Santo Domingo

A few times on my last trip I used my claro cell phone and received a message that the number I was dialing had restrictions or did not exist. I hung up and dialed again and the call went through. When dialing Orange cells, some times I get the message that the Orange number I am dialing can not be reached. I don't know if that means that the Orange system is down, or maybe the person has their orange cell phone off. One day Claro had no service for about three hours.

The carro publicos looked very crowded, six people in a two door 1980 toyota corolla, with no A/C, stuck in traffic on Avenida Kennedy.

Caribe tours has a station on the north side of Avenida 27 de Febrero, not too far from zona colonial.

I bought a refurbished digital camera on newegg.com for 40 dollars that I bartered for sex, the chica was a non-pro, good in the bed, nice thick body, plenty of cushion for the pushin.

Newegg has an unlocked motorola gsm cell phone for 20 dollars, should work in dom rep.

Presidente beer has labels with Christmas trees this time of year. Seems like everyplace puts up a Christmas tree and/or lights. Brugal cream (sort of like baileys) not bad, sweet.

There is a haitian neighborhood near zona colonial not far from the chinese neighborhood. I was told los guandules (sp?) is a very bad neighborhood, supposedly near the river.

[QUOTE=Jaosousa]A few times on my last trip I used my claro cell phone and received a message that the number I was dialing had restrictions or did not exist. I hung up and dialed again and the call went through. When dialing Orange cells, some times I get the message that the Orange number I am dialing can not be reached. I don't know if that means that the Orange system is down, or maybe the person has their orange cell phone off. One day Claro had no service for about three hours.

[/QUOTE]

An advise when your Claro phone has no service: turn it off and then on, the service always come back. This was also learned from the chicas.

I read somewhere Claro charges by the minutes (round up of course), while Orange charges by seconds, is that true !? Which one is cheapest ...(as I only make short calls I guess it could add up - I generally found calls in DR expensive, relatively speaking...)

[QUOTE=Uzinuzin]I read somewhere Claro charges by the minutes (round up of course), while Orange charges by seconds, is that true! Which one is cheapest. (as I only make short calls I guess it could add up. I generally found calls in DR expensive, relatively speaking.)[/QUOTE]I agree, in a relatively short period of time I bought 4, 500 peso claro cards and a few other smaller denomination cards, over 60 dollars. Talking to some of the chicas on the cell can be like torture, with the noise in the background where they are. I saw advertisements in the sdq airport saying that you could use your orange or claro phones outside the Dominican Republic. I have been told Orange is more economical to use, but Claro may have better service. Some people use Viva. I was also told that that the phones with chips generally work better than the phones that don't have chips. And as Boricua Online mentioned the chicas are quite knowledgeable about cell phones, many chicas want a new apple iphone or some other expensive cell phone as a gift.

This is a link for a good salsa song that I always hear when I am in the Dominican Republic, "Extrañandote" by Michel, this video has the words. I never noticed before but in the youtube version the guy says salam alaikum, malaikum salam at the beginning of the song. [url]http://www.YoutuB.com/watch? V=voMLx-3aROM[/url]

I was in a house and I heard an 8 year kid singing, "pussy, pussy, pussy". I asked his Mom if she knew what he was singing, she said he was singing "Pose, Pose, Pose", a Daddy Yankee song. I said to her it sounds like Pussy, like singing "chorcha, chorcha, chorcha". Pose by Daddy Yankee you will hear in the bars, the link for the video in youtube: [url]http://www.YoutuB.com/watch? V=dn28nlMOYfg[/url]

Some chicas like the "Loba" video with Shakira: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUVm1JzR274[/url]

Real Player (free download) has an add in that always you to easily download youtube videos or any other videos. After the videos are downloaded, Real Player has a tool that will convert the video into other formats, mp3, windows media player, itunes video etc, so that you can use the video on different portable players.

[QUOTE=Uzinuzin]I read somewhere Claro charges by the minutes (round up of course), while Orange charges by seconds, is that true !? Which one is cheapest ...(as I only make short calls I guess it could add up - I generally found calls in DR expensive, relatively speaking...)[/QUOTE]

I've been doing some research for an upcoming trip. Here are Orange card rates:

[url]http://www.orange.com.do/web/guest/orange-card[/url]

Looks pretty inexpensive to me. You can buy the cards for as little as DR$20 (look at the recargas tab).

[QUOTE=Questner]Jaosousa, thanks Any directions in Juan Dolio? Streets or Google Earth ones, please.[/QUOTE]A few google images, Juan Dolio has one main road called Boulevard. When heading East on the Boulevard in Juan Dolio, the small beach road will be towards your right. Two public beaches in Juan Dolio, Guayacanes has parking on the beach probably for a fee. The other beach is Juan Dolio beach, just follow the signs off the Boulevard. That beach has perpendicular parking adjacent to a bar and few other smaller bars and restaurants, in front of the beach. You will see Italians hanging out with their Dominican girlfriends, you will see some working girls looking around for clients as well. I didn't see any cabanas in Juan Dolio, so if you choose a street chica not sure where you would do the deed. Showgirls has rooms on site, probably caprichios and el caucho as well.

As you can see from the google images, the highway from boca chica (and santo domingo) veers north after the exit for BOULEVARD in Juan Dolio. You really don't don't want to miss that exit. After that exit for Juan Dolio, there are not too many exits on that highway for a while.

A chica in La Vega told me GPS works good in La Vega. I have never used GPS in Dominican Republic.

