Sosua Reports

[HardDrive]

I visited the Dominican Republic from March 28 through April 5. I spent 6 nights in Sosua and the last two in Boca Chica. This report is for newbies, the info below will be common knowledge for the DR vets.

Transportation.

I flew into Santiago and flew out of Santo Domingo. I would have loved to fly into Puerto Plata but the prices were outrageous from my home airport as American is the only carrier to offer decent flight times. I ended up on United as I had some Air Canada miles I had to use before May. The conversion rate for pesos was between 54 to 54.8 to the USD.

The United Airlines flights were alright as I was able to get Business Class on my outbound and their premium economy on the return. Outbound connection through Newark was OK but they had a temporary United lounge as their main lounge is being remodeled. It was pretty dismal but at least it was close to my departure gate. Returning through Newark was a PITA. Had to change terminals which means leaving the secure area and catching a train and then going through security again. Even with TSA precheck it was about a 30 minute wait. We boarded on-time but then sat at the gate for about 40 minutes when we finally pulled out to get in line, we were number 15 so another 25 minute wait. We ended up being about an hour late.

Had a friend who lives in Santiago pick us up at STI and drive us to Sosua. The route was very convoluted due to a critical bridge being out but at least there wasn't much traffic. We made it to our hotel in a little less than 90 minutes. I would not recommend anyone rent a car and try to make the drive unless you are very familiar with the route. I saw a prebooked taxi online for $70.

We decided to take the bus from Sosua to Boca Chica. We got a taxi quote for $180 (discounted from $200) and the bus was 545 pesos (around $10). Add on to that the taxi from the Santa Domingo station to Boca Chica for 1500 pesos. There are two bus options from Sosua. Metro and Caribe Tours. We chose the Metro as we could walk to the departure station and to get to Caribe Tours it was a short cab ride. In hindsight we should have opted for the Caribe Tours bus as it has routes that bypass the Santiago traffic and also many Santo Domingo chicas were on the 3 am bus to Santo Domingo.

In the DR there are taxis available and none that I saw had meters. Be sure to confirm your fare before you take off. There are also motos available but I don't like to use them unless there are no other options. For rideshare there is Uber, Didi and InDriver. The problem with Uber is that the app always quotes a fare that is unreasonably low so the drivers always message you and try to negotiate. You then have to cancel the ride and then check and check to be sure you didn't get hit with a cancellation fee. Didi worked well for me but was cash only. Didi to SDQ airport from the hotel was 1800 pesos. Hotel was quoting $30 for a taxi. Didn't try indriver as the app kept trying to sign me up to be a driver.

Hotels.

Sosua. New Garden Inn.

Nice little 3 floor hotel on DR Rosen, just a short walk to the main drag on Pedro Clisante. I had room 15. It was a Deluxe king on the ground floor. I think all of the rooms face the pool. The room was big enough but was definitely due for a remodel. King bed was comfortable and plenty of closet space. Good AC and fan. Included refrigerator but no coffeemaker. Not a lot of electrical outlets. Shower had plenty of hot water but it was very difficult to dial in a comfortable temperature. Free breakfast, a lot of options and it was quite good. The onsite bar / restaurant serves food and a little over market prices but was pretty good.

They had a small and VERY clean swimming pool.

This hotel caters to our hobby. Girls (not many but a couple of very cute ones) do hang out in the bar starting late morning. They are openly in the game and will ask you for your business while you are sitting by the pool or outside your room. No restrictions or charges for guests. They do have to leave their ID with security. If you want to go to sleep early, this may not be the place for you. Guys are outside at the bar or the pool, drinking and partying until about 11 pm. Staff was very helpful and friendly.

Book early as this place does seem to fill up quickly. If I go back to Sosua I will definitely stay here again.

Boca Chica. Hotel Garant.

This hotel is about 1 1/2 blocks down hill from the main drag by the beach. Nice rooms, I had room #1, a two room king suite. This room was recently remodeled and based on the onsite construction, all of the rooms are going through a similar remodel. Again a fridge but no coffemaker. Nice smaller pool. Decent included breakfast but didn't sample and lunch or dinner in the restaurant as I never saw anyone else eating there. Staff was good but sometimes hard to find. Might have been because the hotel was only about 1/3 full.

