Sosua Reports

[QUOTE=Orgasmico;1175863]Any thoughts on the difference in chica quality and numbers in Sosua vs Boca Chica these days. I haven't been to BC in years.[/QUOTE]While I've travelled all over DR, I've only seen Monger Disnyland in Boca and Sosua.

I was in Boca in March from Tuesday to Friday, and I don't know whether it was because I was new, but I found it as intoxicating as my first trip to Sosua. They had closed off Duarte to traffic and it was party time. There were lots of seriously beautiful chicas and only a few mongers. Some chicas we met had moved down there as a result of the hassle in Sosua, but were complaining about the lack of gringos.

That's not my problem, I thought, and made a mental note to put Boca on a future solo trip, if I ever got the chance.

[QUOTE=Sidney;1175765]Prove your claims, and I'll return on the next plane to my home of 6 years. Strange, I never met you there. We will meet and enjoy the opera, symphony, plays in Spanish, art shows, jazz, soccer, parks, mas. Are you related to Jackson? And dine on beef and Malbec wine.[/QUOTE]I was in BsAs in March of 2009. So yes, it was a bit more than 2 years ago. I rented an apartment for a week that was on Corrientes, between Callao and Riobamba. About 2 blocks from the apartment I rented, on Corrientes and Junin, there was a small neighborhood Parilla that opened up about 8 PM every night except Sunday. It looked like a real hole in the wall, but the smell emanating from his woodfired oven was sublime as you walked down the block. At the time, it cost 40 Pesos for about a 300 gram cut of steak, a small salad, and a soft drink. He grilled right in front of you on his wood-fired oven, and his wife handled all of the serving, and preparing the salad and drinks. Yes, $15 US did not include a malbec, but it did include a coke and a small salad. I liked the place and it's value proposition so much, I ate dinner there 4 times in the week that I stayed in that neighborhood. While I don't remember which Privados that I mainly frequented, there were several in the general area between where I was staying and the Plaza de Republica, or possibly slightly past the Plaze down to say, Maipu or Esmeralda, typically between Corrientes and Lavalle or Sarmiento. At the time, I was typically paying 60-70 pesos for a half hour, or 90-100 pesos for an hour. At that time, the Peso was at slightly over 3. 2 to a dollar Now, it's over 4 to a dollar.

Now if you want to tell me that prices have doubled or more in the last 2 years,. In USA dollar terms, I won't argue, because I haven't been there since the first half of 2009, but I was paying $20-25 US for most of my sessions in privados in Buenos Aires '09.

And no, I have no affiliation with Jackson, other than that I use his websites.

[QUOTE=Sidney;1175821]If a steak cost $20, you must pay extra for, papas, veggies, salad, pasta, drinks, etc. So the total meal with tip could be $40-$45![/QUOTE]It has been a long time since last time I saw you in BsAs, actually I was digging out our PMs the other day regarding some of your recommendations about DR, and this time in Mid-Aug, alone other 2 mongers, I will spend some good time in Sosua.

So whats the going price for massage, any strip clubs for entertaining?

Regards,

Strad

[QUOTE=Strad; 1176230]It has been a long time since last time I saw you in BsAs, actually I was digging out our PMs the other day regarding some of your recommendations about DR, and this time in Mid-Aug, alone other 2 mongers, I will spend some good time in Sosua.

So whats the going price for massage, any strip clubs for entertaining?

Regards,

Strad[/QUOTE]A Pro massage, no sex, = Keka, $14. Many others for $14 offer minimal massage, HJ's and BBBJ's. There is 1 lousy strip club= Bananas = not advised! Better places offering in-house sex are Carribean Men's Paradise and Passion's (watch out for being short-changed here). The best places for fine, young chicas after 10pm are: Merengue Bar, Classico's disco and Latino's. I'll show you guys around.

[QUOTE=Member #2041; 1176188]I was in BsAs in March of 2009. So yes, it was a bit more than 2 years ago. I rented an apartment for a week that was on Corrientes, between Callao and Riobamba. About 2 blocks from the apartment I rented, on Corrientes and Junin, there was a small neighborhood Parilla that opened up about 8 PM every night except Sunday. It looked like a real hole in the wall, but the smell emanating from his woodfired oven was sublime as you walked down the block. At the time, it cost 40 Pesos for about a 300 gram cut of steak, a small salad, and a soft drink. He grilled right in front of you on his wood-fired oven, and his wife handled all of the serving, and preparing the salad and drinks. Yes, $15 US did not include a malbec, but it did include a coke and a small salad. I liked the place and it's value proposition so much, I ate dinner there 4 times in the week that I stayed in that neighborhood. While I don't remember which Privados that I mainly frequented, there were several in the general area between where I was staying and the Plaza de Republica, or possibly slightly past the Plaze down to say, Maipu or Esmeralda, typically between Corrientes and Lavalle or Sarmiento. At the time, I was typically paying 60-70 pesos for a half hour, or 90-100 pesos for an hour. At that time, the Peso was at slightly over 3. 2 to a dollar Now, it's over 4 to a dollar.

