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[QUOTE=Bq Ribs; 1105612]Bimmy5 you need to follow the entire thread. Let me see, you got six trips or less and only to Sosua.
Where do they get these experts from? [/QUOTE]Wait and see what happens expert. It has happen elsewhere including the US. The DR need business. Realtors don't apply.
[QUOTE=Jaosousa; 1105649]A toda la noche (all nighter) in Sosua is from 2, 500 pesos (appx. $69US) to 3500 pesos (appx $97US). I paid for dinner for 4 people at Baileys Restaurant in Sosua years ago, with a bottle of red wine from Chile, Casillero del Diablo, not expensive wine and the bill for dinner and wine was over $100US. If we wanted to smoke some nice cigars at dinner and drink some fine cognac, I could easily have spent over $200US.
You can visit the Sea Horse Ranch page in Russian:
[url]http://www.sea-horse-ranch.com/ru/.[/url]
Sea Horse Ranch is less than ten minutes from Sosua. Current Villa prices start at 1/2 million US dollars and go to 4. 8 million dollars. Current villas for sale can be found here:
[url]http://www.sea-horse-ranch.com/eng/sales_all.php[/url]
The Dominican Republic from what I understand puts tariffs on many imported products including cars and trucks. A $50k SUV here in the US may cost $60k or more in DR. Wealthy foreigners in the DR are driving around in expensive vehicles. Do some Russians buy expensive vehicles in DR? Or viking ranges and sub zero refrigerators for their villas? I would guess some do.
A Russian guy just bought the New Jersey Nets basketball team and may soon become the boss of the basketball player Carmelo Anthony. Russians are making a ton of money selling oil, petrodollars, and the treasury of the Russian government is not being drained by foreign entanglements.
The biggest scammer in history is a guy who was born in New York City named Madoff.
That said, I do not believe in trickle down economics. Prostitutes are independent contractors and should be allowed to ply their trade. The Dominican Government prefers the big time spenders because there are more opportunities to tax and collect revenues from people who buy homes, expensive cars, eat in expensive restaurants etc.
There are many Germans, Italians, British, Dutch people in DR. Many guys travel from the west coast of the United States to visit the DR. Many people like the vibe in DR. A rich Russian may like the vibe in the DR and decide to buy a villa. Rich Americans have bought villas in Central and South America as well as in far away Thailand. If a person likes a place, travel distance is but one factor. [/QUOTE]Actually I'm getting sick of this. It dosen't matter how many times I've been to Sosua and I have been there quite a few. But I have delt with these situations. A bunch of Russians or any other wealthy people buying real estate or moving to Sosua are not going to change the economy of Sosua. You're right it's trickle down economics. They would have to sell a whole lot of SUV's. Now if they brought business and jobs with them that would be a different story.
But the best they could do is make Sosua a playground for the rich. That isn't going to help the people of Sosua.
Plus for many reason's that is not going to happen.
They can replace P4P. There are people with power and money who could do this. But as selfish as this might seem to think that is going to help the people of Sosua is ridiculous. This has happened in many other places. The town gets screwed, the people get screwed and eventually the rich leave too. For many reasons including it's history, it's location, the area surrounding it, Sosua is not going to be a rich mans playground, and the rich are going to take what they can get and run. This is a sceme as old as you can get.
[QUOTE=Bimmy5; 1105828]Actually I'm getting sick of this. It dosen't matter how many times I've been to Sosua and I have been there quite a few. But I have delt with these situations. A bunch of Russians or any other wealthy people buying real estate or moving to Sosua are not going to change the economy of Sosua. You're right it's trickle down economics. They would have to sell a whole lot of SUV's. Now if they brought business and jobs with them that would be a different story.
But the best they could do is make Sosua a playground for the rich. That isn't going to help the people of Sosua.
Plus for many reason's that is not going to happen.