We saw a couple of girls hanging around the hotel but it didn't look like they let them inside the gate unless with a guest. Hotel totally guest friendly, no fees or restrictions that I could determine.

Food.

Sosua.

There are many dining options so I will just list the highlights:

(1) New Garden Inn. An excellent and reasonably priced wood fired pizza. The medium is too large for most people but if there are two of you, split a large.

(2) Mosha's Reggae Lounge. I had the jerk chicken and it was one of the best dishes I have ever had. The hole in the wall place is right on DR Rosen before you get to Pedro Clisante. It is a one man operation and he doesn't cook everything on his menu every day. Walk by early afternoon and ask him what he is cooking today and when it will be ready. The jerk chicken takes four hours to smoke. We waited 3 days for our schedules to align with the jerk chicken availability and it was worth the wait. The price was very reasonable for what you get.

(3) Flip Flops. A walk through bar / restaurant at the entrance to the road to Sosua Beach. Very good tacos, sandwiches and very cold beers. Prices a little high because of the near beach location but incredible and funny wait staff.

(4) The Beach. There are probably more than 100 little bar / restaurants on Sosua Beach. The best place to get fresh fish in Sosua. Walk by and see what other folks are eating. Prices are somewhat inflated for being at the beach but not outrageous like Boca Chica. Stop down late afternoon for a couple of cold ones and to watch the chicas.

Boca Chica.

Walking down the main drag in Boca Chica, 90% of the restaurants are Italian. We did eat at one Italian restaurant but I don't know the name. It is just a hole in the wall kitchen with outdoor seating just west of the FrioHot hotel. The owner is an Italian and the food was very good and reasonably priced. We didn't want Italian on our second night so we asked a couple of expats at the bar where to go. They both said Casa Greco. It was a bit of a walk but eventually we did find it. Pretty much everything on the menu is grilled meats. It was inexpensive and very good (I got the local filet not the Argentinean). Unfortunately the name on the place does not say Casa Greco so I will include a trip advisor link to help you find it. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...Republic.html..

While you are walking down the main drag, you will be accosted by well dressed guys with an official looking card hanging from their neck. They want to take you to one of the beachfront restaurants and they guarantee they will get you a great deal. I fell for this the first time I went to BC and a fish sandwich and a beer ended up costing me around $30. Ignore these guys and unless you have to eat on the beachfront avoid those restaurants. Food and drinks are double or triple what you would pay one street north.

Bars.

In Sosua we didn't go to far away from the main drag, specifically DR Rosen, Pedro Clisante and the street Bailees is on. We meant to hit the club that is in the Casino at Playa Chiquita but didn't make it.

On Pedro Clisante, most of the activity is on the street and in Bar Central or across the street at King / Rumbas. I prefer Bar Central over Rumba / Kings but that is just personal preference. Beers were 200 pesos in most bars. There were plenty of women around in all shapes and sizes, some young and good looking and some a bit long in the tooth. This trip it seemed like there was a lot higher percentage of Haitians over Dominicans though for me that isn't an issue as I find the Haitian girls to be a bit friendlier and less businesslike. The women were asking between 2000 and 5000 pesos but it was easy to negotiate as there weren't that many gringos in town being the week before Easter.

After 11 or so there is a newly opened club (new for me) a bit further down Pedro Clisante (toward Ahnvee) on the right hand side of the street called City Lights (Sosua Lights). This is more of a nightclub atmosphere, well decorated and the women that frequent it are primarily Haitian. We arrived pretty early, just around 11 and it was just starting to fill up. We were standing, drinking at a table and two women walked up and started talking to us. In about 30 seconds, the waitress it there, wanting to know if we wanted to buy them a drink. I swear she was there quicker than a Bangkok mamasan. We finished our drinks and headed back to Bar Central.

You will also find a few small hole in the wall bars on DR Rosen near the corner of Pedro Clisante. Occasionally you can find a winner in these. In almost all of the bars in this area, there are stools right along the street so you can talk to the girls as they walk by.

