Sosua Reports

[QUOTE=ChrisBigdog;2519034]The video looked to be during the day. Are restaurants open or I have to cook for.

Myself?[/QUOTE]Well, right now the hotels are open and so are their bars. But they close early due to the curfew. Some regular bars manage to stay open during the day, ostensibly to serve take out food, while you wait. LOL.

Enforcement is spotty, and selective, because everybody expects the bars and restaurants to be back open on Monday.

The cops drove right past my crowded bar yesterday and we we partying with 3 of my favorite bartenders who have been shut down. They are were bored, hungry and looking for clients.

Meanwhile the main Beach is open and so are the restaurants so I promised to take them down there for the afternoon. Lunch and beer, and they are happy and can meet all their friends down there while I kick back and watch the show.

I suppose if you are a non drinker here, you are severely restricted from the remaining action, and it's no place for you.

So the problem for the casual visitor is the lack of street action, but I rather be here than back in my country where its cold, miserable and almost completely shut down, no bars. Restaurants except for delivery.

(As usual IMHO, and YMMV).

[QUOTE=ChrisBigdog;2519034]The video looked to be during the day. Are restaurants open or I have to cook for Myself?[/QUOTE]If you were a newbie, I would probably suggest that you hold off your visit, given that there are uncertainties with curfew hours and even incoming flights, after 1/10. On the other hand, if you can get over there, I am sure Sosua will cook up all sorts of stuff for you. Restaurants of all kinds, the burger / fried chicken or the local I. E, Dominican as well the fancy Italian / German kind are all working, within the constraint of limited hours.

I came back from there in the new year and I ate plenty in the restaurants.

If you come to Sosua, you can find hotels open and operating normally for guests. Most hotels allow guests, so hooking up is not a problem. Day staff must be home 3 hours after the 5 PM weekday curfew, (12 noon on weekends) Curfews are not enforced within hotel properties, but you cannot be on the street, except for valid emergencies and ticketed travel.

In town and on the beach, colmados, bars and restaurants are now allowed open at 50% seating capacity during non curfew hours, and delivery is available till 11 PM.

Tourists are still arriving at the POP airport.

The major problem for visitors appears to be the testing and quarantine requirements on arrival back in the home country.

[QUOTE=Oakie;2520776]If you come to Sosua, you can find hotels open and operating normally for guests. Most hotels allow guests, so hooking up is not a problem. Day staff must be home 3 hours after the 5 PM weekday curfew, (12 noon on weekends) Curfews are not enforced within hotel properties, but you cannot be on the street, except for valid emergencies and ticketed travel.

In town and on the beach, colmados, bars and restaurants are now allowed open at 50% seating capacity during non curfew hours, and delivery is available till 11 PM.

Tourists are still arriving at the POP airport.

The major problem for visitors appears to be the testing and quarantine requirements on arrival back in the home country.[/QUOTE]But are the chicas out and about before curfew?

[QUOTE=ChrisH;2521140]But are the chicas out and about before curfew?[/QUOTE]Obviously not in great numbers. You can still find them strolling the beach, and around the bars, but the organized ones use their smart phones now to stay in touch with their clients.

On another note, all the main spots have wi fi, but after getting frustrated with the spotty signal on my laptop at my apartment, I got my Iphone set up as a "personal hot spot" with Altice for 1000 pesos per month. Works like a charm. Don't know what took me so long.

For me happiness is a fast internet connection in these curfew times.

I was planning a trip (as usual, for a week) in February which is now in disarray. For return the expectation is to have a negative test report, otherwise boarding a flight will not be possible. So, my question, to the Expats on this forum and residing in the vicinity, is: is such a thing even possible, test report within 3 days of departure and if so, where and at what cost? Understandably this will hamstring a lot of short term tourists including in the All Inclusive, in this high season, that the DR government is trying to woo back.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments.

[QUOTE=Tempoecorto;2521976]I was planning a trip (as usual, for a week) in February which is now in disarray. For return the expectation is to have a negative test report, otherwise boarding a flight will not be possible. So, my question, to the Expats on this forum and residing in the vicinity, is: is such a thing even possible, test report within 3 days of departure and if so, where and at what cost? Understandably this will hamstring a lot of short term tourists including in the All Inclusive, in this high season, that the DR government is trying to woo back.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments.[/QUOTE]I posted on this topic recently, link below:

[URL]http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/forum/showthread.php?611-General-Info&p=2521650&viewfull=1[/URL]#post2521650.

