Sosua Reports

[QUOTE=Mattco]Is it Chica friendly?[/QUOTE]Keep it disreed, tip the watch men and no problems at all.

I'll be following you up.. Will be there Saturday for 8 days. I saw you mention the bar across the street from Flow.. Is that the same space with a name change ?

[QUOTE=Mr Gogo]Yeah im there now,I was at Lous shark bar but every place on the strip had it.Sosua wasnt very crowded Friday and Saturday,[/QUOTE]

[quote=vegas flyer]i'm planning to visit sosua soon for the first time from the reports will probably stay at the terra linda. a rental car for a week is less than $200 and i'm considering renting one. i understand that the taxi fare to and from pop is approx. $40. is the terra linda walking distance to the action in sosua? also, is there safe parking near the bars in sosua? i would also take a day and drive up and down the coast to sightsee; would that be safe to do?

thanks for your input.[/quote]
i would think twice about renting a car if this is your first visit to the dr (or is it just first visit to sosúa?).

everything in sosúa is within easy walking distance unless you have a disability.

different if you really need one to get to somewhere more remote, or if you are in a group to share rental costs.

gringos driving rentals are targets for all sorts of scams. any accident will be your fault and you will pay cash or go to jail. dominican jails are not like first world jails.

an american guy was at my condos three days ago. he laughed at me when i told him why i don't drive a car although i live in the dr. he said he had driven here for many holidays without a problem.

next day he was involved in a traffic accident. he was almost stationary but was hit by a motoconcho maniac driving on the wrong side of the road at high speed. he ended up paying around us$9000 to get out of jail and was relieved to get out of the country and cut short his stay. he isn't laughing at me now.

ok, he maybe could have handled things better, but would you as a newbie to the area know what to do any better than him? and he may face further claims if he shows his face in the dr again. i am not sure if he was partly to blame, but if so it was only a technicality and he was doing what any careful driver would have done in the us.

local drivers here are idiots with no regard for life or limb. the death rate is 16 times larger than in my country of origin, the uk. and the cops, lawyers, rental companies, and even doctors are often crooks who see gringos as atms.

you can travel all along the north coast by public transport for a few dollars.

i am not saying don't rent, just think about it carefully first.

Just got back from 5 days on the island. Flew into SDQ and spent a night then drove to Sosua and stayed at NG for the duration. You definitely don't need a car in Sosua. And if you want to go to POP, it is a 45P publico taxi then motoconcho or walk where you want to go.
Don't drive in the DR until you've spent some time getting acclimated. Even then it is a crap shoot. While I was there, a friend made a u-turn on the POP Malecon and was t-boned by a moto with two people on it. They both got hurt pretty bad, one with a leg broken in two places. The police arrested him and he spent the day in jail. Lucky for him, he had friends who live there and helped him raise the money to get out. Small windowless cell with no windows (he said it was over 100F with no shitter or anything) and ten Dominican criminals. He was shaken down but good. It's my understanding that even if you take insurance, it only covers CDW and not the pax in the other vehicle. 3K US for the two on the moto. His lawyer, the rental car company and the police. Last count, he was around 8K US but out and about and in Classicoa Saturday night. He was told that his options were to sit in jail til he went to trial in 6 months or come up with this money.
Scary.

[quote=charles pooter]i would think twice about renting a car if this is your first visit to the dr (or is it just first visit to sosúa?).

everything in sosúa is within easy walking distance unless you have a disability.

different if you really need one to get to somewhere more remote, or if you are in a group to share rental costs.

gringos driving rentals are targets for all sorts of scams. any accident will be your fault and you will pay cash or go to jail. dominican jails are not like first world jails.

an american guy was at my condos three days ago. he laughed at me when i told him why i don't drive a car although i live in the dr. he said he had driven here for many holidays without a problem.

next day he was involved in a traffic accident. he was almost stationary but was hit by a motoconcho maniac driving on the wrong side of the road at high speed. he ended up paying around us$9000 to get out of jail and was relieved to get out of the country and cut short his stay. he isn't laughing at me now.

ok, he maybe could have handled things better, but would you as a newbie to the area know what to do any better than him? and he may face further claims if he shows his face in the dr again. i am not sure if he was partly to blame, but if so it was only a technicality and he was doing what any careful driver would have done in the us.

local drivers here are idiots with no regard for life or limb. the death rate is 16 times larger than in my country of origin, the uk. and the cops, lawyers, rental companies, and even doctors are often crooks who see gringos as atms.

you can travel all along the north coast by public transport for a few dollars.

i am not saying don't rent, just think about it carefully first.[/quote]it will be my first time in the dr and although nothing may happen i think i'll play it safe and use taxi's or public transport for this trip. i'm not afraid of taking a little risk in life, however, it seems the possible downside far outweighs the upside. i'm there to have fun. i don't do drama. that's why i love this site. from singapore to buenos aires to costa rica; i've gotten so much useful info on the 'isg'.

thanks for all the feedback.