In Boca Chica we spent almost all of our time drinking in a bar on the main street called Amigos. Beer was 150 pesos and most of the women that were out, made their way inside during the evening. The quality and quantity of the women was less than that of Sosua except for one woman I saw who was absolutely stunning. Dominican, flaca with good tits and incredible legs. Face looked like a young Salma Hayek. I tried to engage in conversation but she was too busy taking selfies and posting to Instagram. I'm sure she was way out of my price range anyway. Girl prices quoted were the same as in Sosua.

Conclusion.

I had a good time but I look it as a once or twice a year venue when looking for a change of pace from Costa Rica or Panama. My friend who is a Colombian regular finds it way more expensive and a lot less attractive women. If you can get good flight prices, especially if you can get in and out of Puerto Plata at a reasonable price, it's definitely worth a week or so.

[HumbleHal]

I have been using the same T mobile international plan. It is about $95 per month. They have just increased the roaming data allowance. It is one less hassle to go anywhere in the world. Besides you are connected just like you are in US. Calls are $25 cents a minute. I use WhatsApp, messenger, Skype etc to make calls. Most often use hotel wi fi. Nowadays almost all restaurants, massage places etc have wi fi.

WhatsApp is free. I was with T-mobile and went to DR, was charged a roaming fee for the whole trip of 4 days, over $1,000! I got no help when I called to complain, so I switched to Verizon. Now I get charged $10 a day with Verizon, whenever I am in another country. Not the cheapest, but it works.

[Sangnyc21]

They do have a strip club.

Is it open every night or just on weekends and how's the talent?

[SlangTeng]

I read somewhere they have a strip club now. Is this true?

They do have a strip club.

[Sangnyc21]

I read somewhere they have a strip club now. Is this true?

[Traveler6969]

I had an option to go to Sosua or Havana, sorry Sosua peeps, but the chicas in Havana are just more cleaner, cheaper and tighter.

Don't get it twisted, the ease and beauty of Sosua will always have a piece in my sack. My last visit was Jan of 2020, and Ahnvee was great.

I'll be back eventually.

I've never been is it worth my time?

[Mr Enternational]

I have been using the same T mobile international plan. It is about $95 per month.

Which plan are you on? It sounds like the Magenta Max. I do not know how old you are, but there are discounts for being over 55, being a first responder, or being military or veteran. I am a veteran so I pay $70 for that particular plan.

[Sammon]

How often do you travel internationally to warrant paying $95 every month? Are there some months when you don't use the international portion of your plan? I'm asking because, I became a T Mobile subscriber back in 2021. I have a 55+ plan for $50 a month. I went on a 5 country traveling spree, and added international service to my plan for 30 days. For an additional $50. But after 30 days, my plan went back to my $50 plan. I only needed international coverage for 3 weeks of those 30 days. Like you, I use other apps which keeps me stay connected to the US. Google Voice for example, and of course Whatsapp.

I go to other countries every two months. Not every time for mongering. Yes you can add international plan when you require but I do not want the hassle changiyback and forth.

[Wrx2005]

I have been using the same T mobile international plan. It is about $95 per month. They have just increased the roaming data allowance. It is one less hassle to go anywhere in the world. Besides you are connected just like you are in US. Calls are $25 cents a minute. I use WhatsApp, messenger, Skype etc to make calls. Most often use hotel wi fi. Nowadays almost all restaurants, massage places etc have wi fi.

Almost all girls have Android phones. So it is easy to arrange meetings. Just check the bill monthly. One time I got charged $25 for calls I did not make. They credited my account.

How often do you travel internationally to warrant paying $95 every month? Are there some months when you don't use the international portion of your plan? I'm asking because, I became a T Mobile subscriber back in 2021. I have a 55+ plan for $50 a month. I went on a 5 country traveling spree, and added international service to my plan for 30 days. For an additional $50. But after 30 days, my plan went back to my $50 plan. I only needed international coverage for 3 weeks of those 30 days. Like you, I use other apps which keeps me stay connected to the US. Google Voice for example, and of course Whatsapp.

