General Info

[Helpmann]

Guys,

I really need your opinion. Does it make sense to go to Sosua if you don't speak Spanish? I speak very little and wonder does it even make sense to plan this trip. Any of you go there that don't speak Spanish? How did it go? Would maybe Santo Domingo be better option?

Your response is appreciated.

It makes perfect sense TO GO to Sosua if you don't speak Spanish. Sosua is tourist beach town loaded w/ *****s. If you don't speak Spanish and you're in Sosua, you're among many.

Santo Domingo, the capital and most populated city in the DR, is the opposite. Fewer tourists (by percentage) and fewer English (by percentage) speakers.


-Helpmann

[Alexander Great]

Guys,

I really need your opinion. Does it make sense to go to Sosua if you don't speak Spanish? I speak very little and wonder does it even make sense to plan this trip. Any of you go there that don't speak Spanish? How did it go? Would maybe Santo Domingo be better option?

Your response is appreciated.

[Johan007]

* Santo Domingo BY FAR has the greatest number of women/hookers.
(the beach is a 35min. drive away)

* Santiago has the 2nd greatest number of women/hookers.
(the beach is a 70min. drive away)

* Sosua has the highest concentration of hookers.
(Beach - the water is wavy and is good for wind surfing; located in the city)

* Boca Chica has second highest concentration of hookers .
(Beach - the water is calm and is good for paddleboats and jet skis; located in the city)

If "you're city" didn't make the list, then it's not in the "top 4" places to monger in the Dominican Republic.

BTW: POP, STI, SDQ... all things being equal, fly to the airport nearest to your hotel/apt.


-Helpmann

If I may add some additional things to the posting from Helpmann??

If you want to go to Sosua POP airport is better...it's only 20 min drive away.
Besides that I know of flights from the US/Canada/Europe always go to Puerto Plata(POP) OR to Punta Cana OR to Santo Domingo(SDQ). I never heard of any DIRECT flights to Santiago. But maybe I am mistaken??

For God's sake...STAY AWAY from Punta Cana....as it is a HUGE all-inn turist area with huge hotel accomodations. needles to say this is NO place for the average monger!!!:-( IF there might be hookers availeble I recon they should cost a few bucks more....;-) So in any case Go to POP or to Santo Domingo. From there the country can be discovered EASELY by bus for very cheap prices!! (caribe tours or Metro bus)

About Santiago: the city is DR second largest city and has about 650.000 people. Also there is a large free tarde zone here with many many shops and malls. Even people from the capital go here to shop for electrical equipment,clothes,parfumes and/or shoes because they are soo much cheaper as in the capital.
Needles to say in Santiago are countless shopgirls;-) which is good IF you speak spanish and like the NON-PRO scene:-)
The city ITSELF is rather dull and has very little to offer for the average turists. BUT we are NOT average...are we?? hahahahahahah

BTW the surfers paradise is called CABERETE (to the east from Sosua).....and it is also very close to Sosua...i guess about 20-25 min with a taxi. If you like you could also take a gua-gua to there;cheaper and more fun;-) but less comfortable.

If you are more the cultural type you also can visit La ISABELLA (to the west from Sosua)..,.which are the ruins of the FIRST City founded by the spanish in 1493..by Christopher Columbus. (Colon in spanish)
However i did get into an historian dispute with a tourguide in the capital as I told him that REALY the vikings discovered America 500 years earlier then Colon;sailing from Norway to Iceland and so to Greenland and the North east coast of New foundland......But that's another story;-) The guy even seemed offended by my statement...! Here everybody knows that. But in the DR it's something else.

Johan.

[Helpmann]

Helpmann, thanks for the pointers.

Any opinion on Puerto Plata vs. Santiago? Airfares are about same for both places, and I understand that there are nice beaches in Puerto Plata. Just wondering about ease, convenience and plentitude of chicas at PP.

If we end up in Sosua, is Santiago the best airport to fly into?

* Santo Domingo BY FAR has the greatest number of women/hookers.
(the beach is a 35min. drive away)

* Santiago has the 2nd greatest number of women/hookers.
(the beach is a 70min. drive away)

* Sosua has the highest concentration of hookers.
(Beach - the water is wavy and is good for wind surfing; located in the city)

* Boca Chica has second highest concentration of hookers .
(Beach - the water is calm and is good for paddleboats and jet skis; located in the city)

If "you're city" didn't make the list, then it's not in the "top 4" places to monger in the Dominican Republic.

BTW: POP, STI, SDQ... all things being equal, fly to the airport nearest to your hotel/apt.