[quote=charles pooter]i would think twice about renting a car if this is your first visit to the dr (or is it just first visit to sosúa?).

everything in sosúa is within easy walking distance unless you have a disability.

different if you really need one to get to somewhere more remote, or if you are in a group to share rental costs.

gringos driving rentals are targets for all sorts of scams. any accident will be your fault and you will pay cash or go to jail. dominican jails are not like first world jails.

an american guy was at my condos three days ago. he laughed at me when i told him why i don't drive a car although i live in the dr. he said he had driven here for many holidays without a problem.

next day he was involved in a traffic accident. he was almost stationary but was hit by a motoconcho maniac driving on the wrong side of the road at high speed. he ended up paying around us$9000 to get out of jail and was relieved to get out of the country and cut short his stay. he isn't laughing at me now.

ok, he maybe could have handled things better, but would you as a newbie to the area know what to do any better than him? and he may face further claims if he shows his face in the dr again. i am not sure if he was partly to blame, but if so it was only a technicality and he was doing what any careful driver would have done in the us.

local drivers here are idiots with no regard for life or limb. the death rate is 16 times larger than in my country of origin, the uk. and the cops, lawyers, rental companies, and even doctors are often crooks who see gringos as atms.

you can travel all along the north coast by public transport for a few dollars.

i am not saying don't rent, just think about it carefully first.[/quote]


it's important for someone to point this out every so often. the reports by guys who drive all over, have a great time and no problems need some balance. you are not in kansas anymore.

i ask residents (like you) for concho recommendations and try to establish a relationship with one or two taxi drivers. they all have cell phones and mostly sit around all day waiting for work in places like sosua. if you are a regular, you can work out arrangements for reasonable rates.

a car and driver don't necessarily cost that much more than car rental plus gas plus insurance- and in an accident you have no legal exposure.

[quote=charles pooter]i would think twice about renting a car if this is your first visit to the dr (or is it just first visit to sosúa?).

everything in sosúa is within easy walking distance unless you have a disability.

different if you really need one to get to somewhere more remote, or if you are in a group to share rental costs.

gringos driving rentals are targets for all sorts of scams. any accident will be your fault and you will pay cash or go to jail. dominican jails are not like first world jails.

an american guy was at my condos three days ago. he laughed at me when i told him why i don't drive a car although i live in the dr. he said he had driven here for many holidays without a problem.

next day he was involved in a traffic accident. he was almost stationary but was hit by a motoconcho maniac driving on the wrong side of the road at high speed. he ended up paying around us$9000 to get out of jail and was relieved to get out of the country and cut short his stay. he isn't laughing at me now.

ok, he maybe could have handled things better, but would you as a newbie to the area know what to do any better than him? and he may face further claims if he shows his face in the dr again. i am not sure if he was partly to blame, but if so it was only a technicality and he was doing what any careful driver would have done in the us.

local drivers here are idiots with no regard for life or limb. the death rate is 16 times larger than in my country of origin, the uk. and the cops, lawyers, rental companies, and even doctors are often crooks who see gringos as atms.

you can travel all along the north coast by public transport for a few dollars.

i am not saying don't rent, just think about it carefully first.[/quote]i couldn't agree more,i think the guys that rent cars are out of their minds (jmho). i travel almost monthly to either the dr or colombia and would never rent a car,not because i am afraid of getting in an accident per se,it is what happens afterwards such as what happened to the guy in koki's report. i have been in several accidents while riding in taxis and if these experienced drivers can get in an accident it is for certain that it will happen to me,just a matter of time.

the debate of whether renting a car for either convenience or to save money will go on until the end of time but i just don't see the logic behind either argument for renting a car. taxis are abundant everywhere so i don't see the extra convenience factor. and from a matter of cost i certainly don't see it if you get the appropriate insurance when renting. if you travel long distances you need to learn the bus system and gua-guas for inter city travel they are dirt cheap and come and go at regular intervals due to the fact that this is the standard method the locals use because most can not afford a vehicle.

[QUOTE=Marc Anthony]It's important for someone to point this out every so often. The reports by guys who drive all over, have a great time and no problems need some balance. You are not in Kansas anymore.

