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Going to SD first week in may. Cabs seem to be very expensive. Should I rent a car or is there a better way to get to my hotel. I will be staying at the Jargua Renaisance. Then moving to Boca Chica for three days. Is driving dificult. I would like to know what best options are.
[QUOTE=BoricuaOnline; 1139347]I can go to Boca Chica just to eat that gelato again.
I do not see a name in the bar, there are chairs on the beach, chaise lounges near the palm roofed large area with lot of tables, it is east and next to Zapata. The bar area is also palm roofed, they have a concrete building with an open kitchen, next to the kitchen on the left side there are a couple of showers and next to the showers are two new large bathrooms with blue tiles. There are a lot of "vendors please do not disturb" signs in that area. It is the nicest spot on the beach. [/QUOTE]It sounds like "La Rocca." If it is, it used to be one of my favorite places to hang-out on the beach. Great owner, great music, and a great big sound system.
-Helpmann :)
[QUOTE=Helpmann; 1139431]It sounds like "La Rocca." If it is, it used to be one of my favorite places to hang-out on the beach. Great owner, great music, and a great big sound system.
-Helpmann. [/QUOTE]No, it is not La Rocca, everything is new on the place I visited, the bar is much larger, everything is larger, unless they reopened brand new.
[QUOTE=Delta Flier; 1139360]Thanks for the insight Jaosousa! Greatly appreciated. So I'd assume Gazcue is a township of Santo Domingo? Not to be a bother but a few basic questions.
-How far is Gazcue from the SDQ airport and what's a normal rate for a cab into town?
-If you had to choose, where'd you suggest for a first time SDQ guy trying to be close or central to just about everything and won't have to walk / drive 20 minutes to find the chicas (pros and non-pros) of the places you listed?
Again, thanks for the info and when I return I'll be sure to do a full report with pics! [/QUOTE]I imagine you live in Atlanta, I have never been to Atlanta. In New York City there are numerous neighborhoods; lower east side, upper west side, midtown, chinatown, wall street, tribeca etc. In the city of Santo Domingo same thing, there are numerous neighborhoods within the city. Gazcue is a neighborhood with three large hotels that have casinos; Intercontinental V Centenario, Melia and Rennaissance Jaragua. Also in Gazcue there are doctor offices and medical clinics (some for plastic surgery). Gazcue has some nice old homes, with some old trees that line some of the streets. Gazcue has venues for chicas; Club 305, Satin Dolls, Sky High, Lapsus and Girls House. There are over ten small size hotels in Gazcue. Late at night Coppa Disco in the hotel melia is open and has pros. Outside the Jaragua casino pros are usually standing around. A ten minute walk and two other venues for chicas; baby dolls and foxys.
Zona Colonial is a 10-15 minute walk from Gazcue. Pros hang out in zona colonial and there is playboy palace, a small place with about 6 chicas, prices starting at 1000 pesos. Hard Rock cafe in zona colonial usually gets live music on the weekends and usually gets a nice crowd of "normal" chicas. There are various other bars and cafes in zona colonial.
Koki and Bq Ribs and other sdq vets have stayed numerous times at the Jaguar Hotel in Gazcue (I have never stayed there). Hostal Riazor (it is a Hotel) is very easy to find, located directly behind the hotel jaragua hotel and casino, price for the Riazor is $58 per night. I believe the Jaguar is under $50 per night.
I have stayed at the Maison Gatreux (about $40) which is about 300 feet from the Malecon and the Intercontinental hotel. I have stayed at the Hotel La Casona Dorada (no safes in all rooms). I have stayed at the Hotel Venezia (about $40) , the hotel venezia has a gated parking lot and it is located closer to zona colonial.
Some guys like the hotel mystik which is next door to three casas on avenida pasteur; girls house, satin and sky high. I know one guy who stayed at the Hotel Duque de Wellington which is across the street from club 305.
I have driven from Gazcue to the Airport on a Sunday morning, no traffic, in 15 minutes. If you arrive in Santo Domingo during rush hour the trip from the airport to Gazcue can take 45 minutes or more.
