Sosua Reports

[Jaosousa]

Absolutely! Being in a car leaves you insulated from the environment; you "become the car" and interact only with other cars, not the people of the street scene. Colin Fletcher, the backpacker and author, in his book The Complete Walker, noted that with his "Law of Inverse Appreciation"

Getting a blowjob in the rental car is one way of interacting with the local population, lol.

I enjoy the hunt. With a rental car, I can drive just about anywhere on the Island. A chica may not have much time, I can pick her up in the car, drive to a Cabana, for sex and drop her off, all within two hours and then be onto the next one.

Most of the highways are not crowded, so I do get to enjoy the scenery, the landscapes.

Puerto Plata and San Pedro de Marcoris have lots of motorcycles and scooters on the roads. Santo Domingo and Santiago have much less motorcycles and scooters.

Driving on a sunny day, on a good road, with little traffic, good music in the car, on the way to meet some new chica, I enjoy it.

[Jaosousa]

Save Pros,

I think you're mistaken. I have been told the average monthly wage is about $200. A month USD. Which would be roughly 8000. DOP a month.

Probably for men above the age of 25, that could be correct. For a 18-27 year old chica, 2000 pesos per month would be about right. Many chicas don't have jobs.

[Westy]

The debate of whether renting a car for either convenience or to save money will go on until the end of time but I just don't see the logic behind either argument for renting a car.

Doesn't it depend on how you're doing your vacation? If you're planning to visit a bunch of different and far-flung places, you may "need" a car. If you're traveling with people who can't get around on foot very well, or if that describes you yourself, then likely you will need a car. But if you plan to stay at a "home base, " like Sosua, PP or Costambar, and everything you want to visit is within walking distance, then a rental car may just complicate things without being of any real value.

My last trip to Brazil took me "far afield. " A few days in Guarapuava with my niece & nephew; a few days in Blumenau for their Oktoberfest; a week in Barra the Lagoa, on Santa Catarina Island, and driving around the island to explore it as a possible new home. I figured I needed a car for that. OTOH, I chose not to rent a car for my trip to Argentina & Uruguay; I enjoyed walking around the BsAs "microcentro", Punta del Este, and Pocitos (Montevideo), and I took a cab when I went farther than I wanted to walk. I took buses from city to city, and that worked out well for me.

I would also like to add too that IF you DID drive you would miss out on the real DR way of life. Navigating around without a car takes you away from the daily carnival of meeting up with all the different characters of people. Live like the locals, not the spoiled American who has to have a car everywhere they go.

Absolutely! Being in a car leaves you insulated from the environment; you "become the car" and interact only with other cars, not the people of the street scene. Colin Fletcher, the backpacker and author, in his book The Complete Walker, noted that with his "Law of Inverse Appreciation" (paraphrased below):

Fletcher's Law of Inverse Appreciation: The more advanced the transportation method you're using, the less you will be able to observe, notice, interact with, and appreciate the environment through which you're traveling.

A rental car is great if you want to get somewhere, and get somewhere, and get somewhere. But on your way there, especially in a "land of crazy drivers" (aren't they all?) you have little attention to spare from the other vehicles; you can't enjoy the scenery. And once you get "there" you have to park the car and worry about it. Without a car, you won't be as "mobile" but you may have a richer experience of the place you're visiting.

I know I'll be "limiting myself" by not renting a car for my Blackbeard's visit next month; maybe I'll get cabin fever (or is that "cabana fever" in the DR?) I may welcome a road-trip to Sosua after a couple of days, even if I need to take a cab. If renting a car "does it" for you, enjoy, but take care.

[Chief Justice]

This will be my first time in D. R., and from the looks of this thread, Sousa is very chica friendly. One my boys is from Santiago, and he swears by it, but I'm looking to go where the females are everywhere.

Anyways, what's the going rate for a condo/villa in Sousa? I found one going for $40USD a night.

Does that sound right?

Yea 40 to 50 USD is probably the mean. Check out Sea Breeze, Terra Linda and New Garden.

[La Isla]

Avg salary in an average job is 6000-8000 a month, not 2000. That would be for example someone working as a clerk in a store, etc.

Just out of curiosity: If the average non-pro makes about RD2000 a month, then what does that amount work out to as far as living goes? Meaning is 2000 pesos barely getting by? Or does it by you a lot (food, rent, bills, etc.) to get by on month to month?

Trying to add more to my knowledge about the place. I've been to DR 3 times already (4 in a few weeks) and all I seem to know is where to eat, where to stay, and where all the pros congregate, lol.

[Manizales911]

Just out of curiosity: If the average non-pro makes about RD2000 a month, then what does that amount work out to as far as living goes? Meaning is 2000 pesos barely getting by? Or does it by you a lot (food, rent, bills, etc.) to get by on month to month?

Trying to add more to my knowledge about the place. I've been to DR 3 times already (4 in a few weeks) and all I seem to know is where to eat, where to stay, and where all the pros congregate, lol.

Save Pros,

I think you're mistaken. I have been told the average monthly wage is about $200. A month USD. Which would be roughly 8000. DOP a month.

I recently visited a girl and her family in Azua and got a good feel how they lived and some of their expenses. They rented a three bedroom house for 2000. A month, stole their electric and cable and ate rice, beans, chicken, eggs and plantains primarily which is very cheap. They raised their own chickens. There were 7 people living in this house and I paid for all the food for 8 days and it was about 2000. Pesos I think.