They can replace P4P. There are people with power and money who could do this. But as selfish as this might seem to think that is going to help the people of Sosua is ridiculous. This has happened in many other places. The town gets screwed, the people get screwed and eventually the rich leave too. For many reasons including it's history, it's location, the area surrounding it, Sosua is not going to be a rich mans playground, and the rich are going to take what they can get and run. This is a sceme as old as you can get. [/QUOTE]I'm not saying that villa is "going to help the pobrecitas of Sosua, Los Charamicos, el campo or any of it. Just that this particular Mafioski is spending more money on its construction than you or I are spending on chicas. A simple response to this exchange:
[quote=Bq Ribs]One rich Russian will drop more cash in Sosua in a year than you and your wingman will do in a lifetime.[/quote][quote=Bimmy5]Is this so? What do the Russian's buy? Portraits of Bob Marley? Dominican food? Dominican jewelry? Dominican clothes? Dominican produce? Dominican manufacturing? Dominican weapons?[/quote]The DomRep government will get money out of it through taxes and duties. Probably also from bribes and rake-offs. [i]And that's what they're looking for, [/i] Not some "trickle-down economic benefit to the huddled masses." This is not about "helping the people of Sosua," it's about "grabbing something good while you can."
I don't believe that the rich and powerful (government, investor or whatever) give a passing thought to "trickle-down economics" in what they do. I believe the Sosua political philosophy will be more like "[url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url]-on-you economics."
And I believe, as Coolie High put it,"this too shall pass." The chicas will be selling it, we will be buying it, and the challenge will be one of "marketing" on their side and "spotting the market" on ours. I expect that even a blind squirrel like me will be able to bust a nut, in Sosua, through the years to come.
My hand is gettig tired but I agree with Westy. I think he said most of the things I wanted to but said it better.
By the way the "most expensive thing in town is a TLN " remark was sarcastic. Except for the average consumer it is.
Also a couple of my fellow travelers are from wealthy Russian familys although you wouldn't know it. They don't get kicks by showing off their money. Or as they say they like simple things but spend more time elsewhere. I first met them in the DR and they are getting a kick out of this.
[QUOTE=Rodeo9112; 1105799]Just wondering-what is everyone's drink of choice while mongering in DR, or mongering period? I guess I'm referring to the day to day grind of hunting during the day and prepping for the night feast of the club game. Of course, most just have a favorite beer or drink that they'll get once they get to their destination. But, I'm talking about that certain home made concoction that they sip on throughout the day to keep the buzz.
For me, I usually carry a 12-20 oz used water bottle filled with 1/3 Hennessey. 1/3 Alize, and 1/3 Red Bull with a 50mg Viagra crushed up and dissolved into it. I call it MY Crunk Juice! It's weird because the Red Bull keeps me awake, but the Hennessey definitely mellows me out. It has about the same effect as Mamajuana; I usually get through 3 bottles of those by the beginning of the late evening if I start at about 11am or so.
Rodeo[/QUOTE]Thats interesting shit. Henessy is my drink of choice but I never mix it with cialis. I usually eat a light fruit breakfast, water myself down (no food) and take a half cialis about 2pm. I don't know but because I basically because I have an empty stomach, it seems to hit me correct.
At 5pm I'm chilling in the room at Newgarden watching porn, when it hit me. I walked on the balcony with a hardon (thankfully I was on the third floor) and signaled one of the girls downstairs to come up. The problem is cumming during intercourse with a condom. But I've learned to jackoff with the girls face there then push her to finish when I come.
Rodeo how is the performance when you mix your love potion?
For those prices, wouldn't someone spend the money and go to a better island, like St. Lucia or St. Martin?
"Sea Horse Ranch is less than ten minutes from Sosua. Current Villa prices start at 1/2 million US dollars and go to 4. 8 million dollars. Current villas for sale can be found here:"
[QUOTE=Rodeo9112; 1105799]Just wondering-what is everyone's drink of choice while mongering in DR, or mongering period? I guess I'm referring to the day to day grind of hunting during the day and prepping for the night feast of the club game. Of course, most just have a favorite beer or drink that they'll get once they get to their destination. But, I'm talking about that certain home made concoction that they sip on throughout the day to keep the buzz.
For me, I usually carry a 12-20 oz used water bottle filled with 1/3 Hennessey. 1/3 Alize, and 1/3 Red Bull with a 50mg Viagra crushed up and dissolved into it. I call it MY Crunk Juice! It's weird because the Red Bull keeps me awake, but the Hennessey definitely mellows me out. It has about the same effect as Mamajuana; I usually get through 3 bottles of those by the beginning of the late evening if I start at about 11am or so.
Rodeo[/QUOTE]Very nice. I like vodka and red bull.
