Sosua Reports

[QUOTE=Manizales911;1541802]I always bring enough cash in $USD to cover what I think my entire trip is going to cost plus a cushion amount. I always have left over pesos with me from the previous trip so I don't have the immediate need to go to the exchange but usually I do that on the ride from the airport anyway. Western Union always gives very close to bank exchange rate so that's my usual stop. As a back up plan I also carry a Charles Schwab debit card, always close to bank exchange rate, don't charge a foreign transaction fee and they reimburse all ATM fees at the end of the month.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the tip on the Schwab card, I was currently researching a debit card that does zero fees. It looks like capital one has a debit card like that as well.

I had a question about using my credit card in Sosua. I plan in bringing enough cash anyway and using pesos but would it be okay to use my 0% foreign transaction fee card for meals and lodging? Do you get screwed on the exchange rate somehow with credit card transactions?

[QUOTE=Manizales911;1541802]I always bring enough cash in $USD to cover what I think my entire trip is going to cost plus a cushion amount. I always have left over pesos with me from the previous trip so I don't have the immediate need to go to the exchange but usually I do that on the ride from the airport anyway. Western Union always gives very close to bank exchange rate so that's my usual stop. As a back up plan I also carry a Charles Schwab debit card, always close to bank exchange rate, don't charge a foreign transaction fee and they reimburse all ATM fees at the end of the month.[/QUOTE]I do likewise. For me this trip was different because I was there more than a month and a half. The $5000 US seemed like enough for my original trip. I paid rent for March and all past due utilities. I added 15 days to my trip, bought a bicycle in PP and paid 15 extra days car rental. I still have some cushion because I still have 1300 US out of the $5000 I originally brought. I didn't want to deplete that so thats when I started using the ATM.

Next long vacation I may bring even more cash. Since November I have been leaving pesos here in the DR so I have no need to exchange right away. I may have to give that Charles Schwab account some consideration. Sounds like a good deal.

[QUOTE=Wrx2005; 1541852]I do likewise. For me this trip was different because I was there more than a month and a half. The $5000 US seemed like enough for my original trip. I paid rent for March and all past due utilities. I added 15 days to my trip, bought a bicycle in PP and paid 15 extra days car rental. I still have some cushion because I still have 1300 US out of the $5000 I originally brought. I didn't want to deplete that so thats when I started using the ATM.

Next long vacation I may bring even more cash. Since November I have been leaving pesos here in the DR so I have no need to exchange right away. I may have to give that Charles Schwab account some consideration. Sounds like a good deal.[/QUOTE]I live in DR and just to let you know, I was making a large cash purchase 160, 000 pesos and I went to Banco Popular. Passport, bank card. 160, 000 pesos with no withdrawal charge only a foreign fee from my bank.

That went well.

[QUOTE=Cagep1967; 1541892]I live in DR and just to let you know, I was making a large cash purchase 160, 000 pesos and I went to Banco Popular. Passport, bank card. 160, 000 pesos with no withdrawal charge only a foreign fee from my bank.

That went well.[/QUOTE]What kind of bank card were you using? Debit or Credit card? How much was the bank fee? Is your bank a sister bank of Banco Popular?

Are there drawbacks to using a US credit card for restaurants and such? My bank charges no transaction fees.

[QUOTE=Wrx2005; 1541769]This chica had told me on her visit to me that she was having some type of surgery. I believe she was referring to having a hysterectomy. The day she supposedly was admitted for the surgery she was supposed to give me information so I could visit her. I never received that information. And conveniently for me it rained cats and dogs that morning. So I was not going to drive my rent a wreck all the way to La Vega especially with those conditions.

That worked out for her as well IMO, because I don't really know if any of that she told me was true. Like lightning she told me she was back in the house the next day. She originally told me she would be in the hospital for maybe 3 days. At least thats what I recall. Now she is home, and her incoming whatsapp texts are taking a familiar turn. She starts to tell me that she has to buy medicine that she needs for post surgery.

Bad thing for her, is she left a watch and some bracelets in my spot the day she came to visit. She has not expressed interest in getting them back. But thats on her.[/QUOTE]It is normal to have a couple of days in hospital after a hysterectomy, but it depends on a number of other factors, like the reason for the hysterectomy.

It takes three to four weeks to recover from a hysterectomy and about 6 weeks before the woman can have sex again, so perhaps that is why she is not coming over for her watch and bracelets. You could send them to her as a package by Caribe Express.

Of course, it might not have been a hysterectomy. It might have been a termination of pregnancy (dilatation and curettage or evacuation) in which case she could go home the same day if it was done under local anesthesia and the recovery time would only be a few days.

[QUOTE=Jooks;1541906]Are there drawbacks to using a US credit card for restaurants and such? My bank charges no transaction fees.[/QUOTE]1. The restaurant might add a surcharge for paying by credit card.

2. The restaurant or its staff might copy your credit card number and use it without authorization. If they also ask for I'd they might get a copy of your driver's license with your address on it.