The average taxi rate from the airport into the city is about $40. Boricua Online recently paid $25 for the airport transfer. There are a few online sites where you can make a reservation for a shared transfer into the city, A2B charged $16US for a shared transfer for one ISG member.
[url]http://www.a2btransfers.com/[/url]
[url]http://www.dominicanairporttransfers.com/[/url]
I have seen airline personnel, pilots and stewardesses arrive to the SDQ airport in a shared transfer (new mini-bus). Working for an airline you might want to ask around and see what transfer companies some airline personnel use for the SDQ airport.
[QUOTE=OldKool;1139424]Going to SD first week in may. Cabs seem to be very expensive. Should I rent a car or is there a better way to get to my hotel. I will be staying at the Jargua Renaisance. Then moving to Boca Chica for three days. Is driving dificult. I would like to know what best options are.[/QUOTE]One ISG member paid A2B transfers $16US for a shared transfer into the city from the airport; [url]http://www.a2btransfers.com/[/url]
Another site where you make reservations for shared or private transfers; [url]http://www.dominicanairporttransfers.com/[/url]
On this site for Apolo taxi, the rate they give is $41; [url]http://www.apolotaxi.com/ApoloTaxi/Precios.html[/url]
Boricua Online recently paid $25 to Apolo for the transfer.
Depending on what your itinerary is, whether it is worth it to rent a car or not. If you plan on lounging at the pool at the Jaragua, then you don't really need a rental car. If you want explore and see as many venues as possible, then it might be worth it to have a rental car. I would advise you not to drive to far off venues during rush hour. A heavy rain during rush hour, makes the traffic even worse.
If you do rent a car, pay for the extra third party liability insurance, which is about an extra $8US per day. There are coupon codes for rental car companies that will save you some money. I would suggest to rent from the big rental car companies like Alamo / National. Hertz gets bad reviews in DR. Avis tried to overcharge me three times in DR so I don't use them. Some guys have rented from Thrifty without problems. I have read one bad review of Europcar in DR. Most if not all of the big name rental car companies in DR seem to me, to be independently owned franchises. If there is a problem, the main offices in the States will try to help you.
Driving in Santo Domingo is somewhat easier than driving in other DR cities or towns. In most parts of Santo Domingo there are not 100 motorcycles zipping around you day and night. The old piece of shit, beat up guas guas (vans, mini buses) in Santo Domingo city are very annoying. Driving at night on some roads, some Dominican drivers always have their high beams on, you will get blinded. Driving around late at night in Santo Domingo is usually easy. After midnight some traffic lights becoming blinking, you are also allowed to proceed through a red traffic light after stopping, very late at night, as long as it is safe to proceed.
Some Policia Nacional love to pull over tourists while driving at night (some will try to break balls until you give them some money, others will just say Hello, and goodbye). AMET I have been told, are the only officers who can give tickets.
I watched a video of traffic accidents in China, I have not seen anything like this in DR (Traffic Accidents Caught On Surveillance Cameras in Heze City of Shandong, China) ; [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZA_gUTwImI&feature=player_embedded[/url]
[QUOTE=Delta Flier; 1139360]Thanks for the insight Jaosousa! Greatly appreciated. So I'd assume Gazcue is a township of Santo Domingo? Not to be a bother but a few basic questions.
-How far is Gazcue from the SDQ airport and what's a normal rate for a cab into town?
-If you had to choose, where'd you suggest for a first time SDQ guy trying to be close or central to just about everything and won't have to walk / drive 20 minutes to find the chicas (pros and non-pros) of the places you listed?
Again, thanks for the info and when I return I'll be sure to do a full report with pics! [/QUOTE]Hey Delta, not a expert by no means, just my take on driving rental cars in third world countries.
Normally you can save money driving instead of hiring a cab, just one word of caution, what would happen if there was personal injuries in the accident to a local? Questions to ask is could you get detained until the issue is resolved and what could be the financial damages? Don't get me wrong, saving money is one of my life's goals, but the risk reward does not add up for me. I can't remember the poster's name that said hire the cab from the airport departure area for 25usd downtown versus 35 to 40usd is great advice.
Thanks again.