[QUOTE=DR Monger II; 1105896]For those prices, wouldn't someone spend the money and go to a better island, like St. Lucia or St. Martin?
"Sea Horse Ranch is less than ten minutes from Sosua. Current Villa prices start at 1/2 million US dollars and go to 4. 8 million dollars. Current villas for sale can be found here:"[/QUOTE]I'm not one of the rich and famous, but I can see some advantages that Sosua could have, over more-familiar Caribbean destinations. (Or maybe I should say factors that [i]could be marketed as advantages. [/i])
First up, the Dom Rep is less well-known that these other destinations. You wouldn't be looking for "the rich and famous" at POP. This makes for more privacy, something you'd value if you had enough money & fame to be a target for the paparazzi (or for more formal investigations).
Next, even the rich love a bargain. A house & grounds equivalent to, say, € 4 million in Sea Horse Ranch, might cost more than € 10 million on an equivalent "classy neighborhood" on St. Martin or St. Lucia or wherever; and the land for a "nice and private" place might not be available, on a better-known destination, at any price. The sun is going to be just as warm in the Dom Rep, the pool is going to be as refreshing, and any luxury you could want is going to be just as available, even if there were an added cost of getting it into the country. And there are other bargains, too; I'm sure you can 'buy' an alcalde in the Dom Rep for a lot less than it would cost to get a mayor on St. Martin in your pocket, and the alcalde would be more likely to stay bought.
Then I perceive a "nobody comes here" factor that could help the rich-and-famous slip off the world's radar screens for a while. Though most might perceive Sosua as "the middle of nowheresville," POP is an excellent airport with a 10, 000-foot runway, all-weather capability (what a pilot would call "precision IFR approach aids") , and plenty of ramp space for your private jet or your chartered NetJet. I doubt if Customs would bring you into the main terminal, down the hallway and past the calypso band, if you arrived with your buds and your "secretaries" in a private jet. Then it's a quick heli-taxi flight across the Bay to the landing pad by your island retreat."Kato, call up some beeper-chicas for our guests. And invite the Mayor over for cocktails."
Another thing is the ease of establishing "special naturalization" and qualifying for a Dom Rep passport. Even though they aren't worth much going into Heathrow, Rhein-Main or Dulles airports, they're good at POP and they'd put a blind area into the paper trail. Six months' residency and that nice villa you've built for yourself would qualify you for a second passport, possibly with a change of name to "sound more Dominican". This could be useful to someone who is doing the "perpetual tourist" thing.
The rich-and-famous, I'm sure, play a different game from the average Sosua punter. Someone who's getting one of those million-dollar Sea Horse Ranch villas as a "hideaway" is likely to be playing a different game from you and me, on a much more exclusive table.
[QUOTE=Westy; 1106004]I'm not one of the rich and famous, but I can see some advantages that Sosua could have, over more-familiar Caribbean destinations. (Or maybe I should say factors that [i]could be marketed as advantages. [/i])
First up, the Dom Rep is less well-known that these other destinations. You wouldn't be looking for "the rich and famous" at POP. This makes for more privacy, something you'd value if you had enough money & fame to be a target for the paparazzi (or for more formal investigations).
Next, even the rich love a bargain. A house & grounds equivalent to, say, € 4 million in Sea Horse Ranch, might cost more than € 10 million on an equivalent "classy neighborhood" on St. Martin or St. Lucia or wherever; and the land for a "nice and private" place might not be available, on a better-known destination, at any price. The sun is going to be just as warm in the Dom Rep, the pool is going to be as refreshing, and any luxury you could want is going to be just as available, even if there were an added cost of getting it into the country. And there are other bargains, too; I'm sure you can 'buy' an alcalde in the Dom Rep for a lot less than it would cost to get a mayor on St. Martin in your pocket, and the alcalde would be more likely to stay bought.
Then I perceive a "nobody comes here" factor that could help the rich-and-famous slip off the world's radar screens for a while. Though most might perceive Sosua as "the middle of nowheresville," POP is an excellent airport with a 10, 000-foot runway, all-weather capability (what a pilot would call "precision IFR approach aids") , and plenty of ramp space for your private jet or your chartered NetJet. I doubt if Customs would bring you into the main terminal, down the hallway and past the calypso band, if you arrived with your buds and your "secretaries" in a private jet. Then it's a quick heli-taxi flight across the Bay to the landing pad by your island retreat."Kato, call up some beeper-chicas for our guests. And invite the Mayor over for cocktails."
