Santo Domingo

[QUOTE=Pescador Loco]I got a price of $75 dollars a night at El Embajador for ten nights at the end of this month. Only caveat is that internet is 20 bucks a day extra.

Got this package from [url]www.booking.com[/url]

It will be my first time in Sto Domingo and plan to game mainly non-pros. Non pros online seem to have very positive reaction to this spot. The price and pool sold me. They say they have a gym and sauna but I will not get my hopes up about those facilities. I will report on that.[/QUOTE]I wish you a pleasant trip. Are you saying that the rate will be $95/night ($75 + $20 internet fee)? I guess it's worth it if you need to be in a businessman's hotel.

It's only my opinion, and it depends on your goals for the trip, but I think it's best to avoid flaunting your ability to pay $50 vs. $30 or any other amount - it will cost you.

[QUOTE=Pescador Loco]I got a price of $74 dollars a night at El Embajador for ten nights at the end of this month........

It will be my first time in Sto Domingo and plan to game mainly non-pros......

Does anyone know if the Claro store in the aiport is open in the evening? My flight gets in at 8pm but I need to get a sim card activated......[/QUOTE]

Ten nights at El Embajador chasing non-pros will probably get frustrating and boring very quickly. Just my opinion but most of the non-pros you meet online are actually pros at pretending to be non-pros.

El Embajador is far from everything most mongers go to SD for. Have fun with the non-pros but I would seriously consider hitting the casas, split your trip up with a ride to Sosua for a few days, stay at a hotel closer to Gascue.

By the time you clear customs it will be 9pm or so and I would not expect the Claro store to be open. You can always activate your phone first thing the next morning. Bring an unlocked GSM phone and you are set to go. Most of the phone stores sell cheapie phones but that is what they are, cheapie phones.

I would invest in a half way decent travel phone preferably one that can be charged from your laptop or netbook using a usb to mini or micro cable. Once your phone is activated you can add minutes using one of the many online top up services.

I have been using etopuponline but there are others. etopuponline doesn't charge a fee but their exchange rate is a peso less per $1. No big deal but the convience is worth it.

Seriously, ten days as a first trip to SD can be a bit too much.

What to do on a Sunday here?

[QUOTE=Sleazer60]What to do on a Sunday here?[/QUOTE]
LMAO, are you in SD now? I am and doing the usual Sunday stuff. On Sunday you either get out of town or you stay in town and use it as a very relaxing day. If you have a car Sunday is a great day to go shopping because there is virtually no traffic.

Just about all the casas are closed. Later tonight the SW will be out and about on Independencia.

Sunday is the day to use your cell phone numbers for chicas........... give a chica a call and take her to the movies.

[QUOTE=Sleazer60]What to do on a Sunday here?[/QUOTE]

There a few casas open on Sundays. GBP an 56 Pasteur are closed. Go to the malls or go to the beach for non pros.

Or go to the church, lots of non pros there, LOL.

[QUOTE=Knowledge]........It's only my opinion, and it depends on your goals for the trip, but I think it's best to avoid flaunting your ability to pay $50 vs. $30 or any other amount - it will cost you.[/QUOTE]

So true, and staying in the luxury hotels only sends out a signal to the chica you can afford to pay her more.

I have posted it before but I learned my lesson the expensive way. First starting out I thought nice restaurants and nice hotels would get me better service. It does not get better service. Only thing it gets is the chica wanting to charge you more.

[QUOTE=Bq Ribs]First starting out I thought nice restaurants and nice hotels would get me better service. It does not get better service. Only thing it gets is the chica wanting to charge you more.[/QUOTE]

Is that when you started bringing a deli slicer in your carry on to make fresh Ham-n-Cheese sammys in the room?

[QUOTE=Buscemi]Is that when you started bringing a deli slicer in your carry on to make fresh Ham-n-Cheese sammys in the room?[/QUOTE]ROTFLMAO!!

-Helpmann :D

[QUOTE=Buscemi]Is that when you started bringing a deli slicer in your carry on to make fresh Ham-n-Cheese sammys in the room?[/QUOTE]Hey don't forget the smashed up wonder bread that was also inside the carry-on. LOL

Buscemi, that was funny! I laughed a good 20mins when I read that

There will be 26% in taxes that all bigger hotels charge in Dom Rep.

