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[QUOTE=SavePros321;1402115]It's almost safe to say that anyone going there now is willfully walking into a trap, with the chicas being used as the bait to lure you in. The bars, discos, and hotels are nothing more than elaborately designed mouse traps, lol![/QUOTE]I think that may be a bit of an exaggeration LOL
[QUOTE=The Mind Bender;1402251]I think that may be a bit of an exaggeration LOL[/QUOTE]I seriously hope so, lol. But at this point I'm not willing to find out if I am wrong or not. Just way too many other places to visit that doesn't require that you have a local bondsman on retainer.
[QUOTE=ManOfMystery; 1402140]Hey guys,
I'm booked for Sosua for the first time in mid-May. I was pretty psyched about it but all the doom and gloom here seems to have me a little concerned now. Is it still a worthwhile place to visit? I've done a lot of traveling so I'm not a complete noob, but the extent of my mongering has been the termas in Rio. In Sosua I was planning on lots of days on the beach and visits to Passions or CMP. Maybe some chicas from the clubs at night. From what I've been reading of late though, it seems staying away from these freelance chicas and sticking to the establishments would be my best and safest bet. I understand these chicas are all about the money, I don't have any delusions otherwise, but are they worth the risk?[/QUOTE]Sosua remains the best value for money for anyone from the eastern part of the US or from Canada. I have yet to read of someone getting into trouble through behaving sensibly, by which I mean:
- not drinking too much.
- steering well clear of drugs and weed and those who use them.
- not befriending the local scumbags (hardcore putas, pimps, tigueres, certain bar and club owners and staff, police).
- neither giving putas expectation of ongoing income nor an excuse for pretending they had expectation of ongoing income.
- not carrying or displaying much cash or articles that look valuable (even if actually ripoffs).
- dressing conservatively, neither scruffily nor too fashionably. Shorts by day (if you must!) but long pants at night.
- respecting the locals (even when they don't deserve it) ,
- if unfortunate enough to get involved in a dispute, walk away and put it down to experience. It's a holiday, not a pissing up the wall contest.
- if your first trip, spend some time (at least on your first day or two) talking to ex-pat mongers. Rocky's Bar for late breakfast and the adjacent bars of Ruby and Siempre Sol on the beach in the afternoons are good places to meet them.
- don't rent a car or bike on your first trip. Not necessary in Sosua and brings its own complications and possible pitfalls.
- don't tell any locals when you are arriving, when you are leaving, or where you are staying. In general don't tell lies, but lie about these facts if backed into a corner. If you have to say anything, always say you are leaving two weeks after the actual date.
You don't say how long you are staying or whether you have any Spanish. If for more than a week and you speak a bit, break things up by visiting nearby towns (Cabarete, Puerto Plata, Montellano, Rio San Juan), by public transport in the daylight (it's dirt cheap). If for two weeks you might want to spend a day and night in Santiago. If only there for a few days or without Spanish defer those ideas for later trips. You won't get bored in Sosua in less than a week on your first trip.
The beach is pretty safe in daylight (not recommended after dusk). You are unlikely to get into trouble there, but better if you have a trusted wingman to mind your stuff when bathing.
Use Passions and CMP if you must. You will pay more and miss a lot of the fun of being in Sosua and finding your own diamonds in the rough. But if you are of an unconfident disposition why not stay at Blackbeards or Field of Dreams where it is very hard to go wrong?
You are right to always remember the chicas are all about the money, but it doesn't have to be a lot of money. My friend just spent the night with two attractive and sweet-natured 19-year-olds for 1600 pesos total the pair (US$40) plus breakfast and moto fare. But you won't find girls like that in D'Latino, Rumba or Disco Clasico.
Don't let the gloom-and-doom merchants put you off. Some remember Sosua in better days, while others have got burned and bitter by acting foolishly and blame the town instead of themselves. If you follow the above advice you can have a great trip at a very affordable price. Enjoy it. Subsequent trips you will know more, see more, and spend less, but the first trip has a magic you will never forget.
[QUOTE=ManOfMystery; 1402140]Hey guys,
I'm booked for Sosua for the first time in mid-May. I was pretty psyched about it but all the doom and gloom here seems to have me a little concerned now. Is it still a worthwhile place to visit? I've done a lot of traveling so I'm not a complete noob, but the extent of my mongering has been the termas in Rio. In Sosua I was planning on lots of days on the beach and visits to Passions or CMP. Maybe some chicas from the clubs at night. From what I've been reading of late though, it seems staying away from these freelance chicas and sticking to the establishments would be my best and safest bet. I understand these chicas are all about the money, I don't have any delusions otherwise, but are they worth the risk?[/QUOTE]Sosua is still a very worthwhile place to visit. Certainly no more dangerous than Rio. Just exercise common sense and you should be OK. Word of warning though . If you've only mongered in Rio, most other places may be a bit of a letdown. I went to Rio 2-3 times a year from 2000 to 2009. I then decided, for various reasons, to concentrate on other places. I had to adjust my expectations quite a bit at first, but I'm happy now going mostly to Colombia and the DR. I will be in both places next month, and I'm very much looking forward to it.