[QUOTE=JPF]I've been doing some research for an upcoming trip. Here are Orange card rates:

[url]http://www.orange.com.do/web/guest/orange-card[/url]

Looks pretty inexpensive to me. You can buy the cards for as little as DR$20 (look at the recargas tab).[/QUOTE]


According to their charts the lowest fee (converted to minutes) is 5 cents per minute (before the 28% tax). Dominicans do not have the unlimited calls option even on yearly plans. If you are going to buy a DR cellphone, buy it from Orange, the reason: most girls have Orange cellphones and you can save a little on Orange to Orange calls. I used my Claro cellphone for a week on July and spent over $100 United States dollars on one week. Girls are going to "missed call you" everytime, expecting you to call back. This time (October) I spent near $20, I reduced my blah blah a lot.

There is movement in the DR against phone companies because the people consider they are paying as much as 400% more than US, based on a 2000 minute monthly use. The fact is that for us getting a phone is a convenience and a saving compared to hotel room phone or a call house, but for them rates are expensive.

[QUOTE=Uzinuzin]I read somewhere Claro charges by the minutes (round up of course), while Orange charges by seconds, is that true !? Which one is cheapest ...(as I only make short calls I guess it could add up - I generally found calls in DR expensive, relatively speaking...)[/QUOTE][QUOTE=Jaosousa]I agree, in a relatively short period of time I bought 4, 500 peso claro cards and a few other smaller denomination cards, over 60 dollars...........[/QUOTE][QUOTE=BoricuaOnline].......I used my Claro cellphone for a week on July and spent over $100 United States dollars on one week.[/QUOTE]

For the guys who are frequent visitors to the DR what are your thoughts on signing up for a monthly plan with either Orange or Claro. Take a look at the Flex plans and let me know what you think.
[QUOTE=JPF]................[url]http://www.orange.com.do/web/guest/orange-card[/url]................[/QUOTE]
What I noticed new is your minutes no longer expire after 30 days. The expiration time is now 60 days and both Orange and Claro gives you the expiration date when you check your account balance.

I call #131# to check minutes with Orange and *122# to check minutes with Claro.

[QUOTE=Bq Ribs]For the guys who are frequent visitors to the DR what are your thoughts on signing up for a monthly plan with either Orange or Claro.

What I noticed new is your minutes no longer expire after 30 days. The expiration time is now 60 days and both Orange and Claro gives you the expiration date when you check your account balance.

I call #131# to check minutes with Orange and *122# to check minutes with Claro.[/QUOTE]I also use claro, but I limit my chit chat. My phone is for emergencies and to set up appointments only. How much is the monthly plan? Are your minutes international to call the states? I usually add 500 at a time so if they expire no problem. I bought this phone for 300pesos over a year ago, great value.

[QUOTE=Bq Ribs]For the guys who are frequent visitors to the DR what are your thoughts on signing up for a monthly plan with either Orange or Claro. Take a look at the Flex plans and let me know what you think.

What I noticed new is your minutes no longer expire after 30 days. The expiration time is now 60 days and both Orange and Claro gives you the expiration date when you check your account balance.

I call #131# to check minutes with Orange and *122# to check minutes with Claro.[/QUOTE]

If you travel a few times a year the Orange Flex anual is a good choice. The best feature is the weekend 1 peso per minute fare which gives you 36 minutes per dollar. Another one is the reduced rate for a favorite number, a good deal if you have a regular chica.

[QUOTE=Mr Gogo]I also use claro, but I limit my chit chat. My phone is for emergencies and to set up appointments only. How much is the monthly plan? Are your minutes international to call the states? I usually add 500 at a time so if they expire no problem. I bought this phone for 300pesos over a year ago, great value.[/QUOTE]

Calls to USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the Virgin Islands cost the same as a local call.

[QUOTE=BoricuaOnline]If you travel a few times a year the Orange Flex anual is a good choice. The best feature is the weekend 1 peso per minute fare which gives you 36 minutes per dollar. Another one is the reduced rate for a favorite number, a good deal if you have a regular chica.[/QUOTE]
With the Orange Flex plan if I understand the Spanish correctly I would give them a credit card number and would be billed automatically. I also thought I read that unused minutes get rolled over to the next month.

With the Orange anual plan you pay a year in advance and if you use more than your alloted minutes you can recharge with a credit card. I hope I am reading the info correctly.

[QUOTE=Bq Ribs]With the Orange Flex plan if I understand the Spanish correctly I would give them a credit card number and would be billed automatically. I also thought I read that unused minutes get rolled over to the next month.

With the Orange anual plan you pay a year in advance and if you use more than your alloted minutes you can recharge with a credit card. I hope I am reading the info correctly.[/QUOTE]

Yes, unused minutes rollover to the next month. You can pay by credit card or visiting an Orange authorized dealer.

[QUOTE=BoricuaOnline]Yes, unused minutes rollover to the next month. You can pay by credit card or visiting an Orange authorized dealer.[/QUOTE]
The Orange Flex 75 comes out to be $RD480 with taxes and the Orange Flex 150 is $RD761.

Doesn't seem like a bad deal to avoid always having to buy the phone cards. Only thing would be don't let a chica use the phone. I have always kept no more than $RD150 or so in my account with spare cards in my wallet. This way if a chica uses my phone, as we all know they never have minutes, she can talk her butt off until the $5 US is gone.

[QUOTE=Mr Gogo]I bought this phone for 300pesos over a year ago, great value.[/QUOTE]

Where did you buy your phone? I might want to pick up one while I am there. Are its menus in Spanish or English?