[QUOTE=BoricuaOnline;1138168]Yes, there is a place, there is a drugstore in the corner of Independencia and Pasteur with a Claro booth inside and a bank that can exchange money. You can also exchange money in hotel Jaragua and hotel Melia. you have to bring your passport to exchange money on banks.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Jaosousa; 1139544]I imagine you live in Atlanta, I have never been to Atlanta. In New York City there are numerous neighborhoods; lower east side, upper west side, midtown, chinatown, wall street, tribeca etc. In the city of Santo Domingo same thing, there are numerous neighborhoods within the city. Gazcue is a neighborhood with three large hotels that have casinos; Intercontinental V Centenario, Melia and Rennaissance Jaragua. Also in Gazcue there are doctor offices and medical clinics (some for plastic surgery). Gazcue has some nice old homes, with some old trees that line some of the streets. Gazcue has venues for chicas; Club 305, Satin Dolls, Sky High, Lapsus and Girls House. There are over ten small size hotels in Gazcue. Late at night Coppa Disco in the hotel melia is open and has pros. Outside the Jaragua casino pros are usually standing around. A ten minute walk and two other venues for chicas; baby dolls and foxys.
Zona Colonial is a 10-15 minute walk from Gazcue. Pros hang out in zona colonial and there is playboy palace, a small place with about 6 chicas, prices starting at 1000 pesos. Hard Rock cafe in zona colonial usually gets live music on the weekends and usually gets a nice crowd of "normal" chicas. There are various other bars and cafes in zona colonial.
Koki and Bq Ribs and other sdq vets have stayed numerous times at the Jaguar Hotel in Gazcue (I have never stayed there). Hostal Riazor (it is a Hotel) is very easy to find, located directly behind the hotel jaragua hotel and casino, price for the Riazor is $58 per night. I believe the Jaguar is under $50 per night.
I have stayed at the Maison Gatreux (about $40) which is about 300 feet from the Malecon and the Intercontinental hotel. I have stayed at the Hotel La Casona Dorada (no safes in all rooms). I have stayed at the Hotel Venezia (about $40) , the hotel venezia has a gated parking lot and it is located closer to zona colonial.
Some guys like the hotel mystik which is next door to three casas on avenida pasteur; girls house, satin and sky high. I know one guy who stayed at the Hotel Duque de Wellington which is across the street from club 305.
I have driven from Gazcue to the Airport on a Sunday morning, no traffic, in 15 minutes. If you arrive in Santo Domingo during rush hour the trip from the airport to Gazcue can take 45 minutes or more.
The average taxi rate from the airport into the city is about $40. Boricua Online recently paid $25 for the airport transfer. There are a few online sites where you can make a reservation for a shared transfer into the city, A2B charged $16US for a shared transfer for one ISG member.
[url]http://www.a2btransfers.com/[/url]
[url]http://www.dominicanairporttransfers.com/[/url]
I have seen airline personnel, pilots and stewardesses arrive to the SDQ airport in a shared transfer (new mini-bus). Working for an airline you might want to ask around and see what transfer companies some airline personnel use for the SDQ airport. [/QUOTE]Spot on Jaosousa. I'm an analyst by trade so it's in my nature to spend hours upon hours doing research. Like I said, I took me a full day to read through dozens of posts on Sosua from USSG and the Other site but it was well worth it. I wrote down the names of places I saw repeatedly and did the math. These must be the top spots for the mongers. SDQ was very intimidating at first but I essentially did the same thing last night and spent hours reading through posts and looking at "The Map" the one of our members put together. It all makes sense now! Feel quite a bit more confident and am ready to explore Santo Domingo next week. I think my first stop will be Senora Australia's place.
As for the airline thing, it does in fact work. I called around to a few hotels you mentioned in Gazcue (my Spanish is actually fairly okay thank goodness) and they all quoted right around what you and other members have paid but when I mentioned that I worked for an airline, I usually got a discount between 10-20% on top of that.
[QUOTE=GuyLuvsParty; 1139561]Hey Delta, not a expert by no means, just my take on driving rental cars in third world countries.