Charles. That was a fantastic summary for a first-time visitor (and even for a veteran). I can't argue with one single thing you wrote.
[QUOTE=Combo;1402312]Charles. That was a fantastic summary for a first-time visitor (and even for a veteran). I can't argue with one single thing you wrote.[/QUOTE]Thanks, but I am sure someone will oblige before long.
Incidentally, it might sound as if I am a shill for Sosua. The truth is very different. In four years of visiting the North Coast and now three years of living here I have never spent a single night in Sosua, and each of those years I go there less and less frequently. My rare visits to Sosua these days are to meet male friends and never to find girls. I have always preferred Puerto Plata as I avoid hard-core working girls. For the past three years I have only gone with semi-pros, and Puerto Plata is a much bigger and more discreet city to find those.
But for a newbie who is too adventurous to stay at Blackbeards or Field of Dreams then Sosua is the best place to start, if he follows my advice and that of other mongers more knowledgable than me.
[QUOTE=ManOfMystery; 1402140]Hey guys,
I'm booked for Sosua for the first time in mid-May. I was pretty psyched about it but all the doom and gloom here seems to have me a little concerned now. Is it still a worthwhile place to visit? I've done a lot of traveling so I'm not a complete noob, but the extent of my mongering has been the termas in Rio. In Sosua I was planning on lots of days on the beach and visits to Passions or CMP. Maybe some chicas from the clubs at night. From what I've been reading of late though, it seems staying away from these freelance chicas and sticking to the establishments would be my best and safest bet. I understand these chicas are all about the money, I don't have any delusions otherwise, but are they worth the risk?[/QUOTE]Check this vid as a reference: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Tu0jtpUg0[/url]
Sosua is the safest and easiest place to monger in the Western world. The freelancers are great and cheap. I could get girls for 1200 pesos all day long. All of my free lancers were very good performers. Just go you will have a great time. Attractive sexy women throwing them selves at you. Sosua is to easy sometimes. I know why some guys stop going. I enjoyed it but I could out grow it.
[QUOTE=Orgasmico; 1402341]Check this vid as a reference:
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Tu0jtpUg0[/url][/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Charles Pooter; 1402317]Thanks, but I am sure someone will oblige before long.
Incidentally, it might sound as if I am a shill for Sosua. The truth is very different. In four years of visiting the North Coast and now three years of living here I have never spent a single night in Sosua, and each of those years I go there less and less frequently. My rare visits to Sosua these days are to meet male friends and never to find girls. I have always preferred Puerto Plata as I avoid hard-core working girls. For the past three years I have only gone with semi-pros, and Puerto Plata is a much bigger and more discreet city to find those.
But for a newbie who is too adventurous to stay at Blackbeards or Field of Dreams then Sosua is the best place to start, if he follows my advice and that of other mongers more knowledgable than me.[/QUOTE]And I too have been here 4 years and agree with you. Puerto Plata is a gem for the knowledgeable monger.
[QUOTE=Thunderdownunder; 1402226]Bump.
Same here, traveling on a first time trip to Sosua in 2 weeks.
After reading the forum the last few weeks particularly this post, I'm having second thoughts. Having enjoyed Colombia, Peru, CR, PI, and Thailand am I wasting my time in Sosua? Does the GFE still exist or is it just a city with thugs, thieves, and mechanical LON all trying to make a fast buck?
I have a non refundable $1000 ticket but sounds like it may be more lucrative to cut my loses now rather than have a miserable vacation with the potential of extortion and jail time!
Thoughts and feedback greatly appreciated![/QUOTE]Your concerns about going to Sosua are understandable. But check this out. You and others who may be skeptic, are only reacting to rhetoric and banter from many of us just passing time on the boards. What you read that concerns you is not the sum total of Sosua and what it has to offer. The negative chatter probably only represents 20% and the other 80% is dudes having a great time with no problems. And many that have problems usually it's because they brought it on themselves. Making mistakes or not thinking clearly of what they are doing. And yes, a small % are guys who had trouble through no fault of their own. But thats a small minority IMO.
Most guys who are considered veterans or who visit Sosua on the regular, don't even post every trip report highlighting their trip. Know why? Because there is nothing exactly new to report. We have a good time every visit and thats it. There is nobody here to impress or inform. Any newbie can read past reports from us, many have the same theme. The reports that are interesting to most of us, are the ones from new guys. When regulars talk about our trips it's probably back home where were from. Most of us who go to Sosua regularly have favoritas we see when we get there. Or since many of us have DR phones, call up girls we know. Im saying this so you'll realize that most guys are having a blast in Sosua every time they go, they just arent bothering to post it here. So there are more positive experiences than the doom and gloom reflected in recent posts. But you are not going to know that if guys are not detailing every trip they had in the past few months
For many, guys meet tons of chicas just walking around. Because there are tons of them all over the place. Many new to the scene every day and every week, and therefore one may get that GFE or at least she may not be hardcore. If a guy has mongered elsewhere he will have established a sort of radar when it comes to spotting potential trouble with a chica. So he should be confident enough in his abilities to vet out potential problems, and be willing to leave a chica alone and look for another. A guy can't do much about screening a chicas performance without a test drive. That is something he will have to find out for himself.
