General Info

[OldKool]

High end hotls are not chica friendly. Are you in SD to monger or for business There many chica friendly hotels in the Zona colonal.

Hello all,

I am planning my 2nd trip to Santo Domingo. I stayed downtown at the Holiday Inn the last time I was there. Can anyone tell me if the Embassy Suites in Santo Domingo is chica friendly or girl friendly? At the Holiday Inn I was asked to pay an extra fee for the girl to spend the night and I'm okay with that I just want to make sure before I booked the hotel. Thank you in advance, RevJim.

[Revjim069]

Hello all,

I am planning my 2nd trip to Santo Domingo. I stayed downtown at the Holiday Inn the last time I was there. Can anyone tell me if the Embassy Suites in Santo Domingo is chica friendly or girl friendly? At the Holiday Inn I was asked to pay an extra fee for the girl to spend the night and I'm okay with that I just want to make sure before I booked the hotel. Thank you in advance, RevJim.

[SubCmdr]

Focusing on not using your ATM / Debit card in different places completely misses the point. The idea that your card can only be compromised overseas is a flawed one. The only time my ATM / Debit card has ever been compromised is when I used it in the United States of America. Early on in my professional training I was taught to have two accounts. This was before online banking and smart phone apps (showing my age). But the principles still apply.

One account was connected to your ATM / Debit card. You only kept the amount you needed for basic expenditures. In the other, you kept your real money in the account that was not connected to your ATM / Debt card. That way your real money remains protected in case of a breach of your ATM / Debit card security. You can transfer money between accounts at will (that has now been made all that easier with online banking and smart phone apps). When my ATM / Debit card was compromised by the big hack. The were only able to steal a limited amount of fund because I don't keep much money in that account.

Why do I take the risk? Because due to the amount of time I spend here.

[OssieMan]

Never use a credit card or debit card at a gas station or restaurant. Your transaction may be recorded on a video camera, the technician then forwards the info to a hacker. Common here in the DR. Only bank ATM's are safe.

Good point, also why not go to the local bank and cashed out some DR pesos. I don't trust using my ATM over sea. In these days of tech is so easy to still CC information and crooks can easy clean out your bank account.

Why take a risk!

[SubCmdr]

Remember it is a nation were people from the President on down do what they want. Damn the motherfucking law! I'm putting it in reverse.

https://www.diariolibre.com/m/notici...ente-DC9567104

[Dlucaci]

Thanks for this info. When staying in casa de campo how far in advance must you register local girl? If you find a local girl you like can you call and register on your way back to the villa? We found a villa we like and when asking about girl policy he said the same thing that they had to be registered.

Correct. One is 100 pesos, and the other one is 60 pesos, in cash.

If you intend just to travel between main cities, Caribe Tours and Metro Bus will do the job pretty good. From La Romana to SD, the Metro bus stop is inside Casa De Campo, at the Heliport parking. 500 pesos. On the Metro website, they say 'Servicio privado', but it's just a normal mini bus, and you don't need to book or pay in advance. Make sure you are on the parking few minutes in advance, as they respect the departure time at the second!

http://www.metroserviciosturisticos.com/horarios

Between SD and Bavaro / Punta Cana, you have the Express Bavaro. It's straight without stop.

http://www.expresobavaro.com/

Yes, all these buses have huge luggage storage, just as big tour buses..

[SubCmdr]

The idea of only being able to spend what you have can be appealing, but actually, using a debit card is riskier than carrying cash. It's not great if someone steals your cash, but if someone steals your debit card, they can get to every cent in your bank account.

If you have to use a debit card, one way to limit the potential damage of theft is by setting up separate accounts. Put only enough money you need for the card in one account and keep the rest of your money — for savings and regular expenses like mortgage or rent, car payment, loans etc. — in a separate account, or accounts, so the money has a much smaller chance of being compromised.

So if you must carry a debit card, here are some common hotspots for fraud — places and situations where you should avoid using debit whenever possible. (And if you do use a debit card in these situations, make sure to check your account daily!

1. Pay at the pump.

Skimmers aren't the only danger to your wallet. The gas station will put a big hold on your account, typically for 4 days, that could cause your checks to bounce. If you must pay with debit at gas station, go inside and pay at the cashier.

