Thanks to All who helped me with advice and suggestions for my Nov-Dec trip!
Charles Pooter, especially you! Thanks so much. And Frannie too! And many others!
1. I spent 4 weeks in Sosua and POPlata. 4 nights at BB's. 4 nights at an all inclusive in Playa Doradas, and 5 nights at two of the Lifestyle properties in POP Playa de Cofresi. In Sosua I spent about 16 nights in total at Casa Cayena.
2. I had built up an extensive list thru the Cupid dating site before arriving in the DR. And Sosua bars were mostly for ambiance, fun, hanging out, dancing, watching the chicas etc. At BB's I had 3 TLN's and several in the hot tub only. I loved the pool and Restaurante at BB's, hanging with the guys, the general ambiance. The room had water issues, and the wifi was constantly in and out on my iPad. I liked the beach near BB's because it is wider, but my favorite is the Sosua beach to see the locals and experience the locals. I met a Canadian guy named Keith at BB's, who also had an apartment long term rental in Costambar and thru him met up with a couple of well connected NY guys living in the same apt complex for 6 or more months a year in POP. These guys are well connected and have been very helpful They live with 18-24 year old chicas, who last a month or more at a time, from what ai could tell! All non pros!
3. In Sosua I met another great American guy who is a Chef and had been living in Sosua for about 8 months and was so incredibly well connected that I hung out with him practically every night. I loved the restaurants in Sosua, particularly Baileys and some other Italian restuarnets as well. I got a Claro phone for about 1600 DOP, exchanged money at the grocery store and then also took money out of the ATM, with a 3 % fee, which I will have minimize in the future, because you can only take a max of 10, 000 DOP, per transaction. The Claro phones were a rip off and I think I must have put at least $150 into them over the course of 1 month.
4. The pro scene is not for me, although I was OK at BB's and a Haitian from Sosua D Latin's, who was with me for 3 days and 3 nights. I had some other 3-4 nightjars with me at the POP resort hotels and also in Sosua thru the Cupid site contacts I had built up and some others local chicas I met thru a bus driver at the Lifestyle resort, who drove me back to Sosua in his car and ferried some chicas from POP to Casa Cayena for me. One great one, a family friend for 3 days and nights.
5. As I mentioned, the Sosua pros are not for me! It's just a personal preference thing and neither are the BB chicas. I have decided that the local non-pros and semi pros, both thru the Cupid site, and local guys in POP who helped me, to be my best experiences. I also prefer 3-4 nights, if the chica and I find it works for both of us. I had taken over a dozen 100 ml perfume bottles, good quality stuff from the US. 25 sets of earrings, several $80 Brazilian bikinis as well and was good about mixing them up with dineros, except at BB's, where I stuck to their pricing program. All chicas got at least what the BB chicas get per night, from me, in terms of dineros and gifts. Usually much more than the BB's TLN rate!
I hurt my right arm at BB's on my 3rd night, after one too many at 130 am in the pool, trying to jump out of the deep end, by trying to push up. Hurt some tendons and nerves, still not completely recovered after 1 month! But 90 percent of the way there! My fault. Dumb of me to not realize I am no longer in my 20's. So, that limited my activities for the second half of my 4 week trip. I loved the Lifestyle resort and the Blue Bay Villas as well. Love the shows, entertainment, food and booze and the private beaches! Got decent deals thru Travelocity from $70-$108 per night, for 2 people, all inclusive! Plan to do many more of those on my next trip. Keep moving and checking out of different properties, so I can change the chicas for each 3-4 night stay!
6. My first time in the DR. I really liked it. Want to be back in March / April for about 6-7 weeks, but mostly in POP, if I can find multiple quality weekly apartment rentals, with great Wifi, no water / hot water issues, generator for power outages and good pool etc. All of which BB's, Casa Cayena, and the resorts in Playa Doradas and Lifestyle Playa de Cofresi had the quality I was looking for. But I prefer the Sosua beach, the restaurants in Sosua, having everything within walking distance etc. So, I will be back at Casa Cayema probably for 2 of the 6-7 weeks. Yes, I am pretty much retired and so I have the time and the adventure spirit and want to meet real non pro locals, primarily. Cause that is the only experience I like. Don't care for the short time or 1 nighter either. So I guess I am pretty much off the norm for 90 peremt of the people on this board, BTW, please do not take any of that in a pejorative sense. Because we are all different and whatever works for each of us. At our various stages in life.
7. If any one has any suggestions for quality weekly apartment rentals in Puerto Plata, please PM me! And I am happy to answer questions. BTW, I am not the picture taking type, so I have just a few, and I never asked any chica permission to post anyway.
8. I know I don't care for the pros in Sosua. I am sure there are many exceptions, like the Haitian chica. But I think they are all hardened by their own experiences and over time become largely transactional. By contrast, the Cupid chicas and local contacts, though a lot of work, and with only a 30-40 great experience ratio, still worked better for me!