferred customer. I have a special window. I don't have to wait in no line. Now, I have not figured out if is my beauty, personality or bank balance that earned me that. But it does save me quite a bit of time.

Make sure to introduce yourself to your bank branch manager. I am known by name in the branch I use all the time. And I know that is because of my bank balance and the type of transactions I perform. It does not save me any time. But it does save me money. When I am exchanging USD for DOP the manager makes a call to the trading desk at headquarters and gets me a rate that is .3 - .5 higher per peso than the advertised exchange rate. I guess it pays to know what you are doing.

I use my Dominican banks to make transactions. I do not store money here. Only enough to get me through 2 or 3 months. If the DOP moves back to 58 I will buy pesos and max out again. But I doubt that will happen anytime soon. The central bank here is on point with their interest rate movements. That is why the DOP is not getting crushed against the USD like so many other currencies are.

[Huacho]

No. I was saying that you were supposed to make your own test in Acrobat or Photoshop instead of paying for one.

Although of course that's a felony.

[Oakie]

And in Cuba: Papaya! The real fruit is called Fruta Bomba there.

This may have been answered before, but "pussy" and "toto" are understood by all the chicas Ihave met.

As for ATMs. I use them for my daily local cash, no exchange negotiations needed, and their fees vary from 150 to 300 a crack.

Trouble here is that although I have 8 machines within walking distance, only about half of them recognize by credit card and even less, my debit card. Some even change the limits on withdrawals arbitrarily. So be prepared.

Plus they run out of money, breakdown, and you can be in a long line up for the only machine that's working.

That said, Progresso and Populaire, are the most reliable.

[NamasteParis]

Good afternoon,

I've been combing the forum and still have a few questions. I know that ED medication like Viagra and Cialis is available over the counter, my question is to the Dominicans have a particular term for that, like pastillita azul or is it just the trade name?

I use an injectable insulin pen, I can bring one but it might run out, I won't die, but are something like a Levemir pen available OTC?

I assume lube is sold next to condoms in the pharmacy?

The links are not working in "reports of distinction" so I can't find Charles Pooter's report on changing the money. Is there a preferred bank or chain of ATMs that give a better exchange rate or charge a lower fee? For a short stay of less than two weeks is it better to bring some large denomination bills and go to a preferred money changer? If so who do you recommend in Puerto Plata or Sosua?

Lastly, what term do Dominicas use for pussy? The actual opening, not a derisive term for women? In Venezuela it was concha, Argentina was almejia, parts of Mexico it's coo, in Honduras, cusuco. That last one is weird because it also means armadillo! 😹.

And in Cuba: Papaya! The real fruit is called Fruta Bomba there.

[Mr Enternational]

Mr. Enternational, except you are saying that no one at the airport would've noticed the date of the test, as long as the test was negative - still a risk to take!

No. I was saying that you were supposed to make your own test in Acrobat or Photoshop instead of paying for one.

[Cestme]

LOL. You mean you actually paid and worried about which day it was? I guess.

I meant if you were in, say Barahona, where Amadita or any other lab, doesn't open on Sundays, and your flight is on a Monday, you'll be forced to go to Santo Domingo a day earlier to use Amadita, the only lab that opens on Sundays in the capital, unless you want to take the risk of going to the airport very early before your flight departure time on Monday, and rolling the dice with the Amadita lab at the SDQ airport. Thank goodness such worries are permanently behind us as of today. Mr. Enternational, except you are saying that no one at the airport would've noticed the date of the test, as long as the test was negative - still a risk to take!

[Mr Enternational]

the lifting of the Covid-test requirement to board a US bound flight, this coming Sunday. It gives me / us the flexibility to fly back home from the DR on any weekday, which in the Covid test requirement timeframe, made Monday's departure problematic if you were in a locality in the DR, where no Covid-test lab opens on Sunday. The sad news for labs. The cash-cow valve from Covid tests will be shut come Sunday. Hurrah!

LOL. You mean you actually paid and worried about which day it was? I guess.

[Cestme]

Flights have gone up 30% or more. Flights out of NY are reasonable. If you wantrt women go to Sosua. Airbnb and hotels are cheap and women are easy and numerous.

You got that right OldKool, in April, I had a round trip fare (using one way to, and one way back, with 2 different airlines from the Philly area to SDQ, which I do quite often) for less than $300.00. Now I am looking for a round trip fare to SDQ next month, and can't find any below $500.00. The good news is, the lifting of the Covid-test requirement to board a US bound flight, this coming Sunday. It gives me / us the flexibility to fly back home from the DR on any weekday, which in the Covid test requirement timeframe, made Monday's departure problematic if you were in a locality in the DR, where no Covid-test lab opens on Sunday. The sad news for labs. The cash-cow valve from Covid tests will be shut come Sunday. Hurrah!