Santiago

[Xpartan]

I'm transferring from STI to Puerto Plata so won't even go into Santiago. Is there a place at the airport to buy a SIM card for my phone?

[Kc Talent]

I will be in Santiago for a few days the last week of April. Which of the hotel / casinos has the chicas hanging around? Thanks

On 2 of my trips late last year, I had to fly into Santiago so I plan to just stay over nite and drive to Sosua the next day. I checked into the Matum which has a casino next door but in the rear of the Matum where I parked the rental car, I found a disco with about 10 or 12 chicas and this was on a Wed. Nite. Pulled a nice big tit 20 year old nice ass and pretty face. On my last trip met another chica at the same disco end up taking her to one of the short time caban. I saw a few SW in the area of the Monument a few don't look bad.

[BogieMaker]

Stopped in Hooters on my way from the airport to Puerto Plata.

Had a good time and the food was typical Hooters food. Wonderful way to begin a Dominican trip.

The little map is from my GPS mapping software. Hooters is just off the main road so if you are driving to Puerto Plata or Sosua you do not have to go out of your way to have a quick bite.

[TaxGuy666]

I will be in Santiago for a few days the last week of April. Which of the hotel / casinos has the chicas hanging around? Thanks

[El Agapito]

These are the first photos I have ever posted. I feel a need to contribute so I hope you like tham and they are posted correctly. I use a cheap travel camera so there is not much that can be done about that. More to follow when I have time.

[ElBacanBacan]

Calor means hot or warm in Spanish.

Santiago being inland and somewhat elevated, can be a little less warm than other Dominican cities. Santiago is a nice city, good service at some hotels and restaurants. There are some fine looking chicas in Santiago, not all are fine, but there are fine chicas there.

For me Santiago chicas are all about the money. I saw one Santiago chica my last trip who I thought I would have sex with, I have chatted with her online for two years, seen her on webcam, seen sexy photos of her. She wanted a digital cam (I have my doubts with most Santiago chicas) , I went to Walmart and bought her a $40 Vivitar piece of shit digital camera. After chatting with her online for a few years, I thought she might provide some service. I met her in Santiago my last trip, first time in person, she was friendly, nice tits, but no Miss Universe. I figured I would get something from her. I gave her the $40US digital camera and all I got was a peck on the lips, nothing more. She said it was the first time meeting me in person and she could not do anything (although it is never too early for some Santiago chicas to ask for money) , after two years of chatting on line and seeing her half nude on cam and in photos, all I got was a peck on the lips. I got played, it happens. I gave her taxi money and sent her home. Later she told me that the digital camera was nothing, that she wanted a car and a VISA. I said to myself this chica is barking up the wrong tree, no service and she expects a car and a VISA and she is not super fine. Many Santiago chicas and other chicas in El Cibao, believe they deserve more and don't have to make an effort to make a guy completely happy. I prefer places in DR where the chicas are real and will fuck my brains out, like in Santo Domingo and other areas in DR.

From Boricua Online I learned, don't give some chicas a gift until after they have provided service.

You wouldn't happen to remember the name of this chica would you? Was it Keyla by any chance?

[Terry U]

Malls and Universities you can visit in the daytime, PUCMM is an expensive University in Santiago. Some guys have posted they have luck at some car washes in Santiago, I have never visited a car wash in santiago. Ilusion and Casa Blanca, not sure if they have chicas available in the daytime.

If you stay at the Hodelpa you can use the pool and invite a friend to the pool.

Many of the Chicas who work at the discos (Casa & Pasion) could be found at the car wash sitting & dancing with clients. If you are ok with drinking early in the afternoon, there's a colmado that plays music down the block from Ahi bar on the corner of Las Carreras and Tolentino (good for people watching). If you are feeling gritty, you can hang out around taxi & bus stand on Salvador Cucurullo. When you get hungry, they have great $RD120 lunches on the second floor of El Encontro and if looking for some cheap action, there's a chica bar down the block off of calle del sol, I think it's on Espana, left hand side before you hit that big street called Av. Circum. (sp?). You can hit Gold's Gym in Plaza Internacional. Or you can take a quick day trip on the Metro bus to Sosua for the beach and catch the last bus out of there about 6 or 7pm, I think.

To the OP,

Santiago is a working city so there's very little for a tourist to do since most are generally working 9-5 and going straight home afterwords, waiting till Fri-Sat-Sun to hang out. Good Luck.

[Jaosousa]

Anything else to hit besides the momument? Seems kind of boring here. What is there do during the day?

Malls and Universities you can visit in the daytime, PUCMM is an expensive University in Santiago. Some guys have posted they have luck at some car washes in Santiago, I have never visited a car wash in santiago. Ilusion and Casa Blanca, not sure if they have chicas available in the daytime.

If you stay at the Hodelpa you can use the pool and invite a friend to the pool.

[Grandnash84]

Anything else to hit besides the momument? Seems kind of boring here. What is there do during the day?

[Jaosousa]

Thanks for the quick reply Jaososusa. I think I'll try what you've suggested. When I spoke to my chica about it, she said the hotel is worth the price because safety is a huge factor. (she wasn't comfortable meeting me there) I will share my findings on whether the house is worth the investment.

Looks like Hodelpa provides a free airport shuttle from the Santiago Airport to their three Santiago Hotels.

I have had Santiago women meet me at Montezuma Bar, which sits in front of the Monument. Good service at Montezuma Bar, it is somewhat open-air layout, so you can sit at a table that faces the entrance and watch for your chica to arrive.