[Sammon]

I see a lot of questions about where to get the sim cards locally and so forth. Just for the newbies, if you have a T-Mobile phone (and of course if you are from the US), your phone would be switching over to the local network at say tentatively 3 G /4 G speed. This means you do not need a new sim card, a second phone and money to charge the card. Once you are at the hotel, the wifi would do the job. That's that. Attention: if you are using the phone to call someone, that would be pricey (20 cents a minute if I recall it used to be), using T mobile voice which is easily skirted if you use whatsapp for your calls / texts even internationally, which means essentially you are using data only and not voice.

I am afraid I do not know if AT&T or Verizon has similar deals internationally but I have had T mobile for ever and it is one less hassle, ever since they launched the international connectivity part.

I have been using the same T mobile international plan. It is about $95 per month. They have just increased the roaming data allowance. It is one less hassle to go anywhere in the world. Besides you are connected just like you are in US. Calls are $25 cents a minute. I use WhatsApp, messenger, Skype etc to make calls. Most often use hotel wi fi. Nowadays almost all restaurants, massage places etc have wi fi.

Almost all girls have Android phones. So it is easy to arrange meetings. Just check the bill monthly. One time I got charged $25 for calls I did not make. They credited my account.

[Wrx2005]

Thanks again for this. I have one more question. Danny, the Whiskey and Rum youtube guy and owner of Malibu beach bar on one of his videos recommended using the money changers outside El Conde and Mango Tropical Restaurants to change money. Is this sound advice?

In Plaza Colonial (Next Door to Banco Popular on Alejo Martinez) it's in the rear left side of the plaza. Passport not needed. Exchange at WU in the plaza across from the Playero Supermercado, or The Inside of Playero Supermercado. Bring passport.

You could also exchange at Caribe Express next door to Super Pola Supermercado. Bring passport. There is an exchange office / booth as you walk on that short street from Bailee's towards Pedro Clisante. It's on the right side of the street. ATM's in Sosua is risky, or the exchange rate on your money is not good. Definitely do not use the ATM at Banco Nacional across from the big Playero Supermercado, your card may be compromised. Several people have reported their card being compromised when they used it in the Supermercado. As well. I'm thinking a card reader was used.

Google Pay, Samsung Pay or Apple Pay can be used at the cash registers in the big Playero. Thats a safe option for making large purchases, and keeping your pesos in your wallet. Also recommend having a fee less debit card as your travel card. One that reimburses you for ATM fees, and does not charge you foreign transaction fees. Charles Schwab is such a card.

Once you exchange and get your pesos, try to pay for things with your larger billsso you can accumulate smaller bills for tips, and motoconchos. Try not to give up your smaller bills unless you have to. Don't take a moto or taxi and then whip out a large bill and expect them to change it. Unless you ask in advance if they can change your bill, have small bills on hand and get the price of the ride upfront. Try to have exact change, because you may still have a driver claiming they can't give you change from your payment.

[Sangnyc21]

How was your trip?

The trip was just ok. There were a lot of guys there just for ladies who probably have no clue there is a place outside of Sosua. Girls look amazing from far and just ok up close. Lots of 6 or 7 chicks. Let me know if you want prices, places to go, or places to stay.

Yes your pm is not activated. But prices and your experiences. Are the girls open to BBBJCIM, anal etc.

[Tempoecorto]

With AT&T you can pay $10 per day to have access to your service internationally. You may need to talk to them before leaving to ensure it's available to you.
You can unlock your phone to add a local SIM to it once you get there but should have service to call Uber or use WhatsApp to text your chica.

Thanks for the info. Not only extra money but also extra pain it appears with AT&T. Sim card, unblocking and so forth. For such people, it would be cheaper to buy a sim card locally. T mobile is smooth, one does not have to put in either extra effort / time, or spend extra money.

[Xpartan]

How was your trip?

The trip was just ok. There were a lot of guys there just for ladies who probably have no clue there is a place outside of Sosua. Girls look amazing from far and just ok up close. Lots of 6 or 7 chicks. Let me know if you want prices, places to go, or places to stay.

Yes, we do. Details are always welcome. Thanks!

[Sangnyc21]

Well I just got back from Sosua and I received almost zero help from anyone specifically yet I see a lot of people complaining about guys overpaying or doing the wrong things. If you want to see that change be that change. If anyone is heading there and wants some info fresh unbiased info ask away and in a few days I will drop some answers.

How was your trip?