Puerto Plata

To All,

The Cristal's Mustang Ranch threw in the towel, and the Field of Dream is back. Nothing against the CMR, but this is good news.

The again-owner is Bill "Dominican Billy" Lane, a retired Canuck who has been in the DR forever. He is an icon in the "mongering" community.
Billy is a knowlegeable guy, and an all-round good guy.

For those who are new to the DR, Billy is the man to see.
He can tell/show you everything in the area.
He keeps the hotel well-run, with a laid-back, chica-friendly atmoshpere.

He has reopened the place at only $35 a night.
For quality accomodations, that is an unbeatable price.

I highly recommend the Field of Dreams for anyone who hasn't been there before.

What is the cheapest and easiest way to call the states? I’ll have to check in with my SO on a daily bases. I’m also not sure how I will explain where I’ll be staying. Any suggestions on developing a alibi would be appreciated.

This info is from Worf 1972 on this tread, was posted on Feb 02, 2009

[url]http://www.alibinetwork.com/index.jsp[/url]

I checked the site and the price of an alibi seemed to run around $175.00, looked steep at first, but thinking about it, still cheaper than a divorce.

[QUOTE=Yanqui69]To All,

The Cristal's Mustang Ranch threw in the towel, and the Field of Dream is back. Nothing against the CMR, but this is good news.

The again-owner is Bill "Dominican Billy" Lane, a retired Canuck who has been in the DR forever. He is an icon in the "mongering" community.

Billy is a knowlegeable guy, and an all-round good guy.

For those who are new to the DR, Billy is the man to see.

He can tell/show you everything in the area.

He keeps the hotel well-run, with a laid-back, chica-friendly atmoshpere.

He has reopened the place at only $35 a night.

For quality accomodations, that is an unbeatable price.

I highly recommend the Field of Dreams for anyone who hasn't been there before.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the heads up.I have rented from Billy at the Harborview Condos and you are correct that he knows the mongering scene like the back of his hand. At $35. a night I am going to check his "new" old place out. Is his contact info the same?

[QUOTE=Yanqui69]To All,

The Cristal's Mustang Ranch threw in the towel, and the Field of Dream is back. Nothing against the CMR, but this is good news.

The again-owner is Bill "Dominican Billy" Lane, a retired Canuck who has been in the DR forever. He is an icon in the "mongering" community.
Billy is a knowlegeable guy, and an all-round good guy.

For those who are new to the DR, Billy is the man to see.
He can tell/show you everything in the area.
He keeps the hotel well-run, with a laid-back, chica-friendly atmoshpere.

He has reopened the place at only $35 a night.
For quality accomodations, that is an unbeatable price.

I highly recommend the Field of Dreams for anyone who hasn't been there before.[/QUOTE]

Any contact info or web address for the FOD?

[QUOTE=Ehunter]I am surprised I am the only one speaking up here.

Everytime I go down there I get the "squirts" after about 7 days. I dont drink the water that I know about. That is, I brush my teeth with the tap water, I drink the restaurant water as a side beverage supposedly bottled and containing ice cubes made from "who knows what". Others I have been down there with have reported the same thing.

The condition clears itself up after returning to the states in about 2 days.[/QUOTE]
I was thee 10 days last year with no problems.

[QUOTE=Black Bond]Good heads up on the water guys, I appreciate that. The last thing you want on a trip is to squirt cocoa all day. Hopefully I will be embarking on my first trip to DR and BB in May, just wondering how much cash I should have on deck for my room and food and resort "activities". I know I have other posts with this similar questions, and I have searched, but I didn't find any clear answers. BTW getting away for just a long weekend, Thursday. Sunday. Let me know how much you've brought on similar trips.

Thanx,

Bond[/QUOTE]


I tried to PM you, but you can't receive them. I would say for starters whatever budget you have set aside for your trip, subtract $19.95 from it and buy the one year membership here so that you can receive PM's and also so that you can see the photos of the women you are likely to run into while in DR. Getting PM's keeps us from clogging the board with repetitive information.

=====================================

I was there in December from Thursday to Sunday as well.

Get a "Single Deluxe Suite" if you can. Very roomy. I don't know what a standard room looks like, but I am glad I did not get one.

You have to pay for your room in cash ($USD's) once you arrive at BB's, but you can pay your hotel tab in pesos once you leave. Ask the cab driver to stop you by Jenny's Supermarket on your way to BB's from the Airport so that you can exchange dollars for pesos. I think I exchanged $600 for starters.

I would say set aside at least $2000 - $2500 as a budget, but I promise you it will be hard to spend it all unless you are really trying.

PM me for more info, or just look for my December '08 trip reports under this forum. I also have photos in the photo gallery as well.

-SavePros321-

Lol I paid for the membership I a while back, I see all the pix but can understand why I can't utilize the pm service, maybe its been a year already. Thats pretty much spot on with what I thought and budgeted. I'm gonna look for those reports and pix tonight.