[QUOTE=Tempoecorto;2521976]I was planning a trip (as usual, for a week) in February which is now in disarray. For return the expectation is to have a negative test report, otherwise boarding a flight will not be possible. So, my question, to the Expats on this forum and residing in the vicinity, is: is such a thing even possible, test report within 3 days of departure and if so, where and at what cost? Understandably this will hamstring a lot of short term tourists including in the All Inclusive, in this high season, that the DR government is trying to woo back.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments.[/QUOTE][URL]https://www.drtravelcenter.com/questions/where-can-i-have-a-pcr-test-done-in-the-dominican-republic-with-results-48-to-72-hours-before-the-trip-back-to-my-country/[/URL]

[QUOTE=Cestme;2522025][URL]https://www.drtravelcenter.com/questions/where-can-i-have-a-pcr-test-done-in-the-dominican-republic-with-results-48-to-72-hours-before-the-trip-back-to-my-country/[/URL][/QUOTE]Thanks. I sent both labs a whatsapp message asking those questions, especially in view of the fact that the website shows they want a doctor's requisition as well as an insurance card, which a tourist would not have. Let's see what if any, the response is.

Thanks again.

There was a recent order from the CDC (USA) requiring all passengers have a COVID test 3 days prior to departure to USA.

I'm not sure if it applies to US citizens. Also not sure what date this requirement expires.

[QUOTE=Tempoecorto;2522305]Thanks. I sent both labs a whatsapp message asking those questions, especially in view of the fact that the website shows they want a doctor's requisition as well as an insurance card, which a tourist would not have. Let's see what if any, the response is.

Thanks again.[/QUOTE]Tempoecorto. It will be very helpful to know what the labs answers are. On the other hand, I discovered that to attract international tourists during this pandemic period, the DR is offering free medical coverage plus charges for any change to return flight dates due to illness, including Covid 19 while in the DR, from now until March 31st. To be a beneficiary, you will have to fly into the DR and check-in a hotel where there is an insurance form to be completed for the coverage. I assume that this also covers the Covid 19 test, for departure from the DR. For more details, google: Travel Assistance Certificate Safe Tourism DR.

[QUOTE=Cestme;2522361]It will be very helpful to know what the labs answers are. On the other hand, I discovered that to attract international tourists during this pandemic period, the DR is offering free medical coverage plus charges for any change to return flight dates due to illness, including Covid 19 while in the DR, [/QUOTE]Yes, I too have read what you and others have but it has no relevance for me. I do not go to AI and am not going to bet on what the DR government is or is not going to do. I have to find out what I can get done locally in the POP area and will decide accordingly if I want to undertake the trip. If it is easy, efficient and does not cost an arm and a leg, I may try for my short week long trip.

Sure, I will post any eventual answers from these two labs. So far this morning nothing. Not too surprising, that!

When I was there for Christmas there was a guy that had just gotten a covid test done. I asked him where he went and he said there is a place close to the superpollo supermarket that he went to. I don't remember all the details but the way he was talking it seemed like a cheap quick easy process.

Flew in from JFK to POP Thursday am, had planned to leave Sunday am.

Decided to leave a day earlier, not bc I had a bad time, but I bore easily.

Stayed at Casa Valeria. Not high end and expensive for what it is but convenient. I will say their food is excellent.

American breakfast, a nice sautéed fish with garlic and the goat dish with rice all top notch. Bar open as late as you want; but average looking girls. I think the girls are ok looking at best in general, but that's just me. After about 22 they start to gain weight and get hardened looking. Tough life; I feel for them. With the exception of a few taller Dominicanas, but they know it and are much less enthusiastic in bed. My Spanish is fairly non-existent, so Google translate works but isn't great for pillow talk. So I stuck with nice bodied Haitianas.

Lots of girls on the street and plenty at the hotel Inez or whatever it's called. Curfew is the real deal with all businesses closed. A few stragglers on the street but I definitely did not feel comfortable walking around a deserted street after curfew hours, not for safety reasons but I don't want trouble with police. But a taxi is fine and you can go wherever in what at pretty much anytime.

I think you will find it a worthwhile trip.

Hotel ibex (out whatever it's called is open is very nice with multiple bars and there has to have been 100 girls there, $500 President to get in, not sure what girls pay.

[QUOTE=SamWebster;2522531]When I was there for Christmas there was a guy that had just gotten a covid test done. I asked him where he went and he said there is a place close to the superpollo supermarket that he went to. I don't remember all the details but the way he was talking it seemed like a cheap quick easy process.[/QUOTE]Thanks for that. Another friend of mine told me about a place, close to La Pola (or is it Super pola? Called Clinica Centro Medico, I believe. I have been trying now to find out if they do the PCR test which is the nose swab thing and acceptable to the airline / CDC. The whole thing is relatively easy, at least in my home town. I did it two times last year, sitting in my car and the results got sent over by secure web access within 24 hours. I am however curious as to what happens in the DR. In terms of the process.