Now if you want to tell me that prices have doubled or more in the last 2 years. In USA dollar terms, I won't argue, because I haven't been there since the first half of 2009, but I was paying $20-25 US for most of my sessions in privados in Buenos Aires '09.

And no, I have no affiliation with Jackson, other than that I use his websites.[/QUOTE]The inflation of the last 2 years is incomprehensible! The 3rd highest in the world, only behind Zambia and Venezuela!

[QUOTE=Sidney;1176379]Better places offering in-house sex are . Passion's (watch out for being short-changed here).[/QUOTE]I am no great enthusiast for Passions, especially in its new and sterile format with hiked pricing. But I think it is fair to say that if Sidney was short-changed then he is one of the relatively few that have been. I have read hundreds of reports from customers of Passions over the past six years and it is something that I don't remember having come up before. Short-changing is widespread across the DR from stores, taxis, restaurants, etc, often by intent, but sometimes through incompetence. The people are generally innumerate and have to use calculators to work out (for example) ten [email]items@20[/email] Pesos each. I have even had too much change given back on occasion. So "watch out for being short-changed" everywhere you go! Passions is no worse than anywhere else, perhaps better.

I have read plenty of posts complaining about Passions (usually about poor service given by their over-priced putas) so I am sure if anyone else had that problem they would not have hesitated to report it. Stressing over that 200 pesos (?) will shorten your life, Sidney. Guys of our age need to chill out!

[QUOTE=Charles Pooter;1176423]over-priced putas) so I am sure if anyone else had that problem they would not have hesitated to report it. Stressing over that 200 pesos (?) will shorten your life, Sidney. Guys of our age need to chill out![/QUOTE]I have been told several times, that short changing and stalling, is 'modus operandi'
with the cash register thief! My great life continues irregardless of Passion's suk-ups! I find them rather amusing!

[QUOTE=Sidney; 1176431]I have been told several times, that short changing and stalling, is 'modus operandi'

With the cash register thief! My great life continues irregardless of Passion's suk-ups! I find them rather amusing![/QUOTE]There is a chronic shortage of small bills here and people will do anything to avoid having to give up their valuable change so as to make change for you. They will pretend they have no change and hope you will tell them to forget it. This is one reason why I hardly ever use a motoconcho. 30 pesos for a short ride is fine and convenient, but when you have to have negotiations every single time over a 100 peso bill it is not convenient, and frankly I prefer to walk and save the aggravation and the money.

If it is a chica or a massage parlor, or La Passion, here is what you do. You tell them that since they do not have change, you will go away with your money, visit a change bureau, and return later with the correct change. They will suddenly, miraculously find a way to change your 500 peso bill.

They hope that you will hand over a 500 pesos bill when you owe 400 pesos and that you will give them an extra 100 propina if there is no change available and you can't be bothered to wait. Don't let them do it.

As CP says, Dominicans are not very good at mental arithmetic, and you may have to tell them how much is the correct change if they cannot calculate it correctly.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1176465]There is a chronic shortage of small bills here and people will do anything to avoid having to give up their valuable change so as to make change for you. They will pretend they have no change and hope you will tell them to forget it . etc[/QUOTE]All good info, Frannie, but I am surprised you have problems with change. Don't you live in the DR? Or visit very frequently? Why don't you do what I do and ask for smaller bills and / or coins at the teller counter? Very occasionally they might run short on one denomination so I just take another. I never run out of change these days once I learned how easy that is.

[QUOTE=Charles Pooter;1176474]All good info, Frannie, but I am surprised you have problems with change. Don't you live in the DR? Or visit very frequently? Why don't you do what I do and ask for smaller bills and / or coins at the teller counter? Very occasionally they might run short on one denomination so I just take another. I never run out of change these days once I learned how easy that is.[/QUOTE]The other thing that you do is use your largest bills at the supermarket and like places. Even if I have all the change I need, I will hand the supermarket my absolutely largest bills. I do this even if I only buy a bottle of soda or bag of chips. In fact, I may later give the chips to a little person outside the supermarket. This goes in ANY country, including home. When the cashier asks if I have anything smaller, I say no. I put the bills in a buttoned pocket after counting it. Later, while in a bathroom or private place, I rearrange my bills and move money to and from the money belt. This has helped me manage my money.