RELATED: Dangers of using your debit card at the gas pump.

2. Any transaction or payment online.

Using a credit card is a much better option. If you don't get your merchandise, you can do a chargeback during a 60-day window.

3. At the supermarket.

A couple of years ago, Save Mart supermarkets were hit by criminal rings that put skimmers on the credit / debit card readers at self-check lanes in 20 Save Mart and Lucky branded locations throughout California. Very often, this particular kind of scam will be perpetrated by a crook dressed in the counterfeit uniform of the technology company that does regular routine maintenance on credit / debit card readers at a business!

4. At the car rental counter.

Pamela Yip of The Dallas Morning News found that it's standard practice (and completely legal) in the industry for car rental companies to do a hard inquiry on your credit report, often without your knowledge or consent. They're trying to protect themselves against auto thieves that love to use debit cards as a low-risk method to get rentals that they can steal. But that inquiry can drastically lower your credit score in the process. The simple solution is to use a real credit card instead.

5. When booking advanced travel.

If you have concerns about the solvency of a company you're buying future travel from, you're better off using a credit card. This holds true particularly during an economic downturn when leisure travel businesses like cruises and some airlines can go bust. Paying with credit card ensures you can do a charge-back if you don't get the travel you paid for.

While we're at it, have you considered trip insurance if you're taking a cruise, a tour, or traveling on a trip that requires prepayment of thousands of dollars?

6. When buying furniture and major appliances.

If you are ordering furniture or appliances and waiting on delivery, pay only by credit card. You reduce your risk if the store goes bust by doing that, which we saw a lot of during the housing slump when furniture and appliance retailers really took it on the chin. If you do not have your delivery within 50 days, put the credit card charge in dispute. You lose all right to any dispute after the 60th day.

7. Automatic / recurring bill payments.

Auto drafts are a favorite way of utility companies, cable companies, health clubs, burglar alarm companies and even mortgage lenders to get their money from you each month. But that business may continue to make monthly automated clearing house (ACH) debits from your account once your contract with them ends.

Although it's illegal, it does happen! And if you have a debit card attached to that account, your bank account could take a big hit before you have time to even realize it.

Learn more about how automatic bill pay works and the safest way to do it.

8. Independent ATMs.

You run the risk of skimmers. While skimmers can be found on bank ATMs, they're less likely because there are often security cameras in place.

9. At a restaurant.

Because there is such high turnover at restaurants, you don't want a dishonest employee to get hold of your digits.

10. Anywhere you are a new customer.

If you're making a purchase somewhere you've never done business before, you're better off using a credit card or cash. Until you know more about the company and trust that any potential issues will be resolved, you shouldn't use your debit card — because if a fraudulent charge does occur from there, it could make the process of getting your money back, and protecting your identity, much more difficult for you.

11. Subscriptions.

Any time you sign up for a free trial or some other subscription that charges you monthly or annually, do not use a debit card!

Let's say you cancel before the free trial ends but the company charges you anyway, if the card on file is a credit card — getting your money back will be a lot easier. Plus, you won't have to deal with a big chunk of cash suddenly missing from your checking account! This goes for any type of subscription, bill or payment that's due on a recurring basis.

If you tend to be forgetful, set a reminder for a few days before the bill is due each month — and when that reminder pops up, pay it immediately!

12. To pay for big purchases.

Using a credit card is a safer option, because if something goes wrong, you have more protections with a credit card. Plus, a lot of credit cards offer extra perks, like extended warranties, on certain purchases.

But— if you're putting a big purchase on a credit card, be sure you can pay it off before the due date to avoid paying interest, which just makes whatever you bought more expensive.

[SubCmdr]

In over three years of living in the Dominican Republic I have not had a problem using my debt card in locations I have previously listed. Nor have any of a half dozen of my friends that live here also. Can it happen in the future? Yes. Should people use caution? Certainly!

Making an absolute statement about what should and should not be done in the Dominican Republic without presenting hard evidence is irresponsible. The only time my debt card has ever been compromised is when I used it in the United States at a Target. Planes crash all the time. Doesn't mean I'm never going to fly in first class again. At least I'll die in style. LOL!