Another thing is the ease of establishing "special naturalization" and qualifying for a Dom Rep passport. Even though they aren't worth much going into Heathrow, Rhein-Main or Dulles airports, they're good at POP and they'd put a blind area into the paper trail. Six months' residency and that nice villa you've built for yourself would qualify you for a second passport, possibly with a change of name to "sound more Dominican". This could be useful to someone who is doing the "perpetual tourist" thing.
The rich-and-famous, I'm sure, play a different game from the average Sosua punter. Someone who's getting one of those million-dollar Sea Horse Ranch villas as a "hideaway" is likely to be playing a different game from you and me, on a much more exclusive table. [/QUOTE]One problem people forget is that the earthquake" fault line" goes right thru the north coast. Samana in 1946, 8.0 earth quake. And we all remember recent events.
[QUOTE=Rodeo9112; 1105799]Just wondering-what is everyone's drink of choice while mongering in DR, or mongering period? I guess I'm referring to the day to day grind of hunting during the day and prepping for the night feast of the club game. Of course, most just have a favorite beer or drink that they'll get once they get to their destination. But, I'm talking about that certain home made concoction that they sip on throughout the day to keep the buzz.
For me, I usually carry a 12-20 oz used water bottle filled with 1/3 Hennessey. 1/3 Alize, and 1/3 Red Bull with a 50mg Viagra crushed up and dissolved into it. I call it MY Crunk Juice! It's weird because the Red Bull keeps me awake, but the Hennessey definitely mellows me out. It has about the same effect as Mamajuana; I usually get through 3 bottles of those by the beginning of the late evening if I start at about 11am or so.
Rodeo[/QUOTE]Ice cold Presidentes during the day to keep me from getting too drunk then a switch to Captain Morgan Special Reserve and Coke at about dinner time then later on when I'm ready to party I break out the tequila, chicas LOVE tequila.
I have been following the daily discussion and thought I would put my perspective out here.
First, I am making my first trip ever to the DR this coming April. Why, you ask, should I have a comment on a place I have never been to? I own a company that specializes in resorts. We own several, usually buying a great site, dozing over the old and putting up new. We typically spend $100. $150M US on a three year design / build. We do golf courses, marinas, hotels, tennis complexes, and beach resorts. Our latest acquisition is a ski resort with 4, 000 acres we purchased for $12M. We will spend another $150M to build all new facilities, add a village and make it a year round resort.
With that said there are companies always interested in finding new areas to develop. St Lucia, San Martin, and many other Caribbean destinations were all once sleepy little unheard of destinations until someone went in and put it on the map. There is always room for a new place. The last time I checked they are not making any new waterfront property.
There are many places with great vistas available for development. Infrastructure is important, and the airport in PP with daily nonstop service to cities like New York, are strong drawing cards. And yes Cuba is certainly on the near horizon.
One is the most critical factors in any development is the 'red tape'. Money is easy compared to the alphabet soup of regulatory agencies that impose layer after layer of requirements that can multiply the cost of any development. It certainly sounds like DR is still years behind in this area.
If you can buy prime oceanfront property cheap that is located so near to a major airport and the regulations are nonexistent, you have a winning combination. Part of my first visit will be look at what the possibilities are.
Creating 400-500 steady jobs, paying taxes, buying local products, and boosting the image of an area, all help a developing area. More development usually follows.
Things change but the trade will always remain. Despite the total transformation of 42nd Street in New York you can find a hooker with ease. Certainly we will miss how things once were. I think back to Viet Nam and Thailand and the fond memories I have of how they were during the war. I miss those days but I still have fun every time I return. You make your own fun. If you like what you do and are good at it, you will succeed.
I look forward to my visit and creating new memories with friends I have not yet made. Hope to meet all of you during our visit.
Leonard.
UOTE=Westy; 1106004]I'm not one of the rich and famous, but I can see some advantages that Sosua could have, over more-familiar Caribbean destinations. (Or maybe I should say factors that [i]could be marketed as advantages. [/i])
First up, the Dom Rep is less well-known that these other destinations. You wouldn't be looking for "the rich and famous" at POP. This makes for more privacy, something you'd value if you had enough money & fame to be a target for the paparazzi (or for more formal investigations).