But as long as a guy sticks to the basics of being smart (keeping a low profile, consider negotiating upfront price & terms when in doubt, avoid getting drunk, secure your stuff, be careful what info you share with these chicas, don't be in a rush to get her back to your spot without paying attention to any signs or vibes) he could have a blast in Sosua. Once you go, you'll find that all of this negativity or cause for concern from some of us will have nothing to do with your trip. In fact, you'll probably wonder how you got such a negative impression of Sosua from a few posts, when your own experiences will be nothing like what you read. Of course this should go without saying, YMMD (Your mileage may differ).
[QUOTE=Wrx2005;1402498]Your concerns about going to Sosua are understandable. But check this out. You and others who may be skeptic, are only reacting to rhetoric and banter from many of us just passing time on the boards. What you read that concerns you is not the sum total of Sosua and what it has to offer. The negative chatter probably only represents 20% and the other 80% is dudes having a great time with no problems. And many that have problems usually it's because they brought it on themselves. Making mistakes or not thinking clearly of what they are doing. And yes, a small % are guys who had trouble through no fault of their own. But thats a small minority IMO.[/QUOTE]Absolutely agree with this. If Sosua and the DR in general were as dangerous as some of these posts suggest, the tourism to the DR would be on the decline and that is the last thing they want. It is true that as a monger you expose yourself to more risk than say a family or a couple there just for a vacation, but as Wrx2005 says, the majority of people who do get into trouble do so by doing stupid things. You can get into just as much trouble in any part of the world when doing stupid things. If you get involved with the wrong crowd in a American or Canadian city you can still wind up in jail. True that the jail conditions differ, but on the other hand at least in the DR you can buy your way out. Back home you get a criminal record and probably do jail time.
The odds of something bad happening to you if you behave correctly (like many of these posts suggest. I. E. Don't draw attention to yourself) are small and your chances of winding up in jail are not much different that a regular vacationer. If regular people were getting thrown in the slammer all the time, there would me stink about it in other places besides the ISG.
You can't live in fear when traveling in a foreign country. Whether a monger or not. Follow a few simple rules of conduct, respect the locals and don't be an idiot. Don't get too drunk and definitely stay away from drugs or any characters that your instinct tells you they are trouble.
I spent my youth living on the streets in canada and the mechanics and characters of the street people there are not much different than the scammers in the DR. And I am willing to bet anywhere else.
If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
1. Keep a low profile.
2. Do not flash money, jewellery.
3. Do not get into fights with locals however much you are insulted and you think you are right.
4. Try to be nice to girls irrespective what they do to earn a living.
5. Do not get into nitpicking about small change irrespective of what the agreed price was.
6. Absolutely do not get drunk where you loose all sense of your surroundings and reasoning.
7. Lock all your valuables including foreign currency and carry only local currency to last you for the day.
8. Finally be aware of your surroundings all the time irrespective of whether you are in a bar, walking on the street or in the room with a girl.
[QUOTE=Charles Pooter; 1402278]Sosua remains the best value for money for anyone from the eastern part of the US or from Canada. I have yet to read of someone getting into trouble through behaving sensibly, by which I mean:
- not drinking too much.
- steering well clear of drugs and weed and those who use them.
- not befriending the local scumbags (hardcore putas, pimps, tigueres, certain bar and club owners and staff, police).
- neither giving putas expectation of ongoing income nor an excuse for pretending they had expectation of ongoing income.
- not carrying or displaying much cash or articles that look valuable (even if actually ripoffs).
- dressing conservatively, neither scruffily nor too fashionably. Shorts by day (if you must!) but long pants at night.
- respecting the locals (even when they don't deserve it) ,
- if unfortunate enough to get involved in a dispute, walk away and put it down to experience. It's a holiday, not a pissing up the wall contest.
- if your first trip, spend some time (at least on your first day or two) talking to ex-pat mongers. Rocky's Bar for late breakfast and the adjacent bars of Ruby and Siempre Sol on the beach in the afternoons are good places to meet them.
- don't rent a car or bike on your first trip. Not necessary in Sosua and brings its own complications and possible pitfalls.
- don't tell any locals when you are arriving, when you are leaving, or where you are staying. In general don't tell lies, but lie about these facts if backed into a corner. If you have to say anything, always say you are leaving two weeks after the actual date.[/QUOTE]I think the guys in the video ignored 90% of your rules LOL
[QUOTE=AnonMonger; 1362896]Hi guys,
I'm planning a trip to Sosua and was hoping I could shoot some videos with some chicas-would it be easy to find willing girls?[/QUOTE][QUOTE=Hillbilly69;1362981]I don't recommend it, you are setting yourself up to be extorted.[/QUOTE][QUOTE=OldKool;1362981]I have been on this board for 2 years. I never seen a member report they were extorted. I belong to another board where pictures and video are very prevalent. I am not sure how having a video of a chica is fodder for extortion. Some folk are scared of ghost go figure. Having video and fotos have always enhanced my trips. I say go for it.[/QUOTE]Tips from Fred.
I just arrived in Sosua. If anyone wants to meet up hit me in PM.