[QUOTE=SavePros321]I tried to PM you, but you can't receive them. I would say for starters whatever budget you have set aside for your trip, subtract $19.95 from it and buy the one year membership here so that you can receive PM's and also so that you can see the photos of the women you are likely to run into while in DR. Getting PM's keeps us from clogging the board with repetitive information.

=====================================

I was there in December from Thursday to Sunday as well.

Get a "Single Deluxe Suite" if you can. Very roomy. I don't know what a standard room looks like, but I am glad I did not get one.

You have to pay for your room in cash ($USD's) once you arrive at BB's, but you can pay your hotel tab in pesos once you leave. Ask the cab driver to stop you by Jenny's Supermarket on your way to BB's from the Airport so that you can exchange dollars for pesos. I think I exchanged $600 for starters.

I would say set aside at least $2000 - $2500 as a budget, but I promise you it will be hard to spend it all unless you are really trying.

PM me for more info, or just look for my December '08 trip reports under this forum. I also have photos in the photo gallery as well.

-SavePros321-[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Ponderosa]Any contact info or web address for the FOD?[/QUOTE]

Hey Ponderosa!
Billy gives his new cell# as 1-829-432-4503

The current internet url is fieldofdreams.20m.com

The website is for the Harborview Condos he manages,
but it lists his email address and the cell number above.
It also gives his email address:
(drbilly2@gmail.com)

I presume it may take a little time to redo the website for the hotel.

As I said, he's an honest, down to earth guy who knows his way around the DR. He keeps the hotel well maintained. (He built it).
The rooms are clean, well-constructed, with all amenities to include safes.
Add the pool and (smaller than BB) jacuzzi, the bar and diner and its all you could ask for (for $35?). He'll even pick you up at the airport if you are going to stay for a few days.
(BTW, Billy helped get the business now known as Blackbeards off the ground (when it was called the Sandtrap Inn) for the original owner, who later sold it to the present owner, John).

[QUOTE=Black Bond]Good heads up on the water guys, I appreciate that. The last thing you want on a trip is to squirt cocoa all day. Hopefully I will be embarking on my first trip to DR and BB in May, just wondering how much cash I should have on deck for my room and food and resort "activities". I know I have other posts with this similar questions, and I have searched, but I didn't find any clear answers. BTW getting away for just a long weekend, Thursday. Sunday. Let me know how much you've brought on similar trips.

Thanx,

Bond[/QUOTE]

To add to what SavePros said:

When you pay your BB room bill in cash, - pay in pesos.
I learned from RedNeckRoy that the conversion difference will save you about 5-6% on your bill. (That was news to me, I used to pay in dollars).

Stop at Jenny's Supermarket in Costambar for all your money changing, and you will get a better rate than anywhere else, to include BB.

Does Jennys take USD Travellers cheques?

[QUOTE=BigSmile]Does Jennys take USD Travellers cheques?[/QUOTE]

Frankly, I have no idea. (Anyone else?)

BB does take them, soooooooo, you could cash the travelers checks at BB, and take the dollars down to Jenny's.....

Boy, this gets complicated, doesn't it?

[QUOTE=BigSmile]Does Jennys take USD Travellers cheques?[/QUOTE]

Probably not.

I think it was Ponderosa who said: "In DR, cash is king!" I don't think you have anything to worry about with carrying cash around, especially if your trip from the airport is from there to Jenny's, from Jenny's to Blackbeard's (which is exactly what I did in that exact order).

You will have a safe in your room at BB's and will be given a key to it, so you don't have to worry about your cash or pesos coming up missing.

As far as I know there are no ATM's in Costambar. If you needed to use one you'd have to take a cab to the Texaco in Puerto Plata, but don't wait too late because they close around 10pm. This was not a problem for us since we were on our way to Sosua at the time (they have lots of outside ATM's down the street from Classico's that we walked to, and a Cambio next to Latino's nightclub) but we would've been ass-out-of-luck if that Texaco was our only option for cash withdrawal.

Also, most of those ATM's were out of money, but since my friend had cash on him he was able to use the Cambio next to Latino's.

[QUOTE=BigSmile]Does Jennys take USD Travellers cheques?[/QUOTE]I have always been able to exchange US traveler's checks at Jenny's. It is usually Luis (and sometimes Reyes) who helps me with this. Luis has also helpes me a little bit with my espanol.

Redneck Roy goes by BobsThrobbinKnob here on the ISG

[QUOTE=Yanqui69]To add to what SavePros said:

When you pay your BB room bill in cash, - pay in pesos.

I learned from RedNeckRoy that the conversion difference will save you about 5-6% on your bill. (That was news to me, I used to pay in dollars).

Stop at Jenny's Supermarket in Costambar for all your money changing, and you will get a better rate than anywhere else, to include BB.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=BigSmile]Does Jennys take USD Travellers cheques?[/QUOTE]The Casinos will take Travelers Cheques and also give a good exchange rate. I am not that familiar with what is available in Costambar but there appeared to be a number of ATM's in Puerto Plata, on the main roads anyway.