Sosua Reports

I think the Scotia Bank about halfway between Dr. Rosen and La Passions is good for more than 10K as well.

[QUOTE=Ehunter; 1116429]I don't see what is wrong with a $RD150 ATM charge? That is a whole $4 US which we are paying day in / out in the states already. Even if it was more, what can it be, a whole extra buck more for vacation convenience?

Even if my bank did not rebate me my ATM costs I still would not complain. Anybody who really hates excessive ATM fees should sign up for a Schwab account and gain access to one of their ATM cards. No matter where you use it, the ATM fees are rebated.

At the same time not being able to find an ATM that gives out more than 2K pesos is just plain lame. They are all over the place! I have taken 10K out of both Banco Popular and Playero Supermercado with good consistency. I suggest more ground work after you touchdown. Only then will these piddly issues go away. [/QUOTE]

Thought it would be interesting to hear of some of the unique characters you've run across in Sosua. I'm not talking, necessarily about just the chicas (they come and go) , but the other. Staples of the "community."

I always look forward to seeing the "Rosetta Stone" guy come around selling "Learn Spanish" DVDs. He's got a really smooth salesman type voice when he is touting it. The first time I met him, I let him give me the whole spiel before I told him I was already using the program after building up how great it sounded. I bought him a coke since it was so hot that day. I think he is Haitian, but has spent some time in the US. A real mild-mannered older (40s) guy.

Another character is this lighter skinned, bald Dominican guy who speaks perfect English. He lived in the Bronx for awhile before being deported. Not sure for what. But, the guy looks like a snake and talks like a snake. He is basically a hussle and con man. He finds English speaking newbies and offers his services which include "protecting" them from the wrong girls, making contact with girls and. This is the best. Introducing them to girls in Passions and convincing the girls to have sex with the guys-for a reasonable price! He told me one guy paid him $50USD just to "arrange" a sexual encounter with a girl (in Passions) that worked there. He tried to play that shit with me the first time at Classico's that he saw me. I told him it was my first time so I could hear his hussle, then broke the news that he was full of shit and I had been there several times before. He laughed and said "You got me". I laughed and bought him a Cuba Libre. Now, if you can get on the right side of a guy like this (I throw him 100pesos every now and then for a drink, admission to Classicos or a chicken meal from the grill) , he can be a good asset to get the gossip on whats going on in town. I definitely keep him at a distance and don't trust him at all-would never let him see where I was staying, flash too much cash, or go anywhere with him. But, he's entertaining and has connections and sometimes, that helps pass the time!

My final favorite (which rotates) is always a kid (boy). Usually, there's always a kid about 9 or 10 years old that has learned English from watching rap videos and sounds like he just stepped out of one. This one kid was like,"yo, yo, what up my and! Gg@I'm just tryin to mack these be! Tch#s and make this paper ya heard me?" So, I play along and I'm like "where the hoes at?" He goes on,"man I told this one be! Tch to have her a$$ on this corner by 9 cause mother [email]fu@kers[/email] Like you was going to be lookin for some a$$, now I'mma have to smack her a$$ with the backside." Me and my wingman were DYING laughing as this was coming from a 9/10 year old! Then, he goes on and starts whispering about how he had "that fire weed" if we wanted to get "[email]fu@ked[/email] Up like Chris Brown's career; but why'all got to give me the money first and I'll go get it for you and meet you over there." Nope. So, he starts talking about how that's good we don't do drugs cause that will [email]fu@k[/email] Up your life,"why'all need to stay in school so why'all can make those dollars. Dollar, dollar bill why'all." So, we asked him what he knew about rap and he said he knew everything about rap-50 cent. 2pac, Biggie, Snoop. Little bastard even started freestyling. I told him we'd pay him 100pesos if he let me video him rapping. He did and I must've kept it for like 2 years before I deleted it. The first kid I think ended up in jail. So says the second kid who was damn near a carbon copy. I think a third kid was trying to approach one trip, but I was hunting some pu$$why at the time, so I brushed him off! If you ever run across one of these dudes, not to be confused with the shoe-shining Haitian kids, give them a few minutes of your time-it will be entertaining!