The only person that had a regular job was her mother's boyfriend. At about 7 o'clock every night two of her sisters would get all dolled up, kiss their esposos/novios goodbye and went off to "work".

[Kngdf5]

Just out of curiosity: If the average non-pro makes about RD2000 a month, then what does that amount work out to as far as living goes? Meaning is 2000 pesos barely getting by? Or does it buy you a lot (food, rent, bills, etc.) to get by on month to month?

2000 pesos = $55. Below survival level. Like most of Latin America, daily life is a struggle for survival.

[Jaosousa]

Just out of curiosity: If the average non-pro makes about RD2000 a month, then what does that amount work out to as far as living goes? Meaning is 2000 pesos barely getting by? Or does it by you a lot (food, rent, bills, etc.) to get by on month to month?

Trying to add more to my knowledge about the place. I've been to DR 3 times already (4 in a few weeks) and all I seem to know is where to eat, where to stay, and where all the pros congregate, lol.

Many chicas live at home. So many don't have to pay rent. Electricity, many folks get free, illegal electricity. Biggest expense for many chicas is University. On 2000 pesos per month, they are just surviving. I have known chicas who have never purchased a 500 ($13) peso claro calling card for their celular, they purchase 60 or 100 peso cards. Most chicas are tight with their money, they know how to shop for bargains and some will study a restaurant or other bill, to make sure everything is perfectly correct. Hair salon once a week, to get their hair washed and blow dried, is something most chicas do. Most hate it when it rains, it messes up their hair do from the Beauty salon.

[Jaosousa]

I agree.

I would also like to add too that IF you DID drive you would miss out on the real DR way of life. Navigating around without a car takes you away from the daily carnival of meeting up with all the different characters of people. This is where most of my good stories come from. Fun gets thrown out the window when you rent a car.

Live like the locals, not the spoiled American who has to have a car everywhere they go.

Sorry to disagree, this spoiled American is not getting in a carro publico, two door 1980 Toyota Corolla with 6 sweaty dominicans, with no air conditioning. I rode crowded subways in New York City for many years. I need my space and air conditioning, at least when I am on vacation in rep dom.

[SavePros321]

Just out of curiosity: If the average non-pro makes about RD2000 a month, then what does that amount work out to as far as living goes? Meaning is 2000 pesos barely getting by? Or does it by you a lot (food, rent, bills, etc.) to get by on month to month?

Trying to add more to my knowledge about the place. I've been to DR 3 times already (4 in a few weeks) and all I seem to know is where to eat, where to stay, and where all the pros congregate, lol.

[Jaosousa]

This will be my first time in D. R., and from the looks of this thread, Sousa is very chica friendly. One my boys is from Santiago, and he swears by it, but I'm looking to go where the females are everywhere.

Anyways, what's the going rate for a condo/villa in Sousa? I found one going for $40USD a night.

Does that sound right?

Tradewinds and Palms were about 45 per night when I stayed there. I hate the Palms, it is a half block past Tradewinds. Tradewinds condominiums are about a ten minute walk from the center of Sosua. Nice pool at Tradewinds, neighbors at Tradewinds never broke my balls (I used the pool there at 4am with chicas, after the disco and definitely a little drunk). The people at the Palms complained if two people were having a conversation on the terrace of the apartment at 10pm.

Only problem with Tradewinds is that the apartment did not have a safe (I have not stayed there in a while, so maybe safes have been installed, I don't know). There are places where you can hide money. I always rented from Marco at Rockys. It is low season now, prices go down.

Perla de Sosua is another place that has condo rentals. When I inquired about Perla de Sosua apartment rentals, they wanted a $500 dollar security deposit for a 5 night stay. At Tradewinds I gave a $50 dollar security deposit for a 5 night stay. At Tradewinds, I basically had the pool to myself, I never saw other people using the pool there.

[Ehunter]

I couldn't agree more,I think the guys that rent cars are out of their minds (JMHO).

I agree.

I would also like to add too that IF you DID drive you would miss out on the real DR way of life. Navigating around without a car takes you away from the daily carnival of meeting up with all the different characters of people. This is where most of my good stories come from. Fun gets thrown out the window when you rent a car.

Live like the locals, not the spoiled American who has to have a car everywhere they go.

[Ehunter]

...what's the going rate for a condo/villa in Sousa? I found one going for $40USD a night.

Does that sound right?

Look in the Sosua Hotels thread. There is a complete list there.

[Mr Gogo]

Accidents happen. I still like to have a car when I am in Dom Rep. If a guy will only be staying in Sosua, then there is no need for a car. If a guy wants the freedom to visit different towns and cities, then a car is good to have.

I drive slow in the towns and cities and take my time. I have been lucky so far, over 20 trips renting cars and I haven't had a serious accident. There are lots of opportunities to have accidents there, especially with the 125cc motorcycles and the scooters zipping around.

Defensive driving, expect the unexpected. As an avid motorcycle rider, always look twice. But also have bail money.

Why don't they just take your passport? It has the same effect. There isn't anything criminal that you should be incarcerated. Its part of the tactic to make you scared. Mental submission.

[Traveler04]

After my third visit I started to rent a car. I think the points of the dangers of renting a car are well made and if you rent you must use caution. There is an up side and a down side to everything and the risks are real.

Thanks guys for the "heads" up reminders.