Some travel sites neglect to include the taxes in the prices that they quote.

Orbitz quotes the total price per night including taxes. If I were to stay in the same hotel in Santo Domingo for more than 7 nights, on the same trip, I would book a package deal through Orbitz, airfare and hotel and use Orbitz promotion code: 200entertain to save $200 on the price of the package.

Sometimes you can get a better rate booking directly from a hotel's website. For the El Embajador that would be Occidental Hotels webpage.

26% in taxes added on the $74 rate and then another $20 for internet per day, will put the per night price over $100.

I stayed at the El Emabajador for about 5 nights a few years ago. I like the pool there, the breakfast buffet in the restaurant near the pool was good. There is a building near the pool with a gym, sauna and steam room. When I stayed at the El Embajador wifi internet was free and the signal was good throughout the hotel, in the lobby, near the pool and the 5th floor lounge area (club embajador).

There is a small charge to park your car there. When you park your car, a machine near the parking gate will give you a small plastic coin. When you are ready to exit with your car, there is a cashier window near the lobby outside, you present the small plastic coin and they know how much to charge you for parking. You will be given another plastic coin that will open the gate when you go to exit the parking lot.

You may want to ask for a room with an ocean view. The hotel grounds are nice, with many trees and plants. There are a group of small parrots that live near the hotel and you will hear them around dusk in a big tree in the front of the hotel.

$100 or more a night for a chica friendly room in SDQ, you might be better served renting a nice apartment for around $70-$80 per night.

I have met a good number of Dominican chicas online. Some are pros, some are semi-pros and some are "normal" chicas looking for a boyfriend.

One problem with booking and paying for 10 nights at the same place, is that you are locked into that place. I have in the past, had chicas show up unexpectedly at my hotel and wait in the lobby and try to catch me with other chicas. Sometimes for peace of mind it is good to move around and change hotels.

I don't know what time the Claro shop closes in the Las Americas Airport.

Any questions let us know.

[QUOTE=Pescador Loco]I got a price of $74 dollars a night at El Embajador for ten nights at the end of this month. Taxes are NOT included so total will be around 100. Only caveat is that internet is 20 bucks a day extra.

Got this package from [url]www.booking.com[/url]

It will be my first time in Sto Domingo and plan to game mainly non-pros. Non pros online seem to have very positive reaction to this spot. The price but mainly the pool sold me. They say they have a gym and sauna but I will not get my hopes up about those facilities. I will report on that.

One question:

Does anyone know if the Claro store in the aiport is open in the evening? My flight gets in at 8pm but I need to get a sim card activated. I am sure I could buy minutes at this hour but wondered if they have people who can activate a new account. Gotta hit the ground running.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Bq Ribs]LMAO, are you in SD now? I am and doing the usual Sunday stuff. On Sunday you either get out of town or you stay in town and use it as a very relaxing day. If you have a car Sunday is a great day to go shopping because there is virtually no traffic.

Just about all the casas are closed. Later tonight the SW will be out and about on Independencia.

Sunday is the day to use your cell phone numbers for chicas........... give a chica a call and take her to the movies.[/QUOTE]Casa de Modelos and the Ensanche La Fe classics (Theresa/Pablitos, etc.) and several places in the Zona Oriental are all waiting for you on Sundays.

[QUOTE=Buscemi]Is that when you started bringing a deli slicer in your carry on to make fresh Ham-n-Cheese sammys in the room?[/QUOTE]Still trying to be a funny man.

[QUOTE=Pescador Loco]I got a price of $74 dollars a night at El Embajador for ten nights at the end of this month. Taxes are NOT included so total will be around 100. Only caveat is that internet is 20 bucks a day extra.[/QUOTE]I like the hotel el embajador. There is a bar in the lobby with tables and chairs around it, they serve food and drink at the lobby bar. When I was there, I did not find the prices at the lobby bar outrageously expensive, not cheap but not outrageous.

I had no trouble bringing in chicas. I needed a good internet connection for some work related stuff that needed to be done and I was given a room on the 5th floor, which is club embajador. There was a reception desk on the 5th floor for guests staying on that floor. Sometimes the workers at the 5th floor reception asked for a chica's cedula, sometimes they didn't.