My favorite bartender is Sandra (with the mole) at Club 59 / Classico's. I think its because I wanted her from day 1 for her amazing ass and everyone was saying she was "not that kind of girl" or "off limits". Well, about 2 years into my travels, I finally proposition her, which she agrees, but it took me 2 more trips to seal the deal. All the trips in between, she would look at me with these "please [email]fu@k[/email] Me" eyes and lips and just kept wagging her a$$ around me. There is definitely something to be said for the chase!

[QUOTE=Twice Divorced;1116717]Taken from Paypal's website. According to this, it is 1%, not $1. 00. Not an issue for me, but might be for those who are looking for the most cost effective means to access their money.[/QUOTE]At the same time, buying something in a store using the card would probably tack on an extra 2. 5. Better to ATM for the cash and pay the store instead of paying the whole thing with the plastic.

When I use my Schwab ATM I wonder why Paypal can forgo their 2. 5% skim and Schwab can't or doesn't. Kinda interesting.

[QUOTE=Mr Gogo; 1116614]Great advise Coolie, I speak for everyone when I say were awaiting your next visit and report. And yes everyone should still go to Sosua because it is still excting in a different way.

As far as conficting reports go, everyone sees things differently because we are not the same. The "new Sosua' vs the "old Sosua" is like this for me. Suppose you haven't been to McDonalds in a few months, and decide you want a big Mac. So you go to McDonalds and look up at the menu and all you see is "hamburger for 69 cents" nothing else. You're hungry so you order two hamburgers but while your eating you remember the day when you could have fries, apple pie and a drink. But for someone who has never been to McDonalds that hambuger is great.[/QUOTE]Mr. Gogo,

Didn't McDonalds stop selling Big Mac for a time and tried to change it up and provide some other bullshit burger before there was an uproar by the customers and they were forced to bring back the big Mac. I bet money by the end of the year everything will return back to normal. Nostalgia shall return.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDCUG16BJRo[/url]

[QUOTE=Twice Divorced; 1116717]...Non-US ATM Transaction (Using an ATM machine that is not in the US) 1% This fee will apply even if the transaction does not require a currency conversion...

...Taken from Paypal's website. According to this, it is 1, not $1. 00. Not an issue for me, but might be for those who are looking for the most cost effective means to access their money...[/QUOTE]With almost 70 ATM transactions in the Dominican Republic, spread out fairly evenly over the last three years, the fee on my debit card has always been US$1.00 per ATM transaction.

-Helpmann :(

[QUOTE=Rodeo9112; 1116738]Thought it would be interesting to hear of some of the unique characters you've run across in Sosua. I'm not talking, necessarily about just the chicas (they come and go) , but the other. Staples of the "community."

I always look forward to seeing the "Rosetta Stone" guy come around selling "Learn Spanish" DVDs. He's got a really smooth salesman type voice when he is touting it. The first time I met him, I let him give me the whole spiel before I told him I was already using the program after building up how great it sounded. I bought him a coke since it was so hot that day. I think he is Haitian, but has spent some time in the US. A real mild-mannered older (40s) guy.

Another character is this lighter skinned, bald Dominican guy who speaks perfect English. He lived in the Bronx for awhile before being deported. Not sure for what. But, the guy looks like a snake and talks like a snake. He is basically a hussle and con man. He finds English speaking newbies and offers his services which include "protecting" them from the wrong girls, making contact with girls and. This is the best. Introducing them to girls in Passions and convincing the girls to have sex with the guys-for a reasonable price! He told me one guy paid him $50USD just to "arrange" a sexual encounter with a girl (in Passions) that worked there. He tried to play that shit with me the first time at Classico's that he saw me. I told him it was my first time so I could hear his hussle, then broke the news that he was full of shit and I had been there several times before. He laughed and said "You got me". I laughed and bought him a Cuba Libre. Now, if you can get on the right side of a guy like this (I throw him 100pesos every now and then for a drink, admission to Classicos or a chicken meal from the grill) , he can be a good asset to get the gossip on whats going on in town. I definitely keep him at a distance and don't trust him at all-would never let him see where I was staying, flash too much cash, or go anywhere with him. But, he's entertaining and has connections and sometimes, that helps pass the time!

