General Info

It was 1500 pesos for the night during Jan-Feb for me too.

I went to Tabu, Lapsus, Remington Palace, Casa modelos, Casa Theresa, Denoche and Monaco and none of those laces ever charged me mroe than 1500 pesos for the night... everythign was below that.. and I really doubt that by March/April the price has gone up to $100 USD.

You are getting scammed if you spend that much.

Cops don't make $8000 a month as their base salary. Hell even private school teachers barelly make that.

So for you to pay some girl $4000 for 4-6 hours, well thats crazy.

Sorry guys, didn't mean to offend anyone here about their veracity or negotiating skills.

I guess I should have more carefully phrased my pricing comments. I don't doubt Gpiper's pricing reports, with his wealth of experience, and I also know that I will use those price points aggressively when I return to SD in late May. I just found it interesting that the MP girl's in SD, who undeniably are of superior quality compared to BC girls, could be had for little more than their BC counterparts. The SD quotes started out very high in comparison to BC, and I would have thought that the common ground would be significantly different. Perhaps i am giving too much importance to the quality of the girl, ie avg. girl = avg.money/hot girl = more money, as opposed to the economic reality of the business.

I suppose that familiarity with the girls or the management of a place can play into the pricing, along with the determination of the buyer. Sounds a lot like buying a used vehicle.....

Gpiper. thanks for the kind offer, if our paths cross I will take you up on that, cervesa's on me.

[i]Rear Window wrote:
For example..Gpiper can quote us $1500rd fs take out, but another poster will swear that he had to pay $100us. [red] I have met GPiper and he tells it like it is. [/red]
I am not disbelieving Gpiper, but after a few posts of conflicting prices, mongers start to wonder, and then the questions arrive on this forum. [red] You have to counter offer and after I do this with 4-5 chicas, the one that needs money goes with me. [/red]



R.W. I read your remarks and I'm following your logic to a point but, if you doubt the veracity of some of the posts on this board than what is the point of the additional questions? What will they accomplish? If Gpiper says he paid 1500 pesos ($34) and another poster said he paid $100 then you can deduce that with tireless, persistent negotiating you can get the price down to $34 as well.

[red] I find that I can get most for $60-$70 range. [/red]

This is what I would conclude from this.
Cheers.[/i]

RearWindow wrote:

"Sounds a lot like buying a used vehicle....."

Had to smile about that one, because in a way, that's exactly what you're buying. Still, the combination of the words "used" and "vehicle" in this context is just priceless, IMHO [:-))))].

Gents,

I am thinking about making my first trip to the DR. I am a vet of Colombia and love it there, but all of the postings here have got me thinking I might be up for a change of pace. I am looking at a possible trip the second week of May and have no idea which of the areas would be best (STO Domingo, Sosua, etc). Also, any tips on cheap fares to get down there?

Thanks,

B

A monger's table of contents, worthy advice and info.

http://www.expat-in-paradise.com/monger/monger_toc.html

[B]Teamguy,[/B]

If you have never been to the Dominican Republic, I recommend starting out with Sosua. You can walk to almost anywhere you need to go, otherwise consider a motoconch for 20 pesos (about .50¢ US). The Palace is a good stay, clean with available chicas right outside your room. The owner, John, is also very accomodating with knowledge about the area and the game. There are more than enough chicas to go around in Sosua and if you're in the right place at the right time, you just might find a really hot one.

[B]Here is some other worthy advice you might find helpful.[/B]

Arriving at the airport: Chances are, they’ll try to shake you down for a few dollars. Bring a US $5.00 bill or two with you and you’ll be set. When you take your bags through customs, just as the guy was about to search my bags he mentioned that they could easily pass for $5.00 so I was ok with it just to move on through, no sense in having someone ruffle through my things. Not that I had anything to hide. Do yourself a favor, grab your own bags from the customs table and carry them out yourself otherwise you’ll have a local looking for a handout. Jesus picked us up from the airport, holding a Sosua Palace sign out in front. $15 a carload is the going rate with was fine with me, especially split among 3 guys.

Exchanging money: Super Super Liquors, just a few blocks past Europa on the corner. Good rates and the gentlemen speaks English. On Wednesday the exchange was 48:1 and on Friday it was 42:1 Note: You're better off exchanging money during the week as the rates tend to go down on the weekend.

Eating on a daily basis: Mora Mai, the Lobster Fra Diavlo is amazing and Alex (owner's wife) is a beautiful host. Simply said, I wouldnt eat anywhere else! I'd rather spend my time enjoying my vacation than possibly getting sick eating something that wasnt prepared adequately. Although a few of the boys from Jersey on the second floor enjoyed the chicken from the stand on the corner of the block.