[Namji01]

Nice thing if you stay at the hodelpa centro plaza is that you can use the gym and the pool at the hodelpa el gran almirante hotel (el gran almirante hotel usually runs more than $150US per night) , there is also a massage place near the pool at the el gran almirante (outdoor pool on the third floor with a nice view of the mountains). If you book with Orbitz you could use promo code "dealpro10" to save 10% on the cost of a room on the orbitz webpage. Centro plaza has smoking rooms with balconies, if you are a smoker. The breakfast buffet is nice and free internet throughout the hotel.

You could reserve your first night at the centro plaza and then visit the home rental to see how it is and possibly switch over to that place. If the home rental place is no good, you could stay at the centro plaza or switch to the aloha sol (about $50US. 1/2 block from the centro plaza) , or switch to the Matum Hotel, or Alberto's Suites or Hotel Platino, these places are less expensive than the centro plaza.

Thanks for the quick reply Jaososusa. I think I'll try what you've suggested. When I spoke to my chica about it, she said the hotel is worth the price because safety is a huge factor. (she wasn't comfortable meeting me there) I will share my findings on whether the house is worth the investment.

[Jaosousa]

Hey guys,

I am headed to DR for the first time in late February (the 24th-27th). I am planning to hook up with a "friend" (and possibly make new ones). I have already purchased my flight with Jet Blue and reserved a room at the Hodelpa Centro Plaza. (its running me close to $400 for my stay.) *Deluxe room with all the trimmings / free breakfast*

However, I recently found a 3 bedroom. 2 bath vacation home on trip advisor for $80 a night ($240 total) and it is located four blocks away from the Hodelpa Centro Plaza. I have confirmation from the owner that there is internet, a fully stocked kitchen, and television available. I am very tempted to go for the house but I can't help but get this feeling that it's too good to be true. (No guarantee with security / safe, no cudela checks, etc.)

Should I listen to my gut or pick the clear choice in the vacation home?

Any and all advice is welcomed and appreciated.

Nice thing if you stay at the hodelpa centro plaza is that you can use the gym and the pool at the hodelpa el gran almirante hotel (el gran almirante hotel usually runs more than $150US per night) , there is also a massage place near the pool at the el gran almirante (outdoor pool on the third floor with a nice view of the mountains). If you book with Orbitz you could use promo code "dealpro10" to save 10% on the cost of a room on the orbitz webpage. Centro plaza has smoking rooms with balconies, if you are a smoker. The breakfast buffet is nice and free internet throughout the hotel.

You could reserve your first night at the centro plaza and then visit the home rental to see how it is and possibly switch over to that place. If the home rental place is no good, you could stay at the centro plaza or switch to the aloha sol (about $50US. 1/2 block from the centro plaza) , or switch to the Matum Hotel, or Alberto's Suites or Hotel Platino, these places are less expensive than the centro plaza.

[Namji01]

Hey guys,

I am headed to DR for the first time in late February (the 24th-27th). I am planning to hook up with a "friend" (and possibly make new ones). I have already purchased my flight with Jet Blue and reserved a room at the Hodelpa Centro Plaza. (its running me close to $400 for my stay.) *Deluxe room with all the trimmings / free breakfast*

However, I recently found a 3 bedroom. 2 bath vacation home on trip advisor for $80 a night ($240 total) and it is located four blocks away from the Hodelpa Centro Plaza. I have confirmation from the owner that there is internet, a fully stocked kitchen, and television available. I am very tempted to go for the house but I can't help but get this feeling that it's too good to be true. (No guarantee with security / safe, no cudela checks, etc.)

Should I listen to my gut or pick the clear choice in the vacation home?

Any and all advice is welcomed and appreciated.

[Frannie]

I've been trying to figure out the liability laws here. So far I can only come up with this, there are no liability laws except that the person with the money loses. I have lived here for more than two years and that is the way it is.

Same as the US then! However taxi drivers have a book of a couple of hundred pages regarding the laws of driving in the DR, so there must be something in there, though I have not looked through the book. But if you are right, then what happens when it is not clear who has most money, or when both are equally rich or poor?

[Charles Pooter]

Hey guys,

How much is the bus ride from.

Santiago to Puerto Plata and where do I catch the bus.

Or would it be easier renting a car and going to puerto plata.

There are three bus companies that go from Santiago to Puerto Plata. Fare is about 120 pesos (US$3) one way. Which one you take might depend exactly to where in Pto Pta you want to go and from where in Santiago you are starting.

Javilla Tours terminus is on the Northern edge of the city. Their buses are basic, local style, and stop at every village en route or anywhere else on demand. Don't use if you are in a hurry or want comfort or have luggage. Do use if you are traveling light, it is not a hot day, and you want to experience a bit of local color. Riding Javilla Tours I have had an infant dumped in my lap to look after and, very briefly, a cage of chickens. At the Pto Pta end they go as far as the Hospital (where you could change to a publico if travelling on towards Field of Dreams or Sosua) , then circle back through the town to their depot at La Javilla. One advantage of this bus is, if going to Blackbeards, they will stop at the entrance to Costambar on demand.

Caribe Tours use modern, air-conditioned buses (often very cold inside so take a sweater). They have two termini in Santiago. One at Las Jardinas on the SE side of the city and one at Las Colinas on the Northern edge. At the Pto Pta end they have a terminus in the city not far from La Javilla. The same bus then continues after a 20 minute wait to Los Charamicos. They won't stop anywhere on demand.

Metro also use modern, air-conditioned buses (also very cold inside so take a sweater). They have a terminus in Santiago at Las Jardinas and another in Pto Pta on Calle Beller inland from La Sirena. Their buses continue on to Sosua. They have the advantage of finishing in El Batey in Sosua rather than in Los Charamicos. They won't stop anywhere on demand.

Don't rent a car unless you really need one to get to otherwise inaccessible places. Public transport in the DR is very cheap.