My final favorite (which rotates) is always a kid (boy). Usually, there's always a kid about 9 or 10 years old that has learned English from watching rap videos and sounds like he just stepped out of one. This one kid was like,"yo, yo, what up my and! [email]Gg@I[/email]'m just tryin to mack these be! Tch#s and make this paper ya heard me?" So, I play along and I'm like "where the hoes at?" He goes on,"man I told this one be! Tch to have her a$$ on this corner by 9 cause mother [email]fu@kers[/email] Like you was going to be lookin for some a$$, now I'mma have to smack her a$$ with the backside." Me and my wingman were DYING laughing as this was coming from a 9/10 year old! Then, he goes on and starts whispering about how he had "that fire weed" if we wanted to get "[email]fu@ked[/email] Up like Chris Brown's career; but why'all got to give me the money first and I'll go get it for you and meet you over there." Nope. So, he starts talking about how that's good we don't do drugs cause that will [email]fu@k[/email] Up your life,"why'all need to stay in school so why'all can make those dollars. Dollar, dollar bill why'all." So, we asked him what he knew about rap and he said he knew everything about rap-50 cent. 2pac, Biggie, Snoop. Little bastard even started freestyling. I told him we'd pay him 100pesos if he let me video him rapping. He did and I must've kept it for like 2 years before I deleted it. The first kid I think ended up in jail. So says the second kid who was damn near a carbon copy. I think a third kid was trying to approach one trip, but I was hunting some pu$$why at the time, so I brushed him off! If you ever run across one of these dudes, not to be confused with the shoe-shining Haitian kids, give them a few minutes of your time-it will be entertaining!

My favorite bartender is Sandra (with the mole) at Club 59 / Classico's. I think its because I wanted her from day 1 for her amazing ass and everyone was saying she was "not that kind of girl" or "off limits". Well, about 2 years into my travels, I finally proposition her, which she agrees, but it took me 2 more trips to seal the deal. All the trips in between, she would look at me with these "please Me" eyes and lips and just kept wagging her a$$ around me. There is definitely something to be said for the chase! [/QUOTE]The Rosetta Stone guy is named Lionel. He was deported from MD years ago for running drugs. He has a good deal on RS but they don't play on Macs. He also is good for intel and completely trust worthy. He pays the cops to play. The kids are cool but I don't need that kind of company. The girl with the mole has a nice ass but the tall light skinned beauty has always out ranked her for me.

Headed to Costa Rica manana with Kutha (packing as we speak) , look for a report on that forum in a week.

[QUOTE=Helpmann; 1116754]With almost 70 ATM transactions in the Dominican Republic, spread out fairly evenly over the last three years, the fee on my debit card has always been US$1. 00 per ATM transaction.

-Helpmann. [/QUOTE]Same here, when I review my online statement one column lists the USD amount and the next column list $1 fee.

[QUOTE=Helpmann; 1116754]With almost 70 ATM transactions in the Dominican Republic, spread out fairly evenly over the last three years, the fee on my debit card has always been US$1. 00 per ATM transaction.

-Helpmann. [/QUOTE]Help I agree with you that they only charge $1 no matter what, all over South America and the Caribbean they only charged me $1 BUT I remember I did an experiment where I used my ETRADE Card and PayPal card at the same time and took out the same amount. When I got home and looked at it online, it seemed like PayPal gave me a shittier exchange rate.