[QUOTE=Charles Pooter;1176474]All good info, Frannie, but I am surprised you have problems with change. Don't you live in the DR? Or visit very frequently? Why don't you do what I do and ask for smaller bills and / or coins at the teller counter? Very occasionally they might run short on one denomination so I just take another. I never run out of change these days once I learned how easy that is.[/QUOTE]I don't have a bank account here and the problem is with ATMs. Like everyone else I try to horde small bills when I can get hold of them, but you will notice that even at the change bureaus, they will not generally give you more than 500 pesos in smaller bills even if you request it.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1176581]I don't have a bank account here and the problem is with ATMs. Like everyone else I try to horde small bills when I can get hold of them, but you will notice that even at the change bureaus, they will not generally give you more than 500 pesos in smaller bills even if you request it.[/QUOTE]I ask the cashiers in the casinos to give me 10, one hundred pesos bills, for every 1000 peso bill, I give them. Some casinos will also give you cash like an ATM machine at the caja (cashier window) , I was told the fee is something like $4US for every $100US. I didn't try it yet at the casino, but if my thieving bank Chase, doesn't charge an additional $5US on a casino transaction, then getting money from a cashier at a casino in DR, might be cheaper than using an ATM machine.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1176581]I don't have a bank account here and the problem is with ATMs. Like everyone else I try to horde small bills when I can get hold of them, but you will notice that even at the change bureaus, they will not generally give you more than 500 pesos in smaller bills even if you request it.[/QUOTE]You don't need a bank account in the DR. Instead of using your bank card in the ATM, draw cash at the teller counter. You will need your passport. I typically draw 15, 000 because I don't want to be walking round with too much cash, but if you only draw 10, 000 they groan and ask you to use the ATM next time. You have to sign a chit. I always ask for 1000 in 100s. 1000 in 50s and (very occasionally) 1000 in coins. Now I never run out of change and this saves me money in the long run. Also it's safer to draw cash inside the bank and stash it away in your inside or zipped pockets than doing it on the street.

[QUOTE=Jaosousa;1176589]I ask the cashiers in the casinos to give me 10, one hundred pesos bills, for every 1000 peso bill, I give them. Some casinos will also give you cash like an ATM machine at the caja (cashier window) , I was told the fee is something like $4US for every $100US. I didn't try it yet at the casino, but if my thieving bank Chase, doesn't charge an additional $5US on a casino transaction, then getting money from a cashier at a casino in DR, might be cheaper than using an ATM machine.[/QUOTE]The ATM's charge 112 pesos for withdrawals on foreign accounts, that is $ 3. Not sure where you are getting the $5 from. I did leave the DR 3 weeks ago so it could have changed since I left but I don't think so.

[QUOTE=Charles Pooter; 1176423]I am no great enthusiast for Passions, especially in its new and sterile format with hiked pricing. But I think it is fair to say that if Sidney was short-changed then he is one of the relatively few that have been. I have read hundreds of reports from customers of Passions over the past six years and it is something that I don't remember having come up before. Short-changing is widespread across the DR from stores, taxis, restaurants, etc, often by intent, but sometimes through incompetence. The people are generally innumerate and have to use calculators to work out (for example) ten [email]items@20[/email] Pesos each. I have even had too much change given back on occasion. So "watch out for being short-changed" everywhere you go! Passions is no worse than anywhere else, perhaps better.

I have read plenty of posts complaining about Passions (usually about poor service given by their over-priced putas) so I am sure if anyone else had that problem they would not have hesitated to report it. Stressing over that 200 pesos (?) will shorten your life, Sidney. Guys of our age need to chill out![/QUOTE]

Sidney's experience is not unique and I have made a complaint to management about being shortchanged in Passions. From my experience this happens when management is not paying attention or is not around. I do not see it often, though, but it does happen.

Guys go to a place, they drink, and sometimes, as stated earlier, they are shortchanged intentionally. Other times, as already stated, the chicas do not know how to count. Still other times the guys are plain drunk and do not recall how much they gave or got back. Sometimes it is hard to tell which.

As a rule of thumb whenever I have large bills I use them during the day to buy and eat food and at night I use small bills to buy drinks. While one is drinking, being distracted by the chicas, and interacting at nighttime (or on a dark dance floor) it is easy for one to make mistakes or be cheated out of money! I use small bills so if mistakes are made the loss will not be that great.

I remember while at Merengue Bar I gave one of the chicas money for a beer. I had asked her several times for my change and she said that she would give it to me. Another monger said for me not to worry because she would eventually come back with my money since Merengue bar was pretty honest. She continued serving others, while ignoring me, and the only way I was able to get my money back was by complaining to the head cashier (who happened to be a friend of mine!). It looked like the typical game of not giving back the change and it being so little that I would simply walk away and she would pocket it as a tip!

Sydney needs to complain since, like the experience just mentioned, one learns to lessen if not totally avoid losing money unnecessarily!

I remember while at Blackbeards one of the complaints was that the chicas were skimming money off the top. If they owed you 60 DOP they would only pay you 50 DOP, if not less. Hey, these chicas know when the guys are paying attention or not; when they are drunk or not. 10 DOP here. 20 DOP there (sometimes much more) , and it all adds up! The typical guy would not know since the sum lost is so low. Blackbeards has had problems with chicas stealing but they always try to address this. If Blackbeards did not have these problems they would not need to fine the chica, suspend, or even expel them from the place! Overall, though, Blackbeards is a good place and I am not trying to knock it down since they do try to create a good environment for the monger!

The truth of the matter is that these chicas come from bad neighborhoods so what does one expect. They are not all thieves but the incidence of thievery is much higher.

As for receiving too much change I find that to be even more rare than being cheated out of money in Passions! The people in that country might not know how to count but, heck, giving too much change back! I have yet to read a report on that topic. Anyone out there who knows of a place in the DR that gives too much change back can you please PM me. That is a place I would like to give all my business to!