3. You might get a lousy rate of exchange, amounting to a surcharge.

4. This might show up on your credit card statement as something like La Passion Brothel and Restaurant, Sosua, DR.

5. You might drop the credit card and lose it.

6. You will have to pay for part of your trip after your return. If you are carrying over a credit card balance for more than the current billing period, then interest will be added.

[QUOTE=Wrx2005;1541769]The convo at this point looked more like thisat$%$#$$. No cursing, but confusing as hell. After weeks of not communicating, I got a whatsapp message saying "Hi". To which I responded by saying "Hola". I suppose she was hoping I would use her initiation of communication and run with it. Unfortunately for her I have too many options. Bad thing for her, is she left a watch and some bracelets in my spot the day she came to visit. She has not expressed interest in getting them back. But thats on her.[/QUOTE]How hard would it be for you to get her address and send her watch and bracelets to her? Think of the goodwill that small act would create. If you have $5K US to spend in the DR surely you can do that much for her. Just saying.

RR.

PS- Heading down to Sosua in two weeks!

[QUOTE=RonnyRon; 1541928]How hard would it be for you to get her address and send her watch and bracelets to her? Think of the goodwill that small act would create. If you have $5K US to spend in the DR surely you can do that much for her. Just saying.

RR.

PS- Heading down to Sosua in two weeks![/QUOTE]Not hard at all. But I prefer to give her the bracelets in person, at my convenience. As assbackwards as things are in the DR, do you really think I want to trust sending her stuff through the mail with the chance of it being lost, stolen or damaged? I think my thoughtfulness in her regard is probably more prudent than your suggestion. If the stuff gets lost, stolen or damaged, think of how much ill will that might cause between me and this chica. And she aint going to believe it was the carriers fault if that happens. I plan on contacting her to make arrangements for her to get her stuff. But there is no reason to inconvenience myself, since she aint breaking her neck over the issue herself. The bracelets and watch arent going anywhere.

See folks, you have to look at the big picture here. There is no reason a dude needs to prioritize, be overly concerned or go out of his way for someone who may not even be a team player. As manifested by this chica. This chica has done nothing to suggest that she is someone I should trust or go out on a limb for.

As far as I'm concerned, in the very beginning the effort I put in towards initiating a friendship probably exceeded her expectations. But when she tried to hold me responsible for paying for "alleged" medication that I wasnt asked directly to pay, tried to disparage my character, and didn't give a fuck about my safety in regards to traveling to La Vega in pouring down rain, things like that don't resonate with me as a reason to be concerned about some jewelry that she unintentionally left behind. Some folks arent going to factor in those details and consider my take on the issue, because they are usually focused only what they choose to focus on.

Yeah it's her jewelry. But she will get it when it is convenient for both of us. Other than that, I'm not wearing no goodwill cape for anybody. Not that it is all that important, but do you see a problem with that?

Wrx2005,

You posted BAD for her, which I took to mean you had no intent to contact the lady again. You further explained that you do plan on contacting her again, just on your time table. This will be my first trip to the DR. I am just trying to get a take on your mindset. No worries my brother. The game is the game.

[quote=wrx2005;1541959]not hard at all. but i prefer to give her the bracelets in person, at my convenience. as assbackwards as things are in the dr, do you really think i want to trust sending her stuff through the mail with the chance of it being lost, stolen or damaged? i think my thoughtfulness in her regard is probably more prudent than your suggestion. if the stuff gets lost, stolen or damaged, think of how much ill will that might cause between me and this chica.[/quote]that is ok then. your prior post did not make it clear that you planned to see her again, return her stuff, or that you had investigated the performance of packet delivery services in the dr on her behalf, or indeed that you were concerned about her opinion of you.

we all wish her a speedy recovery from her major surgery.

[QUOTE=RonnyRon;1542005]This will be my first trip to the DR. I am just trying to get a take on your mindset.[/QUOTE]Hey Ronny,

Everyone rolls differently in the DR. Just gather as much information from several sources and posters, and then have a great time.

When are you going?

Here is a map in case you do not have one.

[QUOTE=Manizales911; 1541802As a back up plan I also carry a Charles Schwab debit card, always close to bank exchange rate, don't charge a foreign transaction fee and they reimburse all ATM fees at the end of the month.[/QUOTE]

I'm for one am tired of the fucking fees, I just opened a Schwab account today!

[QUOTE=Tomjackin; 1542009]Hey Ronny,

Everyone rolls differently in the DR. Just gather as much information from several sources and posters, and then have a great time.

When are you going?

Here is a map in case you do not have one.[/QUOTE]Looks like a pretty useful map, but I wonder if it is a bit out of date, because the position of Orange telecom (#6) seems a bit out of place and I think it ought to be between the Playero minimarket and Banco Popular.

Also Codetel is shown over in Charamicos somewhere near the Catholic church (I think) and I suspect that Codetel was taken over by Claro, whose office is opposite Bailey's restaurant, near the crossing of Dr. Rosen and Alejandro Martinez.

TomJackin,

Thank you for the map. I touch down on the 25th. Really looking forward to getting away for a week. Only traveling I have done international of late is crossing the broader into Tijuana for dental work and some fun at Hong Kong. Thanks again.

RR