Next, even the rich love a bargain. A house & grounds equivalent to, say, € 4 million in Sea Horse Ranch, might cost more than € 10 million on an equivalent "classy neighborhood" on St. Martin or St. Lucia or wherever; and the land for a "nice and private" place might not be available, on a better-known destination, at any price. The sun is going to be just as warm in the Dom Rep, the pool is going to be as refreshing, and any luxury you could want is going to be just as available, even if there were an added cost of getting it into the country. And there are other bargains, too; I'm sure you can 'buy' an alcalde in the Dom Rep for a lot less than it would cost to get a mayor on St. Martin in your pocket, and the alcalde would be more likely to stay bought.
Then I perceive a "nobody comes here" factor that could help the rich-and-famous slip off the world's radar screens for a while. Though most might perceive Sosua as "the middle of nowheresville," POP is an excellent airport with a 10, 000-foot runway, all-weather capability (what a pilot would call "precision IFR approach aids") , and plenty of ramp space for your private jet or your chartered NetJet. I doubt if Customs would bring you into the main terminal, down the hallway and past the calypso band, if you arrived with your buds and your "secretaries" in a private jet. Then it's a quick heli-taxi flight across the Bay to the landing pad by your island retreat."Kato, call up some beeper-chicas for our guests. And invite the Mayor over for cocktails."
Another thing is the ease of establishing "special naturalization" and qualifying for a Dom Rep passport. Even though they aren't worth much going into Heathrow, Rhein-Main or Dulles airports, they're good at POP and they'd put a blind area into the paper trail. Six months' residency and that nice villa you've built for yourself would qualify you for a second passport, possibly with a change of name to "sound more Dominican". This could be useful to someone who is doing the "perpetual tourist" thing.
The rich-and-famous, I'm sure, play a different game from the average Sosua punter. Someone who's getting one of those million-dollar Sea Horse Ranch villas as a "hideaway" is likely to be playing a different game from you and me, on a much more exclusive table. [/QUOTE]
To help us sell what we have we also own a travel agency. I can put anyone in the local AI's in PP at the following rates per person per night USD:
Lyfestyles $21. 00.
Iberostar $35. 00.
Gran Ventana $36. 00.
Less than the cost of a chica for an afternoon.
Compare the number of rooms rented on average per day to the number of chicas rented per day.
Subtract the overhead of each.
Who contributes more to the economy per day.
If local money was the only concern for the goverment, the new mayor would be importing women from around the world to work in Sousia.
[QUOTE=Sweeper239; 1106103]To help us sell what we have we also own a travel agency. I can put anyone in the local AI's in PP at the following rates per person per night USD:
Lyfestyles $21. 00.
Iberostar $35. 00.
Gran Ventana $36. 00.
Less than the cost of a chica for an afternoon.
Compare the number of rooms rented on average per day to the number of chicas rented per day.
Subtract the overhead of each.
Who contributes more to the economy per day.
If local money was the only concern for the goverment, the new mayor would be importing women from around the world to work in Sousia. [/QUOTE]I'm sure many posters would welcome booking / contact information for those AI's at those rates. Can you provide more information?
[QUOTE=Marc Anthony;1106142]I'm sure many posters would welcome booking / contact information for those AI's at those rates. Can you provide more information?[/QUOTE]You know what they say,"If it sounds too good", blah, blah, blah.
You can bet your bottom dollar those rates do not include taxes and do not include all you can eat and drink. Sorry but I don't believe that post.
Example: Lifestyles $42 per night for two people? Breakfast, lunch, dinner and free booze at that price. I think NOT.
[QUOTE=Bq Ribs; 1106145]You know what they say,"If it sounds too good", blah, blah, blah.
You can bet your bottom dollar those rates do not include taxes and do not include all you can eat and drink. Sorry but I don't believe that post.
Example: Lifestyles $42 per night for two people? Breakfast, lunch, dinner and free booze at that price. I think NOT. [/QUOTE]No. Its actually real talk. When I arrived in pop a few trips ago, I met an older white guy who lives in the the. Are. And he told me about it bc he said him and his novia go there when they have the deal. I called the site who had the deal and a lady told me it was over but they do have that.