[Riky Rapido]

ATM (caja automatic) network outages in the DR are frequent. During the time I have been living here, I have found the most reliable ATM's at Scotiabank. Popular is strictly hit or miss. I have always kept a petty cash fund on hand and never let my cash get low when I really need it. On thing to focus on is keeping small denominated pesos around. Many businesses do not easily make change for you with 500 DOP notes and up.

Of course I'm so barrio (hood) and always claiming east side so that's something I have to contend with. If you running with the big peso folks in the rich areas that should not be a problem for ya. Just go into the bank and change them for smaller denominations. If you are exchanging USD that is marked up or ripped, in my experiences they will not take it.

I've used my debt card at locations such as gas stations, supermarkets, and restaurants without incident.

Never use a credit card or debit card at a gas station or restaurant. Your transaction may be recorded on a video camera, the technician then forwards the info to a hacker. Common here in the DR. Only bank ATM's are safe.

[SubCmdr]

I didn't know about hair until recently. The rep from my Parcel / Mail courier service in Sosua, said that people who order hair or have hair shipped, have to pay taxes on that hair when it goes through customs in Santo Domingo. Apparently, Dominicans realized that hair is such a hot item, they could collect millions in pesos by putting a tax on it. I was also advised that some phone parts that are ordered may be taxed as well.

I'd be interested in hearing the specifics of when this "hair tax" started. Because the information you provided is not consistent with my personal experiences with this issue in Santo Domingo nor with the information I have received from a girl with whom I have a personal relationship who actually works for DGA.

Problems always occur when people lie on legal forms and break the law. Do you homework. Figure out the system before hand. Pay the duties you owe or stay within the legal limits. Tax avoidance is legal. Tax evasion is not!

[SubCmdr]

ATM (caja automatic) network outages in the DR are frequent. During the time I have been living here, I have found the most reliable ATM's at Scotiabank. Popular is strictly hit or miss. I have always kept a petty cash fund on hand and never let my cash get low when I really need it. On thing to focus on is keeping small denominated pesos around. Many businesses do not easily make change for you with 500 DOP notes and up.

Of course I'm so barrio (hood) and always claiming east side so that's something I have to contend with. If you running with the big peso folks in the rich areas that should not be a problem for ya. Just go into the bank and change them for smaller denominations. If you are exchanging USD that is marked up or ripped, in my experiences they will not take it.

I've used my debt card at locations such as gas stations, supermarkets, and restaurants without incident.

[SubCmdr]

Over 100,000 articles confiscated from airline passengers:

The director of the Specialized Corps of Airport Security and Civil Aviation (CESAC), Brigadier General Aracenis Castillo de Cruz, says that more than 100,000 articles have been confiscated from passengers during 2017 prior to these boarding their flights. He said that the confiscations happened during inspections of 15 million items of luggage and the checking in of 6,929,598 passengers. He said that CESAC had also been involved with other organizations in at least 80 cases of confiscation of drugs.

http://hoy.com.do/cesac-mas-de-cien-...-de-equipajes/

[Grandnash84]

Don't ever post the contents of a PM, that's why they are called PRIVATE messages. If there is an issue you contact me.

A3

[Mr Enternational]

I am thinking of going alone and just finding girls there. Which city or resort would be best for picking up independent girls? Decent hotels? I like the higher quality girls.

You need to describe what a decent hotel is. But more so you need to tell us what your idea of "the higher quality girls" is. I am sure that all of us have differing opinions on what these things are, so you need to be more descriptive in what you are looking for.

[Canada]

I have been to Punta Cana 3 times in the last year and have taken a girl from Russia or Ukraine all 3 times and stayed in all inclusive resorts. Majestic Elegence twice and Barcello Bavaro Beach Hotel once. I am thinking of going alone and just finding girls there. Which city or resort would be best for picking up independent girls? Decent hotels? I like the higher quality girls. I have read numerous reports about Sousa, Boco Chica, Santa Domingo, Blackbeards. It appears most guys are happy at all these places but I would like to talk with someone who really knows the DR scene. Prefer to be PM on this.