I ask residents (like you) for concho recommendations and try to establish a relationship with one or two taxi drivers. They all have cell phones and mostly sit around all day waiting for work in places like Sosua. If you are a regular, you can work out arrangements for reasonable rates.

A car and driver don't necessarily cost that much more than car rental plus gas plus insurance- and in an accident you have no legal exposure.[/QUOTE]Accidents happen. I still like to have a car when I am in Dom Rep. If a guy will only be staying in Sosua, then there is no need for a car. If a guy wants the freedom to visit different towns and cities, then a car is good to have.

I drive slow in the towns and cities and take my time. I have been lucky so far, over 20 trips renting cars and I haven't had a serious accident. There are lots of opportunities to have accidents there, especially with the 125cc motorcycles and the scooters zipping around.

I also drive in the DR. If you visit the DR frequently and drive, it's not a matter of "if," but "when" you will have an accident. I have had (3) flat tires, hit a dog (bumper damage), and have had (2) accidents with motoconcho drivers (one insignificant and one significant).

If you are driving in the Dominican Republic, you have to be prepared for the worst (Insurance, International Drivers License, Cell Phone, Bribe Money, DR Lawyer, Solid Ex-Pat Network). I don't recommend that others drive in the DR; however, for my trips to the DR, it is a necessity if I want to travel the country and the capital easily and inexpensively.

In Bogota, Buenos Aires, Lima, and Rio de Janeiro public transportation has always been the better option. Except for the Dominican Republic, only Cuba would be worth the risk of renting a car for me.

Cheers!
Helpmann :)

This will be my first time in D. R., and from the looks of this thread, Sousa is very chica friendly. One my boys is from Santiago, and he swears by it, but I'm looking to go where the females are everywhere.

Anyways, what's the going rate for a condo/villa in Sousa? I found one going for $40USD a night.

Does that sound right?

After my third visit I started to rent a car. I think the points of the dangers of renting a car are well made and if you rent you must use caution. There is an up side and a down side to everything and the risks are real.

Thanks guys for the "heads" up reminders.

[QUOTE=Jaosousa]Accidents happen. I still like to have a car when I am in Dom Rep. If a guy will only be staying in Sosua, then there is no need for a car. If a guy wants the freedom to visit different towns and cities, then a car is good to have.

I drive slow in the towns and cities and take my time. I have been lucky so far, over 20 trips renting cars and I haven't had a serious accident. There are lots of opportunities to have accidents there, especially with the 125cc motorcycles and the scooters zipping around.[/QUOTE]Defensive driving, expect the unexpected. As an avid motorcycle rider, always look twice. But also have bail money.

Why don't they just take your passport? It has the same effect. There isn't anything criminal that you should be incarcerated. Its part of the tactic to make you scared. Mental submission.

[QUOTE=Candle]...what's the going rate for a condo/villa in Sousa? I found one going for $40USD a night.

Does that sound right?[/QUOTE]

Look in the Sosua Hotels thread. There is a complete list there.

[QUOTE=Manizales911]I couldn't agree more,I think the guys that rent cars are out of their minds (JMHO). [/QUOTE]

I agree.

I would also like to add too that IF you DID drive you would miss out on the real DR way of life. Navigating around without a car takes you away from the daily carnival of meeting up with all the different characters of people. This is where most of my good stories come from. Fun gets thrown out the window when you rent a car.

Live like the locals, not the spoiled American who has to have a car everywhere they go.

[QUOTE=Candle]This will be my first time in D. R., and from the looks of this thread, Sousa is very chica friendly. One my boys is from Santiago, and he swears by it, but I'm looking to go where the females are everywhere.

Anyways, what's the going rate for a condo/villa in Sousa? I found one going for $40USD a night.

Does that sound right?[/QUOTE]Tradewinds and Palms were about 45 per night when I stayed there. I hate the Palms, it is a half block past Tradewinds. Tradewinds condominiums are about a ten minute walk from the center of Sosua. Nice pool at Tradewinds, neighbors at Tradewinds never broke my balls (I used the pool there at 4am with chicas, after the disco and definitely a little drunk). The people at the Palms complained if two people were having a conversation on the terrace of the apartment at 10pm.

Only problem with Tradewinds is that the apartment did not have a safe (I have not stayed there in a while, so maybe safes have been installed, I don't know). There are places where you can hide money. I always rented from Marco at Rockys. It is low season now, prices go down.

Perla de Sosua is another place that has condo rentals. When I inquired about Perla de Sosua apartment rentals, they wanted a $500 dollar security deposit for a 5 night stay. At Tradewinds I gave a $50 dollar security deposit for a 5 night stay. At Tradewinds, I basically had the pool to myself, I never saw other people using the pool there.