General Info

[Haunted]

Anyone with any contacts with police, media and / or politics here in RD? Sosua to be more specific.

Robbed by hotel staff. Over 1000 USD plus cell phones.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Found the culprit on hotel cameras and have got local involvement.

Not going to let this spoil my trip!

[Haunted]

Anyone with any contacts with police, media and / or politics here in RD? Sosua to be more specific.

Robbed by hotel staff. Over 1000 USD plus cell phones.

[Lou32]

I reactivated my sim last month when I was in sd. I went to the orange store and the lady confirmed it was deactivated. I just paid for my minutes and data and it was back on with the same number. Can't remeber if she did something on the computer to turn it on or not, but they charged the minutes and data the normal way you would recharge the min and data on a workers cell phone. Whole trans took 5 min.

Same number is great.

I don't want to have to give my old chica "friends" a different number which would be a hassle to remember.

Thanks.

[Lou32]

Your card will still be active for at least 3 months from the last time you added minutes. Do everyone a favor and stop by the Orange store again to find out exactly how much time you have from your last recharge until your SIM goes inactive. If you will not be in the country for a while, you can always go to etopuponline to add credit right before it expires so that you can reset your clock.

OK, thanks.

[Grandnash84]

Your card will still be active for at least 3 months from the last time you added minutes. Do everyone a favor and stop by the Orange store again to find out exactly how much time you have from your last recharge until your SIM goes inactive. If you will not be in the country for a while, you can always go to etopuponline to add credit right before it expires so that you can reset your clock.

I reactivated my sim last month when I was in sd. I went to the orange store and the lady confirmed it was deactivated. I just paid for my minutes and data and it was back on with the same number. Can't remeber if she did something on the computer to turn it on or not, but they charged the minutes and data the normal way you would recharge the min and data on a workers cell phone. Whole trans took 5 min.

[Mr Enternational]

I purchased a SIM card with time for 100 p last weekend. It was through Orange. Did the whole passport thing and I felt as if I were closing on a house.

I will be back next month to the DR and I am wondering about the process of reactivating the SIM card with Orange with perhaps the same phone number.

Is it a pain? More paperwork?

What do you usually do?

Your card will still be active for at least 3 months from the last time you added minutes. Do everyone a favor and stop by the Orange store again to find out exactly how much time you have from your last recharge until your SIM goes inactive. If you will not be in the country for a while, you can always go to etopuponline to add credit right before it expires so that you can reset your clock.

[Lou32]

Wow. A manicure and pedicure cost me 400 pesos in one of the best salons in Santo Domingo.

The lady at FOD charges a rather high mani-pedi rate too.

[Lou32]

I purchased a SIM card with time for 100 p last weekend. It was through Orange. Did the whole passport thing and I felt as if I were closing on a house.

I will be back next month to the DR and I am wondering about the process of reactivating the SIM card with Orange with perhaps the same phone number.

Is it a pain? More paperwork?

What do you usually do?

[Mr Gogo]

For the Haitian lovers like myself.

There are 20 finalists for the "Miss Haiti 2014" beauty contest, but I picked a few and posted them on the "Gogo forum". Vote for your favorite girl. Good luck ladies.

[Manizales911]

I have never seen a meter on the North Coast. I cannot speak for the South or Punta Cana.

I've never seen a meter anywhere in the DR and that encompasses pretty much everywhere.

[Yanqui69]

I have never seen a meter on the North Coast. I cannot speak for the South or Punta Cana.

I have seen taxis in Santiago call in, asking what the charge was from points A to 'be". (I keep typing the letter 'be' and this damn program changes it to the word 'be' BBBBBBBBBBBB!

In Puerto Plata and POP airport, when asked, they quote a price, - possibly due to frequent fares, or due to the "fixed" price.

I once haggled with insistent cabbies in POP regarding the fixed 40 dollar fee.

I got one cabbie to lower it a little, but he ended up getting it back as a tip.

Agreed that fuel there is crazy expensive, but the fares charged are high, - possibly due to the syndicate fees they have to pay.

I suspect they all agree to hold a line on prices, and no one will offer a lower price in front of the others.

I also noted a cabbie at the Santiago airport waving a "BLACKBEARD'S RESORT" sign this week.

Geez, so discreet.

They should use a chalkboard / sheet of paper with the client's name, instead.

[Charles Pooter]

I thought they are unionized rather than a cartel ... a trade group has a right to organize. Methinks.

Maybe not strictly correct, but I use "union" for wage protection (price-fixng if you prefer) agreements between employees / labor, and "cartel" for price-fixing agreements among employers / owners / capitalists.

Most (maybe all?) of the local private taxi-drivers we are discussing are owner drivers or working for family businesses. So I don't call them "unionized".

A Dominican friend of mine (yes, I have one!) saved for years to buy a franchise on one of the publico routes. He also had to become a member of the transport syndicate, which is expensive. After a few months he found he couldn't make enough so he used his syndicate membership to start a school bus service instead. I must ask him if he sold back the franchise. There is always a waiting list despite the fact (as he found out) it is no "golden ticket".

Manny, I am not sure who issues the franchises to become a Costambar taxi mafioso. Maybe just a self-perpetuating collective of the drivers? Or maybe the Costambar Estate Management? They would also have to be members of a national transport syndicate.

[Charles Pooter]

If they are all charging by the mile, by I presume some kind of meter ... if its all by the mile / meter, then there shouldn't be any ripoffs.

I have never seen a meter on the North Coast. I cannot speak for the South or Punta Cana.

[BoredInIN]

Wow. A manicure and pedicure cost me 400 pesos in one of the best salons in Santo Domingo.

I probably could of got cheaper if I went into town. I was unfamiliar with area and was just kind of walking the beach. There wasn't really much on the beach except some regular tourists. I didn't really feel like negotiating in my limited Spanish, I was just happy to get a break from BB and have some interaction with a regular girl. It was my first ever mani / pedi wasn't really sure of the rate. Idk I just enjoyed her company, it was convenient, it was my second day out of the country. I assume most guys going to BB are pretty green, probably have limited Spanish, and might be shy about negotiating. LOL I enjoy reading your posts and know it's been a long time since you were a noob. I have only made 2 trips to Sosua, both this year, my only 2 trips out US. Even with that little experience it blows my mind how much I have learned since my first days.

[Mr Enternational]

If you get bored of fucking at blackbeards walk over to the beach and get a mani / pedi and a beer from Mary for about $20 US, she a nice girl and easy on the eyes.

Wow. A manicure and pedicure cost me 400 pesos in one of the best salons in Santo Domingo.