-Helpmann

[Victor Lazlo]

helpmann, thanks for the pointers.

any opinion on puerto plata vs. santiago? airfares are about same for both places, and i understand that there are nice beaches in puerto plata. just wondering about ease, convenience and plentitude of chicas at pp.

if we end up in sosua, is santiago the best airport to fly into?

as helpmann said, if you are newbies to dr and have only 3 nights and speak no spanish, head for sosua.

if prices are comparable, fly in to puerto plata (pop). the airport is only a few miles ($20 taxi) from sosua.

note that puerto plata is a city of 150k with no beaches. sosua is a town of about 25k with plenty of chica bars, discos and a nice beach within easy walking distance if you stay at the europa
http://www.hotelplazaeuropa.com/plaz...itel-engl.html

if you were going to be there longer i might have other suggestions, but for 3 nights sosua is your best bet for a compact playground. you'll probably get taken somewhat, but you'll probably enjoy it too, so what the hell.

in regard to your question about changing us dollars to dominican pesos before you go, don't do it! you will be raped unmercifully on the exchange rate. you can change dollars for pesos at the airport for not too bad a rate if you want, though the taxi driver will gladly accept your $us20 bill. the europa will change your money at a very good rate.

helpmann's last point: "if you don't know anybody in santiago, and you don't speak spanish, you have no business being there.", is also pertinent. i would listen.

all in all, for 3 nights and minimum hastle, head for sosua.

[Jb Cool]

Helpmann, thanks for the pointers.

Any opinion on Puerto Plata vs. Santiago? Airfares are about same for both places, and I understand that there are nice beaches in Puerto Plata. Just wondering about ease, convenience and plentitude of chicas at PP.

If we end up in Sosua, is Santiago the best airport to fly into?

Thanks again for responses!

And just so you folks don't think that I'm a leach, I've submitted several useful local reports on UG. I just hadn't discovered this new place for WSG until recently.

1) You' re 4 hours from Santo Domingo / Boca Chica.

2) You're an hour's drive from the nearest beach. There is no beach in Santiago!!!

3) Do what most non-Spanish speaking tourists do, when they arrive in the DR and they want to save some cash.... They fly to STI, they take a 60min. cab ride to Sosua for US$50 or so, they find a hotel or apt. near "the strip" (Europa, the Palace...), and they pick up the *****s on "the strip" and in the clubs at night.

4) If you don't know anybody in Santiago, and you don't speak Spanish, you have no business being there.

Helpmann

[Samarkand]

I don't know DR ( sounds expensive?) but have travelled in other parts of Latin America and other 3rd world countries and have found budget accomodation always more interesting and much better for finding girl friends or "girl friends" (chicas) - or even group/threesome guys etc,etc.

I am surprised at the wealth of reporters here. For decent budget accomodation and brief reports "Lonely Planet" is the best source - and for real costs versus expensive tourist prices.

Also if you want t get to know the people and culture it is best to avoid high end hotels - which effectively isolate you from the populace - AND make taxis and services more expensive AND make you a target for ne'er-do-wells hanging around suhch places.

Mixing with locals in cheaper hotels also gives the opportunity o meeting more chicas - at least more fun girls than "high class hookers". Just a bit of gentlemanly behaviour and generosity to a group is more fun and practically guarantees company - even for days - IF you are decent and speak some Spanish.

The "secret" is to enjoy a laugh! -.. .usually at one's own expense.

[Helpmann]

Three of us are making our first trip to DR the weekend of Nov 3rd. I have gone through this site and compiled a bunch of information together, but still need some additional information in order to make the most of the trip, especially since we only have three days there, we want to make sure to make the most of the trip.

1) We have selected Santiago as the destination since the airfare to Santo Domingo is coming up much more. Puerto Plata and Santiago fares are about the same. Anyone have any opinion on which of these two places would be best for first timers, who don't speak any Spanish?

2) Any Hotel recommendations in Santiago and Puerto Plata? We would like a place that is reasonably clean, conveniently located, visitor friendly, offers convenient food/drinks options and where we can get by on English only. Based on my investigation, so far I have come up with Hotel Platino. Wondering what other options there might be.

3) I read several posts about people getting unpredictable exchange rates over there. Is there any reason to not bring local currency with us, converetd here in the US?

4) Nothing can beat the thrill of scoring non-pros or semi-pros. Any tips on where/how to find such chicas in these two locations?

5) I don't have a good sense of distances over there. If we are in Santiago for three days, is it worth making a trip to Boca Chica or Santo Domingo?

Of course, the primary purpose of our trip is mongering so all questions are from that perspective.

I would appreciate any feedback and I will write up a detailed report upon my return.

Thanks.

1) You' re 4 hours from Santo Domingo / Boca Chica.

2) You're an hour's drive from the nearest beach. There is no beach in Santiago!!!