Yes I remember doing that experiment clearly and that was the case. So that's why its been buried away in the bottom of my wallet and haven't used it for a few years.

[QUOTE=Rodeo9112; 1116738]Thought it would be interesting to hear of some of the unique characters you've run across in Sosua. I'm not talking, necessarily about just the chicas (they come and go) , but the other. Staples of the "community."

I always look forward to seeing the "Rosetta Stone" guy come around selling "Learn Spanish" DVDs. He's got a really smooth salesman type voice when he is touting it. The first time I met him, I let him give me the whole spiel before I told him I was already using the program after building up how great it sounded. I bought him a coke since it was so hot that day. I think he is Haitian, but has spent some time in the US. A real mild-mannered older (40s) guy.

Another character is this lighter skinned, bald Dominican guy who speaks perfect English. He lived in the Bronx for awhile before being deported. Not sure for what. But, the guy looks like a snake and talks like a snake. He is basically a hussle and con man. He finds English speaking newbies and offers his services which include "protecting" them from the wrong girls, making contact with girls and. This is the best. Introducing them to girls in Passions and convincing the girls to have sex with the guys-for a reasonable price! He told me one guy paid him $50USD just to "arrange" a sexual encounter with a girl (in Passions) that worked there. He tried to play that shit with me the first time at Classico's that he saw me. I told him it was my first time so I could hear his hussle, then broke the news that he was full of shit and I had been there several times before. He laughed and said "You got me". I laughed and bought him a Cuba Libre. Now, if you can get on the right side of a guy like this (I throw him 100pesos every now and then for a drink, admission to Classicos or a chicken meal from the grill) , he can be a good asset to get the gossip on whats going on in town. I definitely keep him at a distance and don't trust him at all-would never let him see where I was staying, flash too much cash, or go anywhere with him. But, he's entertaining and has connections and sometimes, that helps pass the time!

My final favorite (which rotates) is always a kid (boy). Usually, there's always a kid about 9 or 10 years old that has learned English from watching rap videos and sounds like he just stepped out of one. This one kid was like,"yo, yo, what up my and! [email]Gg@I[/email]'m just tryin to mack these be! Tch#s and make this paper ya heard me?" So, I play along and I'm like "where the hoes at?" He goes on,"man I told this one be! Tch to have her a$$ on this corner by 9 cause mother [email]fu@kers[/email] Like you was going to be lookin for some a$$, now I'mma have to smack her a$$ with the backside." Me and my wingman were DYING laughing as this was coming from a 9/10 year old! Then, he goes on and starts whispering about how he had "that fire weed" if we wanted to get "[email]fu@ked[/email] Up like Chris Brown's career; but why'all got to give me the money first and I'll go get it for you and meet you over there." Nope. So, he starts talking about how that's good we don't do drugs cause that will [email]fu@k[/email] Up your life,"why'all need to stay in school so why'all can make those dollars. Dollar, dollar bill why'all." So, we asked him what he knew about rap and he said he knew everything about rap-50 cent. 2pac, Biggie, Snoop. Little bastard even started freestyling. I told him we'd pay him 100pesos if he let me video him rapping. He did and I must've kept it for like 2 years before I deleted it. The first kid I think ended up in jail. So says the second kid who was damn near a carbon copy. I think a third kid was trying to approach one trip, but I was hunting some pu$$why at the time, so I brushed him off! If you ever run across one of these dudes, not to be confused with the shoe-shining Haitian kids, give them a few minutes of your time-it will be entertaining!

My favorite bartender is Sandra (with the mole) at Club 59 / Classico's. I think its because I wanted her from day 1 for her amazing ass and everyone was saying she was "not that kind of girl" or "off limits". Well, about 2 years into my travels, I finally proposition her, which she agrees, but it took me 2 more trips to seal the deal. All the trips in between, she would look at me with these "please [email]fu@k[/email] Me" eyes and lips and just kept wagging her a$$ around me. There is definitely something to be said for the chase! [/QUOTE]Haha, yeah the Rosetta Stone guy was cool. He always had this book with him that he says he wrote himself. Don't forget about the tall Haitian guy with the paintings. I've got two of his paintings still rolled up in my closet, LOL.