Normally you can save money driving instead of hiring a cab, just one word of caution, what would happen if there was personal injuries in the accident to a local? Questions to ask is could you get detained until the issue is resolved and what could be the financial damages? Don't get me wrong, saving money is one of my life's goals, but the risk reward does not add up for me. I can't remember the poster's name that said hire the cab from the airport departure area for 25usd downtown versus 35 to 40usd is great advice.[/QUOTE]I pondered on renting a car as "The Big City" is a little easier to navigate than trying to find your way around the north short but I figured I'll save that for a longer trip. Plus, with this being my first time in SDQ I didn't want to take any chances. I am however going back to Sosua in like a month and I do plan on renting a small car from Santiago and driving up. I feel I'd be more comfortable driving in Puerto Plata and Sosua and doing Santo Domingo for the first time.
[QUOTE=Jaosousa; 1139556]I watched a video of traffic accidents in China, I have not seen anything like this in DR (Traffic Accidents Caught On Surveillance Cameras in Heze City of Shandong, China) ;
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZA_gUTwImI&feature=player_embedded[/url][/QUOTE]Ughhh. Horrible. I noticed most of the accidents in the video are motorcycles getting mowed down by sedans and trucks.
True it's different in DR, but even while I was in DR, I did not dare get on a motoconcho, (no helmet!) despite the dirt cheap cost.
[QUOTE=Jaosousa; 1139556]Boricua Online recently paid $25 to Apolo for the transfer.
; [/QUOTE]Anybody interested on his services can pm me for his number, he will charge you $25. A person you can really trust.
[QUOTE=BoricuaOnline; 1138974]I promised her a sexy bikini as a gift on a past trip but I do not see her.
She told me there are three things she loves as a gift: bikinis, perfume and double headed dildos. Beers arrived, she drinks faster than me. I showed her the bikini and she was happy, she went to the bathroom to change her clothes. The bikini is a Brazilian one with little coverage, she modeled it to me, I took her a few pics with her blackberry.
[/QUOTE]She send me this pic (I censored her face)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]148799[/ATTACH]
After arriving to my room in Sunday evening a girl called, she was one of the internet chicas, but I do not remember which one. She was in el Conde and wants to see me. She offered me to sexually satisfy me in all my needs. That sounds good, but, which chica she is? Anyway, if I added her from any internet social page it was because I like her. I told her to wait me on Pacos; I'll be there on 15 minutes. I walked down Independencia and a guy offered me to visit 305. Girls, pretty girls in front of Navarro again. Two girls were seated on chairs in el colmadon in front of Navarro, now these are pretty street girls! Really pretty, I was tempted to go to them when they called me but I was going to see my sexual slave chica, LOL. I continued walking and suddenly a text message from the chica: 'remember it is 4000 pesos'. Ohhh, the 4, 000 pesos chica. She requested my friendship on sexy o no page but her pic was so small that it was going to be hard to identify her. I decided to go to her and bargain. Better idea, I am going to Pacos and... I arrived to Pacos, went out, walked back, entered again, no chica that I like there so as I decided a couple of minutes ago, I am going to Pacos and if do not see any chica I like I will leave the place and so I did. There was an ugly chica alone in a black dress with a beer, a couple others. I was hungry so I ordered 3 pieces of chicken in Pollo Rey. She messaged me, I replied 'how are you dressed? ' her answer: 'with a black dress'. Another message: 'please come here soon, guys are asking me things thinking I am a prostitute! ' I laughed as I read this message. Helpmann, please, how do you classify a girl that asks 4, 000 pesos for sex? LOL. I decided not to see her and send her the following text message: 'sorry, I can't see you, I get robbed behind Parque Independencia and they took my money and my cell phone' 'She replied 'Bultero! (Liar) how can you send me a message if they stole your cell phone? Liar! I hate liars! ' Ooops!
I finished my chicken and went to a cyber café to read emails etc. ; I read a BQ Ribs email: do not forget to visit Playboy Palace. Bingo! Playboy Palace, I forgot the place and I was just two blocks away from the place. Playboy Palace on my final report.
[QUOTE=BoricuaOnline;1139833]...Helpmann, please, how do you classify a girl that asks 4, 000 pesos for sex? LOL...[/QUOTE]A bad fuck!
-Helpmann :D
[QUOTE=BoricuaOnline; 1139818]She send me this pic (I censored her face)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]148799[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]She is fine