Bottled water: Don’t drink the tap water or you’ll spend your vacation in the bathroom! When you exchange money, do yourself a favor and buy several bottles for your refridgerator.

Sosua Beach: Just a bit past "The Lost Gringo Bar" you'll find "Lobo" (a local) renting chairs, tables, umbrellas and more. Take care of him and he'll take care of you! If you go into the water, he'll look over your stuff as well so you dont have to worry about it.

Needs at the Palace: You can purchase cold "Presidentes" right at the Palace for $1.00 US each, delivered right to your refrigerator. You'll find two locals, who will get you just about anything you need, from food to liquor. Take care of them and they'll do anything for you, they can be trusted as well. Otherwise you wouldnt find them around the Palace.

Traveling on a motoconch in Sosua: 20 pesos, no more!

I disagree with paying DR customs agents money not to search your bags. You are just fueling their corrupt illegal scam and giving them that much more reason to continue. Its just like giving money to beggars. The word gets out that the white man with pesos is feeling sorry for them and before you know it the street is covered with them. If the bums are not successful begging, they will move on. You can call me cold hearted, but it is proven that giving panhandlers money is a very selfish act of the contributor because they think they are doing good, but they are just trying to make themselves feel better. Sort of like sinning and then going to confession.

MarcoNJ,
That link is great! Top rate info on the hows and whys of our "craft". And so many of the points rang true. Some things apparently never change.

BTW,I have never had DR customs even touch my bags on my trips, let alone ask for money. This has been at SDQ ,however.

With regards to Bill's comments regarding customs extorting money.

I'm planning a trip for June. Being a Black man from America, does that mean there's less of a chance that they would try to get money from me? I will refuse to pay if they try. They can search me all day if they want. I'm curious to hear from the other Black guys on this board what their experiences have been when dealing with customs.

[i]I disagree with paying DR customs agents money not to search your bags. You are just fueling their corrupt illegal scam and giving them that much more reason to continue. Its just like giving money to beggars. The word gets out that the white man with pesos is feeling sorry for them and before you know it the street is covered with them. [red] They can get fired so don't give them shit! [/red] If the bums are not successful begging, they will move on. You can call me cold hearted, but it is proven that giving panhandlers money is a very selfish act of the contributor because they think they are doing good, but they are just trying to make themselves feel better. Sort of like sinning and then going to confession.[/i]

I was asked for money from a customs agent during Christmas 2003 in Santo Domingo airport. I told him I paid for the tourist card I am not paying again, plus my spanish is limited. He let me go.

I was driving in SD during February and was extorted by a policeman for the old not wearing my seat belt and running a red light trick. He wanted 5,000 pesos. I talked him down to 100 pesos and 7us dollars. I was not going to give a crooked cop all my money. I had about a few hundred dollars on me. I am a black man from NYC. Crocked cops don't scare me.

MarcoNJ

Good looking on the advice and the website. I travel to DR often and this is good info one can't do without. I will use it like a29th. I got a few numbers and there is always holly roller uses the bible. I already dated a chick that tried to rob me and run, since I questioned her every crisis and strange movement she bolted. You live and learn.
I will be in DR from April 22nd-29th. I will try to explore Santiago.

Very few of those guys speak english. I have never been stopped. A good rule of thumb is to walk up and say" high", with a smile. If he asks something in spanish, just say "I don't speak spanish".

If you are bringing in alot of things you will notice that there are always a couple of guys standing around just as you enter customs. There looking for money to get you through quick! I learned this from an exgirlfriend, never had o use them.

Hey fellas,

I need a favor if possible. I want to know if any of the New York area mongers who are traveling down to DR can bring back a bottle of the brugal "Unico" or the "Siglio de Oro" I will pay you for the effort. The price when I was there just 2 weeks ago was about 13USD equivalent in pescos for the "Siglio de Oro" and about 38USD equivalent for the "Unico". I will probably make a trip in about a month on my own but if I can get it sooner the better. I will give you 30USD and 70USD respectivly for the bottles because you simply can not find those particular bottles anywhere in the U.S.A. I hope I am not breaking any rules by asking for someone to bring back a bottle of liquor and if I am I am sorry.

Great gavola. . . .I think you have em reversed the Siglo De Oro is about 40 bucks etc. Never heard of unico but I don't drink Rum.

I will be heading back down fairly soon, just not sure when. . .plus I tend to stay down for a long time etc, so others might be a faster turn around etc.

If not, I am sure we can work something out etc.