[QUOTE=MiamiHeatLuver;1116763]Help I agree with you that they only charge $1 no matter what, all over South America and the Caribbean they only charged me $1 BUT I remember I did an experiment where I used my ETRADE Card and PayPal card at the same time and took out the same amount. When I got home it seemed like PayPal gave me a shittier exchange rate. Yes I remember doing that experiment clearly and that was the case. So that's why its been buried away on the bottom of my wallet and haven't used it for a few years.[/QUOTE]Your experiment gave you the correct answer. PayPal exchange rate is around 0.5 +/- peso on the dollar less than what you would get at a casa de cambio.

[QUOTE=SavePros321;1116764]Haha, yeah the Rosetta Stone guy was cool. He always had this book with him that he says he wrote himself. Don't forget about the tall Haitian guy with the paintings. I've got two of his paintings still rolled up in my closet, LOL.[/QUOTE]Me too. Hahahah. I left one of his rolled up paintings in my room in New Garden. Did you ever open it and see whats in there?

I think the light skinned bald guy is Ramon, hustler to the core. There is another shorter curly haired guy (Eduardo or something like that) who's a little more decent. He took me on a tour to Charamaicos and showed me where some of the girls stay, some 3 per tiny room with shared dingy bathrooms. Not all were like that some had their own rooms with attached bathrooms (the more popular ones).

[QUOTE=MiamiHeatLuver;1116763]Help I agree with you that they only charge $1 no matter what, all over South America and the Caribbean they only charged me $1 BUT I remember I did an experiment where I used my ETRADE Card and PayPal card at the same time and took out the same amount. When I got home and looked at it online, it seemed like PayPal gave me a shittier exchange rate.[/QUOTE]So Paypal does make back some of the money for the cheap $1 ATM usage fee. Like I posted, banks are very good at hiding such charges and one would never know it until experiments like the one you did are carried through. I learned this via similar tests I did years ago as well.

So Paypal skims off the exchange rate too. Why am I not surprised.

Bottom line is the charge is $1 + additional skim off the exchange rate.

[QUOTE=Rodeo9112;1116738]Thought it would be interesting to hear of some of the unique characters you've run across in Sosua. I'm not talking, necessarily about just the chicas (they come and go) , but the other. Staples of the "community."[/QUOTE]I have only been to Sosua twice (just returned late last night, reports to follow) , so I don't know the long time characters, but how long has the "Pantie Man" and the "Magician" on the beach been around? The flaming Pantie Man has no business sense whatsoever. Every pair of panties goes for 100p, and there is no negotiations allowed. I asked him, how about 6 panties for 500p, or 3 for 250p; dude would not budge!

BTW, here is a picture of one of his pair of panties; pic was taken in Latino.[ATTACH=CONFIG]145368[/ATTACH]

If you loose your ATM card what kind of service are you going to get to in order to get you back and running while you are still outside the USA?

If anybody has experience with this and a Paypal ATM I would like to hear it. If they treat you the same way as Paypal dispute customer service does I want no part of them.

On the other hand, here is a post from a person who holds a zero fee SchwabATM and how they were treated while in Argentina:

[url]http://www.travelpunk.com/boards/travel-budget-money-matters-financial-talk/14834-best-international-atm-rate.html#post203045[/url]

Jaososua,

Isn't cristals overpriced? From what I have been reading there are find chicas all over for way less then $100 US. I have also read that there are Cabanas for short stay in puerto plata since I can't go back to my AI. I know there probably won't be as many chicas in puerto plata as in sosua but I should still come across them without having to do the man tour correct?