General Info

I would search for flights coming into Santiago and the capital. You can easily take Caribe Tours bus line from the capital, about 5 hours, or from Santiago about 1.5 hours for cheap. The fare from the capital is about $9 and from Santiago it's somewhat less if I remember correctly.

Do a search. See for yourself.

You may also want to try flying directly to NYC/JFK on one airline and then hopping on Delta or Jetblue for a non stop flight to Santiago.

MISTER NYC :D

[QUOTE=Naughty]Naughty just got two weeks to play unexpectedly.

Looking at making my first visit to DR, but I need to do things quick. I've been doing some searches, but without very satisfactory results. Sooo...

I want to visit the PP/Sosua/Cabarete area for a week or two like--right now!!!

Any tips on getting an inexpensive flight to DR from the midwest (I don't mind busses, so anywhere not too far away is OK) would be greatly appreciated. Seems most flights into Puerto Plata are both costly and 18 to 20 hour nightmares.

Also, is there anyplace to obtain adult toys and vids in the Gold Coast area or will I need to bring my own? How about vitamin V?

Thanks to any who can help!
Naughty[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Mister]I just got back from a 5 month extended trip in DR and have been going for a couple of years now quite regularly...usually for a month or two at a time. [/QUOTE]

.......Mister, if you listen real carefully, the sound you'll here is me steaming because you get to spend 5 months at a time in paradise! Good for you!

I am very jealous, but I'm happy for you and thank you for your solid, honest contributions to this board. :)

FORD

[quote=boy in bubble]do any of the hotels in dr have internet access? would any of those also be girl friendly, or would they be too upscale to allow girls to accompany me to my room. alas, i don't speak spanish either.

i'm looking for a hotel where i could bring my laptop and even make long-distance business calls to the us, for business meetings, for hours at a time, ideally on a speakerphone. suggestions?[/quote]

in santo domingo, the courtyard has high speed internet in the rooms i believe. the jaragua has wifi access in the lobby. look into getting vonage softphone so you can make calls from your laptop via a headset.

I'm new member on this site and let me tell you guys it's fantastic, there are lot of a good information that everyone needs. Thank all of you that making this forum alive. On the internet, where I can find a detail map of Sosua, Puerto Plata and Cabaret. The two last week of December I'll be in Sosua for vacation, I'll rent a car. I think a map will be helpfull. By the way. Someone can tell me which hotel that I should go at no extra cost for the "chica".

Anyway, all the good informations will be apreciate.

Thank all of you.

Di perdo tu

Do US cell phones work in the DR?

[QUOTE=John Huk]Do US cell phones work in the DR?[/QUOTE]

I believe the answer to your question is a qualified yes. Qualification involves whether your US carrier has international roaming agreements with DR carriers and possibly whether your cell phone is GSM compatible. I've brought an AT&T cell phone to Sosua and on startup it would hook up with the local Orange network. The caveat here is that you'll be paying exorbitant rates to make calls and locals will not want to call you back since you won't have a local number.

If you have a GSM phone and it is unlocked, the less expensive way to go would be replace the local SIM chip in your phone with one from the local carrier. In Sosua it wasn't hard to find the Orange stores on the Main street, and with their chip install you can buy minutes as you need them and you will have a local number. If you do a google search for prepaid SIM cards you may find that you can order a SIM in advance with some minutes. This can be good if you wish to use your phone right after you step off the plane, but it'll probably cost twice as much as buying your SIM as you arrive.

[QUOTE=Cyberspace]I believe the answer to your question is a qualified yes. Qualification involves whether your US carrier has international roaming agreements with DR carriers and possibly whether your cell phone is GSM compatible. I've brought an AT&T cell phone to Sosua and on startup it would hook up with the local Orange network. The caveat here is that you'll be paying exorbitant rates to make calls and locals will not want to call you back since you won't have a local number.

If you have a GSM phone and it is unlocked, the less expensive way to go would be replace the local SIM chip in your phone with one from the local carrier. In Sosua it wasn't hard to find the Orange stores on the Main street, and with their chip install you can buy minutes as you need them and you will have a local number. If you do a google search for prepaid SIM cards you may find that you can order a SIM in advance with some minutes. This can be good if you wish to use your phone right after you step off the plane, but it'll probably cost twice as much as buying your SIM as you arrive.[/QUOTE]


I don't know...but why take the risk? I bought an old secondhand (500 peso!) motorola STARTAC with UMTC system(dual band) and it worked GREAT for me....the card was from TRICOM.(prepaid) Sure you can't call abroad...but you could do that in the many phone shops for about 7 peso a minute..!!!(to the US or Canada)
If you ask arround at any taxista or streetvendors they know plenty adresses were to find second hand (simlockfree) cell phones. UMTC or GSM...
My amiga arranged mine;-)

I had a good coverage...even in barahona! The LG GSM cell with camera from my amiga often didn't worked...so we had to use the good old Motorola thingie....

just a thought....

Johan.

[QUOTE=Cyberspace]I believe the answer to your question is a qualified yes. Qualification involves whether your US carrier has international roaming agreements with DR carriers and possibly whether your cell phone is GSM compatible. I've brought an AT&T cell phone to Sosua and on startup it would hook up with the local Orange network. The caveat here is that you'll be paying exorbitant rates to make calls and locals will not want to call you back since you won't have a local number.

If you have a GSM phone and it is unlocked, the less expensive way to go would be replace the local SIM chip in your phone with one from the local carrier. In Sosua it wasn't hard to find the Orange stores on the Main street, and with their chip install you can buy minutes as you need them and you will have a local number. If you do a google search for prepaid SIM cards you may find that you can order a SIM in advance with some minutes. This can be good if you wish to use your phone right after you step off the plane, but it'll probably cost twice as much as buying your SIM as you arrive.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the useful tips.