3) Do what most non-Spanish speaking tourists do, when they arrive in the DR and they want to save some cash.... They fly to STI, they take a 60min. cab ride to Sosua for US$50 or so, they find a hotel or apt. near "the strip" (Europa, the Palace...), and they pick up the *****s on "the strip" and in the clubs at night.

4) If you don't know anybody in Santiago, and you don't speak Spanish, you have no business being there.


-Helpmann

[On The Go]

Hi Jackson,

Could you please make such a toppic here just like they have that in the Brasil section??
I know many guys are intrested in Living in the DR permanently (including myself).
What better way to swap info on this subject then to make a seperate topic??

Thanks IA.

Johan

Great idea Johan and I am sure it will go over very well!!!!!

[Grand Pollo]

Hello all thanks for the great info. Im planning my first trip to DR & me and a friend decided to stay in SD at hotel meutur. Is this a good GF place to stay? Me and my friend dont speak any spanish. Is it possible to meet chicas with no spanish or do we both need to take some intro courses? Is SD a good place to find good pros or non pros are the going rates cheap or should i also plan a visit to BC? Ive heard that DR is kind of dry since the crackdown on working girls is this true? Can anyone with a little experience pm me with the basics?

Thanks

It is very possible to meet chicas. They LOVE guys with no experience, and no ability to say one word. When the argument about what you agreed to for how much comes, you are going to be at a loss. You won't pick up non pros without being able to sweet talk (or any talk, really). I think Metetuer is an upscale hotel , a company that has AI resort types. Good luck getting past security in a hotel like that.

Search the posts, read the Santo Domingo ones, vs. General Info , e.g. here, and then ask once you have some specific needs. There are proper hotel recommendations. How did you find this place?

[Jb Cool]

Three of us are making our first trip to DR the weekend of Nov 3rd. I have gone through this site and compiled a bunch of information together, but still need some additional information in order to make the most of the trip, especially since we only have three days there, we want to make sure to make the most of the trip.

1) We have selected Santiago as the destination since the airfare to Santo Domingo is coming up much more. Puerto Plata and Santiago fares are about the same. Anyone have any opinion on which of these two places would be best for first timers, who don't speak any Spanish?

2) Any Hotel recommendations in Santiago and Puerto Plata? We would like a place that is reasonably clean, conveniently located, visitor friendly, offers convenient food/drinks options and where we can get by on English only. Based on my investigation, so far I have come up with Hotel Platino. Wondering what other options there might be.

3) I read several posts about people getting unpredictable exchange rates over there. Is there any reason to not bring local currency with us, converetd here in the US?

4) Nothing can beat the thrill of scoring non-pros or semi-pros. Any tips on where/how to find such chicas in these two locations?

5) I don't have a good sense of distances over there. If we are in Santiago for three days, is it worth making a trip to Boca Chica or Santo Domingo?

Of course, the primary purpose of our trip is mongering so all questions are from that perspective.

I would appreciate any feedback and I will write up a detailed report upon my return.

Thanks.

[Johan007]

Hi Jackson,

Could you please make such a toppic here just like they have that in the Brasil section??
I know many guys are intrested in Living in the DR permanently (including myself).
What better way to swap info on this subject then to make a seperate topic??

Thanks IA.

Johan

[Southchaser]

Hello all thanks for the great info. Im planning my first trip to DR & me and a friend decided to stay in SD at hotel meutur. Is this a good GF place to stay? Me and my friend dont speak any spanish. Is it possible to meet chicas with no spanish or do we both need to take some intro courses? Is SD a good place to find good pros or non pros are the going rates cheap or should i also plan a visit to BC? Ive heard that DR is kind of dry since the crackdown on working girls is this true? Can anyone with a little experience pm me with the basics?

Thanks

[Mister]

JetBlue now goes to Santiago, DR from Boston, MA beginning in mid to late Novermber 2005 with a stop over in NYC/JFK. I priced a ticket for about $360 round trip.

Hope this helps someone.

MISTER NYC

[John Huk]

I believe the answer to your question is a qualified yes. Qualification involves whether your US carrier has international roaming agreements with DR carriers and possibly whether your cell phone is GSM compatible. I've brought an AT&T cell phone to Sosua and on startup it would hook up with the local Orange network. The caveat here is that you'll be paying exorbitant rates to make calls and locals will not want to call you back since you won't have a local number.

If you have a GSM phone and it is unlocked, the less expensive way to go would be replace the local SIM chip in your phone with one from the local carrier. In Sosua it wasn't hard to find the Orange stores on the Main street, and with their chip install you can buy minutes as you need them and you will have a local number. If you do a google search for prepaid SIM cards you may find that you can order a SIM in advance with some minutes. This can be good if you wish to use your phone right after you step off the plane, but it'll probably cost twice as much as buying your SIM as you arrive.

Thanks for the useful tips.