As in many SDQ bigger hotels, you have to insert your plastic room key card in a slot inside the elevator to get the elevator to go to your floor. Club Embajador is more money and I don't believe it is worth the extra money. When I stayed there, internet, breakfast buffet, snacks and coffee throughout the day, were included in the room rate. I have an ex girlfriend who works at the embajador, who I don't want to run into while I am with other chicas, otherwise I would stay more frequently at el embajador (depending what their current price is and what is included in that price).

Non-pro chicas enjoy the el embajador, most rooms have large balconies with either a view north of the city or a view south toward the water. Non-pro chicas who live in neighborhoods like herrera will be closer to the hotel emabajador. Chicas who live in zona oriental will be further away.

I read that the former dictator Trujillo had a large penthouse type apartment at the hotel el embajador, where he would entertain his girlfriends. Also, as I have posted before, parts of "Scarface" was filmed there.

Parts of the pool are about 8 feet deep and the days I used the pool, I had the pool to myself. Many newer hotels have shallow pools, which are not as good for swimming.

Any questions just fire away.

For my next trip to SDQ, I may rent an apartment in Zona Colonial and maybe get a short term membership at a gym called Body Shop Athletic in Naco. Supposedly this gym has a good sized pool.

With a favorite chica you may want to go to the beach for a weekend. In the past I paid about $70 per night at the coral costa caribe all inclusive hotel for me and a chica. Staying at an all inclusive hotel can be fun for a few nights with a chica. The all inclusive hotels are usually laid back, usually security is good, so you don't have to worry too much about crime. You wake up with the chica have sex, then go for breakfast, then maybe the pool or beach, back to the room for more sex, then lunch etc. All you can eat food, drink and sex. Not Bad.

Barcelo Cappella all inclusive in Juan Dolio is about $120 per night during the off season.

Hamaca is an all inclusive hotel in Boca Chica. Hotetur Dominican Bay is an inexpensive all inclusive in boca chica. All inclusive hotels are not chica friendly. They are good if you bring a favorite chica and check in with her. Boca Chica beach is closer to santo domingo. Juan Dolio beach is about 15 minutes past boca chica beach. Juan Dolio is a bit more tranquil than boca chica.

You may to visit Santiago for one or two nights.

[QUOTE=Pescador Loco]I got a price of $74 dollars a night at El Embajador for ten nights at the end of this month. Taxes are NOT included so total will be around 100. Only caveat is that internet is 20 bucks a day extra.

Got this package from [url]www.booking.com[/url]

It will be my first time in Sto Domingo and plan to game mainly non-pros. Non pros online seem to have very positive reaction to this spot. The price but mainly the pool sold me. They say they have a gym and sauna but I will not get my hopes up about those facilities. I will report on that.

One question:

Does anyone know if the Claro store in the aiport is open in the evening? My flight gets in at 8pm but I need to get a sim card activated. I am sure I could buy minutes at this hour but wondered if they have people who can activate a new account. Have to hit the ground running.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Coolie High]Hey don't forget the smashed up wonder bread that was also inside the carry-on. LOL........[/QUOTE]
Nay Coolie, you got it all wrong. First you give the store brand bread the squeeze test. If the store brand is soft enough you buy that and save a buck and a half.

I don't have deep pockets full of cash like some guys so I learned ways to save a buck here and there. If I was only doing three or four trips a year I would splurge more. I prefer to penny pinch and make ten trips a year. For the past three years I have not been away from rep dom for any period longer than six weeks.

I follow a few of my basic rules. $50 a night max for a hotel, plato del dia for lunch, stock up the frig, don't rent a car for my entire stay, find chicas outside the casas at 1500 pesos max, instead of drinking at the bars i go to the colmados to hang out.

GBP is the only casa I will go to. 1000 pesos and a phone number to hook up with after work hours.

If I stick to my simple rules at the end of an eight to ten day trip I have saved enough money to buy a plane ticket to return again.

To each his own. Some guys look at the DR as a vacation. They buy new clothes, new sneaks for the trip and spend like there is no tomorrow. I am the opposite. I come to the DR as if I am just returning to visit my second home.

For me it works...............