JetBlue now goes to Santiago, DR from Boston, MA beginning in mid to late Novermber 2005 with a stop over in NYC/JFK. I priced a ticket for about $360 round trip.

Hope this helps someone.

MISTER NYC :D

Hello all thanks for the great info. Im planning my first trip to DR & me and a friend decided to stay in SD at hotel meutur. Is this a good GF place to stay? Me and my friend dont speak any spanish. Is it possible to meet chicas with no spanish or do we both need to take some intro courses? Is SD a good place to find good pros or non pros are the going rates cheap or should i also plan a visit to BC? Ive heard that DR is kind of dry since the crackdown on working girls is this true? Can anyone with a little experience pm me with the basics?

Thanks

Hi Jackson,

Could you please make such a toppic here just like they have that in the Brasil section??
I know many guys are intrested in Living in the DR permanently (including myself).
What better way to swap info on this subject then to make a seperate topic??

Thanks IA.

Johan

Three of us are making our first trip to DR the weekend of Nov 3rd. I have gone through this site and compiled a bunch of information together, but still need some additional information in order to make the most of the trip, especially since we only have three days there, we want to make sure to make the most of the trip.

1) We have selected Santiago as the destination since the airfare to Santo Domingo is coming up much more. Puerto Plata and Santiago fares are about the same. Anyone have any opinion on which of these two places would be best for first timers, who don't speak any Spanish?

2) Any Hotel recommendations in Santiago and Puerto Plata? We would like a place that is reasonably clean, conveniently located, visitor friendly, offers convenient food/drinks options and where we can get by on English only. Based on my investigation, so far I have come up with Hotel Platino. Wondering what other options there might be.

3) I read several posts about people getting unpredictable exchange rates over there. Is there any reason to not bring local currency with us, converetd here in the US?

4) Nothing can beat the thrill of scoring non-pros or semi-pros. Any tips on where/how to find such chicas in these two locations?

5) I don't have a good sense of distances over there. If we are in Santiago for three days, is it worth making a trip to Boca Chica or Santo Domingo?

Of course, the primary purpose of our trip is mongering so all questions are from that perspective.

I would appreciate any feedback and I will write up a detailed report upon my return.

Thanks.

[QUOTE=Uvu Atl]Hello all thanks for the great info. Im planning my first trip to DR & me and a friend decided to stay in SD at hotel meutur. Is this a good GF place to stay? Me and my friend dont speak any spanish. Is it possible to meet chicas with no spanish or do we both need to take some intro courses? Is SD a good place to find good pros or non pros are the going rates cheap or should i also plan a visit to BC? Ive heard that DR is kind of dry since the crackdown on working girls is this true? Can anyone with a little experience pm me with the basics?

Thanks[/QUOTE]

It is very possible to meet chicas. They LOVE guys with no experience, and no ability to say one word. When the argument about what you agreed to for how much comes, you are going to be at a loss. You won't pick up non pros without being able to sweet talk (or any talk, really). I think Metetuer is an upscale hotel , a company that has AI resort types. Good luck getting past security in a hotel like that.

Search the posts, read the Santo Domingo ones, vs. General Info , e.g. here, and then ask once you have some specific needs. There are proper hotel recommendations. How did you find this place?

[QUOTE=Johan007]Hi Jackson,

Could you please make such a toppic here just like they have that in the Brasil section??
I know many guys are intrested in Living in the DR permanently (including myself).
What better way to swap info on this subject then to make a seperate topic??

Thanks IA.

Johan[/QUOTE]

Great idea Johan and I am sure it will go over very well!!!!!

[QUOTE=Jb Cool]Three of us are making our first trip to DR the weekend of Nov 3rd. I have gone through this site and compiled a bunch of information together, but still need some additional information in order to make the most of the trip, especially since we only have three days there, we want to make sure to make the most of the trip.

1) We have selected Santiago as the destination since the airfare to Santo Domingo is coming up much more. Puerto Plata and Santiago fares are about the same. Anyone have any opinion on which of these two places would be best for first timers, who don't speak any Spanish?

2) Any Hotel recommendations in Santiago and Puerto Plata? We would like a place that is reasonably clean, conveniently located, visitor friendly, offers convenient food/drinks options and where we can get by on English only. Based on my investigation, so far I have come up with Hotel Platino. Wondering what other options there might be.

3) I read several posts about people getting unpredictable exchange rates over there. Is there any reason to not bring local currency with us, converetd here in the US?

4) Nothing can beat the thrill of scoring non-pros or semi-pros. Any tips on where/how to find such chicas in these two locations?

5) I don't have a good sense of distances over there. If we are in Santiago for three days, is it worth making a trip to Boca Chica or Santo Domingo?

Of course, the primary purpose of our trip is mongering so all questions are from that perspective.

I would appreciate any feedback and I will write up a detailed report upon my return.

Thanks.[/QUOTE]
1) You' re 4 hours from Santo Domingo / Boca Chica.

2) You're an hour's drive from the nearest beach. There is no beach in Santiago!!!

3) Do what most non-Spanish speaking tourists do, when they arrive in the DR and they want to save some cash.... They fly to STI, they take a 60min. cab ride to Sosua for US$50 or so, they find a hotel or apt. near "the strip" (Europa, the Palace...), and they pick up the *****s on "the strip" and in the clubs at night.

4) If you don't know anybody in Santiago, and you don't speak Spanish, you have no business being there.


-Helpmann :)